Read Online Died with a Bow by Grace Carroll - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Grace Carroll
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last night.”
“That’s easy,” I assured her. “You were at the Bachelor Auction. And so was he. In fact loads of people saw you and talked to you. You’re lucky because I—”
“No, I’m not lucky. I spent the night at the hotel and I wasn’t alone.”
I held my breath. Was Dolce going to tell me she’d spent the night with the dashing ex-pilot? That would be great news, great for Dolce’s otherwise single existence and great in terms of having an alibi.
“That’s good,” I said.
“No, it’s not. I spent the night with William.”
“Did you tell Jack that?” I asked.
“Of course not. What would he think of me?”
I couldn’t believe how old-fashioned Dolce was, thinking Jack would be shocked that a fifty-something-year-old woman would spend the night in a hotel with a man she wasn’t married to.
“Besides,” she continued, “then Detective Wall would call William and, I don’t know, bring him in to verify my alibi. I can’t have that.”
“I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if it’s a matter of clearing your name in a murder investigation, would he?”
“I don’t know and I’m not going to find out. I told the detective that I spent the night at the hotel alone.”
“But, Dolce, you can’t lie to the police.”
“I just did,” she said with a touch of defiance. Here was a Dolce I didn’t know. “This is for your ears only, Rita: William is married.”
“Oh,” I said. Wouldn’t you know it. Dolce finds an attractive man in her age bracket who she instantly hits it off with and he’s married. “But his wife wasn’t with him last night.”
“I know. They’re separated.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, there you go.”
“You don’t understand. William is not just separated, he’s in the midst of a nasty divorce, and he has to keep his reputation squeaky clean or risk losing everything. His retirement, his yacht and his condo.”
“Yes, but, Dolce…” I didn’t want to say “But you risk losing your freedom and your reputation,” but I thought it.
“I can’t talk about this anymore, Rita,” she said. “I’m going to call the cleaning service, and then I’m going to bed. I’m exhausted.”
I pictured Dolce curled up under her soft sheets and cashmere blanket, determined to stay there until morning. I knewshe’d be at the door at nine tomorrow to welcome customers as if nothing had happened. She was the consummate saleswoman and would rise to the occasion no matter how she was hurting. The part I was worried about was her withholding information from the authorities.
I was full of nervous energy, tired from swimming and yet keyed up and eager to do something besides think about Vienna, Dolce or her new boyfriend. I wanted the time to fly, for it to be tomorrow already, when I’d be back where I belonged, in the front of the store selling clothes and accessories to San Francisco’s most stylish and richest women. Was it wrong to be glad Vienna was gone? Probably, but I couldn’t help it. She’d taken my place, both in Dolce’s regard and in the store.
But did I want her dead? No. I’d just wanted her gone. I’d gotten my wish, but now Jack Wall had me on his suspect list. It remained to be seen if it was a good tradeoff. The best thing for me to do was to maintain my innocence and find the real murderer. Not that Jack wanted my help. He most certainly did not. He never had, even when I’d offered. Even when I’d found the murderer the last time I was involved and handed him over to Jack. If Jack was grateful, why hadn’t he invited me over to dinner as he’d promised? Too busy? Too chagrined that I’d been the one who figured it out?
So Jack didn’t want my help. Then I’d do what I could on my own without telling him or anyone. After hanging up with Dolce, I noticed the message machine on my home phone was flashing. When I pressed the button, I heard Dr. Jonathan’s voice.
“Rita, what’s going on?” he said. “You didn’t
“That’s easy,” I assured her. “You were at the Bachelor Auction. And so was he. In fact loads of people saw you and talked to you. You’re lucky because I—”
“No, I’m not lucky. I spent the night at the hotel and I wasn’t alone.”
I held my breath. Was Dolce going to tell me she’d spent the night with the dashing ex-pilot? That would be great news, great for Dolce’s otherwise single existence and great in terms of having an alibi.
“That’s good,” I said.
“No, it’s not. I spent the night with William.”
“Did you tell Jack that?” I asked.
“Of course not. What would he think of me?”
I couldn’t believe how old-fashioned Dolce was, thinking Jack would be shocked that a fifty-something-year-old woman would spend the night in a hotel with a man she wasn’t married to.
“Besides,” she continued, “then Detective Wall would call William and, I don’t know, bring him in to verify my alibi. I can’t have that.”
“I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if it’s a matter of clearing your name in a murder investigation, would he?”
“I don’t know and I’m not going to find out. I told the detective that I spent the night at the hotel alone.”
“But, Dolce, you can’t lie to the police.”
“I just did,” she said with a touch of defiance. Here was a Dolce I didn’t know. “This is for your ears only, Rita: William is married.”
“Oh,” I said. Wouldn’t you know it. Dolce finds an attractive man in her age bracket who she instantly hits it off with and he’s married. “But his wife wasn’t with him last night.”
“I know. They’re separated.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, there you go.”
“You don’t understand. William is not just separated, he’s in the midst of a nasty divorce, and he has to keep his reputation squeaky clean or risk losing everything. His retirement, his yacht and his condo.”
“Yes, but, Dolce…” I didn’t want to say “But you risk losing your freedom and your reputation,” but I thought it.
“I can’t talk about this anymore, Rita,” she said. “I’m going to call the cleaning service, and then I’m going to bed. I’m exhausted.”
I pictured Dolce curled up under her soft sheets and cashmere blanket, determined to stay there until morning. I knewshe’d be at the door at nine tomorrow to welcome customers as if nothing had happened. She was the consummate saleswoman and would rise to the occasion no matter how she was hurting. The part I was worried about was her withholding information from the authorities.
I was full of nervous energy, tired from swimming and yet keyed up and eager to do something besides think about Vienna, Dolce or her new boyfriend. I wanted the time to fly, for it to be tomorrow already, when I’d be back where I belonged, in the front of the store selling clothes and accessories to San Francisco’s most stylish and richest women. Was it wrong to be glad Vienna was gone? Probably, but I couldn’t help it. She’d taken my place, both in Dolce’s regard and in the store.
But did I want her dead? No. I’d just wanted her gone. I’d gotten my wish, but now Jack Wall had me on his suspect list. It remained to be seen if it was a good tradeoff. The best thing for me to do was to maintain my innocence and find the real murderer. Not that Jack wanted my help. He most certainly did not. He never had, even when I’d offered. Even when I’d found the murderer the last time I was involved and handed him over to Jack. If Jack was grateful, why hadn’t he invited me over to dinner as he’d promised? Too busy? Too chagrined that I’d been the one who figured it out?
So Jack didn’t want my help. Then I’d do what I could on my own without telling him or anyone. After hanging up with Dolce, I noticed the message machine on my home phone was flashing. When I pressed the button, I heard Dr. Jonathan’s voice.
“Rita, what’s going on?” he said. “You didn’t
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