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“From what I’ve seen of her, she’d like that a lot,” Sunny said.

Helena nodded. “You think she’d have more sense, but I’m sorry to say you’re right. She recommended Joe to Martin Rigsdale when he built that new office. I wonder how that turned out.”

“It looked pretty good—what I could see of it.” Sunny remembered some of the comments Dani Shostak had made about Martin getting into his financial hole. “I think it might have turned out more expensive than anticipated, though.”

“That’s usually the case with Joe Allerton,” Mrs. M. said grimly. “And however nice it looks, you can bet he cut corners wherever it didn’t show.” She shook her head. “And the people he works with! The Dowdey place was a nice, classic Colonial house. But the architect Joe brought in added this thing to the side of the house where everyone has to see it. He didn’t even have the decency to hide it in the backyard.”

“A thing?” Mike asked, taking the words right out of Sunny’s mouth.

“Makes it looks as if a house from here had a head-on collision with one of those glass and cedar places you see in California,” Helena complained. “It’s one thing to add a sunroom or maybe enlarge the kitchen, but it seems just vulgar to tack a whole wing onto a house—especially when it’s a completely different style.”

She sighed. “They put drop ceilings in to give it a more ‘intimate’ feeling, and added a new fireplace for the family room. Not that there’s any family. Carolyn is alone in the place. But it’s very modern, and she tells everyone that she loves it.”

“So long as it makes her happy,” Sunny offered with a shrug.

Mrs. M. looked doubtful. “I’m not sure Carolyn knows what might make her happy anymore.”

She stopped, suddenly self-conscious, and looked at her watch. “I don’t know where the time goes when I sit with you, Mike. I should be working on my supper.”

“And so should we, I guess.” Sunny said good-bye and headed back to the kitchen to start whipping up a meal, giving her dad and Helena Martinson some privacy for a warmer farewell.

Later, at dinner, Mike asked his usual half-jocular question: “Anything exciting happen today?”

“Well, I got hauled off to the Portsmouth hoosegow for a while,” Sunny told him. “Detective Trumbull wanted to ask me some questions, and did it in the most disruptive way possible—damn!” She broke off.

“Finally think of something good to say to him?” Mike joked.

“No, it’s something I should have said to somebody else.” After dealing with Ollie and proving she had a job to do, she hadn’t contacted Jane or Tobe about Trumbull’s game playing.

And they were right in front of me at Spill the Beans. Sunny shook her head. I must really be losing it.

On the other hand, she didn’t know if they’d have welcomed the interruption. It hadn’t looked like a legal consultation to her.

“Would you mind dealing with the dishes tonight?” she asked Mike. “I have to go upstairs and make a phone call.”

Jane picked up her home phone when Sunny punched in the number. So I guess coffee after work didn’t turn into something more elaborate—unless Tobe is sitting there beside her.

“Sunny!” Jane said. “What’s up?”

I was wondering the same about you. But Sunny quickly quashed that thought. “Trumbull had me come down to the station today.”

“The guy just doesn’t stop, does he?” Sunny could imagine Jane scowling on the other end of the line. Then, “Are you okay?”

“They didn’t bring out the rubber hose,” Sunny told her. “Fitch was his usual sunny self, but he didn’t give me much attitude. Trumbull tried to pick my story apart when I told him about meeting the waitress, but all in all, he was just double-checking.”

“Even so, it can’t have been fun.” Jane spoke with the certainty of someone who’d gone through a real interrogation. “I’m sorry you had to get hauled off. Seems to me he could have come to you, or even sent Fitch to ask his questions.”

“He could have,” Sunny said. “But I think he had another reason for getting me down there.”

She described the byplay between Fitch and Trumbull. “They had no reason to discuss alibis in front of me,” Sunny finished. “And knowing that I’m friendly with you, they had good reason not to.”

“Unless they wanted me to hear about it.” Jane’s voice grew tight. “If he’s crossed Ralph and Christine Venables off his suspect list, then he’ll be coming after me again.”

“If.” Sunny emphasized the word. “The thing is, police can lie.”

“So we’ve got to check up on those alibis right away,” Jane said. “I’ve got to call Tobe.” But instead of hanging up, she paused. “How would you feel about an undercover assignment?”

“Questioning Ralph or Christine? I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Sunny said.