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    “I agree,” Katie said. “Under normal circumstances, Edie would never take anything that didn’t belong to her. But she might if she had Alzheimer’s disease.”
    Rose’s eyes widened with indignation. “Don’t tell me Polly’s spreading that vicious, ugly rumor?”
    “She hinted that might be Edie’s problem.”
    “Edie was confused when her doctor changed her medication back in January. Now she’s fine. And she has never taken anything that didn’t belong to her.”
    Katie nodded. “Shoplifting
has
increased dramatically in the past few months.”
    “That’s because we have more customers than we ever had before. Every retail establishment has to deal with it.”
    “I know. But as manager, I’m the one who has to address it.”
    Rose straightened. “You’re not going to confront Edie based on one person’s accusations, are you?”
    Katie shook her head. “Of course not. Not without proof, and so far Polly hasn’t given me any.” She rose from the table. “If you want to use the phone in my office to make your calls, you’re welcome to.”
    “Thank you, Katie.” Picking up her coffee cup, Rose headed for the eight-by-ten-foot room that comprised Katie’s workspace. It would be cramped quarters for a few days until Rose realized just how fruitless the search for her niece’s killer would be. Somehow she’d find the patience to stand the intrusion.
    Katie lingered over her coffee and picked up the newspaper. Heather’s murder was, of course, the top story. Inevitably,Ezra’s murder the year before was mentioned as well. The McKinlay Mill Chamber of Commerce would no doubt see this as a public relations dilemma.
    Katie’s frown deepened as she scanned the story.
    An unnamed source indicated the body was entombed before death.
    Katie’s ire flared. Detective Davenport’s assertion that Heather was dead when entombed didn’t match what Katie had seen for herself at the mansion. There’d been holes in the plastic where Heather’s hands would have been. Grooves were dug into the drywall that had been removed from the studs. How long had Heather clawed at the drywall in a futile effort to escape before she’d suffocated—or more likely, died of a seizure? Either way, it had been pure stupidity for Davenport to lie to Rose. Katie hadn’t figured the detective was that dumb. Had he actually been trying to show Rose some compassion? That stab at courtesy was bound to blow up in his face when Rose learned the truth.
    Katie folded that section of the paper, tossing it aside and opening the local section. The headline read: famed UR Alumni Sponsors Hi-tech Studio. She skimmed the local-boy-makes-good—remembers-his-roots—story. Well, good for him.
    She studied the stock-shot handsome, lightly lined face. Gray laced the man’s hair and the close-cropped beard, reminding her of a younger Sean Connery. Hot stuff. Maybe she should try to convince Andy to grow a beard. He’d make a fine Jack Sparrow wannabe.
    Nah. He’d never go for it.
    Glancing at her watch, Katie decided it was time to get to work. She folded the newspaper and tossed it into the recycle bin. Rose would eventually learn the truth about Heather’s death, but Katie vowed she’d do her best to keep it from her until she figured out a way to break the bad news gently. That would take some creativity, and right now shedidn’t feel up to it. The question was, how long could she stall, and would Rose be angry with her, too?
    She’d have to risk it—and suffer the consequences either way.

    Cool lake air whipped through the open windows of Katie’s car. Rose had tied another knot in her plastic rain bonnet, but Katie refused to feel guilty for enjoying the gale. The long, dreary winter was over and the fresh spring air revitalized her. Sunshine glinting off the car hood felt like a good omen, too. She’d find her new home soon. Maybe today. But first, they’d attend to Rose’s quest.
    Leaving Vance Ingram in