Part 16 (1/2)

”Uh...” Yes, and I sounded like an idiot.

”Why, h.e.l.lo you two,” a voice called out.

For the first time all weekend, I was grateful for an interruption.

It was Allison, however. I looked away and gave a disgusted grunt.

”h.e.l.lo, Allison. Enjoying the festival?” Maggie asked politely.

”It's wonderful. Mags, I heard from your aunt about last night about poor Bedford- how awful.” She reached over and touched Maggie's arm. ”Are you all right?”

”Allison, I'm fine and yes, it was horrible about Bedford,” Maggie said sadly.

Allison had enough grace to stop talking for a moment.

”How are you Miss Ryan?” she asked sweetly when she ran out of grace. ”You don't look too much the worse for wear.”

”I'm very well, thank you,” I replied and bowed slightly.

”I understand you brought your whole family here,” she said sarcastically.

”Nah, just my sister and her husband. The rest come up in a few days. I'm bussing them in.”

She ignored my sarcasm and continued. ”Boy, things started happening once you arrived on the scene the other day.”

So that was her opinion: I was the cause of the last two day's events. I guess I couldn't blame her. She was in love with Maggie and protecting her.

”Well,” Maggie started, trying to diffuse the situation, I was sure. ”We were just going over to the beer garden, everybody-”

Allison interrupted her. ”How do you explain that, Miss Ryan?” she asked.

”I have no explanation for it. However, I'm sure you have an opinion and you're dying to impart your theory.”

”Okay ladies, let's not get into-” Maggie started, but Allison interrupted her again. It must be in the water they drink.

”Well, of course I'm not a great detective,” Allison said, ”but it doesn't take Charlie Chan to figure out you might be the catalyst for all of this.”

She was really beginning to annoy me.

I'd had enough and said as calmly and quietly as I could, given the fact that I wanted to belt her, ”I a.s.sure you, Miss Carson that I am only here to help. If you think differently, I'm sorry. Frankly, I could care less what you think. I would hope you care enough about Miss Winfield to help rather than hinder. Either way, I do not want to have this kind of discussion with you again.”

Mac and Teri were standing right there. My heart was racing and my blood boiling as I continued, ”Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to join Hannah. Maybe I'll see you there.” I looked at Maggie. ”I'll see you over there.” I didn't wait for a reply as I walked away.

Mac and Teri followed me. ”Hey, wait up.”

”Who was that?” Mac asked. ”Wow, she's-”

”Yes, she is. And I'm wondering if she could be a part of this mess,” I said.

”Do you think she could do that?” Teri asked.

I shrugged. ”I'm not sure, but she annoys me.”

We found Hannah at a picnic table with Doc, another older couple, and Steve. Hannah saw us and waved. ”Where's Margaret?” she asked.

”With Allison,” I replied.

”Ugh,” she groaned and I laughed. ”Kate, I want to you to meet Tom and Lily Caldwell.”

I reached over and shook hands. Tom looked like Steve with white hair. ”Mr. Caldwell, the resemblance to your son is striking.”

”That's what everybody says. I don't see it though. Please, it's Tom and Lily.”

I sat down next to Hannah.

”So, Hannah tells us you're an accomplished photographer. That sounds fascinating,” Lily said.

After a few minutes of idle chatter about my job, the conversation went to Hannah and Lily. Tom tapped me on the shoulder.

”So, I understand it's been pretty dicey around here,” Tom said. He looked at the bandage on my forehead.

I instinctively reached up to it. ”Well, it's been interesting.” I told him I read the report and filled him in on all that had happened as Maggie joined the group and sat next to me. Allison sat by Mac and Teri.

”So, what have you done with the jewelry?” Tom asked.

”It's back at the house in a plastic bag,” I said and looked at Maggie. ”I want to talk to Tom about your mother. I don't want you to get upset,” I whispered to her. I was dying to talk to Tom.

”I'd like to hear,” Maggie said. ”I never heard exactly what happened. I think I need to hear this.” She swallowed with difficulty.

Tom busied himself with his mug of beer. ”So, you read the report?”

”Yes, I did. No evidence was ever found, no clues no weapon, no murderer. Sounds like a typical murder in Chicago,” I said.

”It may be typical for a big city but not in Cedar Lake and not while I was sheriff.” He looked at Maggie and me. ”I'm an organized person, Kate. I put the top back on the toothpaste. I straighten pictures. I like to have things in their place. So when a citizen in my town gets brutally murdered, especially someone I know and admire, then nothing is in its place. We never found anything to go on. However, we never closed the case. And now in light of what you found, I'm given renewed hope of finding the murderer.” He continued sipping his beer. ”Steve tells me your father was a Chicago cop.”

”Yes, he was for thirty years. He was a good, honest man.”

”Steve seems to think you have his genes. He told me what had happened. What's your slant on this, Kate?” he asked.

”Okay, if I'm a robber, I'm a sneak by nature. I would come up from behind my victim and, I'm sorry about this, Maggie, but if I'm going to stab somebody, I want it to be a surprise so there's no struggling. So, I come from behind.” I shook my head, ran my fingers through my hair and thought for a moment. ”Tom, according to the police report, Miranda was stabbed from the front-she had to see her attacker. If I saw someone coming at me, I'd be running. If I turned and started to run, wouldn't the entry wounds be different? I mean the angle.” I looked at Doc.

He looked a little uneasy for some reason. ”You're right. The angle of the wound would be different. Miranda's attacker came from the front.”

”So what do you think?” Tom asked.

”Okay, let's take it step by step,” I said. ”Now, I might sound like I'm beating a dead horse, so bear with me here, folks. If you can't, then feel free to take a nap. So, Miranda was at the lake. We know this. This was where the attacker stabbed and robbed her. We know the attacker was in front of her, and there were no defensive wounds.”