Rosa expected that an absence of seawater in Miss Adams’ lungs had been confirmed, which would rule out accidental drowning. It could explain why Mrs. Philpott had been in such a hurry earlier that day. She might’ve heard her husband’s suspicions and figured she’d be picked up by the police for questioning.
Rosa lowered herself onto the opposite end of the couch. “And the cause of death?”
“Not determined, only that drowning has been officially ruled out.” Aunt Louisa crossed her legs dramatically. “I have no idea why they suspect Shirley Philpott. The idea is absurd! The police are off on the wrong trail, just like I thought they would be.” She looked directly at Rosa, “I hope you’ll consider what we talked about earlier. In my opinion, you’re the better choice.”
Rosa suddenly felt bone-weary and would much rather have gone to bed than continue this conversation.
“The police must have their reasons for suspecting Mrs. Philpott, Aunt Louisa. Perhaps it’s better to let Detective Belmonte do his job.”
Gloria squinted, her eyes moving from Rosa to her mother and back again. “What are you both talking about?”
Lips pinching as if she was rather put out at the question, Aunt Louisa cast a glance at her daughter. She must’ve decided that Gloria wouldn’t stay out of the conversation anyway, so gave her a straight answer.
“I want Rosa involved in this case. Someone with her background and training could help get the police on track instead of their wild goose chases that will cause dissension and ill will all over this town.”
Gloria tilted her head. “But Rosa’s a visitor.”
“She’s also unbiased,” Aunt Louisa said. “You know how entwined small towns can be, everyone covering for the other. Rosa’s our best chance of getting to the truth.”
Rosa couldn’t help but feel flattered and a little unnerved by her aunt’s high expectations of her. She did not, however, like being talked about like she wasn’t in the room.
“I’m rather unfamiliar with how things are done in America,” Rosa protested.
“Oh, nonsense. You lived here for years. It’s like riding a bike. Before you know it, you’ll forget you even left.” There was a sparkle of mirth in Aunt Louisa’s eyes, but also a challenge.
Would Rosa back down or accept?
Grandma Sally shuffled into the room and sat upright in one of the chairs.
“What are you still doing up?” Aunt Louisa said.
“I’m not so old that I fall asleep right after dinner. I heard you chattering.”
Aunt Louisa scoffed. “You’re afraid of missing out on the gossip.”
Grandma Sally didn’t deny it. Instead, she looked at Rosa. “I'm afraid I have to agree with Louisa on this one, Rosa. There’s no way that Shirley Philpott murdered her cousin Florence. I think you should get involved.”
“But she’s on vacation!” Gloria complained. “And besides, she just can’t go headlong into a police investigation without authorization.”
Although thankful that Gloria was sticking up for her, Rosa knew her Aunt Louisa was an influential woman who wouldn’t give up once she decided she wanted something.
“Mayor Phillips is in total agreement that Rosa should be invited into this case to help the Santa Bonita Police Department—especially after I explained Rosa’s credentials and that she had more experience in murder cases than Officer Belmonte.”
Rosa’s scalp prickled with humiliation. “You didn’t say that! Aunt Louisa! I’ll be hated and despised by every member of the force! And it’s Detective Belmonte!” Rosa could only imagine what Miguel would think of her now.
Not that she cared.
That much.
Aunt Louisa didn’t seem troubled by Rosa’s outburst. “Didn’t you just solve a murder case in London?”
Before her wedding, Rosa had been part of an investigative team in an open-and-shut case. However, it was the cases she hadn’t solved that stayed with her, and there was one investigation in particular that often kept her awake a night.
Vivien Eveleigh, Rosa’s close childhood friend, had been murdered in 1951, and despite the combined talents of Rosa’s parents and other skilled members of Scotland Yard, the trail had gone cold.
Vivien’s death had left Rosa emotionally traumatized and had propelled her into Vivien’s brother Winston’s vortex. A romance birthed in crisis.
As Aunt Louisa’s guest, Rosa could hardly defy her. “I want to go on record as saying that I protest at being coersed into this investigation.” She glared back at her Aunt Louisa, who appeared to regard Rosa with a surprised expression.
Louisa’s mouth formed a tight line.
Rosa leaned toward her aunt. “I came here intending to have a break from what has been a very stressful time. Frankly, Aunt Louisa, I’m disappointed that you talked to the mayor without my consent. Please don’t do anything like that again.” She paused there to let that sink in.
The silence in the room roared like a freight train. Apparently, the three Hartigan women weren’t used to someone addressing Louisa Forrester in this manner.
“Now,” Rosa began again slowly, “I do realize the gravity of this situation, so I will offer this: I’ll talk to Detective Belmonte tomorrow morning. I'm sure he will have heard from the mayor by then.” She shot her Aunt Louisa another disapproving look. “If I sense any hesitancy, any reticence at the prospect of my working with the police on this case, I will not even entertain the thought any further. Is that clear?”
It took a moment for her aunt to respond. Finally, the corner of her mouth raised in a slight smile, and her eyes brightened with respect. “You are truly your mother’s daughter, young lady.”
8
As a concession, Aunt Louisa offered Rosa unlimited use of the Bel Air. Having first learned to drive in America, Rosa found that switching her reflexes to the right-hand side was, as Aunt Louisa liked to say, like riding a bike.
She parked across from the Santa Bonita Police Department and took a moment to fortify herself, still not believing what she’d agreed to do, and quite certain she was about to make a fool of herself.
The police station in Santa Bonita looked nothing like Scotland Yard,
