Page 21

“What would Sutherland and Rathbone have against you?”

Lara’s smile was pained. “My family used to spend summers here when I was growing up. We came every year, and I made friends. I was in my first band here. We called ourselves Backsplash Butterfly.”

“Yikes,” said Ellery.

Lara chuckled. “Right? But honestly, we weren’t so bad. As a matter of fact, we were pretty decent. Anyway, every summer I’d come back and we’d gig around the island. Eventually, we got the idea we’d try to shop a demo of a song Arti and I wrote.”

“What was the song?”

“‘Eyes to Heaven.’ It was…not bad for total beginners; let’s put it that way. Nothing happened with the song, but the label, White Wine Records, offered me a contract.”

“You. Not the band?”

“Me.”

“Okay. I see.” Ellery did indeed see. “And you accepted their offer?”

“Of course I did. Who wouldn’t? But Arti and James felt I’d betrayed them. Which was illogical. I couldn’tmakethe record company take them. They knew I planned on having a career in music. It wasn’t like we’d always dreamed of doing that together as a band.Theywere the band. I was a featured artist during the summers. That’s all.”

“Did they make threats?”

She made a face. “Not likewe’re going to kill you. More like,karma’s a bitchorwe hope we’re there when you get yours. Ill-wishing more than actual threats. We were kids. Emotions always ran high. I felt bad the friendship was over, but I never took the threats seriously. I still don’t. It’s been more than twenty years. But Neilson thinks they could be behind the letters.”

“And you agree?”

“It would be ridiculous to still be hanging on to that kind of grievance. But I can’t think of anyone else in Pirate’s Cove who would have it in for me.”

“Did you keep the letters?”

“No.”

“Why?”

Lara’s brows rose at Ellery’s tone. “Because I never keep that stuff. It’s just negative energy. It’s not like we’re going to take it to the FBI. When the letters kept coming, maybe we should have hung on to them…” She finished vaguely, “Neil thought they might upset me.”

“It was your husband’s decision not to keep the letters?”

Lara regarded him for a moment. She gave a cynical smile. “That’s right. You run a mystery bookshop. Don’t worry. My husband isn’t trying to knock me off.”

“That’s what they all say,” Ellery told her. He wasn’t totally kidding.

She laughed. “Probably. But the problem for Neil is, I changed my willandredidmy insurance policy when I was in prison. If something happens to me, everything goes to Jocasta. Which brings up the second problem for Neil—and Jocasta. I was worth a lot morebeforeI went to prison.”

“I didn’t know you could get life insurance in prison.” Ellery was momentarily distracted.

“You can if you’re an A-lister. Once upon a time, I was an A-lister.” There was no self-pity. It was a statement of fact.

“Okay. Well, do your husband and sister know about these changes?”

“Yes.” Lara’s smile didn’t reach her eyes.

“Did your sister also spend summers on the island?”

“Of course.”

“She had friends of her own in Pirate’s Cove?”

“Not really.”