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Theodosia recognized the voice. Friendly, not dangerous. It was Ken Lotter from W-BAM TV.
“I heard about the murder at the Sea Witch,” Lotter said. “Is there any sense in my getting a crew over there?”
Theodosia crossed the grass median, walked up to Lotter’s car, and looked in. The console was super contemporary and glowed blue like the cockpit of a jetliner.
“I don’t think so,” Theodosia said. “The police have the place pretty well buttoned up.”
“And there’s nobody there wearing a sign around his neck that says ‘I’m the Killer’?”
“Not that I noticed, anyway.”
“How about a sign that says ‘Kick Me’?”
Theodosia smiled. “How did you know I was at the Sea Witch?”
“A friendly tip from a friendly cop who heard the callout. One of my neighbors. In the TV business it helps to stay in good with the folks next door. You know, throw a few steaks on the barbie once in a while?”
“Sounds right.”
“Hey, nice dog. What’s his name?”
“Earl Grey.”
Lotter grinned. “Why does that not surprise me?”
* * *
When Theodosia arrived home, she thought about calling Drayton, decided not to, then called him anyway. When he picked up, she could hear a series of squeaky little barks in the background—arf, arf, arf. It was Drayton’s dog, Honey Bee.
“Will you quit that,” Drayton was saying. “It’s the phone, not the doorbell.” Then, “Hello?”
“You know those weird calls you get when you don’t expect them?” Theodosia said.
“Yes, I do. Fact is, I got one earlier tonight from you.”
“This is another one,” Theodosia said.
“What!”
“Do you have a few minutes?” Theodosia snapped the top off her bottle of Fiji water and took a quick sip.
“I’m all ears. What happened now?”
So Theodosia spilled her tale of woe to Drayton. Told him about seeing the Deveroux Electric truck repainted, going to Sea Witch and finding Helene dead, dealing with the police, and then having Quaid Barthel show up.
“Dear Lord,” Drayton said. “You’re telling me that Helene Deveroux was murdered in cold blood?”
“That’s about the size of it.”
“And that Quaid showed up because he’d been tasked to pick up some papers from Helene?” Drayton said.
“I don’t know what that was all about. Quaid didn’t even know. But it sure was strange having him show up like that.”
“And you’re thinking it wasn’t a coincidence.” Drayton stated it as a fact, not a question.
“I don’t think Quaid murdered Helene, so I’m fairly sure somebody tried to set him up for it.”
“But you arrived first and found the body.”
