Vengeance in Death (In Death #6)(28)

Peabody remained silent as Eve pressed the bell at Audrey Morrell’s snowy white door. A moment later it was opened by a tidy brunette with mild green eyes and a cautious smile.

“Yes, can I help you?”

“Audrey Morrell?”

“That’s correct.” The woman focused on Peabody, the uniform, and lifted a hand to the single strand of white stones around her neck. “Is there a problem?”

“We’d like to ask you a few questions.” Eve took out her badge, held it up. “It shouldn’t take long.”

“Of course. Please come in.”

She stepped back into a lofty living area made cozy with soft pastel hues and the clever grouping of conversation areas. The walls were crowded with paintings in dreamy, bleeding colors.

She led them to a trio of U-shaped chairs covered in Easter-egg blue.

“May I offer you anything? Coffee perhaps?”

“No, nothing.”

“Well then.” With an uncertain smile, Audrey sat.

This would be Summerset’s type was Eve’s first thought. This slim, pretty woman wearing a classically simple pale green sheath. Her hair was neatly arranged in smooth waves.

Age was difficult to gauge. Her complexion was creamy and smooth, her hands long and narrow, her voice quiet and cultured. Mid-forties was Eve’s best guess, with plenty of bucks spent on body maintenance.

“Ms. Morrell, are you acquainted with a man named Summerset?”

“Lawrence.” Instantly the green eyes took on a sparkle, and the smile grew wider and more relaxed. “Yes, of course.”

“How do you know him?”

“He attends my watercolor class. I teach painting on Tuesday nights at the Culture Exchange. Lawrence is one of my students.”

“He paints?”

“Quite well, too. He’s working on a lovely still life series right now, and I…” She trailed off, and her hand went back to twist her strand of rocks. “Is he in trouble? Is he all right? I was annoyed when he missed our engagement on Saturday, but it never occurred to me that — “

“Saturday? You had an appointment with him on Saturday?”

“A date, really.” Audrey shifted and brushed at her hair. “We… well, we have common interests.”

“Your date wasn’t for Friday?”

“Saturday afternoon. Lunch and a matinee.” She let out a breath, worked up a smile again. “I suppose I can confess, as we’re all women. I’d gone to quite a bit of time and trouble with my appearance. And I was terribly nervous. Lawrence and I have seen each other outside of class a few times, but always with art as a buffer. This would have been our first actual date. I haven’t dated in some time, you see. I’m a widow. I lost my husband five years ago, and… well. I was crushed when he stood me up. But I see he must have had a good reason. Can’t you tell me what this is about?”

“Where were you on Friday afternoon, Ms. Morrell?”

“Shopping for my outfit for Saturday. It took me most of the day to find just the right dress, shoes, the bag. Then I went to the salon for a manicure, a body polish.” She lifted her hand to her hair again. “A little highlighting.”

“Summerset claims your engagement was for Friday noon.”

“Friday.” Audrey frowned, shook her head. “That can’t be. Can it? Oh, did I mix the dates?” Obviously distracted, she got up quickly and hurried into another room. She came back moments later with a slim silver-toned datebook. As she coded in, she continued to shake her head. “I’m certain we said Saturday. Yes, that’s what I have here. Saturday, twelve noon, lunch and theater with Lawrence. Oh dear.” She looked at Eve again, her face comically distressed. “Did he come on Friday, when I was out? He must have thought I stood him up, just as I — “

She started to laugh then, sitting down, crossing her legs. “How absurd, and the two of us with our pride and feelings crushed just because we didn’t have the good sense to call and verify. Why in the world didn’t he at least leave a message at the door?”

“I couldn’t say.”

“Pride again, I suppose. And shyness. It’s so difficult for two shy people to manage.” Her smile faded slowly as she studied Eve’s face. “But surely this isn’t a police matter.”

“Summerset is involved in an investigation. It would be helpful if we could verify his movements on Friday.”

“I see. No, I don’t,” Audrey corrected. “I don’t see at all.”

“I can’t give you a great deal of information at this time, Ms. Morrell. Did you know a Thomas Brennen?”

“No, I don’t believe so.”

You will, Eve thought. By the evening newscasts everyone would know of Thomas Brennen and Shawn Conroy. “Who else knew about your date with Summerset?”

Audrey’s fingers tangled with her necklace again. “I can’t think of anyone. We’re both rather… private people. I suppose I did mention to my beauty consultant when I made the appointment that it was for a special occasion.”

“What’s your salon?”

“Oh, I always use Classique on Madison.”

“I appreciate your time,” Eve said and rose.

“You’re welcome, of course. But — Lieutenant, was it?”