Page 59 of Last Date

“Maybe not though,” Charlene said.

I shook my head, still reeling from the news. “Why would someone go after Elon? Are they the same person who poisoned Allister? It’s weird they would sneakily kill Allister but then personally assault Elon. Those methods are so different.”

“That poor family.” Helen sighed.

Charlene sat down in one of the office chairs, her expression thoughtful. “What if it’s Mary orchestrating all of this?”

I raised my brows. “Mary? Why would she want me dead?”

Charlene grimaced. “No, I don’t mean the attack on you. That was probably separate. I can’t imagine why you were assaulted.” She sighed. “I’m thinking more about the attacks on her family.”

“Oh.”

“Think about it,” Charlene murmured. “With both her sons out of the way, she’d be the sole person to inherit the Green fortune when her husband dies.”

“Yeah, but… would she really kill both of her sons?” Helen looked horrified.

“Maybe.” Charlene gnawed on her lip. “She’d be able to get past the security system too.”

“I don’t know about this,” Helen muttered. “Mary isn’t the nicest person in the world, but by all accounts, she was a doting mother.”

“People put on acts.” Charlene shrugged. “With Elon’s return, she was getting her inheritance cut down from half to a third. Maybe that wasn’t enough for her.”

“But if she only cared about the inheritance, why wouldn’t she have knocked Allister and her husband off a long time ago so she could have all the money?” I frowned. “She couldn’t have known Elon was coming home.”

Charlene sighed. “I don’t know. It’s not like I planned the murders.”

I laughed gruffly. “I mean, I see what you’re saying. Murder needs a motive, and money is often the most popular reason to kill.”

“Exactly.” Charlene looked smug.

I added, “But while Mary might be capable of poisoning someone, I don’t think she’d have the strength to strangle Elon. He’s a healthy seventeen-year-old kid, and she probably weighs a hundred and ten pounds wet.”

“That’s a good point.” Helen nodded approvingly.

“Pfft. Come on guys, a woman like Mary wouldn’t do the dirty work herself. Of course she’d outsource the job.”

“She just seemed so protective of Elon that night I saw her at the Rusty Pier.” I studied Charlene. “I find it hard to believe she’d want him dead.”

“Maybe you’re right. But it’s definitely a possibility.” Charlene leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs. “I hope they catch the guy soon. It’s scary to think he’s out there somewhere.”

“If he was shot, he might go to the hospital. The cops will be watching for that,” Helen said.

Charlene had a ghoulish expression. “Or maybe he bled to death already.”

“Geez, Charlene.” I shuddered.

“What? He tried to murder someone. I don’t feel sorry for him.”

“Me neither, if he’s a killer.” Helen turned back to the printer she’d been working on when Charlene burst in with the news about Elon. She scowled. “Is this thing out of black inkagain?”

Charlene squinted at her. “Just put in a new black cartridge.”

Helen rolled her eyes. “I would if I had one. I hate these tiny little cartridges. They run out of ink so quickly.”

I nodded. “I agree.”

Sighing, Helen reached for her coat. “I’ll go grab a cartridge from the drugstore.”