Vi knew that feeling. “A weight that brings with it a lack of interest in anything.”
“Except feeling guilty,” Rita said. “I just—” She couldn’t finish.
“It helps to focus on something else and give your heart and mind time to feel what it has to feel.”
“I don’t want to stay in this room, but I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Let’s help Jack then,” Vi suggested.
“I—” Rita paused. “I’m so angry, too. I don’t know if I can keep from screaming.”
Vi thought for a moment and then said, “I’ll be right back.”
She darted down the stairs and found Hargreaves in the butler’s pantry. She explained what she wanted and then raced back up the stairs. Rita gave Vi a desultory glance and then returned her gaze to the fireplace.
“Prepare for an audience,” Vi said with a grin. A moment later, Hargreaves appeared in the doorway with a tray of china.
“What’s this?” Rita asked.
Vi rolled her eyes, gestured for Hargreaves to set it on the bed, and then dragged her friend away from the fireplace to the end of the bed. Vi turned, winked at Rita, and then picked up one of the thick crystal glasses that Jack used for whiskey.
Vi rolled it across her hand and then turned and threw it as hard as she could. Her years of playing cricket with her twin and his best friends gave her speed and form. The glass crashed against the fireplace, shattered, and then a loud, excited laugh escaped from her.
“That was wonderful!” Vi crowed. “Do it, do it, do it!”
Rita stared, but there was something in her expression as she took a glass from Hargreaves and threw it as hard as she could.
“Ha!” A moment later, she added softly, “That was wonderful.”
Vi gestured to the tray and Rita threw another. She let out a half-delighted, half-horrified scream and then laughed. Another glass followed almost immediately after and then Rita laughed again.
“What the devil!” Ham called and Vi picked up one the glasses, let it roll over her fingers, and handed it to Rita, who threw it with as much force as she could muster.
She turned to her husband and laughed. Ham’s eyes shone with more fluid than normal and Vi grinned at him, winked, and then passed Rita another glass. She threw it, laughed with a note of hysteria, and then made a sort of gasping cry as she set the next glass down and threw herself at Ham.
“I’m sorry,” Rita cried.
“It’s not your fault,” he replied. “It’s just…life.”
Somehow that was the right thing to say and Rita clung more tightly to Ham, who nodded at Vi in gratitude as he stepped to the side to let her slip out of the room. Vi closed the door and glanced at Hargreaves.
“I apologize for the mess,” Vi said.
“I’ve never been happier to see one made,” he told Vi with approval. They both turned and found their whole crowd of friends watching.
Vi said, “It’s possible our glassware has been culled.”
Jack took her face between his hands and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “That was the laughing I heard?”
She nodded.
“It was well worth it then,” Jack said. “I need to go back to Mrs. Meyers.”
“Why?” Denny asked. “It’s not like we owe her anything, and you aren’t assigned to this case by your supervisor. You could just…not.”
Jack paused and rubbed the back of his neck. “I find murder personally offensive and the injustice keeps me awake at night,” he stated in a staunch tone.
Denny lifted his brows and nodded, but it was evident he didn’t feel the same.
Violet smiled at Jack before she added, “Rita is mildly interested, so whatever it takes. She needs time and distraction. We can give it to her, can’t we?”
Denny nodded and Lila whispered, “Should we stay? Are we helping or making it worse?”
They all looked towards Jack and Vi. She didn’t know and shrugged her reply before looking at Jack, who answered. “Rita doesn’t want to go home yet. She doesn’t want to go back to that house at all.”
“She can stay here, of course,” Vi said. “Or, we could go back to the country. Or the Amalfi Coast?”
They all eyed each other and then nodded as if they’d reached the same conclusion at once.
“We’ll stay until they’re ready,” Kate voiced for them all.
“Why don’t I go with you, Jack?” Victor asked. “Extra eyes? Maybe I can pretend to be of use.”
Jack’s gaze landed on Vi and then he said, “It would be better for Vi to stay with Rita. Given that Vi seems to be capable of distracting Rita.”
“I’m not going to argue,” Vi told him easily. “This isn’t you trying to cage me, this is you focusing on our friend first.”
Jack huffed a laugh and shook his head slightly at her. “It’s me trying to protect you somewhat, Vi. That woman is a bit—” He shook his head again. “No, not a bit. That woman is mad. Bedlam level, someone bring the straitjacket and the locked room. I don’t want you anywhere near her.”
“Then you had better go arm yourself.”
Jack’s eyes crinkled and she lifted a challenging brow. “I’ll use an ankle holster, shall I?”
Vi paused and then nodded once, her gaze turning to Victor, who said innocently, “I don’t have an ankle holster.”
“Then you’ll be carrying something else.” Kate eyed her husband as though he were a bit dim. “Victor, Jack doesn’t just declare someone mad when the rest of us feel like someone isn’t quite right. If that woman has sent Jack’s worries spiraling, then you need to be doubly careful.”
Victor nodded, not even bothering to argue. Then Denny asked, almost gleefully, “Can I come?”
Jack paused so long Denny deflated, but it seemed they were all feeling a little more generous after the last few days and Jack nodded. “No weapons for you.”
“What about a knife?” Denny asked, with
