Page 41 of Murder By the Millions

“Because around eleven thirty, he wrote me three texts and asked me to come over. He said it was urgent.”

“Urgent?” Vanna screwed up her mouth. “Since when is a booty call urgent?”

“It wasn’t a booty call!” I snapped. “We did not have that kind of relationship. He wanted to hire me … us,” I added judiciously, “to cater his soiree next Sunday.”

“Us?”

“It was going to be huge. We’d scheduled an appointment to discuss the menu today, so I thought he was texting me about it. Anyway, I phoned to find out what was so vital, but he didn’t answer, and I got worried, so I went there, and …” My breath caught in my chest. “He was still alive, but he died within minutes.”

“Who do you think stabbed him?” Tegan asked.

“I don’t know.” I told them what I’d relayed to the police, and once again wondered if the killer had left through a rear door and escaped across the backyard. Had the police searched for footprints?

“Allie,” Vanna said, her voice thin, “if we’d both gone to dinner with him, we could’ve saved him.”

I gawked at her. “He didn’t choke to death.”

“I mean he would’ve stayed out later with both of us to entertain,” Vanna said. “He wouldn’t have been there when the thief was robbing him.”

“I didn’t say he was robbed.” Had he been? Was the killer simply an opportunist? No. Whoever it was had stolen the spearpoint from my house, indicating premeditation. One didn’t go around town carrying a spearpoint on one’s person.

Tegan crossed to the Cuisinart Coffee Center and switched it on. “Who wants coffee?”

“Me!” I’d fed Darcy, but I’d skipped my morning cup of coffee. Caffeine was a must to help me get through the day.

Vanna fetched a tissue from her purse and blew her nose. “Jason, Jason. Now I’ll never be able to date you.”

“Sis, can it!” Tegan hissed. “This is not about you.”

Vanna had the decency to blanch. “I’m sorry. You’re right. Allie, what was he stabbed with?”

“A Clovis spearpoint.”

“What’s that?”

I described it.

“It’s from a collection hanging in Allie’s house,” Tegan explained.

“What?” Vanna’s eyes widened. “It’s yours?”

“The previous owners who sold my parents the house were collectors,” I explained. “My parents bought it furnished.”

“And the killer stole one from you?” Vanna shook her head, incredulous. “Who knew you had a collection?”

“Lots of people.”

“What else do the police have?” Tegan asked.

“Detective Bates recovered a Celtic knot earring from under the foyer table. Zach theorized that Jason and I fought, and my earring fell off in the scuffle. I’m not convinced it’s mine, but it could be.” I positioned the canisters of sugar and flour by the mixing bowls and began to measure out the amounts for the cookies first. “Remember how I lost one a week ago, while making deliveries?”

Tegan jumped on that. “What if the killer got his hands on it and planted it at the crime scene to frame you?”

“Exactly what I think.”

“Meaning the killer would’ve needed to see you lose it,” Vanna said.

“It’s a safe bet, but why set me up?” I asked. “Who hates me so much?”