Requiem Murder Part 33

"Later. Do me a favor. You might set yourself up for a ribbing though."

"No undercover work." He reached for a second roll. "These are great."

"Thanks. Have Beth's scarf tested for catnip."

"Why catnip?"

"Part of my theory. I'm not even sure it's possible."

"Your theory or the testing?"

"Both."

He walked to the window and stared into the backyard. "Don't put yourself in danger. I'm depending on

you to watch Robby this weekend."

"Then all is right with you and Beth? When I talked to her last evening, she was worried because you were cold and formal."

He nodded. "Yeah, I was. The shock of finding her scarf hit my insecurities and I reacted." He groaned.

"I groveled. I love her. I want to spend the rest of my life with her."

"Have you told her?"

He nodded. "She's afraid it's happening too fast. I

took my mother's engagement ring to have it cleaned. Do you think it's too fast?"

"Sometimes love swoops in like a hurricane. Good luck."

"Thanks." he returned to the table. "What was with Brandon?"

"I think he was a sociopath. He thought...he had some twisted notions or maybe this was his idea of fun. I wanted to confront him. I wanted to know if he was sick or just rotten."

"Good thing he died before you found him. You could have been the one to go over the balcony."

I sighed. "I wish I'd investigated his background before he was hired. He seduced me with music and

with his charm. Right now, I'm worried about Marcie. Her mother's not cool about this."

"Mrs. Simpson's not cool about anything. She's a real piece of work, and I imagine your prime suspect."

"Could be."

"What about her husband?"

"Another possibility."

"So I have this scarf tested. Then what?"

I glanced at my watch. "There are a couple of things I

need to do. Meet me at the church at ten."

He frowned. "I'm sorry the rack was banned. If we had one at the station, I'd make you talk. The church at ten. Be careful."

"Always."

After he left, I made several phone calls. Then I found my props. When I put an open can of cat food in

a plastic bag, Robespierre glared as though I'd stolen his prize possession. Then I tied some catnip in a scarf. He meowed and turned his back.

"Sorry. There's a purpose here and you're not involved."

I put on my coat, grabbed my handbag and props and left the house. My familiar trailed to the car and sat on the sidewalk until I backed out of the driveway. Mine was the only car parked in front of the church. On Fridays, Mary often late late and Edward seldom made an appearance. I strode up the walk and used the key I'd been given when I'd acted as choir director to unlock the door. Then I set about catching the stray Judith had named Shadow. My wait was short. He crept from the bushes and began to eat. I grabbed him. Five steps took me and my clawing captive to the door. I stepped inside, let the door close. Then I released the cat.

He streaked down the hall toward the sanctuary. I reached the door in time to see his tail vanish around the partially open door. I entered and pushed it shut. Though I didn't see the cat, I knew there was no escape. As I headed down the aisle, I dangled the doctored scarf.

When I reached the choir loft, I put my handbag on one of the chairs and prepared to wait for Pete. The only illumination came from the round stained gla.s.s window above the organ pipes and the smaller windows at the head of each set of steps.

I glanced at my watch. Seven minutes and counting. Where was the cat? Gradually, my eyes adjusted to the dim light. I spotted Shadow under a chair near the front of the soprano section. I slid from chair to chair slowly and cautiously.

Chapter 13.

Agnus Dei.

The sanctuary door closed with a bang and I prepared for action. I stooped and dangled the catnip filled end of the scarf near the cat's hiding place and slowly lured him toward the console. I hoped to recreate what I believed had happened yesterday.

"Roger, Roger, where are you?" Judith's shouts bounced off the stone walls. Panic gathered in my gut. My pulse thundered. I couldn't catch my breath.

She was at work. I'd checked before I left the house. I'd called the Simpsons. No one had answered. Then I called the library and the woman at the desk a.s.sured me Judith was in her office. Without leaving my name I'd hung up. Had the call alerted her? Did she know I was here?

Foolish thought. How many members of the congregation drive a silver car with red racing stripes? Next time I'd choose a less conspicuous model.

The cat scurried back to its corner. My back ached. Even if Judith spotted me, I had to straighten or risk remaining in a permanently stooped position.

"I know you're here. I have to talk to you about what you did yesterday. That wasn't very nice. Did I tell you I'm leaving Martin so we can be together? Don't you think that will be wonderful?" The sing-song rhythm of her words made my muscles quake.

With caution, I straightened and tried to judge which set of stairs she would use. If I could duck into the other stairwell, I could escape. Her presence here would be better proof of my theory than the demonstration I'd planned.

"You! What are you doing here?"

My heart beat so fast I was afraid my ribs would splinter. She stood at the head of the stairs on the other side of the choir loft.

"Busybody. Always where you shouldn't be. You have no right to be here. He's mine and that's our secret. You have no right to tell the world."

I edged away from the front of the balcony. Could I reach the stairs before she caught me?

"Why are you here?" she asked.

"I came to check the donations for the Food Cupboard and saw the stray cat had somehow gotten

inside. You know what Roger thinks of cats."

"Liar." Her voice was shrill. "I saw the can of food outside. I didn't bring it, and you know I'm the only one who feeds Shadow. He's mine. Martin won't let me bring him home. That's why I keep him here."

She laughed. "Catnip works."

She started to close the distance between us. I continued to creep toward the stairs. The scarf dangled

behind me.

Judith halted. "There you are, my pretty boy. Shadow, come to me." She held out her hands. "Martin thinks I'm crazy. He wants me to see a shrink. Do you think I'm crazy?"

I gained a few more inches in my quest for escape. Where was Pete? Surely it was time for him to arrive.

"I don't like people who won't let me have the things I want. I don't like people who take away the things I want. I don't like people who mind my business."

Her voice died to a whisper. The distance between us narrowed and I knew she would reach me before

I gained the stairs.

"He hurt me and he paid. You'll pay."

The veins in my neck felt engorged. My vision blurred. Was I going to faint? Have a stroke? I forced my

feet to move. The cat grabbed the end of the scarf and tore it from my grasp. It leaped to the organ

console and rolled over and over.

"Shadow, who let you in? It's not time for you to be here." She moved toward the organ. "That's not the right scarf. It's supposed to be hers. She wants him but she can't have him. He's afraid of you and for a silly reason. You wouldn't hurt him, but I did."

I reached the head of the stairs. "Roger isn't coming. He's dead."

She whirled and glared at me. "Dead. Dead. He can't be dead. He wants me in his bed. I'm leaving

Martin. You came to gloat. Martin suffocates me. He wants me to quit the choir. He loves me. Can't you see that?"

I crept down the steps and wished there was more light. Her voice sounded closer.

"I was here when Marcie came. I told her she wasn't to see him again but she wouldn't listen. He kissed

her. He should have kissed me. Me. Me!" Her voice rose to a scream. "That wasn't right."

"I know that, Judith."

"He hurt her. He hurt me. Why won't you believe me? You never do. He's always right."

My heel caught on the runner. Only my grip on the railing kept me from plunging forward.