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.“We’ve got to dash.”__________“Pull up a chair.” Chief Jansen motioned to two wooden armchairs.“I had a call from Sheriff Peters, and he urged me to hear you out.He sets quite a store by the two of you.”“He told you about the gris-gris?” Jansen made me feel like I’d been sent to the principal’s office.“I should arrest both of you.”Tinkie and I scooted our chairs closer to Jansen’s desk.“That’s not necessary,” Tinkie said.“We’re here to tell you everything we discovered.”“Spill it,” Jansen said.“Marcus’s nanny, Anna Lock, is really Hedy’s aunt, Anna Blackledge.She fits the description Joey Mott gave of the woman who followed Hedy and Babs from Ground Zero.We believe she bummed a cigarette from Babs’s pack, which gave her opportunity to slip the poison to Babs.”“All very interesting, but why would Hedy’s aunt want to frame her for multiple murders?”This was going to take a while.We continued with the revelation of Anna Lock/Anna Blackledge and her reasons for potentially being angry with Hedy.To his credit, Jansen listened and made notes.When we finished, he leaned on his elbows.“You think Anna Lock is seeking revenge for the death of her brother two decades ago?”“We think it’s possible,” I said.“We have no solid evidence.But we felt compelled to tell you what we’d discovered.We gave you our word.”He nodded.“Anna knew Hedy’s background.She knew how to implicate Hedy.Planting gris-gris bags, using poisons that can be grown locally.It’s possible Anna influenced Marcus against Hedy for the past two years,” Tinkie said.“Our client has been framed.My fear is that someone else will die tonight.Karrie Kompton told us she’s the top candidate to win.She may be the next target.”“But to kill innocent people for something that occurred so long ago just to frame a young woman who is technically her niece.” Jansen adjusted his suspenders.“Why now?”“Opportunity and the child.If it’s the child Anna wants, this is the perfect chance to get her.” I could see he wasn’t convinced, and I didn’t blame him.Tinkie and I had woven a lot of stray threads into a tapestry that vindicated our client.“You have to take this seriously.”“One thing I promise.Anna Lock or Anna Blackledge won’t come near any contestants or their desserts tonight.”I nodded.“Thank you.”“Now, since Mrs.Richmond here is a shutterbug for the papers, do you have any photos that show Anna in attendance at the pageant events?”“I never noticed her, but isn’t that the point?” Tinkie asked.“I mean, if she were intent on murdering the girls, she’d be subtle.”“Except for Brook, none of the girls were killed at an event.The killer works behind the scenes,” I said.“That’s true,” Jansen said.“Janet Menton was poisoned in pastries and Babs Lafitte was in a parking lot.We found the cigarette butt with traces of the poison.”“This last event is a dessert competition,” Tinkie said.“The contestants will be allowed into the Viking kitchen at two o’clock.Dessert will be served at a final gathering tonight at seven.Karrie Kompton may be the next victim.Mrs.Phelps asked me to help watch over the final event.I told her I would.”“It’s going to be a long day,” Jansen said.23The deputy guarding Hedy’s hotel door was young, handsome, and smitten with my client.When I said her name, his face lit up.“Go get some coffee,” I told him.“I’ll be with Hedy until you return.”“The chief told me not to leave this post.”“Up to you.” I shrugged.“It’s in Hedy’s best interest to have someone monitor her every move.Seriously, she’s innocent, and her best defense, if anything else happens, will be your alibi.I have no intention of allowing her to leave this room, so if you need a bathroom break or coffee, I’ll stay with her until you return.”Apparently I was unconvincing.He called Jansen and got his boss’s okay before he nodded his thanks and trotted down the hall for a ten-minute break.Jansen might play favorites with the rich and powerful, but he also inspired loyalty in his men.I tapped on the door and Hedy opened it.“Where’s Eddie?”“Coffee.” My task was to tell Hedy about Anna Blackledge without sending her into a panic.Oscar had found the senior Wellingtons and Vivian at the Peabody Hotel, and hotel security was watching over them.For the moment, Vivian was safe.“Eddie’s a good guy,” she said.In contrast to the last time I saw her room, it was neat and orderly—except for the cooking supplies piled on the bed.I took note of the ingredients.“What are you baking for this evening?”“A chocolate Dobostorta.”“Which is?” Tinkie and I never made it to the dessert phase of our cooking lessons, and I had a moment of regret.I loved desserts.Especially chocolate.To be able to build something chocolate and dense and rich—that might have been worth learning.“A six-layer sponge cake invented by and named for a Hungarian baker, Jozsef C.Dobos.It’s rich and moist and one of the best chocolate cakes I’ve ever tasted.For all its elegance, it’s plain.I’m hoping the other contestants create ornate desserts and my Dobostorta will stand out.”“A fine strategy.” The chocolate she intended to use was a brand I’d never heard of.“Imported,” she said.“Holland.The art of this cake is in the chocolate.I want it to be dark and lush.”Just to be on the safe side I checked to be sure no one had tampered with the chocolate package.It was sealed.“So eggs, milk, flour—all provided at the cooking school?” Unless Evangeline Phelps stood guard over the larders, those ingredients were vulnerable.Hedy nodded.“I turned in my ingredient list and they’ll have everything there, except for specialty items, which must be brought into the school sealed.” She waved at supplies on the bed.“I’m going over at two and start cooking.I want the cake to cool and chill in the refrigerator.It’s better that way.”She slumped down on the bed.“Actually, I just want this to be over.I don’t even care about winning anymore.The title won’t make a difference.Marcus will never allow me to see Vivian, much less gain partial custody of her.Maybe he’s right.Maybe I should walk away and let her have the privileged life he can give her.”I almost gave her the “buck up” speech, but instead I sat down beside her.Tinkie was the gentle, nurturing partner; I was the kick-ass and complain side of the equation.But Hedy didn’t need anyone to fuss at her.I suspected she did a better than average job of doing that to herself.“You can’t give up on Vivian,” I said.“Samuel told me a little about your background, Hedy.You can’t see this as a repetition of what your mother went through.”She didn’t bother to deny it.“Maybe we are cursed.Maybe there’s something to the Marie Laveau thing that Marcus accuses me of.He would do anything to keep me away from my baby girl.”“It may not be Marcus.At least not totally.” Now was the moment to tell her the hard news.“Hedy, this is going to upset you, but you need to know.Anna Lock, the nanny taking care of Vivian, is really Anna Blackledge, your aunt.”Her head tilted slightly as if the words were rolling around in her head.“My aunt? That’s crazy.”“Perhaps, but it’s true nonetheless.”“My father’s sister is a nanny for the Wellingtons? Why? The Blackledge family has tons of money.”I swallowed.“To keep Vivian away from you.” I felt like I’d punched her a few times with a nail gun.I doubt it would have hurt her worse.I gave her the last of it.“It’s possible she’s influencing Marcus to keep Vivian from you.”“Why would she do such a thing? I’ve never done anything to her.” Instead of getting angry, she was hurt.“I don’t even know her.”“I don’t have answers, Hedy, but I intend to find them [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]