After creeping downstairs, the only items the cousins put
into the safe were the pillowcase, the water glasses, the pill
bottle, and Barry’s belongings. Inside the safe, the Eskimo
carving still lay on the towel. Judith breathed a sigh of relief.
The remainder of their pilfered collection had been returned
to Andrea’s room.
The OTIOSE staff, or what was left of them, had retired
to the library. “If any more of them get bumped off,” Renie
said as they cleared away the lunch plates in the
dining room, “they can start meeting in the elevator.”
“That’s not funny, coz,” Judith snapped. “You’re the one
who thinks we’re next on the hit list.”
Renie sobered. “Not next. Last.”
“Swell.” Judith paused, holding several coffee mugs against
her chest. “We’ve got to figure this out, coz. I really want to
know who is going to try to do us in.”
“That’d be nice,” Renie admitted, then gave Judith an
apologetic look. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be flippant. I just
don’t know how else to keep the horror at bay.”
“Margo’s gun might do that,” said Judith as they returned
to the kitchen. “Maybe we can eliminate some of these
people.”
Renie was startled. “With Margo’s gun?”
“No.” Judith gave her cousin a twisted smile. “I mean, as
suspects. Russell, for example. Can you see him as a coldblooded killer?”
“He’d be very cunning,” Renie said, again quite serious.
“Devious, too. Under that supposedly squeamish, vague exterior lurks genius. He’s the R&D man, remember. I never
put anything past people who sit around and just think.”
“Okay, we leave Russell in,” Judith said with reluctance.
“If Margo was the killer, would she brandish that gun?”
“Why not? It’s a great cover. No one’s been shot. Yet.”
“I like Ava,” Judith said, putting away the uneaten ham
and turkey. “Maybe it’s because she lent me her clothes.
Couldn’t we cross her off the list?”
This time, Renie’s response didn’t come so promptly.
When it finally did, it was qualified. “I like her, too, but she’s
ambitious. Don’t you remember what she said about how
she could be running WaCom if she’d stayed on? That implies she’d like to be running OTIOSE.”
“I thought you said Ward Haugland was a shoo-in for
Killegrew’s job.”
“There are no shoo-ins in the corporate world,” Renie
responded. “He’s the heir apparent. The key word is ‘apparent.’”
Judith began unloading the dishwasher. “How about
Ward?”
“Ward’s viable. Under that ‘aw-shucks’ manner there’s
big-time drive and determination. Of course,” Renie added,
“he’s been very loyal to Frank. I’ve heard that Ward has
