Deep Waters

front of Pitt Realty. "Didn't you once tell me that was where Jennifer and Leighton Pitt used to meet before the Pitt divorce?"
    Hank Tybern hesitated briefly and then appeared to gather himself, as if anticipating something unpleasant. He opened the door and went inside.
    "Yes," Charity said. "The old, rundown cottage on the bluff. Anyhow, as I was saying, it got me thinking. If Tybern's right in assuming that we've only got one murderer around here, then he's looking for a killer with some connection to both Gwen Pitt and Rick Swinton. Someone who would have had cause to hate both of them. When you think about it, that narrows the list."
    Elias saw the door of Pitt Realty open again. "You can save yourself the effort of drawing up a list. I think Tybern has just arrested the number-one suspect."
    "What?" Charity suddenly seemed to realize that his attention was on something going on behind her. She spun around. "Oh, my God. Leighton Pitt. Hank is arresting Leighton Pitt."
    Elias watched as Hank put the dejected-looking Pitt into the car. The handcuffs on Leighton's wrists glinted briefly just before the door closed.
    "Looks that way," Elias said. "You've got to admit, it's logical. Pitt had plenty of reason to be angry with both his ex-wife and Rick Swinton. Together they ruined him."
    "Yes." Charity watched Hank get behind the wheel of the patrol car.
    "Well, that's that." Elias felt a twinge of deep regret. "I suppose this means that I won't get to watch you go into your Amazon routine in order to defend me from Hank Tybern anymore."
    "I'm not so sure you're in the clear, yet, Elias." She sounded serious.
    "Why not?"
    "Because I don't think that Leighton Pitt killed his ex-wife or Swinton."
    Shortly before eight o'clock that night, Elias sat cross-legged on the cushion in front of the low table and watched Charity polish off the last of his carefully prepared pasta. She had eaten every bite, he noticed, but she had not made a single comment on the food. Her attention was riveted on the subject of Leighton Pitt's arrest.
    So much for getting back to basics. Elias was feeling morose and irritable. Things were not going according to plan tonight.
    "Ted told me this afternoon that Tybern found Leighton Pitt's gun in the trunk of his car. It's a twenty-eight-caliber. The same kind that was used to kill both Gwen and Rick Swinton." Charity put down her fork and regarded Elias with an expectant look. "Well?"
    "Well, what?"
    "Well, don't you think it's a little odd that Leighton kept the murder weapon in the trunk of his car? I mean, it doesn't make sense."
    "Murder rarely makes sense. People who kill are not usually thinking clearly."
    "Yes, I know, but Leighton's not stupid. He must have known that he was a possible suspect. Why would he keep the gun?"
    "Maybe he had plans to use it again."
    Charity looked horrified for a split second. "I hadn't thought of that." Her expression switched instantly to a thoughtful frown. "No, that wouldn't make sense, either. Gwen and Swinton were the only ones he could logically blame for the bankruptcy."
    "You're wasting your time trying to figure this out, Charity. It's Tybern's job to make the case."
    "Know what I think?"
    He groaned. "No, but I have a hunch you're about to tell me."
    She leaned forward over the low table and fixed him with a steely-eyed look. "I think someone set Leighton up to take the fall."
    He considered that briefly. "Not likely, but possible."
    "Very possible, if you ask me. Leighton Pitt was not in a murderous mood. He was looking to find a way to salvage his financial situation, not plotting revenge."
    "You could tell?" Elias asked dryly.
    "Call it a hunch."
    "That's about all you can call it. Charity, what are you leading up to here?"
    She straightened her shoulders. "You are still vulnerable. And it makes me nervous."
    "I beg your pardon?"
    "If it turns out that Leighton has been framed, the finger of blame is going to be pointed right back at you again. I don't like it."
    "It's not my favorite finger, either," he conceded, "but I doubt that it will be pointed in my direction."
    "You're not in the clear, yet, Elias. I've been thinking about this all day. I've come to the conclusion that we should take proactive measures to make sure that no one tries to implicate you in this mess."
    Elias was suddenly very wary. "Proactive measures?"
    "Right." She got to her feet and scooped the dishes off the table in a single move. "We need to look into the facts