Deadly Accusations

“Why was Marie asking about Eisler’s alibi?” he asked.

“If I tell you, you could wind up in an awkward position.”

“Tell me anyway.”

Casey gripped the back of the wooden chair. “It seems that no one knows where Eisler was the morning Jasmine died. He also came to my house on Sunday and asked where Jasmine’s grave was.”

Stan leaned forward. “You’re joking.”

“No. He said he wanted to send flowers, but since Marie and Lou were with me, that’s all he said, though I wonder if he wanted to say more.” She watched Stan push his keyboard away and rest his elbows on the desk. “The night before Jasmine died, Eisler asked her out for a drink, which she refused. Apparently, that wasn’t the first time he’d called her.”

“Can you back this up?”

“Roberto de Luca can. She told him about Eisler’s last call that night, and Wesley told me about other calls he’d made.”

“Rude Wesley Axelson?”

“He and Jasmine were friends.”

“Eisler, huh?” Stan blew out a big breath of air. “Married and on the executive team. How stupid is that?”

“I’ve heard that he’s taken to disappearing without telling anyone where he’s going.” Casey paused. “Yesterday he overheard me talking to Roberto about the murder and basically ordered me to shut up about it.”

Stan’s gaze drifted to the bonsai on his desk. Casey could almost see his mind thinking things through. She turned to the window and watched buses coming and going in the depot. Above the garage, someone had painted over the “Remember Jasmine” sign, as if memories could be so easily banished.

“Let me ask you something,” Stan said. “Do you think Marie’s brother is innocent?”

“I have no idea.” Casey glanced at the door. “But as long as the murder’s unsolved, this isn’t a fun place to work.”

“You got that right. I’ll see if I can find out where perma-tan man was that morning, but this is strictly for my own peace of mind.”

“Absolutely, and thanks.”

“Just take care of Summer and pray the killer’s found fast.”

“I will.” She stood. “By the way, would you like one of Jasmine’s gerbils, hamsters, or guinea pigs?”

He gave her a brief smile. “I’ll ask my wife.”

“Thanks.” Casey stepped outside.

She’d barely made it back to her desk before Marie said, “I’ve been thinking.”

“Please don’t.”

“The shooter wore a ball cap and sunglasses,” Marie went on. “It could have been a woman. If you made inquiries about Gabrielle’s abili, no one would know.”

Why wouldn’t this idiot listen?

“So could you or Noel’s lawyer.”

“I’ve told you before, the lawyer costs too much.” Marie scribbled something on a piece of paper. “Gabrielle knows my name and voice, but you could talk to her. Give a false name and make up a story to find out where she was when Jasmine was shot.”

She placed the paper next to Casey’s keyboard. “Here’s the landlord’s number. You met Paval when we collected her pets. He has Gabrielle’s home number.”

“Why would he have it?”

“After Jasmine died, he thought he should break the news to Hannah, so he got her number through directory assistance, and Gabrielle answered the phone. It turns out Hannah’s still recovering from her stroke at some rehab facility. Gabrielle barely cared that her half sister had died, which is all the more reason to check her out.”

“You just don’t listen, do you?” Casey began working on her timesheet.

“Just this one last thing, Casey, and then I promise to make sure everyone knows you’re done helping us.”

Bloody unbelievable. “What if Gabrielle’s the killer, Marie? How will that protect Summer?”

Marie’s mouth twitched. “Don’t talk to her directly. Ask someone she works with.”

“Where does she work?”

“I don’t know if she even has a job. I just assume she does.”

Tension shot across Casey’s sore shoulders and her goose egg throbbed.

“Please, Casey,” she mumbled. “Where’s the justice for Noel and Jasmine?”

Admittedly, she was curious about Gabrielle’s alibi, yet she had to think about Summer. Casey looked beyond the plants. Human resources personnel had returned from lunch and everyone at the end of the room was still unusually quiet.

“Can I ask you something?” Casey kept her voice low. “And I want the truth.”

“What?”

“Can Noel walk with crutches or any other device?”

“He’s never had any interest in trying, I swear.”

Judging from Marie’s downcast eyes and the resignation in her voice, she seemed sincere. So, how could Noel have pulled himself up, retrieved two pistols and a rifle from a high shelf in Wesley’s closet, and then carried them to his van without help?

“Is there more evidence against Noel you didn’t tell me about?”

“I told you everything and, like I said, it’s all circumstantial. The stolen van, the gun found near his property. Everything.”

Again, Casey thought of the threat. “Sorry, but I have to think of Summer, and you, above all people, should understand that.”

“Wouldn’t it be better for all our kids if the killer was caught fast? With your skills, you can make that happen. You can’t just selfishly walk away. I mean, I’m the first to admit I’m a coward, but you’re not.”

Placing her hands on the arms of her chair, Casey rose. Her heart thumping, she moved close to Marie. Uncertainty clouded Marie’s eyes and she stepped back.

“That is not the first time you’ve called me selfish, and I really resent it,” Casey said. “I am not selfish. I’ve already done more for you and your brother than anyone else around here. And don’t ever use Summer to manipulate me, understand?”

“Fine.” Marie headed for her desk. “Whatever.”

Casey tried to focus on her timesheet, but she was too furious to think. She had to get out of here. Scrunching the paper with the landlord’s number into a ball, she marched out of the room. While Casey jogged downstairs, it occurred to her that Marie might have a point about helping find the killer fast. Looking over her shoulder, waiting for the bad guy to be caught, wasn’t her style. Should she at least phone Paval? No one would have to know, and she really was curious about Gabrielle’s alibi. Why else would she still be carrying this ball of paper?

In the lunchroom, Casey poured herself a coffee and sat at the back of the room. She removed her cell phone from her purse, flattened the paper, and memorized the number. After she’d come up with a suitable story to tell Paval, she started pressing digits.

Paval answered on the second ring. After pleasantries were exchanged, Casey asked him if he knew Gabrielle’s phone number. “We have Jasmine’s personal belongings in her locker, and my supervisor said I should contact next of kin. Since Jasmine’s mother’s been ill, I thought I’d try Gabrielle.”

“I doubt she’ll pay to have anything delivered to Parksville.”

David Eisler sauntered in at the other end of the room. When he spotted Casey, her muscles tensed. She looked out the window. Half a dozen conversations were going on in here, so he wouldn’t be able to hear her from this distance.

“Casey, are you still there?” Paval asked.

“Yes, do you know if she’s employed?”

“I’ve no idea, but since she showed up on a weekend, she could be. All I have is a home number. Give me a