“We won’t touch anything,” Mercedes said.
“I suppose.” Tori led them inside the pool house. Elvira had cleared the area, and the only person inside was Detective Wilson and another man. He lifted a brow when he caught a glimpse of Carlita. “Why is it whenever a body or crime has been committed you’re in the vicinity?”
“I have no idea,” Carlita shook her head. “Just unlucky I guess. The poor woman looks as if she hasn’t been here long.”
“You know I can’t discuss this with you,” Wilson said, and then he spoke to Tori. “We’ll need to question all of your employees as well as the security company you hired for this evening’s party.”
“Of course,” Tori said. “Ms. Torrez has only been an employee of mine for six months or so. She came highly recommended. I don’t know her well, but I will give you whatever information I have.”
“Ma.” Mercedes patted the top of her evening gown where she’d placed her cell phone for safekeeping and then tiptoed off to the side.
Carlita gave her daughter a slow nod.
“Pictures,” Autumn grunted.
Carlita tapped Detective Wilson on the shoulder. “I was wondering if you’d taken the opportunity to check out the changing room or shower area of the pool house for evidence.”
“Not yet.”
“I think I might have seen something on first glance,” Carlita said. “Over here.” She crossed the room. “What a lovely stone fireplace.” She stooped to admire the interior, all the while her eyes scanning it for clues.
Carlita straightened. “I see you have fireplace tools next to it. I wonder if one of those was used as a weapon.” She reached out to touch it and Detective Wilson lunged forward. “Don’t touch that. It’s potential evidence.”
With all of the attention focused on Carlita and the fireplace, Mercedes was able to snap two quick photos of Ava’s body and a shot of the entire room. She slipped the camera behind her back when a second man approached her.
“You’re going to have to leave this area,” the man said as he guided Mercedes out of the pool house.
Detective Wilson turned to Tori. “I need to ask all of you, including you, Mrs. Montgomery, to step outside.”
“Of course.” Tori, Carlita and Autumn, along with Mercedes gathered near the back of the pool.
“Did you get any pictures?” Carlita asked her daughter.
“You took pictures? I never saw you,” Tori said. “I never thought to take pictures.”
“I’m sure you’re in shock,” Carlita said. “Between the gate crasher, someone attacking Byron, the robbery and now this, I’m beginning to think Beachy Bargains Pawn Shop had nothing to do with what is going on around here. Do you think it might be an inside job, as in one of your employees?”
Tori sucked in a breath and briefly closed her eyes. “Iris.”
“What about Iris?” Iris was Tori’s personal assistant, and the two were close. She’d been with Tori for many years, had been by her side after William’s death. Several times, Tori commented she didn’t know what she would do without Iris.
“Iris and Ava could barely tolerate each other,” Tori said. “I was contemplating letting Ava go because the ongoing spats between them were disrupting my entire household.”
Chapter 9
“I thought your staff got along like peaches and cream,” Carlita said.
“They did until Ava started working here.” Tori explained she’d hired Ava after hearing the family she’d previously worked for had fallen on hard times and could no longer afford to keep her. “She came highly recommended and as far as I know, there was never a problem. That was, until she laid eyes on Patrick.”
“Who is Patrick?” Carlita had never heard Tori mention an employee named Patrick.
“Patrick is my new maintenance supervisor, pool maintenance technician as well as my groundskeeper. Morris finally retired and I brought Patrick on board, also highly recommended.”
“By the same people?” Carlita interrupted.
“Mrs. O’Brien told me about Patrick.” Tori shook her head. “He’s done an outstanding job, not to mention he’s an attractive man…a little too attractive apparently. Iris and Ava both took a liking to him and I put part of the blame squarely on Patrick’s shoulders. He enjoyed both women’s attention and I believe he has played the two against each other.”
Tori continued. “I had no idea what was going on until I heard Ava and Iris arguing in the courtyard. Iris accused Ava of hitting on Patrick. Of course, Ava became defensive. I thought the two were going to duke it out right there. Thank goodness, I walked out there when I did. Unfortunately, I had to give both a written reprimand and Iris was upset.”
“Poor Iris,” Carlita murmured.
“Well, at least you won’t have to worry about the women not getting along anymore,” Autumn said.
“Iris wouldn’t hurt a fly,” Tori said. “Even if she didn’t care for Ava. She would never murder or harm anyone.”
“But someone did,” Mercedes said. “Do your employees live here at Montgomery Hall?”
“Yes.”
Two uniformed police officers approached them before Tori could finish answering. “Mrs. Montgomery?”
“Yes. I’m Victoria Montgomery. Is there something you need?”
“We’d like to ask you a few questions.”
“Of course.” Tori followed the officers to the other side of the pool.
Mercedes waited until they were out of earshot. “We need to get our hands on a list of the employees and maybe even scope out the employee living quarters. I think this was an inside job.”
“I’m beginning to suspect the same,” Carlita said. “But Tori hasn’t asked for our help.”
“True.” Mercedes shifted her gaze to the French doors and the crowd milling about inside the drawing room. “I’m sure the rumor mill has already
