Page 59 of Skin and Bones

“We found financial records Elizabeth had hidden,” I said. “About Harbor Development Corporation making irregular payments to officials.”

“That makes sense,” Lucinda nodded. “The harbor project faced serious opposition—environmental groups, historical preservation zealots, you name it.” Her eyes met mine meaningfully. “Until suddenly, right after Elizabeth died, all that opposition magically disappeared.”

“Who else besides Roy would have had a direct interest in Elizabeth’s death if she’d brought her story about the harbor project to light?” I asked.

Lucinda considered this. “Paul Cromwell for certain—he was on the city council then and heavily invested in the development. Clinton Harrington, of course—it was his company handling the construction. And I don’t know if this means anything, but it’s bothered me for years.”

“What did?” Bea asked.

Lucinda lowered her voice and said, “About a week before Elizabeth died, I was at the courthouse dropping off some paperwork for a charity event. I overheard an argument between Elizabeth and Jason Brooks in the stairwell. He was the assistant DA at the time.”

My interest sharpened immediately. “What kind of argument?”

“Intense,” Lucinda said, her gaze distant with memory. “It was obvious they didn’t want to be overheard because they were doing that loud whispering that couples do, but it was very heated and both of them were upset. Elizabeth was saying something about needing to go public and people deserving to know. The more she talked the angrier Jason became. He was always so polished, you know. Made for the public spotlight and politics. He kept saying she didn’t understand what she was getting involved in and that she needed to stop before she got hurt. He sounded desperate. Almost begging her.”

“Did you hear them say anything else?” Dottie asked.

Lucinda shook her head. “I kept my distance, of course. One doesn’t survive in island society by being caught eavesdropping.” She straightened slightly in her chair. “But I heard Elizabeth’s parting words clearly—I thought you were different from them. There was such…disappointment in her voice.” Lucinda’s fingers traced the rim of her glass. “She went back down the stairs and let the parking garage door close rather definitively behind her. Jason remained where he was for several minutes and then started up the stairs. I slipped onto another floor before he spotted me.”

“Brooks told us about an argument,” I said, recalling our conversation with him. “But it was about Clint Harrington confronting them at Elizabeth’s apartment after finding out about their relationship. He never mentioned arguing with Elizabeth.”

“Men have selective memories,” Bea remarked dryly. “Especially when it comes to fights with women they claim to care about.”

“Their relationship was ongoing when she died,” I said. “At least according to Jason.”

“No reason to think otherwise,” Lucinda said, shrugging. “They were definitely a main topic of conversation that summer. Jason and Clint were both from well-to-do families and Elizabeth was just the lighthouse keeper’s daughter. And she was dallying with both those boys, so people on the island weren’t exactly kind in what they had to say about her. But from what I witnessed in that stairwell, it wasn’t all moonlight and roses.

“There’s something else you should know,” Lucinda continued, her voice dropping even lower. “After I left Roy, strange things started happening. My car was vandalized. Someone broke into my sister’s house where I was staying. I received anonymous calls in the middle of the night.”

“You think Roy was behind it?” I asked.

“I always assumed so,” she said. “I told my attorney about it and I’d agreed to put a tap on my phone so they could trace the calls. But after the tap was installed the harassment stopped.”

We finished our meal in relative silence, my mind whirling with new information and possibilities. As we were paying the bill, Lucinda placed her hand on my arm.

“Be careful,” she said, her green eyes intense. “Elizabeth Calvert was bright, driven, and thought she was invincible. Roy once told me that the biggest mistake people make is underestimating what powerful men will do to protect themselves.”

“I appreciate the warning,” I said, “but I’m not backing down.”

A smile ghosted across her lips. “I can see that. Just remember—on Grimm Island, nothing is ever quite what it seems.” She released my arm and stood. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I promised my sister I’d be back by one.”

We watched Lucinda glide through the restaurant, turning heads even at her age with her confidence and grace.

“How in the world did a man like Roy Milton snag a woman like that?” I asked, shaking my head in disbelief.

“Oh, easy,” Dottie said. “Before she got all of Roy’s money Lucinda was as ugly as homemade sin. But she had that family pedigree on the island, and rumor was her talents in the bedroom more than made up for her lack of beauty.”

“She must have a heck of a plastic surgeon,” I said.

“Oh, she did,” Bea said. “My Randolph was excellent at his craft, rest his soul.” Bea ran a finger down her firm jaw and down her smooth neck. “Too bad he couldn’t keep it in his pants. He had a heart attack right in the throes of passion with one of his patients. I always figured justice was served to all parties involved in that little scenario. And that’s when I decided never to marry again. Third time was definitely the charm.”

My eyes widened as she told the story. It was impossible not to have heard gossip about Bea if you were from the island, but apparently my mother had left out some important details for my little ears when it had occurred.

“Well,” Dottie said, moving on. “I’d say that was illuminating. Especially the part about Brooks arguing with Elizabeth. You should follow up with him about that, Mabel.”

My smile turned into a wince. I was sure Jason Brooks would be ecstatic to have me call him up and ask him personal questions.

“Don’t forget the watch,” Dottie added. “Even if it’s at the bottom of the harbor, its existence tells us something important.”

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