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next morning, so we left before 9PM. I didn’t hear
about the death until the next afternoon.”
“The story you told the club was that the body
was found the next morning by a housekeeper.
Why two conflicting stories?”
Penny stared down at her hands. Her brow
furrowed; she was clearly shaken. “Oh Laura, you
found out. I try so hard to keep it secret. When I
can’t remember the exact details, I fill in the blank
with whatever comes to me, just like Table Topics.
It doesn’t do any harm. You know how I get excited
talking to Terry’s mother is wearing black lace up by a good story.”
shoes.” Laura raised her eyebrows. “Is it possible there
They looked at each other and both said, “It were just the two devil costumes that we saw in the
wasn’t William.” Each woman wore a look of photos and not three as you had said?”
satisfaction. “Yes, I suppose so. I don’t see that it really
“Terry’s mother wasn’t rejected by William matters. Nobody knows but you and me. Anyway,
after all. We need to find out who was wearing the what did you find at the police station?”
other devil costume. We have our work cut out for “More questions than answers, I’m afraid. Do
us. I have notes from the police for us to review.” you remember Rich said that the body had been
“I’ll get tea and cookies to fortify us, then we moved?”
can get down to business.” “Yes, I do.”
When Penny returned with the refreshments, Laura held up a page. “This is the report from
Laura was busy writing. “What are you working the detective assigned to the case. And I quote, “The
on?” body of William Peabody was found at 10:19 pm by
“A list of discrepancies, or rather questions. Andrew McCallister in the wine cellar at Peabody
The first one is, when was the body found? And Mansion. McCallister, a friend of William's, had
by whom? The police report says it was found by gone to the wine cellar for a bottle of wine where
a guest the night of the party. Rich said, when he he found William lying on his back. He called out
answered the call, there were costumes coming to him and shook him, but there was no response.
out of the woodwork.” Laura looked straight into He went upstairs to the library and called the
Penny’s eyes. “Were you there at that time?” police.” Laura paused and took a long sip of tea. “I
“No, my husband had an early flight out the think I found something that the police missed.”
VOICES! | FEBRUARY 2023 27
