Page 40 of Last Date
Charlene’s eyes were full of concern as she gripped my arm. “To think you were on that yacht at the same time a murderer was creeping around.”
“We don’t know I was there at the same time.”
“Odds are your paths crossed,” Helen said. “The newspaper said Allister hadn’t been dead very long before the paramedics arrived. You were there even sooner. You might have just missed the killer.”
I shivered. “Let’s not jump to conclusions.”
“The police are bringing Allister’s ex in for questioning.” Andrew frowned. “I was surprised to learn Allister had been seeing someone semi-steadily back a few months. Allister was always playing the field, or so I thought.”
“There was a guy,” murmured Helen. “They didn’t last long though. I don’t think Allister was ready to settle down.”
“How do you know so much about Allister’s love life?” Charlene asked.
Helen grimaced. “My friend, Violet down at the Curly Cue hair salon used to cut Allister’s hair. He’d confide in her all the time. You wouldn’t believe the stuff her clients share with her. She said she sometimes feels like a therapist.”
“So what did your friend tell you about Allister and his boyfriend?” I asked, trying to steer Helen back on track.
“Oh, well.” Helen rubbed her chin, screwing up her face as if trying to recall what she’d heard. “According to Violet, Allister said this other fella was a little obsessive. He said it was fun at first but that the guy was too needy.”
“Being clingy doesn’t make you a stalker or a murderer.” Andrew frowned and glanced at his watch. “Oops, need to get going. See you guys later.” He trotted toward the front door and left.
Charlene stared at the door Andrew had left through. “Did he seem defensive, or is that my imagination?”
Helen laughed. “His girlfriend is very clingy.”
Frowning, Charlene said, “Yeah, she is. I think it’s weird she won’t let him go out for drinks with us unless she’s there. It’s not like we’d ever hit on him. Besides, it’s all of us, not a one-on-one type of thing. She’d be bored to tears hearing us talk about work.”
“Jealousy is irrational,” I said.
“I once had a super-possessive boyfriend. He drove me nuts,” Charlene grumbled. “The final straw was when I found cameras in my dorm room. He’d installed them to keep tabs on me.”
“Seriously?” I raised my brows.
“Yep. I dumped him that day.” Charlene tossed back her blonde hair. “It was obvious he didn’t trust me one bit. I was very freaked-out.”
“Naturally. That was going too far.” Helen shuffled papers on her desk.
“Sounds like it’s a good idea for the police to look into Allister’s ex,” I said, shivering. “I’m happy to say I’ve never had anyone that obsessed with me.”
Charlene gave a sly smile. “Other than Merrick.”
“What?” I scowled. “He’s not obsessed with me.”
“He used to pop up everywhere you were.” Helen laughed.
My cheeks warmed. “Used to, maybe. He doesn’t do that anymore. Besides, that was just to annoy me. He wasn’t following me around because he was madly in love with me.”
Charlene and Helen exchanged a look.
I wrinkled my brow. “What was that look?”
“Oh, nothing,” Charlene said breezily. “Oh, look at the time. I need to get going.” She headed toward the door. “Ta, ta, loves, I’m off to stroll with the beasts.”
Helen chuckled. “Bye, weirdo.”
Cackling, Charlene left the shop.
I moved into my office, still annoyed by the look Charlene and Helen had given each other. I decided I had too much to do to worry about it. I threw myself into the piles of paperwork I’d been avoiding all week. It was almost lunchtime when my phone rang, interrupting me.
