A Midsummer Eve's Nightmare by Donna Fletcher Crow Read Free Book Online

someone tampered with them for some reason.”
    She nodded. “Someone is out to get Erin. But who could it be? And why?”
    “I suppose we should start by asking who’s had access to Erin’s kitchen cupboard.”
    Elizabeth wrinkled her brow and pursed her lips in thought. “Richard!” She cried as he leaned over and kissed her puckered lips. “I’m trying to think.”
    “Sorry, but you looked adorable. I couldn’t resist.”
    “Ohhhh!” She flung her arms around him and pulled him down on the bed for a very thorough kiss.
    “What if I want to think?” he asked, several moments later.
    “Well, it is supposed to be our honeymoon.” She sat up and adjusted her hair with her fingers. “Now, back to business. Who would know about Erin’s pills and who could get to them? I suppose her penchant for taking masses of vitamins was general knowledge. Apparently Tori was always teasing her about it. Besides, I’ll bet about everyone in the company does the same thing. Actors are legendary hypochondriacs and health nuts—like race car drivers are fanatic about their engines—it’s all they have to work with.”
    “Right. But who would have known about the potassium chloride? Missing a calcium supplement or a vitamin C tablet wouldn’t be likely to cause a medical emergency.”
    “Well, Dirk would probably have known. He’s known her longest of anyone around here.” Elizabeth paused. “And Gregg. He seems to always be hanging around there.”
    “And Tori.”
    “Richard!”
    “Well, she does have access.”
    “Tori is as likely a suspect as Erin herself.”
    “All right. I apologize.” Richard took her hand and gave it a little squeeze.
    “Do the police know this?”
    “Yes. That was Sergeant Carson on the phone.”
    Elizabeth frowned. “But will they do anything about it? Or will they just pass it off as actor’s hysteria or another prank?”
    “I don’t know. But in the meantime, I suppose we could ask Tori who’s been to their apartment lately.”
    Elizabeth jumped to her feet so sharply she nearly bounced Richard off the bed. “Right!” She grabbed the blanket. “Let’s stop by there now. But not for long. I’m starving!”
    Tori opened the door to their knock. “See who’s back!” She flung her arm toward Erin lounging on the sofa in a pink sweatsuit. She still looked pale, with her long blond hair loose around her face, but seemed much more vigorous than she had in the hospital.
    Since they were anxious to get on to the restaurant, Richard went straight to the point and reported the findings about the altered pills. Elizabeth had feared Erin might get upset again, but she took the news calmly—even triumphantly. “See! What did I tell you? I knew I didn’t forget to take them.”
    “Oh,” Elizabeth had a sudden thought. “Your pills are still at the lab. Do you have any to take?”
    “Sure. The hospital sent me home well supplied. I’m fine. It’s such a relief to know people don’t think I’m going crazy.”
    “No one ever thought that.” Tori reached out to her roommate.
    “The thing now is to try to figure out who could have tampered with your pills,” Richard said. “Who’s been in your kitchen lately?”
    Erin and Tori looked at each other. Tori spoke. “About half the company. We had a party two weeks ago for Erin’s birthday. Just a casual drop-in thing so people could come between rehearsals or performances or whatever they had.”
    Erin shook her head. “Everyone came, and they were all over the apartment. I could never remember who all was here.”
    “Besides the party. Who else? It would have been tricky to do anything at a party with people milling all over the place. They could have been discovered at any minute.”
    “Well, we’ve been pretty busy since then. They just added Tempest to the schedule, so that’s meant more costume fittings for me and rehearsals for Erin.”
    “What do you play in that? Miranda?” Elizabeth asked.
    Erin laughed.