Set the Stage for Murder (18 page)

“
One has to wonder if Juliet might not have been better off with Tony and Caroline” Phoebe mused.

Marc opened the dishwasher, added the dishes, and started the whisper-quiet cleaning cycle. “Of course, that’s a little like choosing between hanging or lethal injection.” He walked back to the table and took his seat. “Either way, you’re screwed.”

Phoebe raised her eyebrows, ever so slightly. “Well, yes, that is one way of putting it, I suppose. Now, I think we should discuss our investigation. Where do things stand, after tonight? Are we any closer to figuring out who is threatening Rosamund?” She looked around the room at each of her compatriots. “Theodore, what does your … gut say?”

“My gut, Mother?” He cast an amused expression in Vincent’s direction. “Well, my gut says that Roz has a hell of a lot of enemies and we’ve managed to gather all of them under our roof. What are the odds?”

“Yes, dear,” Phoebe said patiently. “But after spending an evening with all of them, does someone stick out in your mind?”

“Mother, it could be almost anyone. Obviously, I don’t think Billy is involved and I’d be awfully surprised if it were Tony. But Caroline is another story; I think she’d like to strangle Roz with her bare hands.”

“Yes,” Phoebe agreed. “But would she ever
act
on those feelings? That is the real question here.”

“And do we see her writing cryptic notes and delivering sinister bouquets?” Vicki asked doubtfully. “I agree that she appears a little unstable right now, but it doesn’t seem her style.” She sighed and leaned back in her chair. “And it doesn’t seem like something Ed or Sally would do, either, does it?”

“Which leaves us with Connor,” Phoebe concluded.

Vicki turned and looked at her husband. “Well … ”

“You have another suspect?” Phoebe asked? “Who?”

“Vicki and I aren’t so sure we can rule out Meg.” Teddy looked around and gauged the reaction of the others.

Phoebe nodded thoughtfully. “On what grounds? It’s always been my impression that those two women were like sisters.”

Vicki squirmed in her chair, suddenly uncomfortable with her accusation. “No grounds, really. But Marc said it earlier; they’ve always had a weird relationship. And maybe after living in Roz’s shadow and taking care of her and Juliet and … I don’t know, giving up her career … she’s had enough. Maybe she’s tired of all of it and maybe she’s striking back.” She smiled weakly at her mother-in-law. “And before you say it, I know; there were a lot of maybes in that theory.”

Phoebe smiled. “Let us say, for the time being, that you are correct. Then why show you the second note tonight? Wouldn’t it be to her benefit to have left it in the wastebasket?

“Unless she was being clever and trying to divert suspicion elsewhere,” Vicki responded. “I know this is an unlikely scenario, but I don’t think we should overlook Meg because of any preconceived notions we have about her and Roz. She’s an actress. Maybe it’s all an act.”

Vincent nodded his head approvingly. “That’s actually good detective work, ma’am. It’s good to remind ourselves that things aren’t always what they seem.”

“Well, I know I was stuck in the kitchen most of the night and I probably missed seeing someone pour poison from a big ring into Roz’s wine glass or something, but my money’s on Connor.” Marc leaned back and crossed his arms as if the final word had been said. “All the threats sound like the immature, juvenile acts of someone with a troubled mind. Someone with a
grudge
.” He looked at all of them expectantly. “Hello? Doesn’t that sound like someone we know? Someone who has already fallen off the rehab wagon?”

“Chef’s right,” Vincent agreed, putting his arm around the back of Marc’s chair. “That young Mr. Cortez looks like our number one suspect.” He looked at Marc. “Chef, you’re not just a genius in the kitchen, you’ve got a good head on top of those broad shoulders.” He grinned as he clamped his hand around the back of Marc’s neck and gave him a playful shake. “Shakespeare here is one lucky guy.”

Vicki fought to keep from laughing out loud at Marc’s discomfort. “Yes, I guess Marc’s right. Sometimes the obvious answer is the correct one.”

“
Yes, sometimes it is,” Phoebe said. “But you’re not convinced, are you, dear? Is there something you know that we don’t?”

“No,” Vicki admitted, “I have nothing to base this on. I guess it’s just … intuition. I just have a feeling that Meg is involved somehow.”

Phoebe studied her daughter-in-law carefully. “Victoria? What else is your intuition telling you?”

Vicki thought for a moment before answering, mostly because she was hoping that if she didn’t say it out loud it wouldn’t be true. Finally, she responded. “I’m afraid it’s telling me that as bad as tonight was, the worst is yet to come.”

Chapter 17

After Phoebe and Vincent had retired to their rooms for the evening, and after Marc and Ethan had finished tidying up the kitchen and returned to the carriage house, Teddy and Vicki checked in on the contingency that had made camp in the library immediately following dinner. Now, several hours later, Billy, Sir Tony, and Juliet were well into a bottle of brandy and feeling very little pain. As Vicki and Teddy walked through the door, Billy was sitting on one of the deep green, velvet-covered sofas next to Juliet, explaining the difference between “stalking” and “pursuing” to her. Tony sat across from them on an identical sofa, and although he stared at the two of them, it was clear that his thoughts were elsewhere.

“So, if you really love them, then it’s not stalking?” Juliet asked, struggling to focus on Billy’s face as she took another sip from her snifter. Clearly, this is where the real party had been taking place.

Billy nodded his head slowly and deliberately. “Exactly. At least that’s my take on it.” He reached for the bottle and filled his glass as well as the one that sat on the low table in front of Sir Tony. “Drink up, Anthony. You’re falling behind.”

Juliet took another sip of the deep amber liquid and continued her investigation into Billy’s life. “How did you know if you really loved them or not?”

“Oh, I
always
really loved them,” declared Billy, seemingly baffled by the question.

“So,
really
, it was never a case of you stalking those women?” Juliet nodded her head as if she were finally unlocking a mystery of the universe. “They just didn’t realize that you
loved
them?”

Billy opened his arms and looked heavenward. “Finally, someone gets it! This calls for another drink.” He leaned forward and reached for the brandy bottle again.

“Billy, you’re going to wake up with a headache of gigantic proportions,” Teddy said, as he took a seat next to Sir Tony. “I’d attempt to cut you off but I know the futility of that gesture.”

“Ted, my boy, allow me to pour you a generous snifter of your own liquor.” Billy turned and addressed Juliet. “Ted only serves the good stuff, always has. Having made a life out of sponging off others, I can tell you, with a great deal of authority, that not every host is so generous.” He took a long swallow from his glass. “No, indeed. On many an occasion, after leaving one home or another, I’ve been known to speak disparagingly of the refreshments and the amenities. But
never
after leaving Lenore’s Folly.”

Vicki, who was standing directly behind him, bent over and patted his shoulders lovingly. “That’s because you seldom
leave
Lenore’s Folly.” She crossed around the sofa and took a seat on the other one, between her husband and Sir Tony. “How are you feeling, Juliet?”

“I think I’m a little drunk. But better, thanks. I’m glad to be…over here tonight.”

“Well, we’re glad to have you over here,” Teddy said with a smile.

“I think I should be going to bed, though. Is that alright?”

“Of course,” Vicki said. “Would you like me to show you back to your room?” She wasn’t all that certain that the girl could find it in her current condition.

Juliet put her glass on the table and stood. “No thanks, Vicki. That’s sweet, but I’m fine. Really.” She smiled and did, indeed, look more sober than she had moments ago. She crossed over, bent down and gave her father a kiss on the cheek. “Goodnight, Father. Don’t worry. Cary will come around. She always does.”

Tony smiled as he took her hand in both of his and gave it a kiss. “Goodnight, my angel. Sweet dreams. And thank you.”

Juliet bade them all goodnight and stumbled slightly as she walked through the door and into the hallway. They heard a giggle from the hallway. “I’m okay,” she said loudly enough for them to hear. Really, I am.” She giggled again as she made her way up the stairs.

“My God, it’s good to hear her laugh. Normally, Billy, I’d have you drawn and quartered for getting my daughter drunk. However, under the circumstances, I think it’s exactly what she needed.” Sir Tony took a swallow of brandy from his glass. “I bloody well know it’s what I needed tonight.” He turned and looked at Vicki. “My dear Victoria, allow me to apologize for my behavior this evening, as well as the behavior of my wives, both current and former. I’m afraid all of us acted abominably.” He stared into his glass. “And I’ve been an old fool.”

Vicki smiled and patted his arm. “No apology necessary, Tony. We actors are a high-strung lot. You get two or more of us together and there’s bound to be fireworks.”

“Especially when you throw Rosamund into the mix.” He looked at Teddy and then turned back and addressed Vicki in a stage whisper. “Victoria, why did you marry this old sod? Surely you could have done better?” Teddy laughed.

“He caught me at a weak moment, Tony. I think my blood sugar level was low.”

“Yes, I noticed she was about to faint, thought ‘this is my chance’, and swooped right in.” Teddy said.

Sir Tony laughed. “Well done, old boy.” He looked back in his snifter and took another drink. “Seriously,” he said, “the two of you have a good marriage. I may not be able to sustain one myself, but that doesn’t mean I can’t recognize one.” The earlier events of the evening, combined with the liquor and the hour, apparently had put Tony Dupree in a reflective mood. “Oh, I suppose Cary and I are alright. Not that it’s everyone’s cup of tea, but it seems to work for us.” He stared into the dying fire and smiled slightly, as if a long forgotten memory had unexpectedly surfaced. “Yes, we’ll be alright. Rosamund and I, on the other hand, were another story altogether.” He glanced at Vicki. “Of course, you weren’t there, Victoria, but I’m certain Teddy and Billy here remember how it was.”

Teddy raised his eyebrows. “Well, it was electric. And that’s all I’ll say on the matter.”

Sir Tony threw his head back and laughed. “Yes, Teddy, that it was. And it bloody well still is; that’s what has gotten me into trouble again.” He inclined his head toward Vicki. “Yes, I’m afraid the sparks just fly whenever Rosamund and I come in contact. Why do you think I chose to live on another continent? It’s the only way I can get any peace.” He took another sip of brandy. “And yet, electricity doesn’t make a good union; at least in our case it doesn’t. I knew almost immediately that we’d made a horrible mistake by getting married.” He looked puzzled. “Roz didn’t seem to realize it, though.” He shrugged and took a drink. “I suppose I wasn’t only older, but wiser as well. Anyway, if work hadn’t separated us early on, I would have asked for a divorce before I did. After doing the play together and then making the film immediately afterward, well…it wasn’t a good situation; at least not for me. But then I got the television series back in Britain and Rosamund was off to Prague to film her movie, and everything was put on hold. Which is just as well, because if I’d pursued the divorce, she might
never
have told me about Juliet. And make no mistake, that girl is the light of my life.” He sighed as he looked into his glass and discovered it was empty. He reached for the bottle and poured another drink. ”As it was, I didn’t find out about my baby girl until Rosamund got back from Prague and placed her in my arms.” He smiled as tears welled up in his eyes. “I wanted to be a father in the worst way and suddenly I had the most beautiful baby girl imaginable.”

“You didn’t know about Juliet until then?” Vicki asked incredulously.

Tony shook his head. “No. You see, Rosamund discovered that I … well, let’s just say I had met a new friend on the set of the series. I’m afraid I wasn’t very discreet. Of course, word travels fast and Rosamund found out about it. She was livid. And when she gets like that, well, it’s almost like she’s mad or something. Anyway, she cut off all communication with me. Of course now I know that she was already pregnant with Juliet at that point. No wonder she was so furious with me.” He looked back at her. “Of course it all worked out, at least for a time. She gave me my baby daughter and we settled in for a couple more years of wedded bliss.” He laughed and shook his head. “I can assure you that when we finally
did
divorce, she wanted out as badly as I did.”

Billy had started to snore, rather loudly, on the other sofa.

“And that, ladies and gentlemen,” Teddy said as he rose from the sofa, “is our official cue that this evening’s festivities have concluded, at least for me.”

Vicki gave Sir Tony a kiss on the cheek and got up from her seat. “Are you coming up, Tony?”

He took her hand and kissed it. “In a few moments, my dear. In a few moments.”

Teddy kicked Billy’s foot. “Come on, Billy. Time for bed.”

Billy yawned and stretched before allowing Teddy to pull him up from the sofa. “See what I mean, Tony? Where else do you get service like this?”