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Sue and Dylan went way back, but Ellery couldn’t help thinking Sue was taking the opportunity to vent some of her private frustrations with Jack in a public forum. It was very much her modus operandi.

Ellery took a swallow of tea and winced.

Dylan also winced. “How’s your jaw, kiddo?”

“It only hurts when I laugh.”

Janet snorted. “You’re lucky you don’t have a black eye. Who would have dreamed Jack Carson would turn out to be an abusive boyfriend?”

“Hey,” Ellery said in warning.

Janet gave an evil laugh.

Dylan began to mutter dire things about police brutality.

“Okay.” Ellery put his coffee cup down. “I want to help, but I’m not going to listen to you two shred Jack.”

“I’m afraid, after my incarceration, I can’t be as forgiving,” Dylan said huffily.

Ellery didn’t bother to point out Dylan’s incarceration had only lasted about forty-five minutes and Jack had even forborne adding the charge of resisting arrest. Dylan had been through a painful and humiliating experience. He had a right to be upset.

“No, I know. And I don’t agree with Jack arresting you, but the Washington County DA had a say in that. It wasn’t all Jack’s choice. Lansing is the lead detective.”

That didn’t seem to carry much sway with Dylan or Janet, so Ellery moved on to other topics. “Dylan, did you know September was a convicted felon?”

Janet did a doubletake. Dylan, a forkful of quiche headed to his mouth, froze. “Shewhat?” He put down his fork.

“She went to prison for extortion and blackmail.”

“Good God in Heaven.”

“Why am I not surprised?” Janet remarked to no one in particular.

Dylan’s expression was bleak. “I had no idea. Maybe that explains why she didn’t have much to say about her past, why she didn’t seem to have any friends or family.”

“Well, that’s something I wanted to ask you. Aside from you, was she close to anyone in Pirate’s Cove?”

“No.

“No one at all?”

“She tried,” Dylan said. “I think she wanted to fit in.”

“I don’t,” Janet said.

Dylan looked pained. “She could be insecure sometimes.”

Janet raised her brows, but said nothing.

“What about within the theater group? Was she close to anyone in the Scallywags?”

“Not really.”

Janet said, “September waltzed in believing that she was going to be the most beautiful, talented, and popular actress on the island. She had a rude awakening when she ran into Libby Tulley.”

Dylan looked even more uncomfortable. He said suddenly, “Jane Smith. They were friendly.” He grimaced. “Although September looked down on Jane.”

“Naturally,” Janet said.