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“You’re going to show it to her?” Tom sounded surprised.
“Not yet. Jennifer, have you got all those files from Diana?”
“Got ’em. Will you take all three of these to Shelton?” Jennifer asked.
“We will,” Tom stated.
“Absolutely,” I agreed.
Jennifer frowned. “I’ll see what I can do with this, but if you scanned it in, high res, that would be better and the original would be even better than that. You could make a copy for Shelton and send me—”
“Original’s going to Shelton,” Tom said. “And we’re not taking time to scan it in ourselves.”
“Why? You said the sheriff’s department released the scene, so it’s their own darn fault...” Jennifer’s words faded out as she appeared to lean forward to peer at me. “You’re trying not to smile, Elizabeth.”
I tried harder.
“Oh. It’s because they released the scene and you want to rub it in that they missed it.”
“Elizabeth won’t be turning these things over to the sheriff’s department,” Tom said. “I will.”
He pretended not to hear my mutter of “Spoilsport.”
“And we better get to the sheriff’s department now.”
“Not yet,” Jennifer said. “Send me pictures of the letter and nutmeg tins before you take them. Just in case.”
As Tom and I pulled up in front of the sheriff’s department, I got the all-clear message from Jennifer. All files were secured. So at least Shelton couldn’t get angry that we’d sat outside his office instead of coming in right away to hand over the evidence.
****
Tom called a neighbor to meet Tamantha at the ranch when she returned from Madison’s house, then left for a slate of committee meetings. Jennifer basically said not to bother her while she and the guys worked their magic. Mike went to work his real job — being sports anchor tonight for his Chicago station.
Diana stuck around.
“Want to play Freecell?” she asked me when I came in after Tom dropped me off, possibly looking dissatisfied.
Which consisted of waiting. For Jennifer or Shelton. Whoever came first.
I was pulling for Jennifer, since I wouldn’t learn anything from Shelton.
“Want to talk about it?”
“What is there to talk about?” I kicked my shoes off and curled up into one of the upholstered chairs. “Shelton has his suspect and no doubt an arrest to follow soon. All the history we found — even if Keefe’s proven to be descended from Oscar and Pearl — has nothing to do with it.”
“No knowledge is wasted.”
I grimaced. “Thank you, Mrs. P Junior. Anyway, it’s done. Over.”
“I’d be more inclined to believe that if I couldn’t see your face. Something’s bothering you.”
I tipped my head back so I couldn’t see her seeing my face. “Not a thing. It’s all over.”
I might have fallen asleep as a result of last night’s sleepover.
When I sat up, my neck was sore, but the light in the room hadn’t changed.
Diana was looking at her phone and smiling.
