Sympathy for the Devil by Jerrilyn Farmer Page A

how he’d pour himself a snifter of brandy after dinner. And by poisoningthat one bottle, they could be pretty sure they’d only poison him.” It had been Bruno’s inconsiderate habit to offer no one else a drink from his private bottle.
    â€œInteresting,” Wes drawled.
    â€œThen, assuming we’re right about all this, the poison must have been placed in the Armagnac bottle some time after he took his last drink on the night before the party.”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œBut, Wes, it was right after that that Bruno gave his entire key ring to you.”
    â€œHmm.” He paused.
    â€œWes?”
    â€œI’m thinking.”
    â€œGood idea.”
    â€œKeep stirring,” Wes chided me.
    â€œWesley!”
    â€œI did lend the keys out to several people. And I’m sure Lily must have her own set of keys. And, for all we know, someone else might have made a duplicate of the liquor cabinet key at any time.”
    â€œOf course, you’re right. But tell me, who did you give the key ring to?”
    â€œWell, I lent it to what’s her name, the soothsayer, so she could lock up the guest cottage when she took a break. And then Alan needed the key to the wine cellar. I gave him the entire key ring when I asked him to get more champagne.”
    â€œI don’t expect it could be Alan,” I reflected. He’d been an employee of ours, off and on, since we’d started. However, lately, his acting career had been fairly active. We’d not seen him for months until this party. But now that I thought about it, I remembered that Alan had worked on one of Bruno’s soap operas and been let go. Could he have a grudge big enough to kill the man? My head swirled. It was impossible to really know a person’s heart, if they meant to keep it hidden.
    â€œAnyone else have the key?” I asked.
    â€œWell, not exactly. But…” Wes’s tone changed todeep melodrama. “I did unlock the liquor cabinet for Carmen Huntley at one point in the evening.”
    â€œWhat! When? Why?” I sputtered.
    At that moment, Holly walked into the kitchen. “You sound like a journalism student,” she offered.
    â€œI’m on with Wes. Could you start a salad and take out the chops?” Then, back into the phone, “Wesley, what about Carmen?”
    â€œIt must have been around 11:20, because I was about to go meet up with you and Holly. Carmen swiveled into the kitchen on those six-inch heels and said Bruno had sent her for something or other. I just unlocked the liquor cabinet door and left her.”
    â€œCarmen Huntley was in the liquor cabinet, Wesley.”
    Holly stared at me and then looked at my arm, dragging itself around in determined circles in the pot. “Want me to take over?” she whispered.
    I smiled, shaking my head no, and picked up my stirring pace.
    â€œGot to go,” I told Wesley. “Get back here this instant. We’ve got work to do and I’ve got a load of questions.”
    â€œYou’re probably right,” Wes sighed. “Save me some of that polenta. Don’t let Holly eat it all. After it cools, maybe I’ll slice it and fry it up in butter with some nice crimini mushrooms.”
    â€œWe’ve got portobello.”
    â€œPerfect. And some ripe plum tomatoes and onion…”
    â€œGet back here, Wes. I’m worried the police are building a case against you. We may have to prove you are not the killer.”
    â€œKiller?” Holly’s eyes went big. She had finished a salad of mixed field greens with a simple vinaigrette and was now putting four lovely lamb chops on the grill of the Viking range.
    I removed my pot from the flame and turned half of the thick and sticky mush out onto the marble counter where it would cool, perfect for Wes to slice later. The rest I spooned into an old green bowl. It poured out like whippedcream that’s been beaten into stiff peaks. I