Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries Box Set by Nanci Rathbun (surface ebook reader TXT) 📗

together for a movie or a meal, and I hung up, feeling better about myself and life in general.

I had one more interview to complete. Janet Morano had given me a number for Llewellyn. I thought it was his home number, but my call was answered with “Dallas Design Center.”

“May I speak with Richard Llewellyn, please?” I asked after a moment’s hesitation.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Llewellyn is not in the office. Is there someone else who can help you?”

“No, I don’t think so. I really need to talk to Richard. It’s an urgent family matter.” Not exactly family, but I couldn’t tell an office receptionist that his ex-girlfriend was a murder victim and I needed to find out if Richard was implicated.

“I see.” She pondered that for a moment. “If it’s really an emergency, I can give you his boss’s cell phone number. They’re on a buying trip in Mexico, and I don’t have Mr. Llewellyn’s cell. But I should warn you that Mr. Harper won’t be happy if Mr. Llewellyn is called back. Mrs. Arthur was supposed to accompany Mr. Harper but her son broke his arm and she begged off, so Mr. Harper is pretty anti-family at the moment.”

“I just need to talk with him. I don’t think it will require him to cut the business trip short. Have they been gone long?”

“They left last Wednesday. I expect them back tomorrow.”

I took Mr. Harper’s number and ended the call. The trip began the day before Elisa’s murder. It didn’t seem likely that Richard could make a round trip from Mexico to Milwaukee in one night without his boss’s knowledge, but I had to confirm.

I called the number and spent ten minutes with Harper, who refused to let me talk to Llewellyn until I’d promised that “the boy” would not need to leave. A little judicious questioning revealed that Harper was the kind of domineering older man who felt sure that his subordinate could do nothing right and who was determined to “teach him the business.” By the time I got to talk to Llewellyn, I felt confident that he’d not been out of Harper’s sight except to sleep, and that only for six hours. Then I had to break the news to him.

“Richard, when was the last time you talked to Elisa?” I asked him.

“Gosh, I’m not sure. About a month after I moved. I called and invited her down for a week, but she was just starting a new job and she couldn’t get time off. Is there a problem with Elisa?”

“There’s no good way to say this. I’m afraid that Elisa is dead. She was murdered.” There was no sound on the other end of the line. “Richard? Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Yes, I’m okay. I just can’t believe it. Elisa dead. My God. How did it happen? Who did it?”

“We’re not sure. She had a boyfriend, he’s the police’s number one suspect. But at this point, it’s all circumstantial.”

“I just can’t take it in.” In the background, I heard Harper calling. “I’m sorry, I have to go. Would you call me and tell me what the findings are? And when the funeral is?”

We exchanged cell phone numbers, and I hung up, sorry for Llewellyn’s distress at Elisa’s death, as well as his work circumstances. I expected that he would recover from Elisa, since they hadn’t kept in contact. I hoped he would get design experience and move on from that awful Mr. Harper.

Bart’s report was next on my to-do list. I had a lot of data but it wasn’t organized yet. When in disarray, I make lists, tables and spreadsheets. It may not give me any answers, but it shows me what I’ve got to work with. Two hours later, I had compiled the following list of suspects, with their relationship to Elisa, their means, motive, and opportunity.

Anthony Belloni—boyfriend, access to guns through Family connections/conceal adultery; jealousy-other men?; threat to marriage/present at Elisa’s apartment on night of murder.

Grace Belloni—wife of boyfriend, access to guns through Tony/ jealousy; anger at “other woman”; threat to marriage/ no known opportunity unless Tony is covering for her absence from home.

Jane Dunwoodie—ex-boss; unknown access to guns/ jealous of Elisa’s sex appeal; disapproved of Elisa’s work ethic; unknown opportunity.

John Dunwoodie—ex-boss, unknown access to guns/ sexual interest in Elisa?; money manager; misuse of funds?; unknown opportunity.

Bobbie Russell—replacement, unknown access to guns; homosexual; no known relationship with Elisa; unknown opportunity.

Janet Morano—mother, unknown access to guns; anger at daughter’s lack of contact or support?; unknown opportunity.

Marsha Cantwell—friend; unknown access to guns; jealousy; sexual betrayal with boyfriend Alan; personal betrayal by role model; mental instability; unknown opportunity.

Mabel Lembke—neighbor; unknown access to guns; gossip; disapproval; possible theft of credit card info; unknown opportunity.

Alan McGuire—one-night stand; unknown access to guns; regret; conceal infidelity; angry at being led astray?; unknown opportunity

Richard Llewellyn—boyfriend; unknown access to guns; jealousy? did he stay in contact?; unknown opportunity

I scanned the list, trying to pick the most likely killer. Logically, the cops had it nailed. Tony Belloni was the guy. But logic be damned, my gut just wouldn’t go with it. There had to be something else. Something I was overlooking. There just had to be. Oh, well, at least Bart had some options. That was more than he started with. I typed my report on my laptop, printed and proofed it, and called for a messenger.

Ten minutes later, the knock on the office door broke my reverie and made me jump. I’m not usually the nervous type, but recent events were taking a toll. “Come in,” I called, my tone reflecting the irritation I felt at being caught off guard. The door opened slowly and a very short Asian woman peeked around the frame, looking apprehensive.

“I’m sorry,” I told her, “I was expecting a messenger service. I didn’t mean to bark at you. Please, come in.”

She peered at me, hesitant. Did she understand English? A lot of Susan’s clients were first-generation Americans.

I stood up slowly and came around my desk. “Are you here