Diva Runs Out Of Thyme

My breath came hard and heavy as we trudged back. I hadn’t run like that since I was a kid. No wonder my pants were too tight.

As we neared Natasha’s car, she strode around the corner, her cape billowing in the breeze. She extracted a purse from the cape, and continued walking, head down with one hand in the purse, no doubt hunting for her car keys.

She looked up when she reached us, surprise evident on her face. “Have you been running? Girls, you have to work up to that kind of exertion. The two of you can hardly breathe. And really . . . dressing alike? How odd.”

I didn’t mince words. “Natasha, you’re definitely being stalked.”

“Not that again.” She surveyed the empty street. “You have got to get a hobby.” Her eyes widened. “This is about me and Mars. How stupid of me not to recognize that sooner. You’re trying to gaslight me. That’s not very nice, you know.”

“Natasha, pay attention. There’ve been two murders and I don’t want to see you get hurt.” I really didn’t.

Nina blurted, “What are you doing touring the Wesleys’ house with Blue?”

Her question caught Natasha off guard, but only briefly. “Surely you didn’t think Mars and I would live in a hotel forever.”

I’d been too busy concentrating on murder to give their housing issues much thought. I’d assumed they would return to Natasha’s country estate in a week or two. At least we now understood her interest in our street last night. She must have walked over from the hotel to check out the Wesleys’ house.

“Mars never should have sold you his interest in Faye’s house.” Natasha unlocked her car. “I’ve needed a town home. Now that the country house is uninhabitable, it seems the right time to make that purchase.”

She shot Nina and me a look of haughty disapproval. “You really ought to get involved in a charity. People do kooky things when they have too much time on their hands.”

I felt like lunging at her. We’d chased away her stalker, saved her from goodness knew what kind of harm, and she dismissed us like we were nuts.

I could almost breathe normally when I stared down into the backseat of her Lexus.

The contents on the seat took my breath away again.

A huge packet bearing the name of a local nursing home rested in the back. Poor June. The cheerful couple on the glossy cover didn’t make me feel any better. I wondered if Mars knew about it.

Nina made one last effort. “You may not have noticed him, but we’ve seen him following you twice now. You’re definitely being stalked and you’re a fool to ignore us.”

Natasha didn’t flinch. “Apparently I am being stalked—by you two.”

She slid into her car with an elegance I could never have mastered, especially in those heels. The engine purred and she drove away without a glance back.

Nina sputtered, “Can you believe that woman? We probably saved her life and she still doesn’t believe us.”

Natasha had spent her youth hiding feelings of inadequacy. She’d had plenty of practice covering up her emotions. But I couldn’t help thinking of her reaction to Wolf at Thanksgiving. She hadn’t been able to conceal her nervousness then. Whatever was going on, Natasha was up to her Audrey Hepburn-esque neck in it and I suspected she knew perfectly well that she was being stalked.

We walked back to our homes and I could see why Natasha longed for a house in Old Town. Front doors bore harvest wreaths, and pumpkins and gourds decorated front stoops. The graciousness of another era infused the old red brick of the houses and the sidewalk. Smoke from a fireplace perfumed the crisp air. I could hardly believe that we were caught up in some kind of murderous web.

Daisy met me when I opened my front door, her tail wagging in a happy circle. I bent for a giant dog hug and heard voices in the kitchen. I peeked in. June, Mars, and my parents chatted amiably.

“Sophie, sweetheart, you’re just in time for lunch. We thought we’d make turkey sandwiches and warm up your delicious stuffing.” Mom slid out of her chair next to Mars at the kitchen table and patted it. “Come join us.”

I wasn’t sure if I should bring up Natasha’s stalker in front of everyone. “Is anyone else here?”

Mom put the kettle on. “Bernie left quite early and Hannah and Craig went to see an exhibit on the evolution of the computer at the Smithsonian. The colonel will be coming for coffee with June around three.”

I perched on the chair next to Mars. “We have to talk.”

“Do you want us to leave?” asked June.

“We’re all in this together.” I looked into Mars’s eyes and said, “Natasha and I have had our issues, but please know that I’m not saying any of this out of malice or revenge or jealousy.”

Mars sat back, his eyes apprehensive.

I ticked items off on my fingers as I spoke. “Natasha hired Otis to do something for her. The turkey trophy, which I’m sure was the murder weapon, turned up in Natasha’s garden. And now someone is stalking Natasha.”

“What? How would you know that?” asked Mars.