“I told her some photographers were coming,' Olive said in a weary, sad tone. 'She was getting sleepy, so I told her to just rest for a bit and I'd wake her when they arrived. It had to be that way. I couldn't have her found in disarray.”
Mel and the other officer had gotten up and moved quietly to each side of her. Shelley stepped back and Mel leaned down to speak to Olive. 'I think you should come with us, Miss Longabach, and tell us all about it.”
Olive shrugged as if it didn't matter anymore. 'Now everyone knows. It was a waste. Poor little Lynette.' She reached into her handbag and took out a handkerchief, which she dabbed at her eyes with before rising. Very calmly and with great dignity, she took the arm of the other officer and let him lead her from the tent.
It was almost ten when Mel returned to Jane's house. She was still in her fancy dress, watching an old movie on television. A local television station, in honor of Lynette's death, was rerunning her first starring film.
Mel came into the living room and sat down beside Jane on the couch. 'She was good, wasn't she?' he said.
“She was a wonderful actress. Sometimes. I talked to the others at the table after you left. They all swore to keep the kleptomania a secret if possible, Who knows if they will?”
Mel put his arm around her. 'It won't have to come out in a trial. Olive has confessed. Poor oldthing. I don't think she has any idea of what she's really done.'
“She was as single-minded as Lynette,' Jane said.
“Jane, you did a good thing tonight.'
“I don't feel like it.”
She got up and pushed the button on the television to turn it off and forced herself to shake the mood and smile. 'What are you doing now?'
“I just wanted to check in with you and I didn't feel like phoning. You look gorgeous. Have I mentioned that?'
“I don't mind hearing it as many times as you care to mention it. Do you have to go back to your office?'
“For about an hour. Why?”
Jane went to the end table where she'd put her purse. Opening it, she took out two white plastic cards about the size of credit cards with an arrangement of round holes punched through. 'Todd and Katie are staying with their grandmother tonight and Mike is at his friend Scott's,' she said conversationally as she handed one of the plastic cards to Mel.
“What's this?'
“What does it look like?'
“One of those electronic hotel keys. What have these got to do with the case?”
Jane smiled as she walked over and picked up a small overnight case sitting by the window. 'I'm happy to say they have absolutely nothing to do with the murders, Mel. They're keys to the room where I'm staying tonight. I checked in this afternoon. Maybe you'd like to drop by later…?”
He stood up and took the overnight case from her. 'Janey, it would take a fire, a flood, and half a dozen more murders to keep me away.”
