“Anmorata,” I murmured.“Claire.”Tea made and little tray of cream and sugar and—sue me, my mom instilled polite hosting into my blood at a young age—some cookies arranged, I took a deep breath and schooled my face into close to calm lines.Carrying the tray and teapot to the table, I set it down between us and took up the seat across from Gwendolyn.She still had on the coat and was holding her purse in her lap, perched like a vulture with that sharp, thin smile of hers.“So...”
“So,” she said, watching me avidly.“Damien.We’re both too jaded to play games.”With a smooth, confident motion, she pulled a small pistol out of her purse and leveled it at me.“I have a tight schedule and can’t be bothered with niceties.Let’s get this over with.Lock the front door.Both locks.”
Chapter 16
If I had a nickel forevery time older women tried to kill me in a property owned by Benjamin Witte, I’d have two nickels which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it’s happened twice.
Gwendolyn kept her tiny gun trained on me as I locked the front door and put Muffin in the kitchen, closing the rarely-used pocket door behind me.“Now,” she said once I’d flipped the little latch on the kitchen door, “Take me to whichever room as a locking interior door.”
“Sounds like you’ve given this some thought.”
Her smile was brittle and beautiful.“When I was younger, I was known for being quite good at improv.This past week has shown me you never really forget those skills.”
“Yes, and?”
She narrowed her eyes, obviously not appreciating the joke.“Pamela was always the softest of us.The kindest.She’s...simple.Oh, I don’t mean that in a derogatory way.I mean it in the best possible way.All Pamela wanted in life was to be happy, to take care of others.And Gerald was just the opposite.”
“How is framing me for arson and now killing me going to help Pamela?”
“As soon as she knew Gerry was dead, Pamela got antsy.She wanted to turn herself in.What good would that do?We’re not young women anymore, you know.Spend the rest of her life in jail, and for what?For Gerry?He doesn’t deserve that sacrifice.Not after the shit he’s pulled.Bad enough that I couldn’t stop Beth from paying off his debts—she said it was the least she could do.”She shook her head sharply, iron gray curls bouncing.“You’re young.You’ve got a history.And if nothing else, it would buy us time.Give Pammy time to get herself together.Givemetime to get her to see reason.”
“And I’d be a good suspect because of Ms.Rhoades.Because enough people thought...”
Gwendolyn sucked her teeth in annoyance.“Not just her.People know your history with Gerry.You’re getting to be quite the gossip staple these days, Damien.The right whisper, the right word on the right comment section and you’d be number one with a bullet.No pun intended,” she cackled, a dry and brittle sound.
My mouth hurt, it was so dry.How fast can I dial for help?My phone was wedged into my pocket, of course on my casted side.Could I get it out before she noticed?Or maybe dial in my pocket?Crap, which way is up?Where is the emergency button at this angle?“Of course.”
“You’re a little desperate,” she said, rocking on her heels like she wanted to pace, to chew up the scenery, but fighting the urge.“But Gerry?Oh, lord, he wasdesperate.And lazy as the day is long.He’d been working the con since last spring, signing no-names and desperate has-beens here and there, getting funding from a few indie studios, a grant once, but word was getting around.People aren’t as dumb as Gerry liked to think.”
“The movie,” I said softly.“It wasn’t real, was it?He lied to Anmorata.I was sure—pretty much up until this morning—that she’d killed Tubbs.Or was at least involved in his death.The fight, her disappearing the same night he died...”It had made sense, I thought.
She chuckled.“And now?”
“You already know.”
She pursed her lips, glancing back down the hall behind her with a frown.“Who else is here?”
