Judith couldn’t remember, either. But she didn’t
want a key to Hillside Manor in the wrong hands. Disconcerted by the latest calamity, she said the first thing
that came into her head: “Wasn’t it kind of miserable
for a walk this evening?”
“I didn’t walk that much,” Dade said in his soft
Southern drawl as he started for the stairs.
The response further muddled Judith. “Wait,” she
called after the screenwriter. “Do you have your room
key or was it with the one to the house?” Guests were
always given the two keys on a simple ring with their
room number taped on the room key.
“Let me see.” Dade rummaged in the pockets of his
cargo pants. “Here,” he said, holding up a single key.
“It says Room Two. That’s me.”
“Yes,” Judith answered. “But you’re sure you don’t
have the house key lying loose in your pockets?”
“I already checked.” He shrugged again. “Sorry.”
Once more, Dade started up the stairs.
“One other thing,” Judith said, standing by the banister. “Who was C. Douglas Carp related to?”
He paused, frowning. “Hunh. I think Carp was some
relation of Bruno’s.”
“Are you sure?” she pressed.
“Well . . .” Dade looked up into the stairwell. “Carp
was his father-in-law at one time. Yes.” He nodded to
himself. “Bruno was married to somebody whose
maiden name was Carp. C. Douglas must have been
her daddy. Bruno always referred to him as Pappy.”
“The father of which wife?” Judith hoped she didn’t
sound eager.
Again, Dade looked puzzled. “It wasn’t the second
wife,” he said slowly. “I met her at the Cannes Film
Festival a couple of years ago.”
“That was the actress?” Judith prompted.
“Right. Taryn, Taryn McGuire. But she doesn’t act
anymore. She’s married to an oil sheikh. They brought
their yacht to Cannes to attend all the parties.”
“What about the first and third wives?” Judith persisted. “Did you meet either of them? Wasn’t the third
wife in the movie business?”
“Right,” Dade said. “She was a film editor or something. I never met her. I think her name was Mary
Ellen.”
“But you don’t know if her maiden name was
Carp?”
“I’ve no idea.” Dade looked apologetic.
“I assume you never met wife number one,” Judith
said. “I understand that was a youthful marriage.”
