Part 16 (1/2)

Fallon's face remained eerily calm. ”I don't know what to tell you except Richard lied.”

”No, he didn't.” Gia stomped her foot, plunging her heel into the gra.s.s.

Someone behind her laughed as Gia's arms shot out to catch her balance. Zippy barked again, triggering the canines in the crowd to join him.

Mr. TV appeared out of nowhere. He managed to wedge himself next to me. ”I've checked. There is no restraining order,” he said under his breath.

I begrudgingly made room for him. ”When did you do that?”

”Yesterday. I searched the public records database for any info on the Eriksens.”

I was about to ask if he'd dug up anything of interest when Gia continued her verbal attack on Fallon.

”You have an irrational attachment to Zippy. And-and you've sent us death threats.”

Whoa. Death threats? That was out of left field. Why in the world would she send them death threats? I looked at MacAvoy for possible answers since he seemed to know more than the rest of us. He shrugged.

I studied Fallon's face. She wasn't just calm, she was confident. As if she knew something Gia didn't. I pulled out the photo of Fallon and Richard from my bag. In the picture she looked angry.

”You don't know what you're talking about.” Fallon turned to walk away. Zippy lunged after her again sending all the dogs into another bark-fest.

”I saw you in your car outside of our house,” Gia shouted.

Fallon stopped.

”That's right. I saw you. I know about all the pathetic voicemails you left for Richard on his cell phone.”

Fallon slowly faced Gia again. Her smiled slipped, revealing a tiny crack in her confidence that wasn't there six seconds ago.

Gia didn't hold back from spewing her venom. ”But you crossed the line when you broke into our house and ransacked it. Destroying our family photos. Shredding Zippy's bed. You're a horrible person. You belong in jail.”

Fallon shook her head. ”I didn't break into your house. I would never hurt Zippy.” She glanced at the ”Save our Doxies” sign she clutched. Was she about to whack Gia with it?

For those of us paying attention, she didn't deny calling Richard repeatedly. I studied the photo again. Had Darby captured a lover's quarrel? Maybe Richard always looked angry. I didn't know him well enough to know his true temperament.

MacAvoy looked over my shoulder. ”Where'd you get that?”

I shoved the photo back inside my bag. ”I don't reveal my sources.”

He smiled. ”What were they arguing about?”

”I don't know.”

”You're in violation of the 'no contact' order,” Gia told Fallon. ”You need to leave.”

I elbowed MacAvoy. ”Tell her that's not true.”

He cleared his throat. ”I'm afraid she's correct,” he spoke loudly, attracting Gia's attention. ”There isn't a restraining order.”

She whipped around and glared at MacAvoy. ”Yes, there is. My husband filed it two months ago. He promised me he'd take care of it. Right after she”-Gia pointed a finger at Fallon-”broke into our house.”

”Unfortunately, your husband lied to you,” MacAvoy said.

”I knew he was no good,” Betty muttered under her breath.

”Shh,” I whispered back. I didn't believe either woman would admit to killing Richard, but there was a chance they might say something incriminating, and I didn't want to miss it. You know, so I could fill in Malone later.

Gia scowled. ”You're wrong. He wouldn't lie to me. She stalked us. I have proof.”

Fallon shook her head. ”I wasn't stalking anyone. Richard could have told me to leave him alone at any time. He didn't. Not once.”

Okay, it didn't take a genius to see where this was going. Gia was also putting two and two together and coming up with the same conclusion I had. I felt badly for her. It was one thing to learn your dead husband might have cheated on you. It was a whole other story to find out about it from his mistress in front of fifty strangers.

Gia rallied quickly. ”Your pitiful attempt to take what didn't belong to you failed.”

”You're wrong,” Fallon bit out.

”You're a jealous vindictive witch. He didn't want you so you shot my husband.”

There was a collective gasp at Gia's accusation. Oh, it was on like Donkey Kong.

”I didn't kill Richard.” Fallon's dark eyes glared at her enemy.

”Someone call 911. There's a murderer among us,” Gia wailed, pointing at Fallon.

”It's you. You're the killer.” Fallon's condemning words fell into an expectant silence. ”He was going to leave you, but you murdered him first.”

I felt like we were watching two B-list actors act out a scene from Clue. I half expected her to finish her declaration with, ”In the dog park with the revolver.”

All at once, Gia dropped Zippy's leash and jumped Fallon. The picket sign landed with a solid thwack on the gra.s.s.

”You tramp,” Gia screamed.

”Murderer.” Fallon managed to wrangle free, and push Gia away. ”You're crazy.”

Zippy jumped around, dragging his leash behind him as he barked his head off.

”That dog's jacked up,” Betty said.

I called Zippy, but he refused to come. He was too worked up to obey, and Gia was too upset to notice her pooch needed her.

”You killed my husband you selfish harlot.” Gia's face grew redder with each word. ”You couldn't have him, so you shot him.”

”I loved him.” Fallon pounded her chest. ”I was the best thing that ever happened to him. We were going to start our lives together. You killed him. He hated you.”

”Liar!”