LOWCOUNTRY BOOK CLUB (6 page)

I did know what he meant.
“
Okay, so who was squabbling?”

“
The book club ladies. Minor stuff. You'll have to ask Jane.”

“
Do you have her cell number?”

He pulled out his phone, looked it up, and rattled it off.

“
What about you?” I asked.

“
What do you mean?”

“
Were you having trouble with anyone? Is there anyone from your past who might have a grudge? I know this is far-fetched, but is there anyone who might bear you animosity from your time in the military?”

“
Plenty of people. But they're on other continents and don't know my name or how to find me.”

“
How about from California? People you knew years ago?”

“
No,” he said.
“
No one. But it doesn't matter. Because these are folks Shelby never laid eyes on. She wouldn't have disarmed the alarm system, released the floor barricade, and opened the door. She would've come straight upstairs to get me.”

“
Okay. I think I have what I need, except I'd like to take a look around if you don't mind.”

“
Sure. I
'll give you the tour. You came in through the front.” He stood and headed through the butler's pantry and into the dining room. It was furnished with what I'd bet were expensive antiques, but like the living room beyond, nothing about it was ostentatious. The rooms were uncluttered, with only framed family photos on the occasional chest or table.

I followed him to the third floor. On the front of the house overlooking the street, his study was all dark woods and leather, with a sofa floated near the center of the room, its back to the door. A desk in front of the window faced the sofa, and shelving for countless vinyl record albums lined the walls. Beside the desk was a stout-looking metal stand which held a turntable the likes of which I'd never seen. It appeared both futuristic and antique, retro shiny metal with a glossy wood-grained top and an actual spinning platform that looked at least four inches thick. I must've been staring at it.

“
It'
s a Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn,
” he said.
“
Shelby bought it for me for Christmas years ago. It was unlike her, the extravagance. That system probably cost a hundred grand. She'd never spend that on herself for something purely for entertainment.”

“
It's beautiful,” I said.

He almost smiled.
“
It is that.”

His study, like the rest of the house, was immaculate.
“
Is someone coming to clean for you? Cook?” We moved down the hall.

“
Nah. I don't mind cleaning. Gives me something to do. The women from the church keep my freezer stocked. Two or three of them are by here every week to check on me. Tallulah too. I don't have much of an appetite.”

One of the guest rooms was open. I peeked in as he passed towards the closed door at the back of the house. The dogs barked louder.

“
Do you want to meet the dogs?” he asked.

“
Sure
.”

He tilted his head, raised an eyebrow, and opened the door. Five dogs, one small, three medium, and one very large, all of mixed breeds, rushed Clint. The small one, who likely had some Yorkshire terrier in her, ran around Clint in a circle. Two others jumped up and put their front paws on his legs. The large dog, which might have been part English Mastiff, part St. Bernard, sat with his tongue hanging out and watched the others.

Clint ruffled heads, patted sides.
“
Hey buddies. Good boy. Good girl. This is Scooter, Gertie, Gladys, Blue, and Bear.”

The Jack Russell Terrier mix sprang from the floor straight up in the air repeatedly, like a bouncing ball.

“
Scooter, you rascal. You'll get to go outside soon.” For the first time that day, Clint smiled.

Bear woofed once. He wanted attention too.

They were all so happy to see Clint, they barely noticed me.

Finally, a shepherd mix cocked his head at me as if to say,
“
Who are you?” Then they all came to say hello.

“
Okay now, don't jump on her.”

“They'
re fine.
” I laughed, patted heads, and scratched them behind their ears. Bear lumbered over and pushed his way through the crowd.
“
Sweet puppies.”

After a few moments, Clint gentled them back into the bedroom and closed the door.

“
Someone come to walk the dogs?” I doubted his ankle monitor allowed him to do that.

“
I hired a service.”

We went back to the second floor. I followed him into the master suite. Done in shades of white, ivory, and taupe, it was luxurious and restful. Scattered across Shelby's skirted dressing table were things she likely held precious: framed photos, perfume bottles, a silver ring holder with a pair of diamond earrings, a pressed flower. On the tufted chair was a sleeping striped cat that might've been a Maine Coon.

“That's Plato,” said Clint.

The Gerhardts each had a walk-in closet.

“
Have you gone through her things?” I asked.
“
For any clue as to someone who might have meant her harm?”

“
That's all I've done. There's nothing here.”

I pondered that. If other leads didn't materialize, I would come back and repeat the search.

We stopped at the door to the library.
“
You don't have to come in here,” I said.

“
I don't mind. I feel close to Shelby in here. This was her space. Her books, her things.” He sat in a buttery leather chair by the fireplace and put his feet up on a matching ottoman.
“
This was her reading spot.”

Built-in bookcases lined the walls from floor to ceiling, wrapping over the doors. A large writing desk sat several feet inside the french doors, facing the room. The space had the feel of a traditional library, but with feminine touches. Fresh-cut yellow tulips in a crystal vase brightened the corner of the desk.

“
Yellow tulips were her favorite,” he said.
“
They've delivered them once a week ever since we settled here permanently after I got out of the army. I can't bring myself to stop the delivery.”

I swallowed hard and nodded.
“
Where were the dogs?”

“
With me. They like jazz. They were sprawled all over the rug.”

“
Was anything in here disturbed?”

“
Only one thing I could find.”

I turned towards him.

“
Her desk calendar. The page for that Sunday was torn out.”

“
That seems important. She didn't mention she was expecting anyone?”

“
No. But just that one page was gone.”

“
Did the police follow up on that?”

“
Honestly, I think they would've if they'd thought of a way. They seem like decent guys. But things looked cut and dried from their perspective. Can't say I blame them. In the end, they said I probably destroyed it in an attempt to throw suspicion somewhere else. I did not.”

“
Did she keep an electronic calendar?”

“
No. Shelby led an unplugged life. She had an iPhone for safety because I insisted. She would've carried the simplest model of phone you can still buy. She didn't use her phone for email. She didn't use social media at all. But I wanted her to have access to directions when she needed them. And the Find My Friends app so I could locate her. Shelby habited parts of town that could be dangerous. I wanted to keep her safe.”

“
And keep tabs on her?”

He scowled.
“
No.
”

“
But you did, didn't you? When you were in one of your cycles? It would've been very tempting.”

“
Okay, so maybe I did.” His voice was soft, sounded like regret. “But that's not why I wanted her to have the phone.”

“
Did you ever find her somewhere other than where she said she was going to be?”

He stared at his hands.
“
Yes, I did.”

“
More than once?”

He nodded.

“
Where was she?”

“
Several different restaurants around town. And Market Pavilion Hotel.”

I absorbed that for a moment.
“
They have a restaurant there. And two bars.”

“
They do.”

“
Where did she say she was?”

“
She'd be somewhere else, and then on the way home she'd make a stop she forgot to mention.”

“
Did you ever ask her about it?”

“
No.
”

“
Why not?” I asked.

“
Because in all the years I knew her, I never knew Shelby to lie. I was afraid I might not want to hear the truth.” His voice was tight with pain.

I gave him a moment. Shelby's calendar was still open on her desk. The police hadn't even taken it. I flipped through the pages.
“
Can I take this?”

He cleared his throat.
“
Sure.
Her address book is in the top desk drawer. I think you needed that.”

I reached for the drawer handles, confirming permission with an asking glance.

He nodded.

I slid open the drawer and pulled the leather-bound address book that matched the calendar out. “I'll get this back to you.”

“No rush.”

I stepped over to the french doors. The bookcases framed them, recessing them from the room. There was no balcony, only a window ledge and a wrought iron rail that came up to my waist. I tried hard to imagine how someone might accidentally fall out the doors and over the sturdy barrier. My imagination failed me.

“
How tall was Shelby?” I asked.

“
Five-seven. Not quite as tall as you, but almost.”

“
Could we walk outside?” I asked.

“
Of course.” He seemed to steel himself.

We went down the stairs, back through the kitchen, and into the courtyard. The pool was the focal point. A variety of green plants thrived in deep planters in each corner. Water splashing from the fountain into the pool made a soothing sound. Such a peaceful oasis. Such a horrible thing happened here.

The front end of the walled garden was grass. A wooden doghouse sat under a canvas sun shade.

“Only one doghouse?” I asked, thinking that could lead to fights.

“That's Annabelle's. All the pets sleep inside. But Annabelle needs more time outdoors during the day than the others.”

“Annabelle? You have another dog?”

“Belly isn't a dog.” On cue, a large, black-and-white potbellied pig appeared from behind the house. “She's dug a spot in the yard behind the house where she likes to sit during the day.”

I'm an animal lover from way back. But I took a moment to process two cats, five dogs, and a pot-bellied pig in a townhouse. Fraser was right. It was a petting zoo.

Belly meandered in our direction.

“She can be territorial where I'm concerned.” Clint took a step away from me. “She won't bite you.”

Belly laid down in front of Clint and rolled over for a tummy rub, just like Socrates had done earlier in the kitchen. Clint knelt to oblige the pig. “Belly's a sweet girl.”

“It's good you have company.” I kept both eyes on Belly, who very likely outweighed me. “I'm just going to look around. Is there access from outside?”

“
Yes.
” He pointed to the kitchen corner of the house.
“
There's a pathway around back that leads to the driveway. You can't see it until you're right in front of it.”

I took in the six-foot brick wall. If someone had come down to either verify that Shelby was dead or try to help her, they'd come through the kitchen or down the path. I walked over and peered behind the house. The space was only wide enough for the walkway. I meandered back towards Clint, scanned the courtyard again

“
I've troubled you enough for one day,” I said.
“
May I call you if I have questions?”

“
Of course.” He gave Belly a final pat and stood. He called out his number, and I typed it into my phone and added a contact. Then I gave him my number and Nate's so he'd know who was calling and answer the phone.