Love Can Be Murder

just...everything. Carl's d-death, you girls being questioned, then that awful man showing up."
    "How did he get in?" Capistrano asked.
    "I don't know," she said. "The doors were locked. I was in the kitchen and he was suddenly standing there."
    "What did he say?"
    Nell's tongue darted in and out, and she scooped Chester from the floor to hold in her lap. She stroked his coat in a manner that was, hopefully, as soothing to her as to the purring animal. "He said he was looking for Roxann, said she could lead him to his wife and daughter. Said that no cop was going to scare him off."
    Capistrano shifted in his chair. "Did he say anything that might make you think he was involved in Dr. Seger's murder?"
    Her eyes widened. "Do you think he could have killed Carl? I thought Angora—"
    "The police aren't sure," he cut in. "Cape did make threats on people who were close to Roxann. Please try to remember."
    Her brow furrowed. "He just said to tell Roxann that he'd show up when she least expected it. Then he took a knife out of my butcher block and plunged it into a cutting board." She shivered. "Roxann, I know it goes against Rescue program policy, but maybe you could contact his wife and see if a reconciliation is possible. Or see if she would at least talk to the man."
    Roxann gaped. "Nell, it required every ounce of strength that poor woman had to take her daughter away and start a new life. I can't just call her up now and encourage her to contact him." She looked at Capistrano. "You did not hear that."
    He averted his eyes.
    But her mentor was undaunted. "It was never the intent of the program to put the lives of the facilitators at risk. Frank Cape is a dangerous man, and there's been enough bloodshed around here. Perhaps I can intervene and get you out of the middle?"
    "Maybe that's not a bad idea," Capistrano said.
    Roxann glared at him. "It's a terrible idea."
    "Dr. Oney," he said, "were you aware that if Cape's ex-wife comes forward to testify in a crime that Frank committed, we could put him away and she wouldn't have to worry?"
    Nell glanced at Roxann. "Is this true?"
    Roxann stuck her tongue in her cheek, still glaring at Capistrano. "Everything except the 'she wouldn't have to worry' part. You know how often these thugs get off on a technicality or are granted early release from prison."
    Nell looked at Capistrano. "Can the police protect her?"
    "Yes."
    "Where is she?" Nell asked Roxann.
    Roxann sprang up. "That's privileged information, Nell."
    "And as a founder of this program, I'm making an executive decision to override policy for the good of everyone concerned." She set Chester down and he scampered away. "Roxann," Nell said, her voice breaking, "I don't want to see you get hurt."
    "I'll...think about it."
    Nell nodded, satisfied.
    "Did Cape leave on his own?" the detective asked.
    "After he made the threat, I was afraid he might hurt me, but there was a knock on the front door, and he went out the back." She turned a sad smile toward Roxann. "It was the university chancellor. He asked if I would help arrange a memorial service for Carl."
    Just like Tammy Paulen. "Does he have family nearby?" If he had ever spoken of his family when they were together, she couldn't recall.
    Nell shook her head. "Carl didn't have any family living. I heard him say several times that he wanted to be cremated and his ashes spread over the campus. I suggested to the chancellor that it would be best to wait until next week, after Homecoming. Maybe by then the police will have made an arrest." She looked at Roxann. "I know she's your cousin, Roxann, but I don't want to see Angora get away with murder again."
    This morning Roxann had been willing to defend Angora, but now she was beginning to wonder if her cousin teetered on the edge of stability, and if returning to campus on the heels of her jilting simply had been too much for her. She said nothing.
    Capistrano stood. "Dr. Oney, do you have somewhere safe to stay for a few days?"
    She nodded slowly. "My sister lives in Indy. I can take the bus."
    "Pack a bag and we'll take you to the station," he said. "Stay there until I can track down Frank Cape."
    Nell didn't argue—she seemed relieved to be escaping the melee. "What about Roxann?"
    "She'll stay with me."
    Roxann blinked. She would? "I will?"
    "Relax," he said. "My room has two double beds. But at least I can keep an eye on you."
    Relax, he said.

Chapter Twenty-four

    ROXANN RETURNED THE PHONE to its cradle. "Angora is