Gayle Roper - See No Evil

“Maybe it’ll bring more people because they’re curious,” I said, wanting to help. He looked so discouraged.

“Yeah, curious to look but unwilling to buy.”

“Well, this house may be hard to sell, but if the others are anything like the model, they’ll go fast, Gray. Americans like big, remember?”

On that happy note, we fell silent. I wondered how much longer we’d have to stay here, and if I was allowed to call Lucy and Meaghan. I looked at my watch. Ten-thirty. It would probably be another half hour before they began to worry seriously about me. Besides, I realized, my cell was at the model house with my purse.

Finally the sergeant returned, Officer Schumann trailing him. “Thank you for mentioning that you stepped in the blood, Miss—” He checked his notes. “—Volente. It saves us spending a lot of time trying to trace the footprints.”

I beamed, happy I’d helped, certain he’d now perceive my innocence.

“I’m afraid I’ll have to take your shoe, though, just as I’ll have to take your shirt, Mr., uh, Grayson.”

“Edwards,” Gray said.

The sergeant looked at him blankly.

“It’s Grayson Edwards,” Gray said patiently. “Edwards is my last name.”

“Gotcha. I still need your shirt.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Surely you don’t think Gray—”

“Do you often suffer from nosebleeds, Mr. Edwards?” Poole was eyeing the bloody shirt again.

Gray shook his head. “Never.”

“Tell me again how this one occurred.”

“When Anna saw the man had a gun, she jumped back and her head—” With one hand he made as if to squish his nose.

The sergeant flinched. “Painful.”

Gray nodded. “Very.”

I felt bad all over again. Guilt, a woman’s most faithful companion.

Sergeant Poole held out a large plastic bag. Gray pulled his shirt off and dropped it in.

The officer turned to me. I pulled off my sandal and put it in another bag, trying not to think of the painful hike over all the little stones and rocks on the way back to the model house.

The sergeant handed the bags to Officer Schumann. “Seal these, Natalie, and tag them.” He turned to me. “Were you working alone?” He jerked a thumb toward the model home.

“Until Gray showed up.”

“When?”

“About eight o’clock or so.”

“And why were you still there at that hour?”

“I stayed at the shore an extra week with Lucy and Meaghan.”

Both men looked at me strangely.

What? Was I suddenly speaking Farsi or something? “I got behind on my sewing when I stayed that extra week, so I had to work late.”

Both men’s faces cleared, and Poole asked, “Who are Lucy and Meaghan?”

“Lucy Stoner and Meaghan Malloy. I share a house with them, and we all teach at Amhearst North. I teach art.”

“I can vouch for Miss Volente, Sergeant,” Officer Schumann said. “I believe she has taught my younger brother, Skip.”

Schumann. As in Skip Schumann? “Sure, I know Skip.” Can you say thorn in the side? “I don’t think art is his favorite subject.” I hoped I didn’t sound too sarcastic.

Officer Schumann just smiled.

“And where were you,” the sergeant asked, turning to Gray, “when she hit you in the nose?”

“I was climbing the ladder behind her.”

“The same ladder?”

Gray nodded. “It seemed a good idea at the time. Then he pulled his gun, she jumped back, and I—” He shrugged.

Sergeant Poole made more notations in his notebook. I noticed a bright blue Honda CRV pull to the curb. A woman with spiky brown hair and a determined attitude climbed out.

“The press has arrived,” Schumann muttered to Poole.

He glanced at the reporter who was bearing down on us as she pulled a small digital camera and a tape recorder from a large bag hanging over her shoulder.

“Merry Kramer.” The sergeant looked resigned but not distressed as the woman stopped in front of us. “Give me a minute, Merry, and I’ll be with you.”

“Sure, Sergeant.” The reporter gestured to the house. “Can I go in?”

“Can I stop you?” he countered.

“Well, sure you can, but I’m hoping you won’t.”

“Just stay out of everyone’s way, and don’t—”

“And don’t touch anything,” she finished for him. “I know.” With a little wave, she headed for the scene of the crime. Halfway there she paused and took several quick shots of the house and the people milling around.

Poole watched her with a little shake of his head. Then he turned back to Gray and me. “Schumann, give these people receipts for the shoe and the shirt.”

“Right, sir.” She handed us already written slips of paper.

“And you two, don’t forget to come in tomorrow.”

“Right,” I said as a black BMW screeched to a stop at the edge of the road.

A slim man climbed out. His face was creased with concern as he eyed the yellow crime scene tape, the emergency vehicles, and all the people, many in uniform.

“What’s going on here?” he demanded of anyone who would listen. He caught sight of Gray and homed in on him. “Gray, what’s happening?” He strode across the barren yard toward us, though he was obviously searching for someone else. “Have you seen Dorothy? Is she all right”

My mouth fell open. Was he who I thought he was?

Sergeant Poole stepped forward. “And you are?”

The man blinked. “I’m Ken Ryder.”

My breath caught. I looked helplessly at Gray, and saw a reflection of the same discomfort and uncertainty I felt. What could he possibly say?

Ken Ryder turned back to Gray. “I was supposed to meet Dorothy here about seven to seven-thirty, but I got held up at work.” He started for the house. “Is she inside?”

Sergeant Poole put a hand on Ken Ryder’s arm. “Stay here, please, Mr. Ryder.”

Ken frowned vaguely at the sergeant but kept talking to Gray. “I called her on both her cell and the home phone, leaving a message that we’d have to come here another night.” He shrugged. “I knew I was disappointing her, but I couldn’t help it. When I got home about a half hour ago, she wasn’t there, and she’d left no note like she usually does. This is the only place she planned to go this evening, so I’m here even though I can’t imagine she’d still be here.”

He took a breath, then kept talking. Nerves? Why? Did cops make him feel guilty too?

“You know how she loves to come check on the progress of things, but it’s so dark. How can she see? There’s no electricity in the house yet.” He looked confused as he glanced at the well-lit house. “Is there?”

“Where do you work, Mr. Ryder?” Sergeant Poole asked.

“Chester County BMW. I’m sales manager.” He reached in his pants pocket and pulled out an empty key chain with a green plastic tag which had white printing on it.

“Ride with Ryder?” Poole read.

Ken Ryder nodded. “My slogan. I guess she didn’t get my message, though why she’d still be waiting for me here, I don’t know.”

His voice trailed off as he seemed to see the coroner’s van for the first time. “What’s that for?”

No one said anything though the reporter held her tape recorder out in anticipation.

“Where’s Dorothy?” This time there was a note of panic in his voice. “I want to see Dorothy.”

Just then a gurney with a body bag lying on it was lowered out the front door opening.

I watched Ken Ryder’s face as he added two and two. “That’s not—”

Gray put out a hand and clamped it on Ken’s shoulder. “Easy, Ken.”

Ken ignored him and started toward the gurney, his movements jerky. “It can’t be!”

Sergeant Poole grabbed him by the arm. “Not now, Mr. Ryder. You just stay here with me. We need to talk.” He kept a firm hold as Ken Ryder tried to pull free. He stepped between the man and the gurney. “Mr. Ryder, I’m sorry for your loss.”