Dolled Up for Murder by Jane K. Cleland Read Free Book Online Page B

tiny red light indicating his statement was being recorded. I couldn’t see who was conducting the interview. The last thing I noticed as I walked past was him shaking his head; no, no, no, he seemed to be saying. You have it wrong. No, no, no.
    â€œThanks again, Josie,” Detective Brownley said when we reached the lobby.
    â€œGlad to help,” I replied, eager to be gone.
    I felt myself relax, just a bit, as she disappeared down the hallway. The two Farmington sisters, Lorna and Jamie, sat close together on an oak bench that ran the length of one wall. Jamie, the older of the two, was about thirty. She was somewhat taller than me, with big bones and a sturdy build. Lorna, about twenty-five, was about the same height but slimmer. Lorna’s eyes were red and puffy, and I wondered if she’d been crying about Alice, and if so, why.
    Jamie stood to greet me. “Josie … you must be beside yourself. What a relief to know you weren’t hurt. We came as soon as we heard the news. We’re devastated … just shattered.”
    â€œI didn’t know you and Alice were close.”
    â€œOh, God, yes!” Jamie said. “She and our mom were best friends. We grew up thinking Randall was our brother.”
    â€œRandall … that’s Alice’s son, right?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œPlease accept my condolences.”
    â€œThank you,” Jamie said. She glanced at Lorna, sitting with her eyes on the floor, wiping her cheeks with the side of her hand. “It’s such a shock … we just saw her the other day.”
    â€œShe was so decisive,” Lorna said. “I admired that.”
    â€œAlice was decisive, all right. She stopped by while we were going through that box of Civil War memorabilia. You remember, Josie, we told you about it—how we’re direct descendants of Salmon Chase, President Lincoln’s secretary of the treasury, and couldn’t decide whether to keep it all or sell it all or what. Anyway, when Alice saw what we were up to, well, she took over. She looked through the box, told us to pick a letter to keep for posterity and sell the rest.”
    â€œIt was good advice,” Lorna said.
    Jamie shrugged. “It was advice. I don’t know if it was good or not.” She met my eyes. “What do you think we should do?”
    â€œTake your time and think it through.”
    She looked at Lorna. “Now that’s good advice.” She sent her eyes around the lobby and nearby corridors. “Have you seen Randall? Is he here?”
    â€œNot that I know of,” I said. “Actually, I wouldn’t recognize him. We’ve never met.”
    â€œDarleen is here,” Lorna said. “Randall’s wife. She was walking into the station house as we drove into the lot, but by the time we got inside, she’d disappeared. Knowing Darleen, if she’s here, Randall must be here, too.”
    â€œLikely, but not necessarily,” Jamie said. “You know how much he travels on business.” To me, she added, “Between you and me and the gatepost, what Lorna means is that Darleen keeps Randall on a pretty short leash.” She shrugged. “To each his own, that’s what I always say. Randall could be out of town, though—I know for sure he has clients throughout New England.” Reacting to my perplexed expression, she added, “Alice bought a marketing communications company about ten years ago, and Randall runs it. They do writing and design and printing and I don’t know what else. Oh, my … I can’t believe Alice’s dead … it’s horrible, just despicable.”
    â€œGruesome,” Lorna said.
    â€œDid you leave Eric at your place?” I asked.
    â€œYes. Actually, he’s the one who told us what happened. He said he’d lock up and set the alarm.”
    â€œWe didn’t know what to do,” Lorna said, “but we thought