“An Oklahoma Brown Tarantula.
Diane gazed at me in awe. “Not really.” Clearly she wanted to be agreeable, but there were limits.
Kay stared at me, too. Awe did not describe her expression. Horror perhaps came nearest.
“Anyway, it’s lovely to be here.” I leaned forward, spoke confidentially. “I’m Kay’s assistant. She asked me to join her. I do fact-checking, that sort of thing.” I had no idea if writers had assistants, but if I didn’t know, I doubted Diane knew. “Kay’s main effort will be in Africa, of course. She’s eager to be on her way there, so she’s asked me to help round up the information in Adelaide. I can be a help.” I waved my hand. “Running around, talking to people.” I turned to Kay. “Such a shock. That tarantula. After you speak with the police chief, perhaps you might want to go to your room and rest. I can take care of the interview with Gwen Dunham.”
“I’m fine.” But she made no move to go.
Diane looked earnest. “Francie, would you like to stay with us? It might be more convenient for you and Kay.”
I beamed. “That would be wonderful.” I wished Kay would stop looking like she was marooned on a ledge twenty stories above the street. “Thank you.”
Diane turned to Kay. “I suppose you thought it was too late to invite Francie to stay last night. Laverne was sure she saw you speaking to someone in the garden.”
Kay’s tone was dazed. “Last night. Yes. It was late.”
Diane’s face squeezed into a commiserating frown. “I can’t believe how that vase fell. Wasn’t it awful that you and Francie were standing in the one place where it would land. Why, Laverne said it was almost as if it were meant.” Diane looked at me. “You’ll meet Laverne. She’s the most wonderful woman. She has insights from beyond this world.”
Kay gave a ragged laugh. “I don’t think Laverne has a monopoly on otherworldly insights.”
“We’re concerned with the here and now.” My voice was sharp. “Right here and right now.”
“Oh, yes, ma’am, Bai—”
“Diane.” I spoke with the vigor of a tour guide and in a sense possibly that was my role. “Kay tells me you have an exquisite sense of atmosphere. You are the perfect person to give us a perspective of your brother-in-law’s last few days on earth. You and I can visit while Kay goes up to the house to talk to the police.”
Kay shot me a strained glance and walked down the steps in a daze.
I hoped she didn’t appear stiff and tense when she met with Chief Cobb.
When I turned back to Diane, she was edging toward the steps. “I’m right in the middle of weeding. There are red spiders in my marigolds.”
I moved right alongside her. “Spider mites. That can be such a problem. Lady bugs are the answer. Put out some sugar water for them. I will only take a minute of your time.”
She stopped at the bottom of the steps, pleated the garden gloves. “I don’t know how to say this, but I don’t want to talk about Jack. I mean, Kay is very nice. I didn’t expect her to be so nice and I know this book matters to her, but I’ll tell you the truth.”
I remembered Wiggins’s appraisal of Diane.
“I don’t think Jack was a very nice man. He wanted me to send Laverne and Ronald away.” Her voice trembled. “Laverne is my rock. Why, she’s told me all about James and how he is and that he loves me but he wants me not to hurry to come. He says there’s no time in heaven—”
I was glad to know Laverne had one point right.
“—so he wants me to be here to help Laverne and Ronald because they can see through to what’s real and true and I should contribute what I can to their foundation. Jack was just downright ugly. He said he was going to find out where the money went and put them in jail, but I talked to Paul, and what I have is mine and I can do anything with it that I want and Jimmy’s share belongs to him, so there wasn’t anything Jack could do. But he made me so upset and Laverne and Ronald said they’d have to leave if he kept accusing them of bad things. I couldn’t bear it if Laverne went away.” Tears spilled down her face. “I’d rather die.” She whirled away and ran blindly toward the house.
I looked after her. Would she rather die? Or would she rather kill?
I waited until Diane was out of sight to disappear.
Kay managed a smile. “Good morning.” There was the faintest hint of inquiry in her voice.
Chief Cobb’s heavy face looked determined. “I appreciate your joining us, Mrs. Clark.”
Kay nodded, but said nothing.
Cobb’s brown eyes glinted with irritation and, possibly, a hint of respect. “As I explained to Miss Hume, a study of photographs by our expert suggests that a tool was used to loosen the vase. He believes it would have required a crowbar to leverage the vase from the pedestal.”
“That is shocking information.” Evelyn’s tone was grim.
Kay appeared unruffled. “Really.” Her voice lifted in a tone of amazement. “Why, who would have thought such a thing could happen? It sounds like vandalism.”
I was afraid she was overdoing her ingenuous response a trifle.
Evelyn bent her head, apparently listening intently. Her expression was alert.
