Dead Hunt

and Diane ordered a cup of hot tea.
‘‘Mike Seeger gave me a most interesting tour,’’ he said, a knowing glint in his eye. ‘‘He’s obviously taken with you.’’
Diane shook her head. ‘‘He just gives that impression.’’
Kingsley laughed. ‘‘I won’t even pretend to know what that means.’’ He took a sip of coffee. ‘‘I’ve been dying to know what in the world Clymene wanted with you. You said she was afraid that one of her guards had married someone like her? Was that an admission of guilt on her part?’’
Diane shook her head.
The waitress came out with a small teapot and a cup. She poured Diane’s tea and left them.
‘‘Clymene didn’t actually admit to anything, but it was my impression that she didn’t care if I thought she was guilty.’’
Diane gave Kingsley an account of the visit. When she finished, he sat back in his chair in amazement.
‘‘Of all the things I imagined she might want to talk with you about, I confess, that didn’t cross my mind. Do you think there is anything in it? She said what— you would think that she could recognize her own kind?’’
‘‘Yes. I think that is as close to an admission of her guilt as you are going to get,’’ said Diane.
‘‘Are you going to check on—what’s her name?— Grace Noel, I suppose Grace Tully now?’’ he asked.
‘‘No,’’ said Diane. ‘‘You are.’’
‘‘Oh?’’ he said, his cup halfway to his lips.
‘‘Some things Grace Tully said made me think that maybe Clymene was right—like maybe her husband is trying to separate her from friends.’’ Diane shrugged. ‘‘You are better equipped to determine if she has married a killer than I,’’ said Diane.
The waitress came out and refilled Kingsley’s coffee and gave Diane a fresh pot of tea.
‘‘Can I get the two of you anything? Chocolate cake? Apple cobbler?’’
‘‘None for me, thanks,’’ said Diane. Kingsley shook his head and the waitress left. ‘‘Sure. I’ll be happy to speak with Mrs. Tully,’’ said Kingsley.
‘‘That was easy,’’ said Diane.
‘‘What you have told me is sufficiently disturbing to warrant a look. Maybe he simply wants a traditional household with a stay-at-home wife; he may be just a controlling guy—or a killer.’’ He gave a short laugh before he took another sip of his coffee. ‘‘Amazing how much credibility we are giving to Clymene’s judgment. Tell me what you think about her,’’ said Kingsley, his eyes glittering. ‘‘I would like to know your impression. Did you find that you liked her?’’
Diane squinted at Kingsley. Like her . ‘‘I think she is very good at what she does,’’ she said. ‘‘I didn’t dislike her. I believe she’s a killer. She knows I believe that, but...’’
‘‘But what?’’ Kingsley leaned forward, smiling.
‘‘But that’s it. I didn’t dislike her. She won over Rev. Rivers, did you know that?’’
‘‘No, I didn’t. You spoke with him?’’ Kingsley said.
‘‘It was a spur-of-the-moment thing, but an interesting conversation. He didn’t seem to know he had been drawn in by her until we talked.’’
‘‘What do you mean?’’ he asked.
‘‘He wanted to know the evidence presented in court against Clymene and I went over it with him. His general comments and attitude were very subtly in defense of Clymene.’’
Kingsley’s brow knitted together in a frown. ‘‘Did he believe the evidence?’’
‘‘Oh, yes. And he was visibly disappointed. I think he himself was surprised at how disappointed. The thing that is interesting to me is I think she knows not only what to say, but what not to say. That’s—’’
‘‘Explain that.’’ Kingsley leaned forward again. Diane had the impression that he wished he was taking notes or recording the conversation.
‘‘I’ve spoken before with felons I’ve helped put in prison. Almost all of them have complained about what an injustice I’ve done them. And if they know anything about my background, they make some kind of jab about the death of my daughter. They’ve enjoyed twisting that knife.
‘‘As you said,’’ Diane continued, ‘‘Clymene is very low-key about proclaiming her innocence. With me, she made a joke of it. She let me know early in the conversation that her lawyer had researched my background. But she never once even alluded to my tragedy—subconsciously I noticed that.
‘‘According to Rev. Rivers, she didn’t proclaim her innocence to him