“As a reporter?” My frown grew deeper.
“Well, yeah,” he said, shoving his hands into his pockets. “I mean, that’s my job. I won’t push her, but she’s been inside the caves, right? I’m trying to paint a complete picture of your discovery, and she would be a good one to talk to.”
Paint a complete picture, I thought. It sounded like the same blathering nonsense I’d heard from Darlene and Shawn when we caught them by the storage cave that night. Were they all in cahoots? I tried not to think about it as I glanced at Trudy and then back at Josh. “She’s not quite ready to talk yet.”
“I understand,” he said, backing off instantly. “And I didn’t mean to bother you. I’d like us all to be friends.”
Over his shoulder I saw Annie looking tentative. I hated to cause her worry, so I nodded and smiled. “No problem.”
I returned to Derek and Trudy just as Robin was pouring us the first glass, a wonderful muscadet that Dharma was famous for. It was light-bodied and mineral-edged, with a hint of apples. But it wasn’t sweet at all, just crisp and refreshing.
“Oh, this is a favorite of mine,” Trudy said after her first sip. She looked so healthy and happy to be out among friends, I almost forgot she’d been viciously attacked only days ago and that Amelia’s killer was still on the loose. The fact that Trudy was in her seventies was another fact I tended to forget, but in that moment I felt a new resolve to protect her.
“It’s lovely, isn’t it?” Elizabeth said, swirling her glass.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Jackson watching her, and I wondered idly if she might stay in town for a while.
Elizabeth took a step forward to avoid bumping into a new group of people coming into the room. A fellow behind her moved even closer, and Elizabeth’s glass bobbled in her hand. I tried to grab it, but it fell and shattered on the concrete floor.
She pressed her hands over her mouth in embarrassment. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s my fault,” the fellow insisted, and stooped down to pick up the broken stem. On his way back up, his gaze scanned her entire body, ending at her gorgeous waterfall of black hair streaming down her back.
He looked dazed.
As a way to get Elizabeth’s attention, it was doomed to fail. I caught a glimpse of Robin, who studiously ignored the fellow and pushed a new wineglass over to Elizabeth. “No worries, occupational hazard,” she said with a wink, and poured her another few ounces of white wine.
Jackson walked around the bar and came over to sop up the spilled wine and pick up the pieces of glass. When he stood, his muscled chest created a wall between Elizabeth and the clod who had bumped into her. She didn’t mind Jackson’s closeness at all.
I took another taste of muscadet and was marveling at the speed at which the broken glass was cleared away, when Trudy began to sway next to me.
“Oh my,” she said, pressing a hand to her head.
“Trudy, are you all right?” I asked.
Derek grabbed her arm and braced her.
“What’s wrong?” Gabriel demanded, taking hold of her other arm. “Let’s go outside.”
“No. No, I’m fine.” She blinked a few times, trying to regain her equilibrium, and then she stared at me. “Oh, Brooklyn. Oh my. I had a surprise for you.”
“You remembered?” I whispered.
“Yes.” She inhaled and let her breath out slowly, glancing around as she did so. “My goodness. It must’ve been the broken glass. He broke a glass that day.”
“He did what?” Gabriel asked in a low voice.
“Who?” I demanded quietly. “Who broke the glass, Trudy?”
Derek closed ranks, shielding Trudy from the crowd. Gabriel remained close beside her, and Elizabeth’s entire personality changed in a heartbeat. All of a sudden, she looked taller, stronger, like Wonder Woman with her hands clenched into fists, ready to do battle.
Jackson morphed into the powerful soldier he’d obviously been once upon a time. His shoulders rose and his muscles tightened. I seemed to be shrinking next to all of them, but I managed to maintain a cool, calm exterior. I also imagined that Derek would laugh at me for painting that picture of myself.
Trudy scanned the crowd for a few seconds. “Yes, there he is. He’s the one. He came to my house to interview me. He stole my quail sculpture, and he killed Amelia.”
“Who?” I asked again.
She pointed at Josh Atherton. “Him.”
I watched Josh as he realized what was happening and his eyes turned cold.
“Annie, run!” I shouted, but it was too late.
Josh had pulled out a gun and grabbed Annie.
Someone screamed.
“I’ll kill her,” he said, his voice flat and deadly. “Don’t think I won’t.”
Annie looked absolutely terrified and confused. Her fear radiated right into me. I made eye contact with her, and she kept her gaze on me. When I glanced up at Derek, she did, too.