The Beef Bourguignon was in two cast-iron Dutch ovens that had to be handled with thick asbestos mitts. Delaney and Boone carried the pots into the dining room and set them on trivets. Samuelson handled the salad bowl and baskets of hot, crusty French bread. Then Diane Ellerbee put out a '78 California cabernet sauvignon.
'That's beautiful,' Delaney said, examining the label.
'The last of the last case,' their hostess said sadly.
'Simon and I loved it so much. We kept it for special occasions. Mr.
Delaney, would you uncork the bottles?'
'My pleasure,' he said.
'All of them?'
'All,' she said firmly.
'Once you taste it, you'll know why.'
They had plenty of room at the long table. The hostess sat at the head and filled plates with the stew, and small wooden bowls with the salad.
'It's heaven,' Monica said.
'Diane, you'll never make me believe this is stew meat.'
'As a matter of fact, it's sirloin. Please, when you're ready for seconds, help yourself; I'm too busy eating.'
They were all busy eating, but not too busy to keep the talk flowing.
Abner Boone was seated next to Monica, and Rebecca was paired with Dr.
Samuelson. Delaney sat on the right of the hostess.
'I hope,' he said, leaning toward her, 'you weren't upset by the conversation before dinner. All that talk about crime and punishment.'
'I wasn't upset at all,' she assured him.
'I found it fascinating. So many viewpoints…'
'I was a little hard on psychiatrists,' he admitted.
'I'm really not that hostile toward your profession. I was just-'
'I know what you were just,' she interrupted.
'You were trying to get an argument started to wake everyone up. You succeeded brilliantly, and I'm grateful for it.'
'That's me,' he said with a wry smile.
'The life of the party. One thing you said surprised me.'
'Oh? What was that?'
'Your objection to capital punishment. After what you've been through, I'd have thought you'd be in favor of the death penalty.
'No,' she said shortly, 'I'm not. I want Simon's murderer caught and punished. To the limit of the law. But I don't believe in an eye for an eye.
He was saved from replying by Dr. Samuelson, who raised a hand and called in a squeaky voice, 'A question!' They all quieted and turned to him.
'Will anyone object if I sop up my gravy with chunks of this marvelous bread?'
There were no objections.
As the hostess had predicted, the wine went swiftly, and the stew and salad were almost totally consumed. Later, when the table was cleared, the women went into the kitchen, shooing the men back to the living room. The room had become chilly, and Samuelson added two more pressed logs to the fireplace.
'There's central heating, of course,' he told the others, 'but Diane prefers to keep the thermostat low and use the fireplaces.'
'Can't blame her for that,' Abner Boone said.
'Saves on fuel, and an open fire is something special. But shouldn't she have a screen?'
'I think there's one around,' Samuelson said vaguely, 'but she doesn't use it.'
They sat staring into the rejuvenated blaze.
'I was afraid we might have upset Doctor Ellerbee,' Delaney said to Samuelson, 'with all our talk about murders. But she says no.'
'Diane is a very strong woman,' Samuelson said.
'She has made a very swift recovery from the trauma of Simon's death.
Only occasionally now do I see how it has affected her. Suddenly she is sad, or sits in silence, staring at nothing. It is to be expected. It was a terrible shock, but she is coping.'
'I suppose her work helps,' Boone said.
'Oh, yes. Dealing with other people's problems is excellent therapy for your own. I speak from personal experience.
Not a total cure, you understand, but a help. Tell me, Mr. Delaney, you are making progress in the investigation?'
'Some,' he said cautiously.
'As Doctor Ellerbee probably told you, we're still working on the alibis. I haven't yet thanked you for getting her to cooperate.'
Samuelson held up a hand.
'I was happy to assist. And do you think any of the patients she named might have been capable of the murder?'
'Too early to tell. We've eliminated two of them. But there's one, a woman, who claims an alibi that doesn't seem to hold up – '
'Oh? Did Diane give you any background on her?'
'Suffers from depression. And she has attempted suicide several times.
Once since we started questioning her.'
'Well…' the psychiatrist said doubtfully, 'she may be the one you seek, but I find it hard to believe. I can't recall a case when a suicidal type turned to homicide. I am not saying it could not happen, you understand, but the potential suicide and the potential murderer have little in common. Still, human behavior is endlessly different, so do not let my comments influence your investigation.'
'Oh, they won't,' Delaney said cheerfully.
'We'll keep plugging.'
The women came in, and the men rose. They talked for a while, and then, catching Monica's look, Delaney suggested it might be time for them to depart, not knowing what traffic would be like on Saturday night. The hostess protested-but not too strongly.
They thanked Dr. Ellerbee for her hospitality, the wonderful food, and complimented her again on her beautiful home.
'Do plan to come back,' she urged them.
'In the spring or summer when the trees are out and the garden is planted. I think you'll like it.'
'I know we shall,' Monica said. She and Rebecca embraced their hostess and they were on their way.
On the drive back to Manhattan, Delaney said, 'Do you suppose Samuelson is staying for the weekend?'
'You dirty old man,' Monica said.
'What if he does?'
'She's got three servants,' Abner Boone said.
'The Polack couple and him.'
'Oh, you picked up on that, did you?' Delaney said.
'You're right.
'Julie, mix the drinks. Julie, get the coffee.' He hops. '
'I think he's in love with her,' Rebecca said.
'Well, why not?' Monica said.
'A widow and a widower.
With so much in common. I think it's nice they have each other.'
'He's too old for her,' the Sergeant said.
