Thirteen Diamonds

to confirm.”
    “I was sure I brought it with me,” Carol repeated. She looked exasperated. “I must be getting old and forgetful. She looked up and saw me. “Sorry, Lillian. Not that old people are necessarily forgetful.”
    “They are, Carol, believe me,” I said, “but you're not old. Anyone with as much to do as you have is bound to forget things. It's easy to do...”  I realized I was starting to babble, like Winston.
    “Ain't it the truth,” Carol said, smiling, ruefully. “Well, Albert, I guess I will have to call you tomorrow. I probably left it on my desk. I was at work for a while yesterday.”
    Now that Carol had calmed down I knew what I had to do. I said, “I believe I'll run over to the library and check out a few books. I can get started on my new reading program tomorrow.”
    “We'll drive you, Gogi,” Sandra said, getting up.
    “No thanks, Honey,” I said. “It's not far. And I'll be back soon.”
    “It's no trouble,” Mark said. “We'll be glad to do it.”
    Sometimes those kids were too helpful. “You stay here and watch the game,” I said, trying to be forceful but not ungrateful. “I'll be right back.”
    I made a hasty exit before they could protest and walked back to my bedroom. I pulled out Carol's notebook and slipped it into my own purse. Then I walked carefully to the front door and out to my car.
    I drove to the library and made a copy of the page of code in the notebook on the library's copier, at a cost of 15 cents. Then I hastily selected a couple of books and checked them out.
    Next I drove to Silver Acres and parked in the front parking lot. I walked in the front door and saw that, thankfully, I didn't know the volunteer who sat at the desk.
    “Hello,” I said, “I'm trying to find the apartment of Tess Upchurch.”
    “We don't give out apartment numbers,” he said, genially, “but I'll call her and let you talk to her.”
    I agreed and he handed me the phone as it started to ring. Fortunately, Tess answered. I said, “Hi Tess, Lillian. I'm in the area and thought I'd stop by if you're not busy.” She said okay and I almost hung up before remembering to say, “What is your apartment number again?”
    Before the amazed Tess could say anything I said, “Thanks. I'll be right there.”
    I hung up and gave Tess' number to the man, whereupon he gave me directions to get there.  I thanked him and said, “You've got a lonely job, don't you. How late do you have to stay here?”
    “Five o'clock,” he said, verifying what I already knew. The desk was closed early on Sunday.
    I drove around to my former parking lot and walked to Tess' apartment. She greeted me like a long lost friend, even though she had helped me pack yesterday.
    “I talked to Wesley,” she said, “and he said it's all right for you to still be in the bridge club. Isn't that wonderful?”
    “Since Carol hasn't banished me from the premises,” I said, “I guess she can't object to me playing cards.”
    “Now what's this nonsense about forgetting my apartment number?”
    “Oh, that.” I'd better not try to keep any secrets from Tess. I pulled out Carol's notebook and showed her the page in code.
    Tess was flabbergasted. “You are going to get yourself into more trouble than you are already,” she said. “Especially since Carol is Albert's girlfriend.”
    “Relax. I'm going to return the notebook to Carol's office. I just have to wait until five o'clock when the volunteer leaves the front desk. Would you like to help me break this code?”
    “No thanks. While I'm often puzzled I'm not a puzzler. I've been thinking. Since Ellen has an alibi that seems to eliminate her from having put the shellfish in the casserole, we're back to Harriet, who can't say she couldn't have done it because she could have.”
    “But Ellen did as good as admit that Mark delivered the lobster to her.”
    “I know it's a wild coincidence, but couldn't there have been two sets of shellfish? Couldn't Harriet have bought crab legs at the supermarket. You said yourself that they were on sale there.”
    “Quit muddying the waters,” I said, half-crossly. “I was all set to convict Ellen.”
    “But you can't because she has an alibi.”
    “So it appears that I'm out of the detective business.”
    “Then why in the world did you steal Carol's notebook?”
    “I guess because she evicted me. Maybe I'm trying to get something on her. By the way, the gang at home will be frantic when I don't return