Lethal Dose of Love (22 page)

A third vehicle stopped in front of Espinoza’s. A plain-clothed man hopped out holding a sheet of white paper. Espinoza had obviously been expecting it because he nodded and set it atop the papers he carried. Why did the words search warrant come to mind? The newly arrived officer left without further conversation. Espinoza said something to Felicia, which Payton determined to be good-bye because they got into their cars and sped away, leaving Felicia standing there looking like a lost child.

Payton went to the sidewalk to water the ficus. A familiar “hello” made her look up. Her smile widened seeing MaryAnn, looking awake and alert, far different from a day ago. “How are you?”

“A little better every day.”

“I’m glad you’re recovering. Are you still staying with Claire?”

“She’s been like a mother. Last night I went to the motel though. I felt like I was imposing.”

“I’m sure Claire didn’t feel that way.”

“No. Another reason was to escape the authorities. Just for a few minutes. You know what I mean?”

Payton and MaryAnn stepped inside.

“Do they have any suspects yet?”

“Not that I’m aware of,” Payton said.

“Claire told me the spouse is always the first one they suspect. She said I should be strong and tell the truth.” MaryAnn touched the corner of her left eye where the bruise had turned a yellowish-green. “I guess I had a good motive to want him dead.” MaryAnn shrugged. “They were very nice. Never accusing or anything like that. I came because I thought you might want some time off. I know you’ve been putting in a lot of hours between the shop and helping Mamie open the gallery. How is it, by the way?”

“Mamie’s like a dove soaring above the clouds. She arrived this morning singing.”

“That’s good. Why don’t you go get something to eat? I’ll watch the shop and close up later.”

“I can’t let you do that. You’ve been through hell lately. Besides, if you’re trying to avoid the cops, here isn’t the place to do it.”

“I got some sleep. I’m ready to face them.” MaryAnn gave Payton a little nudge. “I’ll call if I start feeling sad.” MaryAnn nudged her again. “Go. Relax.”

Payton hugged her and retrieved her purse and backpack. She hadn’t done any paperwork, but the idea of a few hours of freedom was as appealing as a bowl of Ben & Jerry’s hidden under homemade whipped cream. That thought struck her as amusing and as she headed up Main Street, ducked into the
Galley,
took a table in the front window and ordered lunch. What she’d do when she got home, Payton wasn’t sure. Maybe work on her book. Mamie had considerately taped a sign to the office door: “Staff Only Beyond this Point.”

Payton dawdled, savoring every bite, licking the hand-whipped banana cream from the corner of her mouth with the tip of her tongue instead of a napkin. She felt like a child and it showed in her steps as she started for home.

But the scene in front of Aden’s house changed everything.

Chapter 25

Sergeant Espinoza’s car sat in Aden’s driveway, in the BMW’s usual spot. Two other vehicles were parked along the edge of the road. There were actually a lot of cars parked there. Lately, most were customers in the gallery, but these stood out like mold on cheese. Both wore New York State government plates.

Uniformed and plain clothed men hovered in Aden’s front yard. One came out the front door carrying a plastic bag. Espinoza unlocked the rear door of his vehicle, waited while the man deposited the bag, then relocked the vehicle. Chain of evidence. The words slashed a path through Payton’s good mood.

Aden’s note said he had to leave on a business trip and she should call him if she needed anything. She took out her cell phone and dialed his number. It rang four times and Aden’s voice came on the line. “Hello…”

“Oh, Aden, I’m so glad—”

“This is Aden Green. I’m not available…” The message finished and the beep sounded.

Payton spoke again. “Aden, it’s Payton. Call me. It’s important.”

Another officer came out carrying a bag about the size of a sandwich. There was something blue inside. Once again, Espinoza unlocked the car and the bag got swallowed. So far her approach had gone unnoticed. She took a breath to steady her nerves and went across the street. The sergeant didn’t look surprised to see her. He took several steps to close the distance between them.

She kept her voice steady. “Where’s Aden?”

“That’s what I was just about to ask you.”

“I don’t know.”

“When he left your house this morning he didn’t tell you where he was going?”

They’d been watching. Of course they would be; she was their prime suspect. The lunch did a flip-flop in her gut. “It’s not what you’re thinking.”

Espinoza’s eyebrows rose an inch, then returned to their fatherly position over his dark eyes. “What am I thinking?”

“Aden came over because he knew I was upset.”

“And what had you upset?”

“That should be obvious. I almost died the other day. Aden saw my lights and brought me something to eat.”

“What did he bring?”

“Seafood fettuccini.” Why did she feel the need to defend Aden? He was a man, like all other men, out to get something from her and then leave. His desertion was proof. He’d left her to deal with the police.

“Something wrong?” Espinoza asked. “You suddenly looked as though a dog crapped on your toast.”

“Nothing’s wrong.”

“Prove it.”

“What’s the point? You’ve already formed your theory. Nothing I say can change that. What I don’t understand is why you think either Aden or I had anything to do with Sean’s death.”

“The jury’s still out on you, but Mr. Green had two motives…at least.” The sergeant took Payton’s arm and led her toward his vehicle. He opened the passenger door and helped her inside. He walked around and got in the drivers’ side, turning a little and sliding his right knee onto the seat. “How well do you know him?”

“Not that well.”

“He didn’t come to your defense when Mr. Adams harassed you?”

“Oh for heaven sakes. I already told you, the thing between Sean and me was nothing.”

“His behavior didn’t anger Mr. Green, make him jealous?”

“Jealous? There was no reason for either of them to be jealous.” Payton opened the door and got out. “And I don’t appreciate you insinuating otherwise.”

She slammed the door and ran across the street. Mamie was waiting. “What’s happening?” She kept her voice low. The house was full of gallery-goers.

Payton ducked into the pantry, dropping her backpack on the ceramic floor. “They think Aden killed Sean to keep him away from me.”

Mamie’s eyebrows lifted into an upside down vee.

“Do you know of any sort of relationship between Sean and Aden? Anything at all?”

Mamie looked Payton in the eye and shook her head. “They talked once in a while at the yacht club meetings, that sort of thing.”

Payton picked up her bag. “I’ll be in my office a while.”

“I’ll bring you coffee in a few minutes.”

“Thanks,” Payton said, although right at that moment she really would have liked something a lot stronger than coffee. She smiled at a woman examining the painting of an Italian landscape and went in her office. She pushed the curtain aside. Espinoza and the others were still there.

She dialed Aden’s cell again. After seven rings an automated voice said, “The number you’ve dialed is out of service at this time.”

Payton squinted back tears. There was a gentle tap on the door and Mamie brought in a small tray that she set on the desk. “Are they still there?”

“Yes.” Payton tucked the phone in her purse.

“Were you able to reach him?”

“His phone’s out of service.” Payton dropped into her chair.

Mamie’s look of polite regard almost caused Payton to blurt out all her troubles. It would be so easy. Mamie seemed like a good listener, more concerned for others than herself. Payton opened her mouth, then closed it again; Mamie had enough of her own worries right now.

“You can tell me, you know,” Mamie said, as though reading her mind. “I’m stronger than I look. And I can keep a secret.”

Payton laughed. It came out more as a chirp and both women laughed. Mamie dragged a chair close. “Tell me what’s worrying you.”

Payton laced her fingers before her on the desk. “I can’t help thinking Aden left town because he knew they were onto him.”

“What!”

“This morning there was a note on my kitchen table saying he’d been called away.”

“He
is
an ambassador, you remember. He’s often called away. He misses a lot of yacht club meetings.”

“I know. Are you sure you don’t know of a relationship between Sean and Aden? Maybe something that goes back a few years?”

“As far as I know, the only thing they have in common is sailing.”

“What about Wanderlust or another group?”

Mamie gave the question serious thought. “Sean stopped coming to Wanderlust about seven years ago. It was just after Aden started coming. Oh my, Aden had some wonderful tales. Trips to the Far East, Europe, and a city with a silly name. Uz-something.”

“You said Sean stopped coming soon after Aden started. Was there a confrontation, any kind of conflict between them that might’ve made him stop coming?”

“I don’t think so. It seemed like coincidence.” Mamie slid the coffee in front of Payton. She waited till Payton had taken a sip.

“How do you know this is the way I like it?” Payton asked.

“I watched you at Wanderlust,” Mamie said shyly, then gestured at the tray that also held a plate of cookies. “I thought you might be hungry, too.”

“Thank you. You’re a good friend.”

All at once, Mamie began crying. Payton rose and put her arm around the wide shoulders. It was more than a minute before Mamie could speak. Her previous statement, “I’m a lot stronger than I look,” seemed ludicrous. Mamie was just what Payton had always thought, a wonderful, considerate woman, but weak in both mind and spirit. It was exemplified in her oh-so-rarely being able to make eye contact with anyone.

Gradually Mamie got herself under control. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened. This whole thing is such…”

“A mess.”

“Yes.” Mamie accepted a pat on the shoulder, gave Payton a weary smile and left.

“Mamie, wait. Why doesn’t Aden come to Wanderlust any more?”

“He said it wasn’t his cup of tea.”

Payton nodded. “I wouldn’t have thought so either.”

“If anyone knows of a connection between Sean and Aden, it’ll be Helen.”

Payton spun the chair so she could look out the window again. One of the official vehicles had left. Probably gone to get the warrant to search her house.

Chapter 26

Payton escorted Mamie to the door. The street, especially out front of Aden’s house, was empty of cars. Payton called him again, and again came the automated voice announcing the number was out of service.

“Aden, where are you?”

Payton slipped on her shoes and went out through the sliders, ducking between the trees into Helen and Carter’s back yard. A low-watt bulb burned on the wicker table in their new breakfast room. Two figures in deep shadow sat at the table. The larger shadow, Carter, held a glass in his left hand. Helen was talking, waving her hands as she always did. The low murmur of voices, but no words, penetrated the tempered glass.

Helen spotted Payton and welcomed her in with a hug. She said she’d get her something to drink and disappeared into the house before Payton could say not to bother. Carter waved her to a chair. She leaned back in the comfortable thickness of the padding and put her feet on the crossbar under the table.

“To what do we owe the honor of this visit?” Carter asked in his usual right-to-the-point manner.

Payton laughed. “Do I visit so infrequently?”

“No, just never at night,” Helen said, returning with a tall glass with ice tinkling against the sides. She also held a plate of something that she set on the table closest to Payton. “Have a walnut bar, dear.”

Carter reached across and received a slap on the hand. He didn’t pull back, just continued reaching. “You didn’t specify which ‘dear’ you meant.”

Helen made a hissing sound and leaned back in her chair. Payton sipped the fresh lemonade, just the right amount of sugar. She crossed her legs thinking how very much Carter resembled Rhett Butler. “I’ve been thinking,” she said.

“Uh-oh,” Carter said.

“I imagine you saw the police at Aden’s.”

Carter roared with laughter. “You just made her night. She’s called everyone in town, but nobody knew a thing—”

“Carter!”

“You didn’t call me,” Payton said.

“Yes she did, but Mamie said you were working in your office and she wouldn’t disturb you.”

“Go watch TV, Carter,” Helen said.

“I think that would be prudent.” He got up and climbed the pair of steps into the main house muttering something about “gossiping women.”

“He’s a hoot,” Payton laughed.