Deadly Accusations

tomorrow if we catch an early ferry.”

She stroked his cheek. “I really was trying to help Hannah, but the person who most needs help is Jeremy. The little guy’s surrounded by manipulative adults who probably don’t deserve him.”

“You can’t help everyone, especially when you have Summer to think about.”

“I guess.” Casey hesitated. “You know I only want to do what’s right for her, don’t you?”

“Yep.”

“I helped Marie and Noel because she practically begged me. I didn’t plan to launch my own murder investigation.”

“I know that too.”

“If you know so much,” she said, smirking, “then what am I thinking now?”

He looked at her bare feet. “That you want to soak in a hot tub?”

She laughed. “I bought a bath bomb in a gift shop down the street.”

“Cool. Do those things really explode?”

“Your question will be answered once you’re naked.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” Lou kissed her again.

TWENTY-FIVE

“OH!” CASEY SWIVELED IN THE passenger seat of her Tercel and waved a photocopy of Jasmine’s final letter at Lou. “Listen to this. ‘Last week, I caught my landlord’s wife in my apartment when I came home from work early. Ursula said neigbhors had heard Muffin (my cat) screaming and thought he was in trouble. But Muffin was asleep on my bed—I checked!!! I think Ursula stole my amethyst pendant and earrings. They were a present from Noel.’”

“It doesn’t look good for Ursula.” With his eyes half closed and his hand on Casey’s thigh, Lou slouched farther down the driver’s seat of the parked car.

“True, and what with Birch stalking Jasmine and Jeremy, no wonder she wanted to move away.” Casey scanned the letter. “She doesn’t say whether she phoned the cops.”

“I doubt she did. Jasmine didn’t trust cops because they didn’t do much about Birch harassing her.”

“They might have had something to say about all the animals in her apartment too.”

As the blue and white Queen of Coquitlam ferry glided into the harbor, Casey scanned the dozen lanes of cars, trucks, RVs, and buses waiting to board. Half of them were empty as travelers stretched their legs. As much as she wanted to see Summer, part of her regretted having to end this romantic interlude. She stroked Lou’s arm.

“I had a great time last night, and this morning.”

He gave her a sleepy smile. “Me too, but the real world calls.”

“And whines and demands and bullies.” Casey flipped through copies of letters she hadn’t had time to read.

On their way to the terminal, she’d returned the originals and a full set of copies to Hannah. With Hannah’s permission, she’d made an extra copy of the letters she hadn’t had time to read. She’d also told Hannah about Gabrielle’s visit last night.

“Typical of my daughter to try intimidation,” Hannah had said. “I hope you didn’t cower.”

“It’s not my style.” And then she’d left.

With Lou behind the wheel, Casey had time to read the remaining letters, which mainly covered Jeremy’s development and her pets. She’d also written about Paval’s helpfulness.

Casey took another look at one of the pages. “In some letters she’s really positive. Writes about what good friends Wesley and Noel are, and her infatuation with Roberto.”

“Is that what she called it?”

“No, but she didn’t use the word love either. Here she says, ‘He’s the coolest, friendliest, most fun guy I’ve ever gone out with.’”

“Sounds like something a teenager would say.”

“Part of her was naive and immature.” The other part was sarcastic, critical, and just plain mean. Casey scanned another sheet. “She trashes a couple of tenants and parishioners over petty issues, and does the same to some Mainland staff.”

“Which ones?”

“Me and a few administrative staff, all of them women. I think she saw them as competition, especially where Roberto was concerned.”

“Hannah asked you to read the letters despite what Jasmine wrote?”

“She’s more shrewd and open-minded than her daughter was.” Casey continued reading. “Jasmine apologizes to her mother for venting, then writes ‘You’re the only one I can talk to.’” Casey paused. “She must have been lonely.”

Lou nodded. “And insecure.”

“Jasmine’s disputes and complaints didn’t seem serious enough for someone to want to kill her. Unless something else was going on, something she didn’t want Hannah to know.”

“Did she write about Eisler?”

“Yeah, she said he was an annoying jerk who wasn’t getting enough at home.” Casey scanned more lines. “She tried searching the Gallenskis’ bedroom for her pendant when she picked up Jeremy one afternoon.” Casey turned to Lou. “When Marie and I went to Jasmine’s apartment, I saw a red feather boa hanging in her bedroom closet. Ursula was wearing a red boa when we met her at the Silver Groove.”

“She could have owned one as well.”

“Or stolen Jasmine’s.” Casey returned to the letter. “Jasmine had planned to keep searching for her jewelry. Oh, and she hated Ursula. Said she was nothing but a cheap tramp . . . Whoa. Here’s something: she says that both Gallenskis have stepped over the line and that she’d phone Hannah about it later.” Casey looked up. “Hannah’s last chat with her was Sunday morning, but Hannah said that Jasmine hadn’t seemed especially bothered by anything.”

“Maybe Jasmine had decided not to worry her.”

“Or something happened after that call.” Casey noticed the date at the top of the page. “She wrote this Monday, the day after her confrontation with Gabrielle. Must have mailed it right away. Interesting that she never mentioned Gabrielle’s visit.”

“Like I said, she didn’t want to upset her mother.”

“Maybe. So, what if Jasmine told Paval about the theft and he didn’t believe her?” She watched the Queen of Coquitlam dock. “Maybe Paval was doing a little snooping and stealing himself. The Gallenskis have a master key to every apartment and Paval seems unnecessarily friendly with tenants.”

“It’s possible, I guess; though it could all be Ursula’s doing. Maybe Jasmine didn’t actually say anything to Paval, but confronted Ursula instead. Ursula might have been worried about losing her husband and going to jail.”

“If a tenant had accused either Gallenski of theft, Paval could have lost his job.” Casey folded the letter. “Paval would have known Jasmine’s schedule because he babysat Jeremy, which means Ursula could have found out from him, or she could have just followed Jasmine to the church that morning.”

“What about your work schedule?” Lou asked. “How would she have heard about it?”

“By calling the office and posing as a friend. Witnesses said the shooter was a man, though.” Casey watched people return to their vehicles. “I can’t picture Paval doing that, but I can picture Ursula hiring someone to take a shot at me.”

“Wouldn’t the cops have checked everyone’s alibi in the building?”

“They would have asked most of them where they were that morning, but I doubt there were enough officers to follow up on every alibi unless they had a good reason to.”

“I’m thinking the Gallenskis should move up on your suspect list.”

“Definitely.” Casey glanced at cars driving down the ramp from the ferry’s upper parking level. “If Jasmine complained about Ursula to Paval, he might have threatened to evict her. Maybe that’s what prompted her decision