“Why did you go out at all?”
“Because I didn’t want my friends to know I chickened out. I didn’t tell them about the call. I wasn’t planning on telling anyone.”
Peggy closed her notebook. Ronda didn’t have any more of an alibi than Angela, Keeley, or Mr. Cheever. Any of them could have killed Mark. Ronda and Angela seemed to have less motivation than Keeley. It sounded like their affair was all fun and games. Unless Mark threatened to tell her husband. But he seemed to have as much to lose by that as she did since Bob McGee was his boss.
It was possible whoever called to warn her off was the killer. Maybe somehow the killer knew if Ronda didn’t show up at the Omni, Mark would go to the Potting Shed. That made it sound like Keeley.
“Peggy? What are you thinking? I swear I didn’t kill Mark. I know we went to your shop sometimes, but I wouldn’t meet him there to have sex! I always thought Mark was a little conspicuous about the whole thing. Everyone I know is really careful not to get caught. It was like Mark
“Did he ever say anything about his marriage? Any possible reason he might want Julie to know he was cheating?”
“No. We never talked about her. She and I have lunch once in a while. I tried not to think about it.”
That was all Peggy could think to ask. “If the case goes to trial for my friend, his lawyer might contact you. The only way to help him might be to prove other people who were involved with Mark could’ve done the deed as well.”
Ronda didn’t have much choice. “Isn’t it enough that college girl was having sex with him? Doesn’t that prove anyone could do it?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“It’s bad enough I have to go and be tested for STDs after finding out he was having sex with that girl. I don’t want to lose my marriage over it. I hope you’ll take that into consideration.”
Peggy bristled at hearing Keeley referred to as “that girl,” but reassured Ronda, “I hope the police find the real killer before Mr. Cheever ever goes to trial, for your sake as well as everyone else’s.”
“Thanks. I really didn’t kill Mark.” She put on her sunglasses and picked up her pocketbook. “Good luck finding who did.”
Mark’s death was getting more complicated. Every conversation she had with the many women in his life ended up with another suspect. Any of them could be responsible. She wasn’t sure how to tell the killer out of the group of suspects. But someone killed him, and she was sure it wasn’t Mr. Cheever or Keeley.
Selena was glad to see Peggy, especially without the big dog. “Sorry you lost him. I guess he would’ve been some company for you. I hate to think of you locking up by yourself and going home to that big, empty house.”
“You know, I never felt sorry for myself until you put it like
“I didn’t mean it that way. You have a busy life and all. I just meant . . . never mind. Tell me about Keeley.”
Peggy told her what she knew. “It sounds bad for Keeley. If the police hadn’t already built a case against Mr. Cheever, I’m sure they would’ve taken her into custody.”
“Wow!” Selena’s eyes were wide with wonder. “Imagine Keeley and that rich
“He wasn’t that old. He was only thirty-nine.”
“That’s almost old enough to be her
Peggy put on her apron and stood beside her. “Did I tell you that I might be dating again?”
Selena smacked herself in the head. “I know. But I didn’t mean
“He’s forty-five. I was fifty-two in September.”
“I think I’m leaving now before I say anything else.” She picked up her book bag. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Peggy. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help Keeley.”
Peggy laughed at her. “Bye, sweetie. Don’t worry. The old people of the world who are still having sex aren’t going to come after you. You’re young, and you don’t know any better. We make allowances for that.”
It was only two hours until closing when Selena left. Sam called in, and Peggy told him everything that had happened. They were due for another shipment of pansies that would be planted outside the uptown library building. With Keeley gone, other arrangements would have to be made.
“I’ll call Dawn or Brenda,” Peggy told him. “One of them might be able to help with the planting. Do you have a design in mind?”
“Yeah. I had this swirly kind of universe-in-motion idea. But the library board didn’t like it. They want straight rows. No imagination.”
“I guess that says it all. What time is the shipment due tonight?”
“It shouldn’t be too late. Maybe you could go and get supper, then come back. I’m sorry I can’t be there.”
“That’s okay, Sam. I’ll be fine. I’ll talk to you later.”
Peggy decided not to go out for dinner. She ran to Emil’s shop and picked up some tea and a bagel. She didn’t need any rich, French food or spicy Caribbean. What she really needed was some time to mull over everything that had happened. Somewhere, all of it made sense.
