Page 39 of Edge of Whispers

Nancy’s lips tightened. “Not a clue,” she said. “Unless it’s these necklaces, and Lucia’s letter seems to indicate that it’s not. The necklaces are the only connection to the Baruchins. Believe me, if I knew more, the first thing I would do would be tell the investigating officer.”

“I’m thinking maybe you and your sisters should stop wearin’ those necklaces, if somebody might be willing to kill for ’em,” Charlie said bluntly.

Nancy’s hand shot up and clutched the thing. “They were Lucia’s last gifts to us.”

“I’m sure she wouldn’t have wanted you girls to be in danger,” he said.

All the breezy good cheer was gone from Charlie Witt’s face. He was dead serious now. Nancy stared back, polite but stubborn. “Lieutenant Witt, I have a question?—”

“Call me Charlie, honey.”

Nancy gave him an incandescent smile. “Charlie. In the first break-in, the forensics team found a set of fingerprints on my mother’s writing table that did not belong either to her or the three of us. Do you suppose they might try comparing them with Baruchin’s prints? Or to this mystery man they found in the vacant lot? Just to see if they might’ve been in my mother’s house?”

Charlie looked doubtful. “I don’t see why it would have occurred to anyone, but why not? I’ll call Detective Lanaghan tomorrow and talk to her about it. Just don’t expect any quick or easy answers, miss.”

“Of course not,” Nancy murmured. “I’m just trying to cover every possibility.”

“Right you are.” Charlie turned to Liam with a thoughtful frown. “I wouldn’t let her out of my sight, if I were you, kid. Not for a single second.”

I nodded. It was a relief to have my own instincts verified. It made me feel less like a slavering hound. I hoped Nancy was paying attention.

“That’s what I figured,” I said. “But I’m still working on selling that proposal to her. She’s not convinced.”

“Work harder,” Charlie advised, his voice hard. He looked over at Nancy, his eyes sliding over her décolletage. “Not that it would be such a chore to keep your eyes on that, now, mind you.”

“That it isn’t,” I agreed, though the sharp flash in Nancy’s eyes indicated that I was definitely going to pay for it.

“Kinda hard to take your eyes off her as it is,” Charlie commented.

“Could you two gentlemen please stop talking about me as if I weren’t here?” Nancy asked crisply.

Charlie blinked. “Aww, honey. Was I objectifyin’ you?”

Nancy snorted, and dangerously, Charlie took it as encouragement. “Had this girlfriend once. Always said I was objectifyin’ her when I pissed her off.”

“Charlie,” I broke in, “put the brakes on, please.”

“Never did figure out what the hell she was talkin’ about, but she sure had a nice?—”

“Charlie! Stop!” I snapped my fingers in front of Charlie’s face.

Charlie subsided, eyes twinkling. “Uh, well. Guess I better be heading on home to the wife.” His eyes rested thoughtfully on Nancy as he drank his final swallow of beer, and then his eyes cut to my half-empty pint. “I’d switch to coffee, if I was you, kid.”

We said our goodbyes and headed back toward the other room after Charlie left. I leaned close, murmuring “Sorry about that. Charlie was trying to lighten the mood.”

“I get that,” Nancy assured me.

We sat down with the musicians again. I took Charlie’s advice and switched to coffee, but even so the night quickly took on a dreamlike quality. The music thundered, and whenever I wasn’t playing, Nancy’s slender hand rested in mine, fingers entwined.

We didn’t talk much, with all the noise, but it didn’t matter. Our hands communed.

Some time later, I noticed a disturbance in the group’s energy. The driving tempo of the music never faltered, but every male eye at the table — except for Eoin’s—was fixed on something right behind me.

I turned to take a look, and the mystery soon resolved itself. Two strikingly pretty women stood there: one a slender, waiflike girl with big gray eyes and a mop of long, fire-red hair; the other fuller-figured, with long brunette ringlets, flashing dark eyes, luscious curves. Both of them stood by the musicians’ table, staring at me intently. I felt like I knew them from somewhere.

Oh. Of course. Lucia’s other two daughters. I’d seen the pictures.

I glanced at Nancy and found her rolling her eyes. She gestured for me to lean down so she could speak directly into my ear again. “Those are my nosy, interfering sisters,” she called into my ear. “They wanted to check you out. And then roast me.”

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