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“I have reason to believe your nephew has been stealing money from the tennis club, writing checks to himself and cashing them, and no doubt altering the financials to cover his tracks,” I said.

We locked eyes for a time, and I waited for him to speak.

“That’s a big accusation,” he said. “How did you come by it?”

“Before Noelle died, she suspected Owen was stealing company money. I don’t know how she figured it out, but she told a friend her suspicions, someone unrelated to the club in any way. Not long after, she was murdered.”

“This friend she confided in, will you give me her name?”

“It’s in her best interest if I do not.”

He grinned. “I don’t blame you. I’d do the same. In the spirit of frankness, this wouldn’t be the first time Owen has been accused of thievery. He was visiting my home over the summer some years ago, and the maid caught him trying to steal one of my watches.”

High-end watches seemed to be Owen’s kryptonite.

“Did he confess?” I asked.

“After much deliberation, yes.”

“Would it surprise you to hear he’s been wearing an expensive Cartier watch?”

“It would not. I gave it to him when he began his new position. As to the allegation you’ve brought against him, I assume you wouldn’t have done so unless you had proof.”

It was time for the big lie.

I reached into my handbag, pulling out a copy of the documents Annie had given to me.

“Noelle wanted to prove her suspicions about Owen were accurate, so she snuck into his office when he wasn’t there, and she copied a few things,” I said.

It was, in my opinion, the perfect lie.

Noelle wasn’t alive to corroborate the story, and I hoped it seemed feasible enough to keep Annie in the clear.

I handed over the copies, and he leaned back, flipping through one page after the other. When he finished, he tossed the pages to the floor, and they scattered at our feet. He shouted a few expletives and then said, “I must apologize. It’s not often I speak in such a way. I thought Owen had learned his lesson some time ago. It appears he has not.”

“It’s all right,” I said. “I’d like to apologize myself. It doesn’t feel good to come here and tell you what I just did.”

“You did the right thing, the honest thing.”

The mostly honest thing.

“I am grateful to you,” he added. “Who knows how long this would have gone on, how much damage he’s already done, or the lengths I’ll have to go to in order to clean up his mess.”

“What will you do?”

“Whatever is necessary. I feel I must ask—why come to me and not go to Clark or to Owen himself?”

“Given your family’s reputation, I thought this situation warranted a level of discretion.”

“I appreciate it, and you’re correct. There is a right way to handle these matters and a wrong way.”

Marianne returned to the room with a tray. On it was a china tea set. She set it on the side table, pouring him a cup. Before she handed it over to him, she dropped in two sugar cubes and a dollop of honey, giving it a quick stir. She passed it off, and he took a sip, thanking her.

For a man with considerable wealth, in the short time I’d spent with him, I found him to be an almost-perfect gentleman. I hoped he’d remain that way when I said what I was about to say.

“As you know, I’m investigating Noelle’s murder,” I said. “I have to look at all suspects, anyone who had a reason to kill her.”

“I believe I know the direction you’re going in on this subject, but please, continue.”

“Owen is my main suspect.”

“I assumed as much.”

“I’m not sure whether Noelle confronted him with the information she’d found before she died,” I said. “If she did, and it turns out he had anything to do with her murder, I won’t have a choice as far as how it will need to be handled.”

“I believe you’re saying you won’t be able to protect my family’s reputation in the way you’re doing now.”

I nodded. “I hope he’s innocent, for your sake. I won’t know until I do a little more digging.”

“I understand. Is there anything else?”

“That’s all.”

“Since you’ve been so candid with me, allow me to do the same before you leave. Noelle requested an audience with me before she died.”

“When?”

“As it turns out, the day before she was murdered.”

“Did you meet with her?”

“I did not. She canceled, saying she was running behind on an engagement party she was planning. She asked to speak with me the following week.”

“Did Noelle say why she wanted to see you?”

“She did not, though she did say she needed my advice.”

Why would she need his advice about Owen?

Why not just tell Alexander what his nephew was doing and let him sort it out for himself?

I stood, thanking him for his time.

As we walked together toward the front of the house, he lifted a finger, turning in my direction as he said, “There’s something I’d like you to do for me, if it’s not too much to ask, of course.”

“Name it.”

“Can I trouble you to stop by Royal Palms this morning? I’d like you to tell Clark what you just told me.”

“I can. I just figured you’d want to tell him yourself.”

“I have a full schedule for the rest of the day, and I rather think it would be best presented by you, someone who can remain calm, as I would not be. Had Clark been running a tighter ship, I don’t believe I’d be in the predicament I’m in now. That’s not to say I blame him for my nephew’s actions. I do not. If Noelle suspected Owen, a woman who wasn’t even part of management, Clark should have too.”

I resisted the urge to bring up a valid point. I was certain Clark’s main agenda was keeping Alexander happy. Micromanaging his nephew would have achieved the opposite.

“It makes sense,” I said.

“Wonderful. I’ll have a message sent to him, letting him know you’ll be stopping by. Please tell him that what the two of you discuss isn’t to be talked about with anyone until he receives further instructions from me. If he wants to keep his job, he’ll keep this quiet. As to my nephew, I’ll speak to him personally.”