“Murder usually is. And how does Jonas figure into this?” Rappaport asked.
“He doesn’t. While I was waiting for you, I called him.”
“Why?”
“You have to ask?”
Rappaport stuffed his notebook back into his pocket. “No, I suppose I don’t. Besides being your significant other, he’s helped you solve four other murders.”
At that moment, Zeke Willet walked into the study. He didn’t knock first. With short blond hair and dark brown eyes, his arrogantly square jaw said he didn’t have to knock.
“Don’t you think that’s kind of weird?” he asked Detective Rappaport. “Mrs. Swanson has been involved in four other murder cases, and now this one. Finding bodies and being around killers seem to be her MO.”
Daisy had had arguments with Zeke Willet before. Suddenly she felt all her fight come back. “This is the first body I’ve found.”
“You sound proud of that,” he returned. “As if it’s some kind of accomplishment.”
She knew her cheeks were reddening because her face was getting hot.
Rappaport must have seen that. “Willet, are you faulting Mrs. Swanson because she has good deductive skills, maybe better than we do?”
“She’s been lucky,” Zeke Willet returned.
But Rappaport just rubbed his chin. “I’m not sure lucky enters into it. She knows how to ask questions, and she doesn’t treat everyone she meets as if they were hostile witnesses. You might be better served to do the same.”
Zeke Willet’s face turned ruddy. “Why are you encouraging her?”
“I’m not encouraging her,” Detective Rappaport protested. “I’ve warned her more times than I can count to stay away from our cases. But the truth is, now and then, she provides us with good information. So don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. How’s the crime scene coming?”
Still scowling, the detective answered, “It’s going to take a while. We can’t move everyone outside because it’s simply too cold. Officer Schwartz has interrogated a few of the witnesses in his patrol car and kept the heat running. We let them go home.”
“Which ones?”
“Cora Sue Bauer and Mr. Copeland. Tamlyn went to her quarters upstairs. Schwartz is finishing with Miss Korn now. Speaking of hostile, Arden Botterill is acting as if she had something to hide . . . Glenda Nurmi too. I questioned both of them. They’re all coming down to the station tomorrow to sign their statements.”
Daisy doubted Arden had anything to hide. She simply didn’t like being questioned.
Suddenly Jonas stood in the doorway to the study. His gaze took them all in at a glance. “Are you finished with Daisy?” he asked Detective Rappaport.
“I might have to question her again tomorrow, or Zeke will.”
Daisy felt her phone vibrate in the pocket of her apron. It had a reverberating tuba sound that let her hear it even when the tea garden was busy. Throughout questioning, she’d kept the phone on vibrate. Now she took it from her pocket and started when she saw the caller ID on the screen. It was Vi.
“I have to take this,” she said.
Rappaport motioned Zeke outside the door into the hallway. Jonas stood by Daisy’s chair.
“Mom, I’ve gone into labor. I called Willa and she’s on her way. Can you come?”
“How far apart are the contractions?”
“Four minutes. Does that mean the baby’s going to come soon? They’re really strong.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. I’ll be there in under ten minutes. Hold tight, honey.”
When Daisy looked up at Jonas, he asked, “Is Vi in labor?”
She nodded.
Holding her arm, Jonas led her past Detective Rappaport and Detective Willet. He explained, “Daisy’s going to be a grandmother. If you have any questions, you’ll have to call her tomorrow.”
Both men looked surprised . . . but neither uttered a word.
* * *
In spite of his former law enforcement training, or maybe because of it, Jonas sped Daisy to the apartment over her garage while she texted Jazzi to come home directly from school. They parked in the driveway, then Daisy jumped out of the car, ran inside the garage and up the stairs. Her heart pounded and not just from running.
Foster met her at the head of the stairs.
The apartment was decidedly tight on space. It was one open room really, except for a bedroom that had a connecting bath with a sink, commode, and walk-in shower. When the architect had consulted with Vi and Foster, they’d decided to design a bigger bedroom rather than to try to wall off space for a nursery. A screen separated the couple’s area from the crib. They were hoping that by the end of the baby’s first year they could rent a bigger place somewhere else.
“How is she?” Daisy asked breathlessly.
“She’s asking for you,” Foster said, looking stressed out.
“But Willa’s here?”
“Yes, and she said everything’s normal, whatever the heck that means.”
“Let’s go find out.” Daisy headed for the bedroom area.
Jonas reached the apartment as Daisy was ready to head into the bedroom. He called to her. “Do you want me to stay or go?”
Would Jonas rather go to his own place and wait to hear about the baby, or did he really want to stay here with her? “It’s up to you,” she said when their eyes met.
“I’ll stay,” he said. “I can be handy if you need something special.”
“Thank you.” It was all she could manage before she turned to go to her daughter and the baby she was about to deliver.
Daisy knew that Willa had attended the midwifery program at the University of Pennsylvania. She had two certifications, one given by the American Midwifery Certification Board, and another to be a women’s health nurse practitioner. Vi had asked Willa a variety of questions before hiring her: Do you have experience with turning babies? Do you do gestational diabetes screening? What is your hospital transfer rate?
Vi had also asked herself questions to see if Willa was a good fit. Would she want Willa to be her friend? Did she allow all the questions Vi and Foster wanted to ask? Did Vi enjoy being with Willa? How did Foster respond to
