discussion. “Olivia is in a home. Would you go to that one?”
“I’d never be able to afford Stone Wall Farm, where she is. That’s out of my league. In fact, pretty much out of everyone’s league. Folks call it Millionaire’s Manor.” She chuckled. “But, never mind. I’ll do all right. I like to have some nice people around. I like to have a chat now and then.”
I could see that. “Olivia had an attendant with her at St. Jude’s for Miss Henley’s memorial. She had to be subdued a bit.”
Rose’s eyes glistened. “Did she now?”
“She got out of her wheelchair, waving and blowing kisses to everyone.”
“Poor old crazy Olivia. I think that’s good news. Lucky she can stand up. There was a time she couldn’t get out of bed. She’s a lot better than she used to be. They got better drugs now, I guess.”
“Did she get along with Miss Henley?”
“Helen was good enough to her, I guess, in a practical way. Weekly visits, I heard. Not a warm person, Helen, but dutiful. Why are you asking, hon?”
“I was just wondering.”
“Wondering if poor Olivia killed Helen? Because if you are, you can forget that. Even if she could have, she wouldn’t have hurt her. Olivia thought the world of Helen.”
“But she seemed so . . . overjoyed at the service. Like a victory dance.”
I waited until Rose finished one of her long, scary chuckles. I raised my eyebrows encouragingly. “Olivia would have seen flowers and heard music, and seen all those people in the same church she was married in, and she would have thought it was a party. Most natural thing in the world for her to get up and try to dance and wave. In fact, I’m darned glad to hear that she was able to do it.”
“Wouldn’t she associate the church with the funerals? Her husband and her children? Her grandfather?”
“Olivia wasn’t able to attend any of those. She was in bad shape for a year. And if she had been conscious, well . . . no, whatever you’re thinking about poor Olivia, you’re wrong. You’ll have to look somewhere else to find out who killed Helen Henley.”
“Not that I’m trying to find that out, but that reminds me. Helen wanted me to find some documents that Randolph might have hidden in Henley House.”
Rose snorted, “Hidden up there in that mess? Not much chance for finding them in that case.”
“You’ve known the family for years. Any idea what they’d be?”
“No idea at all. What’s the matter? You didn’t like the coffee, hon?”
“I already had too much today. Do you think the documents would be connected with the property?”
“Can’t imagine. Old Mr. Henley kept on top of all his legal stuff. Not likely there’d be documents floating around. But if they are, maybe the police will find them. They’re taking it all seriously. A blonde detective talked to me already. I told them pretty much what I told you. Of course, they were in a bit more of a hurry.”
“That reminds me, I’d better get going. Dogs to walk and feed. Thanks so much for all this information. It helped me understand these people a bit more. I wish I’d known more about Miss Henley.”
“If you come back again for a visit, I can show you some pictures of those girls. My, they were lovely.”
“Thanks. I will come back, and when I do I’ll rig up a gadget to catch your mail, so it doesn’t fall on the floor.”
“I’d appreciate that. Here, I’m going to put you in my book. Hand me it, hon. It’s on the table in front of you.” I passed her a little address book with a happy spaniel on the front of it and waited until she’d written in my phone number and address. “You never know,” she said.
I said, “Don’t bother walking me to the door. I’ll be okay.”
“Are you joking? I don’t leave my door unlocked these days, hon. People are getting murdered in this neighborhood, and I’m not planning to leave this world before my time. So you’re going to drop in again sometime?” Rose trailed behind
“I’d never be able to afford Stone Wall Farm, where she is. That’s out of my league. In fact, pretty much out of everyone’s league. Folks call it Millionaire’s Manor.” She chuckled. “But, never mind. I’ll do all right. I like to have some nice people around. I like to have a chat now and then.”
I could see that. “Olivia had an attendant with her at St. Jude’s for Miss Henley’s memorial. She had to be subdued a bit.”
Rose’s eyes glistened. “Did she now?”
“She got out of her wheelchair, waving and blowing kisses to everyone.”
“Poor old crazy Olivia. I think that’s good news. Lucky she can stand up. There was a time she couldn’t get out of bed. She’s a lot better than she used to be. They got better drugs now, I guess.”
“Did she get along with Miss Henley?”
“Helen was good enough to her, I guess, in a practical way. Weekly visits, I heard. Not a warm person, Helen, but dutiful. Why are you asking, hon?”
“I was just wondering.”
“Wondering if poor Olivia killed Helen? Because if you are, you can forget that. Even if she could have, she wouldn’t have hurt her. Olivia thought the world of Helen.”
“But she seemed so . . . overjoyed at the service. Like a victory dance.”
I waited until Rose finished one of her long, scary chuckles. I raised my eyebrows encouragingly. “Olivia would have seen flowers and heard music, and seen all those people in the same church she was married in, and she would have thought it was a party. Most natural thing in the world for her to get up and try to dance and wave. In fact, I’m darned glad to hear that she was able to do it.”
“Wouldn’t she associate the church with the funerals? Her husband and her children? Her grandfather?”
“Olivia wasn’t able to attend any of those. She was in bad shape for a year. And if she had been conscious, well . . . no, whatever you’re thinking about poor Olivia, you’re wrong. You’ll have to look somewhere else to find out who killed Helen Henley.”
“Not that I’m trying to find that out, but that reminds me. Helen wanted me to find some documents that Randolph might have hidden in Henley House.”
Rose snorted, “Hidden up there in that mess? Not much chance for finding them in that case.”
“You’ve known the family for years. Any idea what they’d be?”
“No idea at all. What’s the matter? You didn’t like the coffee, hon?”
“I already had too much today. Do you think the documents would be connected with the property?”
“Can’t imagine. Old Mr. Henley kept on top of all his legal stuff. Not likely there’d be documents floating around. But if they are, maybe the police will find them. They’re taking it all seriously. A blonde detective talked to me already. I told them pretty much what I told you. Of course, they were in a bit more of a hurry.”
“That reminds me, I’d better get going. Dogs to walk and feed. Thanks so much for all this information. It helped me understand these people a bit more. I wish I’d known more about Miss Henley.”
“If you come back again for a visit, I can show you some pictures of those girls. My, they were lovely.”
“Thanks. I will come back, and when I do I’ll rig up a gadget to catch your mail, so it doesn’t fall on the floor.”
“I’d appreciate that. Here, I’m going to put you in my book. Hand me it, hon. It’s on the table in front of you.” I passed her a little address book with a happy spaniel on the front of it and waited until she’d written in my phone number and address. “You never know,” she said.
I said, “Don’t bother walking me to the door. I’ll be okay.”
“Are you joking? I don’t leave my door unlocked these days, hon. People are getting murdered in this neighborhood, and I’m not planning to leave this world before my time. So you’re going to drop in again sometime?” Rose trailed behind
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