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ôDo you think today weÆll finally catch Valina FawnÆs murderer?ö asked Dooley.

ôLetÆs hope so,ö I said. ôThey are going to arrest Norwell Kulhanek, and if anyone can make that man break down itÆs Chase.ö

Just then, ChaseÆs phone rang out its pleasant ringtone, Ed SheeranÆs latest hit. He stepped out of the bathroom and hurried over. ôYello,ö he said with a frown. He then pressed a button and we could hear GranÆs voice ringing through the room loud and clear.

ôYeah, another dead body,ö said the old lady. ôThis one seems to have slipped on a wine bottle and gotten the thing firmly lodged in its neck. So I told the person who called it in that it was probably just an accident, but she insisted it was murder. You canÆt argue with these people, Chase. They all got murder on the brain for some reason. IÆm telling youùö

ôOkay, so whoÆs the dead guy?ö asked Chase, cutting the flow of words.

ôGuy called Norwell Kulhanek? Obviously an alcoholic, but what do I know. People keep telling me to be nice, and then when IÆm being nice, theyÆre still not happy. There really is no way of pleasing some people, is there? You know what the problem is? ItÆsùö

ôWhere was this?ö he asked curtly, ignoring GranÆs outburst.

She gave him the address, and before she could launch into another stream of vituperation, he thanked her and hung up.

Odelia, whoÆd followed the conversation leaning against the doorpost, now nodded and burst into action, just as Chase did. Moments later they were both showered and dressed and we were on our way downstairs.

ôNorwell Kulhanek, Max!ö said Dooley. ôOur main suspect!ö

ôI know. What are the odds?ö

ôMust be suicide. He killed Valina and felt the noose tightening around his neck and took the cowardÆs way out.ö

ôLetÆs just wait and see,ö I said, and braced myself for what weÆd find.

Chapter 26

The co-owner of the Valina Fawn dating site was lying on his back surrounded by bottles of wine. We were in the basement of the Kulhanek place, which had been turned into a wine cellar. Racks had once been placed along the walls, but had been torn down, their contents now littered across the floor in a sea of broken bottles.

One of those bottles was still stuck in NorwellÆs neck, and it was hard to distinguish between wine and blood, as the two liquids had gotten mixed on the cement floor.

Abe Cornwall, who sat crouched over the body, now looked up.ôSomeone shoved a broken bottle into his carotid artery,ö he announced. ôCausing him to bleed out. Death would have been pretty inevitable, and fairly quick.ö

ôWhen did he die?ö asked Chase as he surveyed the scene.

ôAround eight last night IÆd say. Anywhere between seven and nine will do.ö

ôDo you think this could have been an accident?ö asked Odelia. ôKnocked over a rack of bottles and one of them ended up in his neck?ö

ôDoubtful,ö said Abe, shaking his head. ôThough not impossible. If heÆd had the misfortune to land on top of a broken bottle, it might have penetrated the artery. Though IÆd have to say chances of that happening are pretty slim.ö He got up out of his crouch. ôAnd then of course thereÆs this.ö He held up a plush Cupid doll with his gloved hand. The doll had either wine or blood on it. ôFound on top of the victimÆs body. He could have been clutching it in his arms when he fell, of course, but somehow I doubt it.ö And he handed the plush doll to Chase, whoÆd also donned plastic gloves for the occasion.

Even Dooley and I were donning plastic bootiesùjust as a precaution.

Chase and Odelia studied the doll together.ôItÆs the same one, all right,ö was OdeliaÆs determination.

ôSame what?ö asked Abe.

ôValina Fawn. The doll is used as her siteÆs logo,ö Chase explained. ôSame one was found on ValinaÆs body.ö

ôOh, thatÆs right. I remember now,ö said the coroner. ôWell, that probably cinches it. Though it still doesnÆt explain who dun it.ö He gave Chase a wink. ôBut IÆm sure youÆll figure that out for us. ThatÆs why they pay you the big bucks, after all.ö

ôYeah, right,ö Chase grunted as he handed the Cupid doll back and Abe stuffed it into a plastic evidence bag.

We mounted the wooden stairs and soon arrived in the kitchen, where Emma Kulhanek was sitting at the kitchen table, sipping from a cup of tea, and being consoled by a woman officer. When we arrived, the officer rose from her chair and left the room.

ôIs heà all right?ö asked Emma, her teary face displaying a glimmer of hope.

ôIÆm afraid not,ö said Odelia. ôNot much we can do for him.ö

ôOh, God,ö said Emma, and broke down again.

ôIÆm sorry to do this, Emma,ö said Chase, ôbut weÆre going to have to ask you a couple of questions, if thatÆs all right.ö

She nodded, and pressed a wad of tissues to her runny nose.

ôWas it you who found Norwell?ö asked Odelia, taking a seat at the kitchen table.

ôI wondered where he was when I woke up,ö said Emma. ôWe had a big row yesterday, after I found out about him andà well, you know.ö

Odelia placed a comforting hand on the womanÆs arm.