“No, why would I tell him? I’m just trying to be a good caretaker,” Archie said. “I don’t think there’s any need to get the detective all riled up. Besides, the earring is probably in her room and she just misplaced it. No reason to get everyone in an uproar. I’m just humoring her.”

“So, you won’t be taking any money from her, because if you’re just humoring her, that doesn’t warrant getting paid, correct?” Harry asked.

Archie’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “I have to go make my rounds.” He stomped out the door without another word.

“Well, this is an interesting turn of events,” Harry said.

“I’ll say,” I agreed. I walked to the shelf that Archie had been examining. “I don’t believe that nonsense about a missing earring for a hot second.”

“Me either,” he said. He moved to stand beside me and we stared at the shelf together. “Do you think she’s missing a book?”

I shrugged. “The bigger question is, Does all this have anything to do with Dooney’s murder, or is it just coincidental?”

“I don’t believe anything is coincidental during a murder investigation,” he said.

“Right,” I said. “Should we look around then?”

“Why not?” he asked. “Maybe we’ll stumble upon the item, whatever it is.”

Harry and I spent a half hour checking the shelves and perusing the books. Honestly, I could have spent all afternoon there, but there was nothing that stood out as unusual. We left the library, closing the door behind us.

We were halfway down the hallway when Piper turned into the corridor from another room. A parlor by the looks of it. She had a stack of magazines in her arms and was headed for the library.

“Piper, hi,” I said.

“Hi.” She glanced at us and a faint smile curved her lips. Her voice was low and soft as if she didn’t have the energy to put much effort into it.

“Is there anything we can do for you?” I asked. I knew I was overstepping but I couldn’t seem to help myself. Despite the fact that Dooney had been cheating on her, I just found it hard to believe that she would have killed Dooney and blown up her entire life.

“No, but thank you.” She looked at Harry when she said it, as if I weren’t even there. I told myself they went way back and I shouldn’t be annoyed, but still.

“We just ran into your mother in the library,” Harry said. “She and Archie, the caretaker, were looking for a missing earring of hers.”

Piper’s eyebrows rose. “Really? An earring? In the library?” Somehow she made it sound suspicious. Hmm.

“Yes,” I said. I felt the need to insert myself into the conversation. “She didn’t mention it to you?”

“No.” Piper shook her head. “I’m certain it will turn up.”