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SOUTHERN PLACED HERSELFbetween Dawson and Decker. “You can’t come in here and threaten us. I’m calling the police.”
“Not to worry, I already called them” was Decker’s surprising reply.
A moment later there was a noise from outside. “And there they are. Keep them covered,” Decker said to Jamison.
He went to the door and opened it. “Come on in.”
A few moments later Joe Kelly walked through the doorway. He looked at Decker questioningly. “Why’d you want me to come out here?” But when he saw Southern and Dawson, he said, “I saw the Porsche outside. What is going on?”
Decker said, “I thought you’d like to be in on the end of this case.”
Kelly looked even more confused. “What do they have to do with any of it?”
“You mean what doesshehave to do with it. Well, for starters, Liz killed Maddie DawsonandAlice Pritchard.”
Kelly exclaimed, “What? No, that can’t be right. It was an accident.”
Southern snapped, “I had no cause to kill Maddie or Alice.”
“You love Caroline, and you didn’t want her to move to France. I don’t know how you managed it, but you did.”
Dawson cried out, “What the hell are you talking about?” She shot Southern a glance. “Liz, what is he talking about?”
“I wish I knew, Caroline. These allegations are ludicrous.”
“And, Caroline, with your mother gone, and your brother already dead, Liz only had your father to worry about. But then Liz had another problem.”
“What?” snapped Southern.
“Someone found out about your relationship with Caroline.”
“Your relationship?” said a shocked-looking Kelly.
Dawson shot Kelly a glance. “Yes, Joe. Liz and I have been together.”
Kelly gaped but said nothing.
“But your father didn’t know?” said Decker.
“It was none of his business. I did want to be open about my sexuality, but Liz thought we should keep it secret.”
“But you said someone found out. Who?” asked Kelly.
“Irene Cramer,” replied Decker.
“What are you talking about? How?” said Kelly, his gaze holding on Dawson.
“Liz told me that she and Caroline would sometimes hook up in the apartment above the bar. She and Caroline would leave very late at night, after the bar had closed, and go out the rear entrance. I’m betting that Cramer—who kept late hours, as we know—saw them together. And Cramer lived for a while at Dawson Towers, where Caroline has a condo. Cramer probably saw them there, too.”
Jamison said, “And that might be the reason Cramer moved. Liz might have threatened her.”
Dawson glanced sharply at Southern. “That woman at the condo building who saw us together? That was Irene Cramer? She never told us her name.”
“Maybe it was, so what?” said Southern.
Dawson looked at Decker. “We were sharing a kiss in the doorway of my condo when, I guess, this Cramer person came by. She apologized for intruding. It was no big deal.” She looked at Southern again. “I mean, itwasno big deal, Liz.”
“I don’t think Cramer had a problem with it. I think the problem was all Liz’s.”
