Death By A Dark Horse

  Part of me knew I was babbling. That would have been the part that saw Uncle Henry and Aunt Vi exchange looks, and the part that noticed Uncle Henry helping me up out of my chair and Aunt Vi escorting me to the guest room.

  "You need to rest. You've had a bad shaking," she said. "Why don't you lie down for a while? You went to the police. It's all over now." She sat me down on the bed.

  "I'll rest for a minute," I said, easing my head onto the pillow. She covered me with the quilt. "Aunt Vi?" I curled up and pulled the quilt closer. Weights seemed tied to my eyelids.

  "Yes, child?"

  "Paul knew Valerie, I'm certain of it. I've been so afraid he had something to do with her death -- afraid because, you know, Delores would be upset."

  Aunt Vi sat on the edge of the bed and stroked my hair. "He was here all Saturday afternoon and evening until Juliet phoned, except for an errand he ran for Henry. Don't bother yourself about that."

  "But he didn't come here after he took me to my car at the airport when he dropped me off. I watched him go up Avenue D. He didn't turn."

  I expect he went to the grocery store. That's where he was headed when I talked to him after Juliet called."

  "Oh. Aunt Vi? Paul seems to have some connection with Greg, too."

  "He'll have to tell you that, dear. All I know is there's no love lost between them."

  She closed the drapes against the lightening of the sky and shut the door behind her as she left. I reviewed the things I knew, and tried to sort through the pieces, but my mind kept drifting. It didn't matter.

  It was over.

  I let go and drifted toward sleep.