Page 33 of Second Chance

“So.” Daniel sets the mug down carefully. “I’m guessing none of us crafted the fun little message on the door, huh?”

“Nope.”

Colette steeples her fingers. “Is it a threat?”

“Sounds like it.” Tony studies the sheet of paper. “Why not type out the message and print it?”

“Maybe the person doesn’t have a printer?”

“If it’s someone at Lobell, they’ll have access to a printer.” Daniel considers. “Then again, it’s not the sort of thing you want to get caught printing at the library.”

“Could it be someone who was on Stacy’s…side?” Colette grimaces at the word choice.

Tony is dubious. “Was anyone?”

“Not that I know of. And her husband and kids don’t live here anymore. They won’t have heard about Amelia Lawrence.”

“So, it was probably the murderer.”

Tony swallows hard. “Great. So. The murderer was here. And knows where you live. And the police won’t take it seriously. That’s…that’s comforting.”

“Is it too early to start drinking?” Colette asks.

Tony wants to say no and get out the wine, which means she’s been a bad influence on him. “Do you think…do you think maybe the detective should know about Lily?”

“What about Lily?” Daniel sets his mug down.

“For one, she’s worried people will think it was her.”

“She thinkswhat?” Colette asks sharply.

Ignoring Colette, Daniel says, “What would we tell the detective? This key witness is afraid you might suspect her? Knowing Taylor, she’ll get the handcuffs out immediately.”

“I’m sorry. Lily thinks she’ll be a suspect?”

Daniel drains his tea. “Yes, since she found Professor Lawrence, and they’d had a…disagreement via email.”

“That would have been good to know.”

“Why?”

Colette rubs her hand over her forehead. “Sean, her boyfriend—he was one of my summer advisees. He came to see me yesterday and was very concerned about her. I told him he had nothing to worry about.”

Daniel and Tony both wince.

“And, uh…” Tony considers his word choices, trying not to piss off Daniel. “We’re sure it wasn’t one of them who left the message? Trying to keep you from talking to the police about Lily’s concerns?”

“I hope it was,” Daniel says.

“Why!”

“Because then it wasn’t an actual murderer at our home.”

“Ugh,” Tony sighs. “Well, we can at least hope they’ll be more careful about who they arrest this time? So even if the detective does follow up with Sean and Lily, they should be fine.” Tony guesses it was probably embarrassing for Detective Taylor, last time around.

Colette’s mouth quirks downward. “I wouldn’t bet on it.”

Daniel starts angrily putting the mugs in the dishwasher. It’s an easy tell he’s thinking about something that pisses him off. Otherwise, he’d probably leave them out until tonight. “Police reform—” he starts, but both Tony and Colette shake their heads.

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