“We haven’t even held Thorne’s memorial yet,” Lila said. “I think it’s only natural that we’re talking about it.”
“Well, I still don’t see why you think he had to be murdered by a man,” Lou said.
“A man did it. I just know it,” Lila said.
“Pity you don’t know what man,” Genevieve said, drawing one of Lila’s reprimanding stares.
“Lila, historically, women who commit murder often use poison,” Eileen said.
“Really?” Barbara Hirshorn demanded, looking horrified. “That’s just too terrible. I can’t believe a woman could have hurt the poor man.”
“Killed him,” Lou corrected.
Lila shook her head. “It was Larry Levine. He’s always been jealous of Thorne. You know, sees himself as the real writer, while Thorne was just a businessman. Poor Thorne. It’s a pity he ever wrote that book. It was his downfall.”
“Lila, it’s reckless of you to accuse Larry this way,” Eileen said firmly. “And we have no idea if Thorne’s book was really a factor or not.”
For a moment they all paused, looking at one another awkwardly.
“Do you think that…Mary Vincenzo…could have…?” Barbara asked in a whisper.
“No,” Lila said firmly. “I don’t. I think they need to look at Larry. Hard.”
“Does Larry know that you think he’s the killer?” Barbara asked nervously.
“Oh, good heavens, I’m not foolish enough to accuse him publicly,” Lila said. “What I’m saying here is just between us…and Genevieve, of course. Although I strongly suspect some of our words will be repeated to that private investigator you hired.” She pointed a finger at Genevieve. “All right, maybe I’m saying this because I know it will be repeated, and there’s where he should be looking. Tell that young man he needs to tear apart everything in Larry Levine’s life. I promise you, Larry is—or was, anyway—viciously jealous of poor Thorne.”
Genevieve held her tongue. Lila had talked about pompous Thorne when he’d been alive, but now he was poor Thorne.
“I’ll tell Joe what you suspect, Lila,” Genevieve said. “And I’m sure he’ll investigate Larry.” Along with everyone else, she added silently.
Lila nodded, as if pleased, and things were just as they should be. “Keep an eye on him at the service tonight. Keep a close eye on him,” she warned gravely.
“Of course, Lila,” Genevieve said.
At first, the service for Thorne Bigelow could have been any memorial. The prayers were said, and the mourners looked duly sad.
Both Raif Green and Tom Dooley were there, but they remained at the rear of the church, just watching.
When the prayers were over, Jared tearfully talked about his father’s brilliance and his love for literature. Then Mary Vincenzo spoke about her brother-in-law’s philanthropic work. Afterward, Jared stepped back to the podium and invited any of the mourners who had something to say to come up, starting with those who had been in his father’s beloved society.
And with that, the service turned into a Poe convention.
Brook Avery came up and read from “Annabelle Lee.” Then Don Tracy did a dramatic reading of “The Raven.” Nat Halloway, though awkward and stiff, announced that he was reading from a story that was a favorite of his, as well as Thorne Bigelow’s, “The Masque of the Red Death.” Larry Levine was just as awkward, but he stumbled through a passage from “MS Found in a Bottle.”
Lila Hawkins came up and briefly said that the community would mourn such a colorful man, and that the perpetrator of the crime must be caught. Lou Sayles spoke fondly of a man she would miss. Eileen was just as kind and brief. Sam Latham, though he remained in the hospital, sent his condolences through a coworker.
Barbara Hirshorn was shy and hesitant, but she commended Thorne Bigelow on all he had done for the literary community. When she finished, there was only scattered applause, because by then people were getting tired, and some had even slipped out.
Joe noticed, however, that one person was soundly clapping.
Albee Bennet, the butler.
He caught Joe watching him and smiled sheepishly. Later, as they were filing out of the church, he stopped Joe, who was with Genevieve and Eileen, and said, “That poor shy woman. I had to clap. I mean, the whole place went crazy over that egomaniac Don Tracy, but she was the one who really deserved the applause.”
“That was very kind of you,” Eileen told him sincerely.
And then they were all outside. Raif and Tom had respectfully disappeared before the end of the service, Joe noticed, as he watched Jared escorting Mary toward a limousine. Jared turned and stared back at Joe, and it was a bitter and resentful stare. Then he and Mary got into the limo, which drove smoothly away.
But Joe noticed that, as it started down the street, it was being followed.
Apparently the cops were still keeping an eye on Jared and his aunt.