Death In Duplicate

“That and moving next door to you,” Jed said. “Anyone who is pla

“That’s an interesting point,” Brett said with a gleam in his eye. “I was going to mention one other thing. Donald told one of my officers that he got a bargain on his house because you were involved in investigating so many murders. Seems living next door to someone who stumbles over dead bodies is not exactly a selling point for a home in a nice neighborhood.”

THIRTY-ONE

KATHLEEN AND JERRY WERE DUE HOME FOR DINNER AND left right after Susan promised to call Kathleen first thing in the morning and share all the details of their discussion. Jed got up to let the dogs out into the backyard and Susan and Brett were alone together.

“I’m going to have to talk to the baby nurse,” he said.

“ Sha

“Three people were murdered out at the Perry Island Care Center. It isn’t my case, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Donald or his mother hired someone to kill them. And, if that’s true, I’m sure Sophie will tell us all about them. In the position she’s in, helping the police with unsolved crimes is always a good idea.”

“So why bother Sha

“Because she’s involved in Perry Island Care Center in more ways than one.” He looked at her. “That doesn’t surprise you, does it?”

“To tell you the truth, I had wondered-”

“What had you wondered?” Sha

“Would you like some champagne? I can get another glass,” Susan offered.

“Thanks, but I’ll pass. I don’t think Ethan and Rosie are settled for the night. And I should run a load or two of laundry before I go to bed as well.” She sat down on the couch and crossed her arms across her chest. “I don’t know where to start.”

“You grew up on Perry Island, didn’t you?” Susan asked.

“Yes. Who told you that?”

“No one. But Donald grew up there and he refers to the island as Perry. Not Perry Island, just Perry. And you do, too,” Susan explained her reasoning.

“Yes, I grew up there. In fact, I grew up hanging out at P.I.C.C.”

“You and your cousin are the heirs to the center, aren’t you?” Susan asked.

“Just me. My father inherited it from his parents and he married my mother who was a nurse there. I’m an only child. I grew up knowing that P.I.C.C. would be mine someday. That’s probably the reason I’m a nurse.” She smiled. “My father was a doctor, but he always said that it was the nurses who were the real workers in the health care system. I never even considered going to med school. I wanted to take care of people and I knew nursing was the field for me.”

“But Mike?”

“Mike is my mother’s sister’s son. There’s no co

“Except that you could help get him a job there,” Susan suggested.

Sha

“Then why didn’t he stay around?” Susan asked since Brett seemed to be letting her ask all the questions.

“Death scared him. Well, it scares us all, but Mike was spooked when people started dying and then…” She glanced over at Brett.

“You can tell Brett about Mike’s fear that he caused one of the deaths,” Susan said. “He’ll find out eventually and Brett is capable of understanding the difference between a mistake and murder.”

“Mike was asked by Mrs. Hershman to leave the door to the roof open for her. And then she fell-or was pushed-off the roof, and he panicked and took off. But he liked Mrs. Hershman. He would never have killed her.”

Brett nodded slowly. “I don’t know all the details of the P.I.C.C. investigation, but now that we have co

“You think Mike should talk to the police in charge of the case?” Sha

“And he should talk to Brett,” Susan suggested.

“I have nothing to do with what happened on Perry Island,” Brett said.

“But I think Donald manipulated Mike the same way he manipulated everyone else. He suggested that Mike get out of P.I.C.C. as fast as possible-and that focused attention on Mike that might better have been placed on other suspects,” Susan said.

“That may be true,” Sha

“He was involved with Sophie Kincaid, too, wasn’t he?” Brett suggested.

“You’re kidding! Sophie Kincaid is the older woman that what’s her name-the receptionist-told Kathleen and me about?”

“I think that’s the name of the woman,” Sha

“He’s not the first male who let his ego blind him to the truth,” Susan pointed out. “And many are a whole lot older than your cousin.”

“I guess.”

Susan changed the subject. “P.I.C.C. is a wonderful place, but its open-door policy for visitors means that pretty much anyone can get in and see-or harm-the residents.”

Sha

Brett nodded. “It’s sad, but it’s better not to trust everyone than to end up with a tragedy.”

“That’s true,” Sha

Susan had a horrible thought. “Oh, no! You’re going to leave Chrissy and the babies, aren’t you?”

Sha

“Sounds like a good idea,” Susan agreed.

The back door opened and there was a commotion as the dogs dashed through the kitchen and into the hallway. Rock and Roll bounded up to the second floor and Susan shuddered as the newel post at the bottom of the stairway shook. Clue, more sedate than the younger dogs, walked slowly into the living room, over to Sha

“So why did you take the job?” Susan asked. “Didn’t you know Chrissy and Stephen might end up living here?”

“Yes. But, to tell you the truth, I knew Mike was still in the area and I wanted to help him if I could and… well, Stephen’s parents told me about you.”

“And you thought I might help your cousin,” Susan guessed.