Skye was silent for a few seconds, then offered tentatively, “I have an idea about finding Suzette’s twin. But I don’t know how good it is.”
“I’m all ears,” Wally encouraged. “Since this case isn’t a priority—no imminent danger suspected—the federal database has informed me that they won’t have any information for at least two weeks.”
“How about those genealogy sites online? Couldn’t you use those to track down Suzette’s brother?”
“That’s not a bad idea.” Wally thought for a moment. “I’ll have Martinez check out a couple sites tomorrow.”
Skye hated to bring up the subject of Wally’s ex-wife, but she had to know the status of that situation. “Anything new with Darleen?”
“Around noon today I tried that number you gave me again. This time, a guy answered on the first ring.” Wally pulled the car next to the silver trailer but made no move to get out. Instead, he turned to Skye and took her hands. “He said basically the same thing he said to you.”
“Basically?”
Wally sighed. “I told him that if Darleen wouldn’t provide a truthful account of our married life without being paid, I’d just wait for the annulment process to continue without her input. He said in that case Darleen would write a letter disputing my claims about the marriage and I’d never get an annulment.”
“Is that possible?”
“I’m guessing that if such a document surfaced, it would be my word against hers.” Wally wrinkled his brow. “The guy said to call him tomorrow night at seven and have the money ready to hand over to him.”
“I’ll call Father Burns in the morning and make an appointment for after school. We need to check what he has to say about the situation.” When Wally was silent, Skye asked, “Right?”
“Yeah.” Wally frowned. “I guess that’s the logical next step. We’ll decide what to do after we talk to him.”
“Okay.” Skye kissed Wally’s cheek; then as she was getting out of the T-bird, she said over her shoulder, “One thing at a time.”
It was nearly six o’clock when Skye and Wally climbed the trailer’s steps. Skye lifted her fist to knock, still thinking about what Wally had just told her, when Wally’s hand closed over hers and gently pushed it down to her side.
She turned and saw that he had his finger to his lips and his head inclined toward the door. Once she moved closer and concentrated, she could hear an argument coming from inside the RV.
The sound was muffled by the trailer’s walls, but Skye heard a man shout, “All I’m saying is that we need to cool it for a while.”
“Fine. If you’re going to be a jerk about it, maybe we should cool it for good.”
Skye figured the second voice had to be Kallista’s. She mouthed the name to Wally, who nodded.
“Baby, you know I don’t want that,” Mr. Jerk wheedled. “I love you.”
“You sure aren’t showing it,” Kallista screeched. “You’ve got your eye on that sound-and-lights chick, don’t you?”
“Of course not, sweetie pie.” Mr. Jerk’s baritone dropped into bass range. “You’re my one and only. You know I want to marry you as soon as all the papers with the music theater deal are signed and we can both get shed of Rex. You can get a divorce and I can get free of my contract.”
“Then why don’t you want to see me anymore?” Kallista sobbed.
“Baby doll, I’m just trying to protect you,” Mr. Jerk sweet-talked. “Rex is acting suspicious and I don’t want you to get into trouble. We both know he’s got a temper.”
“Yeah.” Kallista’s voice faltered. “But he’s mostly just a lot of hot air, and he doesn’t care if I have my little flings, as long as the guy isn’t any threat to his ego.” Her tone brightened. “Which is why I let him think I was messing around with one of the boys in the band. And since he doesn’t know which one, nobody gets hurt.”
There was a lengthy silence, and just as Wally raised his hand to knock, Kallista said, “It would have been so much better if Rex was the one under that steamroller instead of that bitch. If he was dead, I’d inherit it all and we wouldn’t have to wait anymore.”
Another lengthy silence, then Kallista said, “You’d better go. Rex might come back any minute.”
Before Skye could react, the door swung open and Flint James nearly plowed her down in his haste to exit the Airstream.
He stopped abruptly, stared at Skye and Wally, then blurted, “Excuse me. I was . . . uh . . . just checking to see if Rex wanted to ride with me to tonight’s meeting.” He pushed past them and disappeared in the direction of the footbridge that led from the park to the motor court.
Kallista moved out of the shadows, took in the situation, and fluttered her lashes at Wally. “Why, Sheriff, I almost didn’t recognize you out of uniform. I mean, in regular clothes.” She giggled. “Although I bet you’d look mighty fine out of them, too.”
“It’s ‘Chief,’ ma’am.” Wally tipped an imaginary hat. “But thank you.”
“What can I do for you, Chief?” Kallista moistened her glossy pink lips.
“Well, I was hoping you’d have a few minutes to talk with me.”
“I surely do, Chief.” Kallista wiggled past Skye, entwined her arm with Wally’s, and drew him inside. “Can I get you a beer?”
“No, but don’t let me stop you.” Wally beckoned for Skye to join them.
Skye obliged, noting that the door opened directly into the living room. She chose a straight chair that was nearly hidden behind a red-lacquered three-panel screen stenciled with black dragons.
Kallista tugged Wally to a black leather sofa and playfully pushed him onto the cushions, joining him after fetching a Corona for herself. She continued to act as if Skye were invisible, petting Wally’s biceps with one hand and slugging back the beer with the other.
Skye gritted her teeth, but remained quiet. While Kallista manhandled Wally, Skye glanced around the Airstream’s interior. It was much roomier than she had expected, and all the furniture looked expensive.
Kallista gave a high-pitched laugh, and Skye focused back on the woman pawing her fiance. The blonde was running her tongue along the neck of the beer bottle while caressing the bottom half.
While Kallista flirted, Wally went over the same questions with her that he had with Flint. What were her activities on Monday afternoon and where had she been at the time of the murder?
And like Flint’s, Kallista’s answers matched her previous ones. She had spent Monday afternoon in Joliet and was at the movies at the time of the murder.
“Did you ever find that ticket stub we talked about?” Wally asked.
“No.” Kallista shook her head. “I probably threw it away.”
“If we show your picture, would the theater employees remember you?” Wally persisted. “Maybe the ones at the candy counter.”
“Do I look like I eat candy?” Kallista ran her hands down her flat stomach. “I save my calories for this.” She held up the Corona.
“Good choice.” Wally smiled, then said, “Pardon me for asking, but when we got here it sounded as if you were having some marriage trouble. Isn’t Mr. Taylor a good husband?”
“He could be.” Kallista finished off her beer. “But he stinks at doing impressions.”
“I see.” Wally laughed politely. “What was your relationship with Suzette like?”
“She was my husband’s gofer. We didn’t have a relationship.” The blonde hiccupped. “
“I understand she kept to herself, but was there anyone she was close to?”
Kallista narrowed her unbelievably violet eyes. “You mean besides my husband?”
“She and Mr. Taylor were friendly?” Wally encouraged the woman to continue. “In what way?”
“She wanted him to make her a star and he wanted into her pants.”
“Do you believe what Kallista said about Rex wanting to sleep with Suzette?” Skye asked the minute she and Wally were back in the car. “Or that Suzette might have had sex with him to get ahead?”
“No one but Kallista has suggested anything like that regarding Suzette.” Wally put the T-bird in gear. “But I think Taylor’s the kind of guy who tries with every woman he meets.”
“Really tries or just sort of tries?” Skye fastened her seat belt. “I mean, from what little I know about Rex, he
