Page 47

“I don’t think even Neil knows. I only know because I was there when she and Arti submitted their song.”

“Okay, tell me about that.”

Jocasta said slowly, “Well, there isn’t much to tell. The record label wanted Lara not the song. And Lara took the deal. Arti and Jamie were disappointed, of course, but it was always going to go that way. Backsplash Butterfly wasn’t even her band. She just played with them when we spent summers here. If White Wine hadn’t discovered her through that dumb song, Arti and Jamie wouldn’t have thought anything about her getting a deal and them not. Everybody always knew Lara was going to be famous one day.”

“Did you know Arti and Jamie pretty well?”

Jocasta made a face. “I was the annoying kid sister, so not really. Jamie was always super sweet, but that’s probably because he was in love with Lara. Arti didn’t have the time of day for me.” Almost at once, she reconsidered. “No, that’s not fair.” She smiled reminiscently. “Arti made me a beaded bracelet for my birthday once. And sometimes, during rehearsal breaks, she’d braid my hair.”

“Did you ever see them or talk to them after Lara took the deal with White Wine Records?”

Jocasta shook her head. “I wasn’t there for that band meeting. I don’t think they ever spoke to her again.”

“I thought you said Jamie was in love with her?”

“He was. Lara wasn’t interested. She made that clear early on.”

“So you never talked to either Jamie or Arti after that? You never saw them or heard from them again?”

“No.” Jocasta added shortly, “I didn’t ask them to send threats to my sister, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Of course not. Do you think they’d still hold grudges after all this time?”

Jocasta hesitated. “Is that what Lara said?”

“Lara said she thought it was unlikely.”

“Same. It was decades ago. White Wine Records dumped Lara after a year. It’s not like that was even her big break.”

“It was her first break though.”

“Even so. I just can’t see them holding onto a grudge that long. Jamie was really nice. Really sincere. He wasn’t the type to send death threats. And Arti’s probably married now with a bunch of kids in their own band.”

“You might be surprised.” Ellery glanced at his phone again and said, “I’m sorry. I’ve got to go. How did the debut of ‘Angel Beneath the Waves’ go last night?”

Jocasta shook her head. “It didn’t happen. After the trap door incident, Lara cut it from the set. I think she was rattled. She stuck to the fan faves. The tried-and-true stuff. She’s planning to do it tonight.”

“Oh. Is that why Jane was here this morning?”

Jocasta looked blank. “Jane?”

“Jane Smith. The lady who found the Stephen Foster song.”

Jocasta was still not following. “Ms. Smith? Is she staying in the inn?”

“No, I’m sure she’s not. She lives in the village. I met her on the stairs just a while ago.”

Jocasta’s pale brows rose. “Weird. We didn’t see her this morning.”

Chapter Twelve

Ellery could not remember ever seeing Dylan’s house quiet and shuttered.

Usually there were a numerous cars and golf carts parked in the shady lane in front of the charming 1950s white coastal cottage. Rarely did Ellery visit that the sound of voices and laughter, the clink of glasses did not greet him before he ever set foot on Dylan’s nautical-themed welcome mat.

Today the lane was empty. The cottage was silent. The scrape of Ellery’s footsteps as he jogged up the walkway of granite pavers seemed unnervingly loud.

Before he reached the small porch, the front door opened. Dylan, looking as though he hadn’t slept or even changed clothes since the night before, practically yanked him inside. He hadn’t shaved and his hair looked like Einstein’s after a rough night of figuring out how to split atoms. “Thank God you came.”