Till Death Do Us Bark (23 page)

“Oh, dear.” Arlene stood and delivered the African gray another M&M while Ellie thought. She needed time to figure out whom that voice belonged to. “Mr. Bond was there to take care of things, and the dogs helped, too. They’re the real heroes of the incident.”

Mr. T hopped onto Viv’s lap and she cuddled him close. “Dad knows what the boys did. He might even be coming around to making friends with Twink.” She kissed his pointy muzzle and he licked her lips. “Isn’t that right, sweetie?”

T pulled back a bit.
“It’s Mr. T to your old man, Vivie, and don’t you forget it.”

“Awwwk! Woof! Woof! Woof!”
Myron barked, sounding exactly like a Boston Terrier.
“Awwwk! Awwwk!”

Evan McCready stood, grabbed the African gray’s perch, and marched into the kitchen while the women laughed. He returned a minute later and took his seat. “I wouldn’t go that far, Vivian, but I do see the advantage in having a dog for protection,” he continued as if he hadn’t left the terrace. “Even a small one.”

“And Twink is the best.” Viv scratched his ears. “Aren’t you, baby doll?”

Mr. T wriggled from her arms and jumped to the deck
. “Hey. No more with the mushy stuff in front of the family.”

“And what about me?”
grumped Rudy from below the table.
“I deserve a pat on the head, too.”

Ellie tamed her smile into a modest grin. “Both the dogs were brave. Has Vivian told you about the time Rudy dived onto a woman while she held a gun on me?”

Evan nodded. “She mentioned it, but at the time I thought she was just selling me a tall tale. I can see now that your dog would be game enough to protect you from any bad situation.”

“And on that happy note, I think it’s time we retired, don’t you, dear?” Vanessa asked her husband. “Ellie needs her rest, and so does Arlene.”

Adrianne tossed her napkin onto the table, stuck out her lower lip, and stood. Walking to the stairs, she stomped down the steps without saying good-bye.

Vanessa heaved a sigh. “I’m afraid this has hit Adrianne hard, though I’m not sure why. She’s been acting unusually quiet since Dr. Kent’s death.”

“If you ask me, she’s been sulking like a twelve-year-old,” said Viv. “I bet she wants to party at one of the clubs in Bridgehampton, but she doesn’t want to go alone, and she knows none of us will go with her. It’s typical Adrianne bullshit.”

“Now, Viv, leave your sister alone. She’s trying.”

“She’s
trying,
all right,” Viv muttered. Then she smiled at her parents. “I have an idea. How about if we all go into town and have lunch at the American Hotel one day this week? I hear it’s a Billy Joel hangout. Maybe we’ll see him there.”

“That’s an excellent idea, dear. Evan, what do you think?”

The senior McCready swallowed what Ellie thought was a laugh. “Fine, if that’s what you ladies want.” He gazed at his oldest daughter, who had been quiet through the past exchange. “Think you can handle a public outing, Arlene?”

“If I’m with you all, then yes, but I need to ask a question and I’d appreciate your honesty.”

Viv locked gazes with Ellie, then said, “Shoot, sis, and we’ll do our best to help.”

Arlene took a deep breath. “It’s about a memorial for Martin. I’ve been told word has already gotten out that he’s under investigation by the DEA, and the whole of the Hamptons knows he was murdered because of it.” She sniffed back a tear. “I hate the thought that I came this close”—she held two fingers an inch apart—“to marrying a drug dealer, but I feel I have to show some kind of farewell to my fiancé. Now that his body’s been released, do you think I should actually offer a memorial service?”

Good question, thought Ellie, and one she and Viv had discussed at length. No one spoke, so she took control. “I know I’m not family—”

“Oh, but you are,” said Vanessa.

Arlene dabbed at her eyes. “Mother’s right, Ellie. You’ve been a trouper through this entire episode, especially in agreeing to help free Tomas. Please, speak your mind.”

“Okay, but listen to everything before you comment.” She steeled herself for their opinion. “I promised to assist in finding the real killer, and I’ve come up with a theory. I think there’s a good chance the killer will be here if there’s a memorial.”

“What are you saying?” asked Vanessa.

Evan laid a hand on his wife’s shoulder. “The girl’s right. Haven’t you ever heard the old saw—‘the killer always returns to the scene of the crime’?”

“That’s what I’m hoping for,” Ellie answered, relieved that she had someone in her corner besides Vivian. “I’ve done a bit of investigating and tried to put the pieces together. I think Arlene needs to call everyone who was at the dinner that night and ask them to attend as a personal favor. I’m hoping that might stir the pot a little, and the killer will show. If we ask the right questions, he may incriminate himself.”

“I’ve been in on everything Ellie’s done, and I agree,” added Viv. “She knows what she’s talking about.”

“So you’d be willing to help, Mr. McCready?”

The man gave his first full-blown smile of the weekend. “What I think is it’s about time you called me Evan, young lady. And I do agree. With Agent Bond and Detective Wheeling here, plus me, of course, I’m sure we’ll be able to handle anything that comes up, including a visit from the killer.”

“I’m not sure Mr. Bond or the good detective will want our interference,” said Ellie. “My guess is whatever we decide to do will have to be done on the QT.”

Vanessa’s smile told Ellie exactly what she was thinking. “Then we’ll all be undercover?” She clapped her hands. “Oh, I can’t wait. It sounds like fun.”

 

Vivian, Arlene, and Ellie sat around the terrace table, each woman digging into her own personal-sized container of Caramel Cone. Viv had made a run to the local grocery store when Ellie said she needed something cold for her head, which wasn’t exactly what she meant, but the frigid ice cream was working like a charm at the moment.

“This is fabulous,” said Arlene, licking her spoon with gusto. “I had no idea anyone made ice cream that tasted this good.” She dived in for another helping and swallowed it down. “And my babies think so, too.”

She dug into the container, careful to avoid the bits of chocolate, and passed a waiting Boston Terrier a spoonful. Then she giggled. “Thank God Father’s not here. He’d have a cow if he saw me feeding the gang from my own spoon.”

“Oh, pooh,” Viv said. “Daddy would have a cow over anything you did with your dogs. I think tonight’s the first time I’ve ever heard him say a kind word about any canine.” She raised her carton in Ellie’s direction, giving her a toast. “And we owe his change of heart to you, my friend. And Twink and Rudy, of course.”

“Why, thank you,” said Ellie. “It was great to see him act like a real dad tonight. Not to be insulting, but has he always been cranky?”

“I think he’s felt sort of useless since he retired. Playing golf can get boring after a while, and the projects Mother comes up with? Well, they’re not exactly the type to keep an ex-spy busy.”

“I bet he’d even adopt you as a fourth daughter, if we asked him,” said Arlene. “Because I’ve never heard him sing anyone’s praises until he warbled yours. That is, if you wanted him to.”

“Ah, no, thanks,” said Ellie. She had Randall and Judge Frye, who treated her like their own daughter, and that was all the fathering she could manage in her life at the moment. “But I am happy your dad’s taken a liking to me. More important, he thinks I’m doing a good job with this case. Too bad I have yet to find anything useful.”

“Knowing Dad, he wouldn’t say so unless he meant it.” Arlene downed another scoop of Caramel Cone. Then she carefully picked around the chocolate bits and fed a scoop of ice cream to Isabella and one to Darby-Doll, her female Boston Terriers. “I’m going to have to buy this stuff by the case. Right, Corey?” she asked her male dog. After giving him a final spoonful, she capped her tub and stood. “It’s getting late. I should probably get to bed. I have to plan a memorial service for a criminal tomorrow.”

Viv glanced at Ellie, as if to say “now’s the time,” and walked to stand at her sister’s side. “Arlene, Ellie and I have something personal we need to discuss.”

Arlene shrugged. “Sure, why not? Especially since it seems like I no longer have a personal life. Do you know that I haven’t received a single phone call or card from the women I thought were my friends?”

“But I’m sure you will—”

Raising a hand, Arlene said, “No, I won’t, and I’ve already figured out why. Those women were only pretending to like me because of Martin. They got their drugs from him, and they used me to stay in touch.”

“I don’t mean to pry, but what about the drugs? I know you used them to get you through the last few weeks, and that’s your business, but—are you still taking them?” asked Ellie.

“You’re not prying. You’re asking because you care, and I appreciate that.” She heaved a sigh. “I’ve been trying to slowly wean myself off. I plan to take half of my usual dose to get to sleep tonight, and that might go on for a while, but I’m determined to get through the day without any of the ‘happy pills’ ”—she used air quotes around the last words—“if it’s the last thing I do. I want my life back.”

Viv squeezed her sister’s shoulder. “I’m so proud of you.”

Arlene’s cheeks colored. “Thanks. I’m proud of me, too. And guess what I’ve decided to do.”

When Ellie and Viv didn’t answer, she smiled. “I’m going back to my first love . . . astrology. I’m set financially, and I’ve decided I don’t need another man in my world, at least for a while. I’m going to advertise in
Dan’s Papers
that I’m available for charting horoscopes and let the ad run year-round. I’ll meet new people—people who are interested in the things I’m into, not people who want me because my lover is a pill pusher.”

“Wow,” said Ellie. “That’s a real life-changing decision.”

“And it sounds wonderful,” added Viv. “You haven’t read my chart since I was in high school. I want to be your first client.”

“Nope. I already have a first client . . . if she wants to be.” She focused on Ellie. “What do you say? Want to be my first new customer—for free?”

Ellie blinked in surprise. “Sure. I guess so.” She’d never had her horoscope read, but it sounded like fun. “Uh, when this is over?”

“Great. I just need your date, time, and place of birth. I’ll do the rest.”

Viv raised her chin, and Ellie nodded. “Ah, sis, we’re not exactly finished with the personal stuff. There’s something else you need to know.”

Arlene cocked her head. “Oh, Lord, now what? Please don’t give me any more bad news. I don’t think I could take it.”

“We’re not sure it belongs in the ‘bad’ category, but Ellie and I think it’s important. And you shouldn’t see it alone.”

“You can’t just tell me? I have to go somewhere to see it?”

Ellie capped her Caramel Cone, gathered the other two cartons, and headed for the kitchen. “Don’t worry. We’re only going to the guest cottage. I’ll just put these in the freezer and walk down with you and Viv.”

“Then it does have to do with Martin.” Arlene frowned. “What the hell else did the bum do?”

Ellie left Viv with the task of preparing her sister for a sight she had to see. Standing in front of the freezer, she stored the Caramel Cone and shut the door.

“You think she’s ready for this?”
asked Rudy, who had followed her inside.

Ellie scratched her boy’s ears. “One can only hope. She sounds fairly pulled together. If she falls apart, Viv will be there for her.”

“I agree, but it serves Adrianne right. How dare she pretend to care for her sister, then deceive her in such a rotten way? Imagine, sleeping with your sister’s fiancé and acting like it’s perfectly okay.”

They arrived at the kitchen door and Ellie saw Viv and Arlene standing close and talking quietly. “Are you sure you want to come with? You could go up to bed and I’ll let you know what happened tomorrow.”

Rudy snorted.
“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t miss this for all the Milk-Bones in the world.”

The outdoor lights marking the brick walkway glowed steadily, guiding the girls and the five dogs to the guest cottage. Arlene had taken the keys off the board at the terrace door because the bag holding her regular key ring was in her bedroom. Viv told her they’d already used these same keys twice. Once when they crossed the crime scene tape, and again when they found what they thought she should see.

As they walked, the dogs bounded off the path, sniffing tufts of sea grass, lifting their leg or squatting, then racing in whatever direction their senses took them. Even Rudy, who rarely participated in canine antics, wandered with abandon. It appeared they were all happily up for following their mistress to wherever she was going.