Officer Davis checked the recent calls on Josie's cell phone while Alyce used Rice's phone. The nanny reported that Justin was still napping and agreed to stay later.

Josie told a very different-and easily verifiable-story. Her nine-thirty arrival would be confirmed later by the guard's records. At least two neighbors and a mail carrier had seen Josie's gray Honda in Emily's driveway until the police arrived at three oh four.

It was nearly seven o'clock when Josie signed her statement and Officer Rice said she could go home. Josie retrieved her phone. She was relieved to walk out of Emily's house more than nine hours after she'd entered it.

Alyce left with her. Her shoulders sagged and her pale skin looked dusted with flour. Once outside, Josie still couldn't leave. Haphazardly parked police cars and other official vehicles blocked the street. While Josie waited for them to be moved, she said, "Can I give you a ride home, Alyce?"

"Absolutely," she said. "I can see my house, but I'm too lazy to walk there."

"You're tired," Josie said. "Not lazy."

"At least I caught one break," Alyce said. "Jake's not home yet. He won't know I was mixed up in this mess. I can finish his dinner."

Jake insisted on dinner every evening, come h.e.l.l, high water, or homicide. Josie thought he was inconsiderate, but Alyce seemed happy with her man and her marriage.

At last, a path was cleared for Josie's car. She backed her Honda out of Emily's drive, then turned toward Alyce's home. She stopped as a dark car tore through the cl.u.s.ter of official vehicles. The driver roared up the Destin driveway, slammed on the brakes, and sprinted toward the front door.

"That's Emily's husband, Brad," Alyce said. "When did he trade in his Beemer for a dark green Chevy Impala?"

"That's it," Josie said. "That wraps up the case."

"It does?"

"A security tape caught a dark Impala on the street by the clinic the night Molly was murdered," Josie said. "Phoebe had one. That's one reason I thought she was the killer. But it was Emily. She drove her husband's car when she shot her sister."

Chapter 35.

Thursday, November 1 "Were you hurt when you fought with Emily?" Alyce asked.

"Broke a nail," Josie said. She was parked in Alyce's driveway. Josie held out her right hand and her friend examined the break.

"Just a tiny chip," she said. "You can file it down when you get home. Once your manicurist fixes it, it won't show."

"Where?" Josie looked at her blankly.

"In your wedding photos. You'll want a close-up photo of your hands with your new wedding ring or your hands and Ted's," Alyce said. "It's a tradition. Like a bridal shower."

Josie looked at her frazzled friend. "Are you in any shape to give a shower?" she asked.

"All I need is a night's sleep," Alyce said. "You are not getting out of that shower. You will show up at two o'clock, and if you care about our friendship, you'll have a good time."

"Amelia's looking forward to it," Josie said. "She wants to ask how you make phyllo purses. I don't remember accessories on my wish list."

Alyce laughed. "You eat phyllo purses," she said. "They're made of dough, silly; they don't hold it. See you Sat.u.r.day."

Josie waved good-bye to the guard at the Wood Winds gate and parked at the first store lot after she left the subdivision to check her phone messages. Both Lenore's lawyer and Jane had called.

She longed to call Ted first with her news, but she knew she had to call Shel Clark. She didn't want the lawyer's investigator bothering innocent Phoebe.

"Ms. Marcus," Clark said. "So nice of you to return my call."

Josie wondered if he was being sarcastic, then realized she was getting high-priced soft soap.

"Dr. Scottsmeyer told me what you learned about Phoebe Winstid," Clark said. "My investigator will be following up. What else do you know?"

"She didn't do it," Josie said. "I was wrong."

"Good of you to admit it," he said. "That will save Mrs. Scottsmeyer Hall time and money."

"The killer has been caught," Josie said. "It's a matter of time before she's arrested." Josie told him about Emily and the 911 tape.

"And you're certain you weren't harmed?" he said.

"Just a chipped fingernail," she said.

"Some of my clients would consider that a major injury," he said. "I'd better move. Once the police make that arrest, I could have my client released within twenty-four hours."

"I'm so glad," Josie said.

"Oh, Ms. Marcus, one more thing. Mrs. Scottsmeyer Hall asked me to convey a concern about your impending wedding."

"What is it?" Josie asked. She was in no mood for Lenore's meddling.

"She wishes to buy the table centerpieces for your reception."

"But we already ordered poinsettias," Josie said.

"She is aware of that," Clark said. "She'll reimburse you for their cost. She'd like you to order something a little more, uh-" Words failed him.

Josie let Clark struggle to find the right one. She suspected the lawyer cost Lenore about six hundred dollars an hour. His three-second pause added about fifty cents to the bill.

"Formal," he said. "Lenore says you can choose roses, orchids, hydrangeas, anything else you like."

For a mean moment, Josie thought about spray-painting plastic flowers gold for the wedding reception tables, but she knew better. She'd only punish herself and embarra.s.s Ted, Amelia, and Jane.

Besides, she'd loved Gretchen's clever centerpieces with the white zinnias, red dahlias, and white tea lights. Josie had wanted those, but they were out of her price range. Why not let Lenore give them?

Because she'll be running our lives, Josie told herself.

But she'll be living more than twelve hundred miles away in Boca. Let Lenore treat you to the flowers you want. You can handle her when she's out of jail. Woman up.

"I have just the flowers in mind," Josie said.

"Super," he said. "Order them and send the bill to my office."

As soon as the lawyer hung up, Josie called Ted.

"I got the real killer," she said, and told him the story. "Come to my house now. We'll celebrate with Mom and Amelia."

"Should I make dinner?" Ted asked.

"I think they've made tilapia," Josie said. "I'd better call and make sure they save us some food."

Josie didn't have to see her mother to know Jane was upset. "It's after seven o'clock," her mother said. "You could have called and said you were going to be so late."

"No, I couldn't, Mom," Josie said. "The police took my phone. I caught Molly's killer-the real killer. I'm okay, Mom. I'll come right home and tell you all about it. Oh, and Ted's coming for dinner. Is there enough for him?"

"Of course," Jane said. "Get home here and tell me everything."

Ted arrived at the flat just before Josie. "I brought wine for the celebration," he said. Their lingering kiss on the lawn made Josie forget how tired she was. Then she heard Amelia call from the porch, "Hi, Ted! Hi, Mom. Hurry up. Dinner's ready."

"To be continued," Josie whispered in Ted's ear.

The food quickly disappeared. Amelia was flattered when Ted asked for the recipe for the Parmesan tilapia. Josie regaled them with how she'd captured the killer. Ted and Jane toasted her success.

Even Amelia dropped her preteen ennui. "Awesome, Mom," she said. "Everyone else's mom is a boring doctor or lawyer, but you catch killers."

"Mostly by accident," Josie said.

"To my beautiful detective," Ted said, and raised his gla.s.s again.

"And while we're catching crooks," Jane said, "I want to salute my son for trapping that flower thief." Over their chocolate mousse, Jane told Ted the story of the mum thief.

After dessert, Jane and Amelia started clearing the table.

"No, you don't," Josie said. "Remember the rules: If you make dinner, you don't do the dishes."

Jane kissed everyone good night and climbed the stairs with Stuart Little. "It's nearly ten o'clock," Josie told Amelia. "Past your bedtime."

Amelia hoisted Harry onto her shoulder, said good night, and headed to her room.

"She didn't even protest," Ted said. "She must be tired."

"Or she wants to text her friends about her mom the killer catcher," Josie said.

Five minutes later, Amelia shot out of her room. "Quick! Turn on the TV. There's a special report about Lenore's arrest."

Josie switched on the living room TV in time to hear the announcer say, "Lenore Scottsmeyer Hall has been released from the St. Louis County Jail. As we reported earlier, Emily Deaver Destin was arrested and charged with the first-degree murders of her sister, Molly Ann Deaver, and another woman, Rita Marie Kutchner.

"Lenore Scottsmeyer Hall was wrongly arrested for the murder of Molly Deaver. The newly freed Mrs. Scottsmeyer Hall has agreed to talk to our reporter outside the jail. We're waiting for her to come out now. Here she is with her attorney, Shelford Clark."

The camera panned to Lenore, once again in glamorous black and full makeup. Josie wondered if Clark had brought his client a clean suit and cosmetics.

"How does it feel to be free, Mrs. Scottsmeyer Hall?" the reporter asked.

"Wonderful," Lenore said. "I want to thank my attorney, Shelford Clark of Boca Raton, for expediting the process. I understand it can take more than twenty-four hours to be freed, but Shel had me out within hours after the real killer was arrested."

She hugged Clark and he beamed at her.

"I wonder how much Clark threatened to sue Rock Road Village for unless they hustled Lenore out of jail," Ted said.

"You're so cynical," Josie said, and laughed. But all the while, she was thinking, What about me? Lenore wouldn't be out of prison without my work.

"She didn't even mention me," she said. She couldn't hide her hurt feelings.

Ted hugged her. "She doesn't know the whole story yet," he said.

The reporter said, "What are your plans now, Mrs. Scottsmeyer Hall? Are you taking the first plane back to Boca?"

"Oh no," Lenore said. "My son, Dr. Ted Scottsmeyer, is getting married the day after Thanksgiving. I'm staying in St. Louis to help his bride with their wedding plans."

"There," Ted said. "Mom's going to help. She didn't forget you after all."

Ted's cell phone barked during the commercial break. "I hope that's not a clinic emergency," he said.

He clicked on his phone and smiled. "Mom! You're free. We saw you on TV. You looked wonderful. Thanks for wanting to help Josie with the wedding after all you've been through."

Josie pasted a smile on her face.

"Of course you can talk to her," Ted said. "She's right here."

He handed Josie his cell.

"Josie?" Lenore said. "My attorney says I owe you a debt of grat.i.tude. That's why I agreed to stay and help with your wedding."

"Thank you, but-," Josie said.

"No need to thank me," Lenore said. "My attorney said you got my message about the centerpieces and have something in mind."

"I already sent Mr. Clark the contract," Josie said.

"Excellent," Lenore said. "We're having breakfast at the Ritz tomorrow. I need pampering. Don't forget your wedding plan notebook. We'll go over everything at eight sharp. Don't be late."

Before Josie could say anything, Lenore clicked off her phone.

"I told you Mom didn't forget you," Ted said. He was still grinning when Josie walked him to his car and kissed him good night.

I've got to get Lenore back to Boca, Josie thought, before I go out of my mind.