I couldn’t call Detective Murphy either, but for very different reasons. I had a feeling that if he knew what Jenny and I were up to, he wouldn’t approve.
It was just one more question I was going to have to file away.
For now, there wasn’t much I could do about it.
DID YOU FIND ANYTHING ELSE?” I ASKED JENNY AS I walked out of the bedroom with the suitcases. She’d taken the clothes we presumed belonged to Mindi Mills, and I deposited the suitcases beside the bag near the door.
“Nothing,” she said. “I’m afraid I’m not much of a detective.”
“I think you’re doing a great job. You found the keys, didn’t you? That’s more than I can say.”
“I’m sure you would have found them if you’d looked at Derrick’s shoes first instead of me,” she said, but I could tell she looked a little pleased by my praise.
“Don’t bet on it. I just wish I knew what they unlocked.”
“We could always ask Cary,” she said.
“Maybe if we get desperate, but for right now, let’s just keep it between the two of us.”
Jenny looked at me with a slight bit of concern in her eyes. “Do you mean we should keep the fact that we found them from Zach, too?”
“Of course not. If I talk to him again, I’ll be sure to mention it.”
Jenny shook her head. “If you talk to him? Savannah, you two will work this out.”
“I know, but that man can be so stubborn sometimes.”
At that comment, Jenny started laughing. I looked at her for a second, and then asked, “What’s so funny?”
“If anybody knows what stubborn looks like, it would be you.”
I chuckled softly myself. “I’d like to dispute that, but we both know that I can’t.”
My phone started quacking, and I couldn’t help but smile. “That would be my husband,” I said.
“Would you like some privacy?” Jenny asked as she stepped away. “I’ll go in the bedroom and wait.”
“You’re fine,” I told her, and then answered, “Stone Investigations,” in my best, most professional voice.
“Sometimes I wonder if you’re not the better detective in the family at that. What have you and Jenny been up to?”
“More than I can say over the phone,” I answered.
“Then why don’t we get together and discuss it,” he said.
“Have you made up your mind about what you’re going to do?” I asked, trying to remember to breathe as I did.
“Savannah, there won’t be any decisions made until we both discuss this and come to an agreement.”
“And what if we can’t?” I asked, my voice suddenly growing softer.
“Then I turn them down without discussion. You’re more important to me than any job. You know that, don’t you?”
“Of course I do,” I said. “But it’s still good to hear every now and then.”
“I’ll try to do better,” he said. “Are you two still at Jenny’s?”
“No, sir,” I said, my mood suddenly lightened. “We’ve been busy since you left. At the moment, we’re in Derrick’s suite at the Crest Hotel. We just finished searching the place for clues, and we found a few things that are pretty interesting.”
“Savannah, have you lost your mind? You can’t interfere with an active police investigation like that.”
I took a deep breath, and then asked, “Are you through scolding me?”
“For now,” he said grudgingly.
“The police released his room hours ago, and we got Cary Duncan’s blessing to search the suite.”
He whistled. “How’d you manage that?”
I didn’t want to tell him the truth, but I didn’t see that I had much choice. “She caught us searching the place, so Jenny convinced her that we were there to help her take care of Derrick’s belongings so she wouldn’t have to deal with everything herself. Soon enough, she’s going to know that I’m the one who found him, and honestly, how much of a leap is it for her to figure out that I’m a suspect in his murder?”
“I don’t like Cary knowing that you’re involved so deeply in this,” Zach said.
“I’m not thrilled about it either, but she is going to find out sooner or later. I had to take a calculated risk. Besides, if I get into any real trouble, Jenny can bail me out.”
Zach laughed at that, a sound I never grew tired of. “If I’m ever in a jam, I think I want Jenny representing me. You’re in good hands, Savannah.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more,” I said. “We’re about to deliver Derrick’s things to his widow. Would you care to join us?”
“Try and stop me. Where is she staying?”
“She’s at the Brunswick,” I said. “Would you like us to wait for you in the lobby?”
“I’ll be there before you will,” he said. As he was about to hang up, he added, “I really do love you. You know that, don’t you?”
“Right back at you,” I said.
After I hung up, I called out to Jenny, “It’s safe to come out now.”
She walked out, and without waiting for me to say a word, Jenny said, “Good, you two made up.”
“How can you tell?”
“There’s a smile you don’t bring out enough, one that lights up your eyes. You’re displaying it right now.”
“You always were great at reading me. We’re going to return these things to Cary at the Brunswick Hotel. Zach’s going to meet us in the lobby.”
“Sounds good,” she said.
As I opened the door to the suite, a young woman with platinum blonde hair and a figure nearly as artificial was hovering just outside.
“My key doesn’t work anymore,” she said. “Who are you?”
“We’re friends of Derrick,” I said, truly stretching the truth beyond its breaking point. “And you are?”
She didn’t answer, instead pointing at the bags near the door. “Those belong to Derrick. Are you trying to tell me that he’s okay with you waltzing in here and taking his things?”
“He doesn’t have much to say about it anymore,” I said.
“Why not? What’s going on here?”
“You haven’t heard?” I asked.
“Heard what?” The suspicion was even stronger in her voice and eyes now. “If he thinks he’s dumping me for one of you, he’s sadly mistaken.”
“You’re Mindi, aren’t you?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I am. I’m still waiting to hear who you are.”
“That’s not important,” I said. “When’s the last time you saw Derrick?”
“Three days ago,” she said. “I had to leave town, but he knew I was coming back. I’m getting tired of this. Tell me who you are and what you’re doing here, or I’m going to call the police.”
“Mindi, I don’t know how to tell you this,” I said, “but I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news for you. Derrick’s dead.”
She looked as though she’d been hit between the eyes with a sledgehammer. One second she was standing there talking to us, and the next, she was plummeting to the floor in a dead faint.
As Jenny and I rushed to her, my old roommate said, “Man, you’ve got a lot to learn about giving someone bad news.”
“What should I have said?”
“I’m not sure, but I’m guessing there was a better way of handling it than just blurting it out like that.”
“I’ll get some water,” I said.
Jenny nodded as she knelt down. “She’s out cold. It should wake her up.”
“I’m not getting it for her. I’m thirsty.”
“Not funny, Savannah. She took it really hard, didn’t she?”
