14
THE PHONE CALL THAT the indefatigable Mrs. Landor summoned Richard to the next morning was from Tori. Officer Lempson had been around to see them already. As they expected, there were no helpful prints on the makeup case, only some of Erin’s on the various tubes and jars inside. Also, Tori’s prints were the only ones on the lemonade bottle. But there was a strong residue of diphenhydramine —the active ingredient in over-the-counter sleeping pills.
The police had questioned Tori more thoroughly about the situation at the party and who had handed her the bottle. Unfortunately, she had been talking and laughing with at least 10 people at the time: Erin, Dirk, Hilary, Tom, Janice. . . no, she didn’t think Gregg had come in from the dressing room yet, but she couldn’t be sure. Anyway, everyone was handing around bottles and cans, and she had no idea who had stuck hers in her hand. The cap must have been off because she didn’t remember taking it off, and she didn’t think she had left it sitting open at any time. So it must have been doctored when she got it.
As soon as Richard reported all that to Elizabeth, she jumped to her feet, her ruffled, white Victorian gown with pink ribbons, purchased especially for the honeymoon, falling gracefully around her. “Right. That’s settled then. We’re getting Tori out of here.”
Richard grinned. “Now you see how I felt when I wanted to take you home last night.”
She walked into his open arms. “Yes, I do. Thank you for caring.”
He held her so tight she couldn’t breathe for a moment. “Oh, Elizabeth, I can’t possibly imagine life without you.”
She buried her face in his chest, reveling in his strength and his nearness. Then she pulled away. “Oh, dear, I almost got sidetracked there.” She sat on the floral chintz-covered loveseat beside the window. “What can we do about Tori?”
Richard sat beside her. “I doubt that she’s the real target in any of this. It seems likely that if someone wanted to scare Erin they would probably think it might be easier without her roommate watch-dogging them.”
“So you agree with Erin that someone wanted to land that case on her head?”
He took her hand. “I have to. In spite of my initial reaction, I can’t really cope with the idea that someone wants to hurt you.”
“So, what did they hope to accomplish by last night’s escapade?”
Richard shrugged. “Just scare her, I guess. A makeup kit isn’t much of a murder weapon—just like sugar pills weren’t either—or falling flats or glass in her face powder. They all seem to add up to scare tactics.”
“Or some kind of a warning. That must be why they used her case. A bank of lights would have been far handier and delivered a more forceful message. But if they just wanted to get Erin’s attention, this was perfect,” Elizabeth agreed.
“So who would want to do that?”
They sat frowning in concentration, tossing out ideas as they occurred: Dirk—scare her enough to run off and marry him? Erin’s father—scare her into leaving the career he doesn’t approve of? Some guy who likes her, but she ignores—trying to get her attention? Some nut— no rational reason at all? Someone from her past—something they didn’t know anything about at all?
They stopped. Elizabeth shook her head. “Wait! We’re sidetracked again. About Tori—if she was inconvenient once, she might be again. We need to get her away from here.”
“I couldn’t agree more. But Officer Lempson wouldn’t.”
“Okay, then. Let’s help the villain.”
Richard’s dark eyebrows shot up. “What?”
“Well, at least for the day. If he wants Tori out of the way, let’s take her away from Ashland—shopping in Medford or a picnic in the mountains or something.”
“Good idea.” Richard reached for some tourist information leaflets on the marble-topped dresser. “Erin, too?”
“Sure, if she’s free.” Elizabeth had long ago abandoned the idea of
THE PHONE CALL THAT the indefatigable Mrs. Landor summoned Richard to the next morning was from Tori. Officer Lempson had been around to see them already. As they expected, there were no helpful prints on the makeup case, only some of Erin’s on the various tubes and jars inside. Also, Tori’s prints were the only ones on the lemonade bottle. But there was a strong residue of diphenhydramine —the active ingredient in over-the-counter sleeping pills.
The police had questioned Tori more thoroughly about the situation at the party and who had handed her the bottle. Unfortunately, she had been talking and laughing with at least 10 people at the time: Erin, Dirk, Hilary, Tom, Janice. . . no, she didn’t think Gregg had come in from the dressing room yet, but she couldn’t be sure. Anyway, everyone was handing around bottles and cans, and she had no idea who had stuck hers in her hand. The cap must have been off because she didn’t remember taking it off, and she didn’t think she had left it sitting open at any time. So it must have been doctored when she got it.
As soon as Richard reported all that to Elizabeth, she jumped to her feet, her ruffled, white Victorian gown with pink ribbons, purchased especially for the honeymoon, falling gracefully around her. “Right. That’s settled then. We’re getting Tori out of here.”
Richard grinned. “Now you see how I felt when I wanted to take you home last night.”
She walked into his open arms. “Yes, I do. Thank you for caring.”
He held her so tight she couldn’t breathe for a moment. “Oh, Elizabeth, I can’t possibly imagine life without you.”
She buried her face in his chest, reveling in his strength and his nearness. Then she pulled away. “Oh, dear, I almost got sidetracked there.” She sat on the floral chintz-covered loveseat beside the window. “What can we do about Tori?”
Richard sat beside her. “I doubt that she’s the real target in any of this. It seems likely that if someone wanted to scare Erin they would probably think it might be easier without her roommate watch-dogging them.”
“So you agree with Erin that someone wanted to land that case on her head?”
He took her hand. “I have to. In spite of my initial reaction, I can’t really cope with the idea that someone wants to hurt you.”
“So, what did they hope to accomplish by last night’s escapade?”
Richard shrugged. “Just scare her, I guess. A makeup kit isn’t much of a murder weapon—just like sugar pills weren’t either—or falling flats or glass in her face powder. They all seem to add up to scare tactics.”
“Or some kind of a warning. That must be why they used her case. A bank of lights would have been far handier and delivered a more forceful message. But if they just wanted to get Erin’s attention, this was perfect,” Elizabeth agreed.
“So who would want to do that?”
They sat frowning in concentration, tossing out ideas as they occurred: Dirk—scare her enough to run off and marry him? Erin’s father—scare her into leaving the career he doesn’t approve of? Some guy who likes her, but she ignores—trying to get her attention? Some nut— no rational reason at all? Someone from her past—something they didn’t know anything about at all?
They stopped. Elizabeth shook her head. “Wait! We’re sidetracked again. About Tori—if she was inconvenient once, she might be again. We need to get her away from here.”
“I couldn’t agree more. But Officer Lempson wouldn’t.”
“Okay, then. Let’s help the villain.”
Richard’s dark eyebrows shot up. “What?”
“Well, at least for the day. If he wants Tori out of the way, let’s take her away from Ashland—shopping in Medford or a picnic in the mountains or something.”
“Good idea.” Richard reached for some tourist information leaflets on the marble-topped dresser. “Erin, too?”
“Sure, if she’s free.” Elizabeth had long ago abandoned the idea of
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