“Good question. Maybe Detective Baker can check it out.”
“I think I’ll help Louise. Staying busy keeps my mind off things.” She shook her head and wrinkled her brow. “I don’t look forward to seeing him again.” She walked over, whispered in Mama’s ear, and then they headed for the kitchen.
I noticed Harold and Cassie Daniels sitting in the living room. This would be a good chance to talk with them. Dee Dee and Nana sampled the coffee and desserts. George had disappeared. I contemplated why he was so interested in the bracelet, but he wasn’t about to share the reason with me. I intended to find out, though.
I poured a cup of java and sat down across from the Daniels. “This has been an interesting evening.” I took a sip of the hot liquid and savored the flavor. It tasted delicious.
“Yeah. I told Cassie I didn’t want to come to Tybee Island. And I sure didn’t want to stay at a bed and breakfast.” He said ‘bed and breakfast’ like it was a dirty word. “It’s like staying with distant relatives that you hardly know. Now look what’s happened. We’re right smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation.”
Cassie’s face flushed. I’m sure her husband’s little tirade embarrassed her. “Daniel, you don’t have to be rude. I’m sure Trixie doesn’t want to hear you whine.” She took a sip and turned to me. “I’m sorry, dear. This has been hard on both of us. When Harold retired we thought we’d be able to find some peace and quiet through travel. It seems we’ve gotten just the opposite. It’s terrible what happened to Grace, and even worse Laura seems to be the main suspect.” She shook her head like she couldn’t believe they’d landed in the middle of this mess.
“I’m trying to help Laura by asking everyone where they were Monday evening. Do you remember what you were doing?” I crossed my fingers they’d be willing to talk.
“What do you want us to do? Incriminate ourselves to get Laura off the hook?”
Cassie sucked in a breath. “Harold! Why are you being so rude? Trixie’s just trying to help, and we don’t have anything to hide.” She turned toward me. “We went for a walk on the beach after we ate. Then we decided to go downtown and look around. We came home around ten and went to bed early. We were wiped out from the drive.”
“You can ask that girl, Ellie. She was downtown, too, with that Porter fellow. Both of them saw us.”
“Really? She was with John Porter?” This definitely put a twist on things. I felt stronger than ever she knew Porter before they arrived on Tybee Island. But why would they hide the fact they knew each other?
“That’s what I said.”
Cassie shrank into herself. I sensed her husband’s brusqueness often embarrassed her.
We sat silent for a while eating cookies and sipping our coffee. The doorbell interrupted our muse. Laura slowly walked toward the door as if she were walking to a firing squad.
“Good evening.” Detective Baker and his ever-present sidekick Detective Taylor entered the room. “I want to talk with everyone who was present when the bracelet was discovered.”
I volunteered my assistance. “I’ll be glad to round them up.” It took a few minutes to find Dee Dee and Nana, who’d stepped outside for some fresh air. Everyone else was in the house. Except for George.
“Uh, I can’t find George.”
“Did someone say my name?” George walked up, dapper as ever. Not a worry line etched on his mature face.
“Could I see the bracelet in question?”
George reached into his pocket and slowly pulled out the now sparkling clean tennis bracelet. Oh my goodness. What did he do to make it look brand new? I had a hunch Detective Baker wasn’t going to be happy with this. Why would George take the initiative to tamper with evidence? This brash decision added fuel to my suspicions of him.
The detective reached for the shiny bracelet. “Is this what it looked like when it was found?” He looked directly at me. “I thought you said it was covered with sand.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Detective, I take the blame for this.” George didn’t seem worried he’d destroyed evidence. “I’m somewhat of a jewelry connoisseur and when I saw this piece I couldn’t help it. I cleaned the bracelet up to see if it really was a Cartier. It is.”
Detective Baker stared at George as if he could see right through him. “Don’t you know not to tamper with evidence from a crime?”
“I’m sorry, sir. But we don’t really know it’s evidence from a crime, do we?” George had a point, but it was too much of a coincidence for Captain Jack to be running from the scene with something shiny in his mouth.
He exchanged an exasperated look with his partner. “It’s too late to do anything about your mistake now.” He looked around the room and made eye contact with everyone present. “If you find anything else, do not handle it. Put it in a plastic bag and call me immediately. Is there anything about those instructions you don’t understand?” Heads shook back and forth, accompanied by a chorus of “no.”
“Ms. Montgomery, I’d like to consult with you in my office in the morning. I want to go over your statement concerning the crime scene. For the rest of you, don’t leave the island. This is not over yet!” He turned so abruptly he almost bumped into Detective Taylor, who followed him like a baby duck following his mama.
When the front door closed on them for what I hoped was the last time that night, Laura spoke first. “I’m tired to the bone. I’m going to retire for the evening. Please treat this as your home. Louise will leave night-time snacks out for everyone. Good night, and I hope you have a restful sleep.”
I walked over to where she stood by Mama. Laura looked like she could use more than a night of peaceful sleep. Her hair needed a good comb through and her rumpled clothes looked as if she’d slept in them. She was bare of make-up and her skin revealed a sickly pallor. The bags under her eyes reminded me of a woman who’d given up on life. Memories of when I had been at my lowest, after Wade left, flooded my mind. I had been so thankful for the help my friends and loved ones offered. How could I not do the same for Laura?
Mama hugged Laura. “You’ll continue to be in my prayers. Let Trixie and Dee Dee do what they can and we’ll leave the rest up to God.”
“I want to believe everything will turn out all right, but it’s hard to muster up faith when you’re in the midst of the storm. I’m calling a lawyer tomorrow.”
I took the opportunity to give Laura a hug. “I understand how you feel. I’ve been where you are.” She gaped at me in disbelief. “Really? You’ve been accused of a murder?”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Well, no. But I’ve been to the valley where it’s hard to find strength. Your friends’ faith can help strengthen your assurance. Before you know it, yours will be strong again.” Wow, did I just give Laura a pep talk about faith?
It wasn’t that long ago Dee Dee had given me the same pep talk. I was a firm believer a friend could be a good influence and help you through the hard times. Dee Dee and Beau had proven it over and over. Now it was my turn to share that faith with Laura. She offered me a weary and not-so-sure smile, but at least it was an attempt. Dear Lord, please help me help Laura.
She went on to bed while the rest of us milled around and waited to discover what Louise would bring out for a night-time snack. I’d never been on a cruise, but I imagined this was what it would be like where food was the favorite pastime of the tourists.
I spotted Ellie sitting in a corner. She held a mug of coffee. This would be a great chance to talk with her. The burning question was, did she know John Porter before they arrived on the island or not. I refilled my cup and wandered over to where she sat. I nonchalantly took a seat next to her.