Page 54

Makeup, sexy nightwear, and cocktails seemed to indicate a gentleman caller. Still, just because September had been expecting Dylan to show up, didn’t mean someone else couldn’t have arrived first.

It didn’t look good though. Ellery had to admit that.

“It would have been a crime of impulse though, right? Jack said it appeared her killer had grabbed the hammer September was using to break up a block of ice.”

Rob was silent, listening to the overhead speakers paging Dr. Lippencott. He returned his attention to Ellery. “Are you asking or telling?”

“Both, I guess.”

“It could have happened that way, yes. There was a bloody hammer on the kitchen table, where the, er, perp, I guess you’d call him, left it on his way out. And there was a partially melted block of ice in the sink, which also helps with your timeline.”

“Right.” Ellery said slowly, “How strong do you have to be to kill someone with a hammer?”

“Provided you’re not afraid to hit and hit hard, it’s a good weapon. It wouldn’t be about strength so much as aggression and confidence. You have to get close to use a hammer. There isn’t any striking from a safe distance. You have to rely on surprise or overwhelming force.”

Ellery nodded, considering. Dylan was physically fit and confident in his physicality. No question he could have bashed September’s head in, butwouldhe have bashed her head in? It was a gruesome thought, but if Dylan was angry enough to commit murder, Ellery could more easily picture him strangling September than hitting her over the head with a blunt instrument.

Did that make sense?

For Dylan to attack a woman, he’d have to be so completely out of control, so beside himself—

Oh. That was it. That was the point.

If Dylan wasthatenraged, it would be apparent to whoever was enraging him. And how likely was it that that person would then blithely turn their back on him and toddle off with a tray full of cocktail fixings?

Not likely at all, in Ellery’s opinion.

Especially given that September had to know Dylan well enough to recognize when he was upset. Yes, September had seemed on the oblivious side. But Dylan wasn’t the seethe-in-silence type. When Dylan was riled, everyone around him knew it.

“Are you having a break-through?” Rob inquired.

“Hm? More like a breakdown.”

Rob laughed. “Maybe you should learn to say no. To someone besides me, I mean.”

And there it was. Rob was kidding, but not entirely. This was why Jack was not enthusiastic about their friendship.

Ellery said, “A woman could have killed September.”

“Do you suspect a woman of killing her?”

“No. I don’t have any suspects so far.”

“She’d only been on the island a month or two, right?”

“Since July.”

Rob said comfortingly, “Some people make enemies faster than others. It’s important to remember that these changes happen at different times for everyone.”

Ellery laughed—and then winced. Robert’s green eyes got a mischievous twinkle.

He said casually, “Since Chief Carson’s going to be busy with his murder case, would you like to go to the concert at Loon Landing tonight?”

Ellery said caustically, “Chief Carson’s already made his arrest, so I don’t know if he’ll be working much overtime.”

Rob looked startled. “Who’d he arrest?”

That brought Ellery up short. He hadn’t intended to share any information not available to the public. But then again, it’s not as though Dylan’s arrest could be kept secret.