Take Stock in Murder by Millie Mack

veranda. They would end up at the same table with their heads together. Then they would depart separately, as if the meeting had never occurred.”
    “Her daughter, Sara, works for the firm. Maybe she was talking to Todd about giving her daughter more responsibility for the Investment Club.”
    “Maybe, but it was a few too many meetings for that type of discussion.”
    “Are there more?”
    “Just a few.” Jake was clearly enjoying himself now. “There were also several meetings with Sara Chaney. However, their meetings really did seem like business.”
    “What makes you say that? Was there a difference with those meetings?”
    Jake nodded. “You know, regular hours, folders and papers on the table. They didn’t seem concerned if other members saw them.”
    “Very observant, Jake. Sara Chaney was working with Todd on the Investment Club orders. It was probably just business.”
    “Although I believe Sara really liked him. The last two I know very little about.”
    “Two more, huh?”
    “The first was Mrs. Brad Barrington.” Jake lowered his voice, even though no one else was around. He knew when he was dropping a bombshell.
    “Linda Barrington, Todd’s brother’s wife! Are you sure?” Charles asked.
    “Mr. Faraday, please. If there’s one thing I know, it’s people.”
    “Sorry, Jake. I didn’t mean to question your abilities. But you have to admit this one is a shocker. I mean, a real affair or…I mean, they are relatives.”
    “Well, I never saw them making out or anything like that, but they fit the pattern. Meeting at odd hours, making it look like they just happened to run into each other, but then they would go off together. Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t think so.”
    “Who’s next?”
    “This last one…I don’t think there’s much to it. Plus she’s single, so there’s no jealous husband.”
    “She’s a member?”
    “Not exactly. She’s the lady golf pro, Jennifer Foster. They just seemed to be good pals. Todd would come in with her on occasion, sort of like a date—you know, for dinner, a game of tennis, or other events. But as the golf pro, she was pretty much on site for those events anyway.”
    “I know the name, but what does she look like?”
    “Kind of a looker—sun-bleached blonde with a very, very short, wavy cut, like Peter Pan. She has dark eyes, sort of sad looking, and she’s about five seven. After a while I didn’t see them together anymore. At the same time, I heard she was in an accident.”
    “An accident on the golf course?”
    “No, she was in a car accident. Apparently she totaled her car and was out for several months recovering.”
    “Were they still an item?”
    “No, after she returned to work, I didn’t see her with Todd again. Maybe somebody said something to her about being so chummy with one of the members. Or maybe she gave him some golf lessons, and there was never anything between them.”
    “If they hit your radar, there was probably something there. Is that it?”
    Jake put his hand to his chin and thought for a second. “Wait, I just remembered something. Todd did have another gal before all the others started. It’s a real shame too, because she was a real nice girl. She was Todd’s age—long, brown hair, which she often wore in a ponytail, and overall she was pretty good looking. Plus, she had a great smile.”
    Charles couldn’t help but think that maybe Jake and this young lady should get together, and they could control the smile market between them.
    “Can you remember her name?”
    “I think her name is Diane. No, wait—it’s Dawn. Never knew her last name, but I think she works at the Nottingham Bookstore. She goes to the local college, and her parents aren’t Club members. She may not have been high enough on the social ladder for the Barringtons. It was after she stopped coming in with him that he started with the others. I bet if Todd had stayed with her, he would still be alive, assuming it was an angry husband