Valerie Wolzien - Death In Duplicate

“And thank you for your time. This has been very interesting,” Susan added as the women made for the door.

“Some of those homes are bargains, you know.” He rushed to get to the door before them. “There are very few ocean side estates available in the Northeast.”

“I’m afraid the places I’d like to own are slightly out of my price range,” Susan explained, trying to sound disappointed.

“I could put you on our list of prospective buyers. To let you know if anything new comes on the market.”

“That would be nice. I’m afraid we’re in rather a hurry right now though. Perhaps I could also call and let you know.”

The smile that had been fixed on Walter Heckman’s face since meeting Kathleen and Susan outside of his office vanished. “That would be fine. Of course. Whatever works for you.”

“You’ve really been very helpful,” Kathleen assured him warmly. “And I really will call.”

The smile returned to Walter’s face as he swept the door open for the women and they thanked him politely, waiting until they were alone in Susan’s car before saying any more.

“You won’t believe this,” Susan began. “There’s not one property for sale anywhere near Perry Island Care Center! Only rentals. The sale properties are all on the ocean side of the island.”

“And you won’t believe this. The majority of the rentals on the island-on the Sound side-are owned by Donald Baines Executive Homes, and the others are owned by Blaine Baines Executive Homes and Estates!”

DINNER AT PERRY ISLAND CARE CENTER REMINDED SUSAN of meals in her college dorm-minus salt. But if the food was slightly bland, the company was not. Susan and Kathleen ate at Sally Worth’s table. One of her tablemates subscribed to the Hancock Herald and began asking questions about the murders of Nadine and Blaine Baines as soon as Susan introduced herself. She ended up answering as many questions as she asked.

But once the subject of murder was introduced, it was easy to mention the deaths of the residents. Each of the three women at the table had her own opinion, and each was happy to share it with Susan. “After all, you’re the expert,” Sally said and her companions seemed to agree. They also agreed that Mike Armstrong either was the murderer or knew the identity of the murderer.

“I can’t imagine why else he would have disappeared the way he did,” said the woman sitting on Sally’s right.

“Well, I agree with that,” said the woman on Sally’s left. “After all, he was so in love.”

“You think so?”

“I certainly do. They were going to get married. She told me so herself.”

“Oh, please. She was imagining things. Mike had no intention of getting married to anyone. He may have liked her. He may have enjoyed her company, if you know what I mean, but that young man wasn’t going to marry anyone!”

Sally Worth put down her fork and spoke up. “ ‘Enjoyed her company.’ Good Lord! Mrs. Henshaw and her friend are going to think they’ve slid right into the middle of a Jane Austen novel. They were sleeping together, having sex. And if Penny had fantasies of getting married to him, well, she wouldn’t be the first young girl to justify her hormones with romantic thoughts.”

“Penny?” Susan asked.

“Young girl?” Kathleen abandoned the rest of her chicken and rice and placed her fork down on her plate.

“Penny Bracken. You’ve probably met her, or at least spoken with her. She’s the receptionist. She’s usually sitting at the front desk.”

“The pretty blond girl?” Susan asked.

“That describes her perfectly,” Sally answered. “She’s a charming child. Grew up here on the island and has been working at the center after school and during vacations for years. She graduated from high school last year and I had hoped she would go to college, but then Mike came into her life.” Sally shrugged. “I miss that young man and I certainly think he was foolish to take off the way he did, but perhaps now I can convince Penny to start taking classes at the local community college. She needs more to occupy her mind.”

“You believe he’s out of her life then?”

Sally swung to her right to answer that question. “You don’t?”

“Well, I heard that Mike Armstrong had been back to visit Penny-”

“Here?” Susan interrupted. “Mike Armstrong has been here?”

“I heard that he has. More than once.”

Sally Worth leaned forward. “Who told you?”

“One of the night aides told me that she’s seen him here. Waiting out in the parking lot to see Penny is what she said.”

“We don’t have enough to occupy our time, Mrs. Henshaw, so you might want to take anything we say with more salt than you’ll find in our food. Gossip is rampant here-and not necessarily any more accurate than anyplace else, I’m afraid.”

“He was here,” her companion insisted.

“Perhaps, after we finish our dessert, we could find Penny and ask her ourselves.”

“That would be great,” Susan said.

“Do we need to wait for dessert?” Kathleen asked.

“It’s chocolate cake with ice cream,” the woman on Sally’s right announced.

And that settled that.

They found Penny Bracken leaning on the admission office’s doorjamb, chatting with one of the nurses.

“Penny, we were wondering if you had a minute to answer a few questions,” Sally announced although the answer was pretty obvious.

“Of course, Mrs. Worth. I shouldn’t leave my desk.” Penny glanced down the hallway to her empty chair and blushed. “Well, I need to make sure no one enters without greeting them. So as long as I can see the door, I’m fine,” she said.

“That’s not a problem. We can chat at your desk,” Sally continued.

“Okay.” Penny spoke to the nurse and walked back to the entrance, followed by Susan and Kathleen. Sally Worth, moving more slowly, trailed behind.

“Do you need a chair?” Susan asked, surprised by Sally’s sudden weakness.

“I would appreciate that.” Sally leaned heavily against the wall.

“I’ll get one from the living room,” Penny said, trotting off down the hallway.

“It just occurred to me that Penny might not want to talk about Mike unless we explain that we’re trying to help him,” Sally said, perking up as soon as the women were alone.

“I could mention Shannon -,” Susan began.

“Don’t do that! I’m not sure Shannon and Penny got along all that well. I know Shannon didn’t like Mike dating her.”

“And if Penny knew that…,” Kathleen began.

“… she wouldn’t be inclined to answer our questions,” Susan ended the thought. Penny was heading back toward them, a heavy oak chair held close to her chest.

“It might be best if I explain why we want to talk to her,” Sally whispered.

Susan and Kathleen merely nodded as Sally draped herself against the wall again.

“Here you are,” Penny said, setting the chair down close to Sally.

Sally dropped into its seat with possibly just a bit more enthusiasm than necessary and Penny got a concerned expression on her face. “Are you feeling okay? Should I call a nurse?”

“No, I’m fine. This is nothing. I didn’t sleep well last night is all.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’m sure.

“Now, Penny, I should tell you that these women are here to help Mike Armstrong.”

The expression on Penny’s face made it perfectly clear that, whatever she thought of this statement, she still cared for the young man. “Do you know where he is?” she asked Susan and Kathleen.

“No, but we’re worried about him,” Susan said.

“Oh, so am I! The police have questioned me about him over and over. And when I told him that…” Realizing she had just given herself away, she slapped her hand across her mouth.