Page 56 of The Other Lady Vanishes

“Why don’t you start by telling me what it was about that man who passed us in the gardens that is worrying you?” he asked.

Adelaide had been concentrating on the view of the narrow strip of pavement unspooling in the car’s headlights. She turned her head and gave him a very brief, very sharp look. For a moment he didn’t think she was going to answer.

“I’m almost positive that I saw him earlier today while I was shopping with Raina,” she said finally. “But I only caught a glimpse of him then, too, so I can’t be absolutely certain.”

“You thought you recognized him?”

“He resembled a man I knew in San Francisco. We... dated for a time.”

Jake remembered the golf course conversation with Luther.Wouldn’t be the first time a woman tried to escape a mentally unbalanced man who became obsessed with her.

“Do you think that a man you once dated has followed you to Burning Cove?” he asked, needing to be sure.

“Maybe. The story is complicated. I’d prefer to wait until we get home. I could use a drink—something stronger than water or tea.”

He wanted to keep pushing her for answers but it was obvious that she needed time.

“All right,” he said. “Meanwhile, I think it might be a good idea for me to have a look around Calvin Paxton’s villa at the Burning Cove Hotel. Luther can probably get his friend Oliver Ward to let me inside.”

Alarmed, Adelaide turned quickly in the seat. “Are you talking about breaking into Dr. Paxton’s villa?”

“No, I’m talking about asking a friend to get me a key to the villa so that I can take a look around while Paxton is out. Got a better idea?”

“Not yet, but I’ll think of something,” Adelaide vowed. “Give me thirty seconds.”

“Why are you so concerned about me going into Paxton’s villa?”

“Because if you’re right, if he did have something to do with Zolanda’s death, he’s dangerous.”

“Thank you for your concern but I can take care of myself, Adelaide.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know—you used to be in the import-export business. You have a gun. I’ve got one question for you.”

“What?”

“Where is that gun tonight?”

“Locked inside the glove compartment of this car. Luther doesn’t allow guests to carry guns into the club. I could have asked for special permission, being his friend and all, but I didn’t think it was necessary. Luther’s security people are well armed. There’s probably no safer place in Burning Cove than the Paradise.”

“Oh,” Adelaide said.

She studied the glove compartment in front of her as if she had never seen one before.

“I assume you were going to point out that owning a gun isn’t much use if it’s not available when you need it,” he said.

She sighed. “Something like that. I didn’t bring my gun, either, so I’m in no position to lecture on the subject. Moving right along, has it occurred to you that Paxton might also own a gun. If he surprises you while you are searching his villa, he would have every reason to shoot you first. He would be able to claim he thought you were an intruder. Which would be more or less the truth.”

“Huh.”

“Now what are you thinking?”

“It strikes me as rather interesting that you would leap to the conclusion that Paxton might have a gun,” he said.

“Why wouldn’t I think that? I’ve got one and so do you. And someone in this situation is already dead.”

“Madam Zolanda was not shot.”

“True,” Adelaide said. “But if she was murdered, I think I may know how.”

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