Read Online The Azalea Assault by Alyse Carlson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Alyse Carlson
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she didn’t comment for what seemed a long time. “You know I haven’t slept that hard since after my last husband died, and that was with the help of sleeping pills.”
“But you didn’t take any last night?”
“No. After the party I thought I might need one. You
know
it didn’t go well.” She looked at Cam earnestly and kept driving. “Joseph stayed for a nightcap. He does that now and again. We debated old movies and the true meaning of chivalry. He loves old fantasy books and movies full of knights and dragons and princesses—he joked about a duel with… but… never mind. Seems so awful, now. It calmed me, though. Joseph has some very old-fashionedideas about honor, you know, but to me he’s like an old shoe—not all that attractive, but worn to a perfect fit. Neil stopped by, too, after Evangeline went to bed, just, well… you know… to see how I was—we’ve been friends a long time. He stayed for a drink and then left. Then, when I was alone again, I had a cup of tea and was out soon after.”
“So you slept what? Ten hours?”
“Almost eleven. I know it’s shocking, but Francine was here from six o’clock this morning and knows the truth of it.”
“She’s your housekeeper?”
“Cook, mostly. Though she does some other things. She says she tried to wake me at eight and I just mumbled to her through the door. I didn’t get up until after eleven.”
“Samantha.” The woman’s first name felt strange on Cam’s lips, and caused Samantha to turn toward Cam, even though she was driving. “There isn’t anybody who’d want you to sleep that hard, is there?”
Samantha paused, staring, but finally realized what Cam meant. “Do I think someone drugged me? Heavens, no! Who would? Not Joseph. Certainly not Neil. Nobody else was…”
Cam wondered what idea had interrupted Samantha’s thoughts. Samantha seemed to have missed Cam’s reasoning, but that was just as well. “You didn’t happen to save that cup of tea, did you?”
One eyebrow went down in thought. “It may still be in my room. Normally I leave it in the kitchen sink, but I fell asleep too quickly.”
“I don’t want to alarm you, but it sounds like someone might have wanted you asleep all night, and… well… if you can prove someone slipped you sleeping pills, then if anyone thinks you’re a suspect that would help prove you couldn’t have done it.”
“Oh! Do they think I did it? I wouldn’t!”
“I don’t think so, no. But not coming to La Fontaine or answering your phone this morning is suspicious, where… your teacup would cancel that out. See what I mean?” Shehoped she was reassuring, even if, had she been the investigator, Samantha would be near the top of her list. She thought an angry lover was as likely a suspect as a jealous spouse, but she knew Samantha didn’t know she’d overheard the fight. Besides, as part of RGS, Cam preferred to keep Samantha out of the limelight unless there was real evidence.
“What should I do?”
“Call Jake Moreno. You got his card, right? And tell him what you think might have happened. Don’t touch the cup again. Let him get it, and tell him what I suggested and why.”
“Oh, Cam, you’re wonderful. Thank you!” Samantha then slyly changed subjects. Cam thought she’d had enough of the dark topic. “So how did you meet Rob?”
Cam grinned. “At a Young Media Professionals meeting in Chicago. He worked for the
Sun
but was stuck in Classifieds. It’s hard to move up in big markets when there is so much competition.”
Samantha smiled happily. “So you brought him back here with you?”
“All I had to do was dangle that Roanoke sports reporter position in front of him.” Cam grinned at the memory. Rob had accused her of outplaying him, which had always pleased her, given how important games were to him, but the move had been good for both of them—personally and professionally.
W hen Samantha dropped her off at home, Cam wondered again if it was
“But you didn’t take any last night?”
“No. After the party I thought I might need one. You
know
it didn’t go well.” She looked at Cam earnestly and kept driving. “Joseph stayed for a nightcap. He does that now and again. We debated old movies and the true meaning of chivalry. He loves old fantasy books and movies full of knights and dragons and princesses—he joked about a duel with… but… never mind. Seems so awful, now. It calmed me, though. Joseph has some very old-fashionedideas about honor, you know, but to me he’s like an old shoe—not all that attractive, but worn to a perfect fit. Neil stopped by, too, after Evangeline went to bed, just, well… you know… to see how I was—we’ve been friends a long time. He stayed for a drink and then left. Then, when I was alone again, I had a cup of tea and was out soon after.”
“So you slept what? Ten hours?”
“Almost eleven. I know it’s shocking, but Francine was here from six o’clock this morning and knows the truth of it.”
“She’s your housekeeper?”
“Cook, mostly. Though she does some other things. She says she tried to wake me at eight and I just mumbled to her through the door. I didn’t get up until after eleven.”
“Samantha.” The woman’s first name felt strange on Cam’s lips, and caused Samantha to turn toward Cam, even though she was driving. “There isn’t anybody who’d want you to sleep that hard, is there?”
Samantha paused, staring, but finally realized what Cam meant. “Do I think someone drugged me? Heavens, no! Who would? Not Joseph. Certainly not Neil. Nobody else was…”
Cam wondered what idea had interrupted Samantha’s thoughts. Samantha seemed to have missed Cam’s reasoning, but that was just as well. “You didn’t happen to save that cup of tea, did you?”
One eyebrow went down in thought. “It may still be in my room. Normally I leave it in the kitchen sink, but I fell asleep too quickly.”
“I don’t want to alarm you, but it sounds like someone might have wanted you asleep all night, and… well… if you can prove someone slipped you sleeping pills, then if anyone thinks you’re a suspect that would help prove you couldn’t have done it.”
“Oh! Do they think I did it? I wouldn’t!”
“I don’t think so, no. But not coming to La Fontaine or answering your phone this morning is suspicious, where… your teacup would cancel that out. See what I mean?” Shehoped she was reassuring, even if, had she been the investigator, Samantha would be near the top of her list. She thought an angry lover was as likely a suspect as a jealous spouse, but she knew Samantha didn’t know she’d overheard the fight. Besides, as part of RGS, Cam preferred to keep Samantha out of the limelight unless there was real evidence.
“What should I do?”
“Call Jake Moreno. You got his card, right? And tell him what you think might have happened. Don’t touch the cup again. Let him get it, and tell him what I suggested and why.”
“Oh, Cam, you’re wonderful. Thank you!” Samantha then slyly changed subjects. Cam thought she’d had enough of the dark topic. “So how did you meet Rob?”
Cam grinned. “At a Young Media Professionals meeting in Chicago. He worked for the
Sun
but was stuck in Classifieds. It’s hard to move up in big markets when there is so much competition.”
Samantha smiled happily. “So you brought him back here with you?”
“All I had to do was dangle that Roanoke sports reporter position in front of him.” Cam grinned at the memory. Rob had accused her of outplaying him, which had always pleased her, given how important games were to him, but the move had been good for both of them—personally and professionally.
W hen Samantha dropped her off at home, Cam wondered again if it was
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