Liz stepped inside. Light jazz played in the background. She glanced at his desk, covered in papers, and felt a stab of guilt for not coming by to help with the filing.
“I’m so happy you caught me,” he said. “I was on my way to the kitchen to make a sandwich. “What can I get you?”
“I’ll have whatever you’re having. Do you mind if I use your computer to print out something I want to show you?”
“Sure, be my guest.” He opened the door to his apartment and walked in, then closed the door behind him.
Liz sat in his chair at the desk and signed on to her e-mail account. She opened the suspect list she’d made at the library and added what she’d learned from Mrs. Ingles. She printed out a copy for her father and herself, e-mailed a copy to Betty and Ryan, then reread what she’d written.
David Worth –—Husband of murder victim. Got stabbed in shoulder, need to find out if it was self-inflicted, but doubtful because he wasn’t arrested. Gets nothing from the will.
Iris Kimball—Needs money to help her mother. Captain Netherton was with her on night of the murder as an alibi. She went in and saw Regina first. Said Regina was choked with an Ace bandage. Had champagne bottle and two glasses in her room—Captain Netherton?
Captain Clyde B. Netherton—Had possible affair with Regina, Iris, and others. Bought Regina expensive perfume. Was with Iris at the time of the murder.
Francie Jenkins—Threw rock at the Worths’ Bentley. Lied about where she was during the murder? Vice president of the Barrier Island Historical Society. Trying to stop the demolition of Castlemara. Her parents were friends of Regina’s parents. Possible affair between Francie’s father and Regina’s mother.
Edward Goren—Former salvager and treasure hunter. Problems with his son, Nick. Alibi?
Brittany Poole—Known thief. Doesn’t pay her bills. Materialistic. Dating Nick Goren.
Nick Goren—Son of Edward Goren. Doesn’t get along with his father. Gave Brittany a piece of jewelry that was in the showcase in his father’s shop, Gold Coast by the Sea.
Someone outside the Indialantic—Knew Regina would be wearing the jewels to Vero Beach Treasure Coast Ball. A simple robbery?
Her father opened the door from his apartment and said, “Lunch is on the table.”
Liz shut down the laptop, pulled the papers from the printer, and went inside the apartment. On the table was a cream-cheese and green olive sandwich and a can of root beer. Her father’s cooking ability was a notch above Aunt Amelia’s. A wee notch.
She sat and said, “Thanks, Dad. I’m glad I got you alone. I wanted to go over some things concerning Regina Harrington-Worth’s murder.”
He raised his right eyebrow. “Why am I sure that I’m not going to like this?”
“Oh, you’ll be happy, because it wasn’t just me looking into things. Ryan and Betty are part of the team.”
“‘Team’?” He sat down across from her.
“We haven’t really narrowed it down to a single suspect. That’s why I want to bring you into the fold. And, of course, with your brilliant mind and close connection to Agent Pearson…I would value your input.”
“I like the way you worded that, but I can’t share anything having to do with the case that Charlotte has shared with me.”
“Okay, then just look at this and tell me if there’s anyone I should eliminate as a suspect?” She handed him the list.
“Eat your sandwich, young lady.”
Liz took a large bite and mumbled, “I have more notes at home that I can e-mail you.”
“Is Betty to blame for this?”
Liz smiled. “And you. Remember the case of Kate’s missing surfboard? You told us exactly what to do. After we set up our sting operation, you were there to intimidate the culprits and get back the surfboard.”
“There’s a big difference between a stolen surfboard and a murder. Plus, I’ve only defended murder suspects, not prosecuted them.”
They heard a knocking at the apartment’s inner door leading into the hotel. Her father got up from the table and answered it. Aunt Amelia, Iris, and Agent Pearson stood in the hallway. Iris’s usually stoic face was tearstained.
“What’s going on?” he asked as they stepped inside.
Before Agent Pearson could answer, Aunt Amelia said, “Iris needs a lawyer. She’s going to be arrested, and I assured her that you would take her case.”
Liz got up from the table. “Arrested for what?”
Agent Pearson ignored Liz’s question. “Fenton, are you going to take her case? I need to know. I have a deputy waiting outside.”
Aunt Amelia came to him and took both of her nephew’s hands in hers. “Everyone needs a good defense attorney, as you’ve told me yourself.”
“I didn’t kill anyone, if that’s what you’re thinking!” Iris shouted, breaking out of her stupor.
“Ms. Kimball, don’t say another word. I’ll meet you at the courthouse,” Fenton said.
“Thank you, Mr. Holt,” she said with tear-filled eyes.
At least he hadn’t said the word “jail.” The courthouse and jail were in the same building.
“And, Charlotte,” he added. “I don’t think you need to put her in handcuffs. Unless you’re charging her with a capital offense?”
“Not as yet, I’m not. Okay. No handcuffs. We’ll see you there.”
Liz saw that one of the pages from her suspect list had fallen to the floor. Unfortunately, so did Agent Pearson.
Before Liz could grab it, Agent Pearson swooped in and snatched it up. “What do we have here?” she asked, adding a tsk-tsk sound.
“That is private,” Fenton said.
She looked down at the paper. “I see Iris Kimball’s name on here.”
Iris shot them a dirty look.
Fenton snatched it from her hand. “Thank you, Charlotte. It’s simply a list of all the people who were around at the time of the murder.”
Agent Pearson didn’t look at him in anger. Instead, the detective seemed to view him as a worthy opponent—the game now afoot. She glanced at Liz, then back at Fenton with a smile. “Well,
