Diva Runs Out Of Thyme

Andrew sipped coffee so deep in thought that he paid no attention to the tinny ringing in his pocket.

“Andrew.” I tapped his knee. “Isn’t that your cell phone?”

“Oh!” He flipped it open. “Hi, dear.” He jumped up and placed his plate and mug on the counter. “Stay there but outside.” Panic registered in his voice. “I’ll be home in a jiffy.”

He snapped the phone shut. “Vicki went out for groceries and when she came home, the house had been ransacked!”

TWENTY-TWO

From “Ask Natasha” :

Dear Natasha,

My mother insists that a host should always provide a toothbrush for each overnight guest. Do I leave them in the bathroom in the package unopened? On their pillows? It all sounds sort of dime-store tacky. Should I provide toothpaste, too?

—Hopeless Hostess in Harrisonburg

Dear Hopeless Hostess,

A luxurious bathroom basket should await each of your guests. I roll fingertip towels and washcloths of long-staple Egyptian cotton and place them in the basket along with one new and unopened battery-operated toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste. Gentlemen receive a tiny bottle of aftershave and ladies get perfume. Don’t forget a loofah and a personal bottle of scented shower gel. In the summer, it’s extremely thoughtful to add powder. I always include a magnolia-scented soy candle and a carved soap, both in my signature color of robin’s-egg blue, for guests to take home.

—Natasha

“Wait,” I said. “I’ll come with you.” Vicki could probably use someone to lean on.

I dashed to the den, poked my head in, and whispered to my parents, “Give my Ford’s Theatre ticket to June. I’ll fill you in later.” Without waiting for a response, I rushed to the front door to catch a ride with Andrew.

When we arrived at their house, Vicki sat on the stoop, the collar of her fleece jacket turned up against the wind. Andrew parked in haste and ran up the walk to the town house before I’d managed to remove my seat belt. By the time I reached them, Andrew held Vicki in a bear hug.

“Are you all right?” I asked.

Andrew released her and Vicki placed a hand on her chest. “My heart’s still pounding, otherwise I’m fine. How lucky that they’d left by the time I came home. At least I think they had. The cops are in there now and I imagine we’d have heard if they discovered anyone in the house.”

I followed them inside. The lovely dining and living rooms were a mess. Sofa cushions lay on the floor. Drawers hung open and shards of a lamp spread across the hardwood floor.

“Mrs. Winston?”

I turned out of habit, but Wolf meant Vicki.

“Can you tell if anything is missing?”

“I’m not sure. I haven’t been upstairs yet.”

“When we’re through fingerprinting, I’d like you to do a thorough inventory.”

“I assume your presence means you think this is related to the murders in some way,” I said.

Wolf pulled a pen from his breast pocket. “These days I respond to anything involving a Winston.”

He’d been so curt today that I wondered what was up. Had I done something to offend him? When we’d first met, he’d been sweet with Mochie. What happened to change his demeanor? I wished he would open up and tell me what he’d learned.

“Do you realize that Natasha and Mars are also staying here?” I asked.

The news startled Wolf. “Anyone else living here?”

While Vicki answered Wolf, Andrew pulled me aside and whispered, “Do you think it could have been Craig?”

“Sorry, but he’s touring museums with Hannah. I think she’d notice if he left her.”

Andrew snapped his fingers. “I may have to rethink my theory.”

No one had closed the front door, and when I turned around, Natasha stood in the doorway, her large eyes taking in the situation. Vicki spotted her and rushed to Natasha’s side to explain. Panic registered on Natasha’s face and she bolted for the stairs, but Wolf blocked her.

“Not yet. When the officers are finished, I’d appreciate knowing if anything is missing.”

Natasha backed away from him as though he’d threatened her.

Wordlessly, she tugged me outside. “Every time I think nothing could possibly get worse in my life, some horrible thing like this happens.”