I knew that Piper and her mother were likely in another sitting room or salon in the corridor. I saw a door that was partly open and peeked inside to find Carlton and Sunny.

“Are the Mays next door?” I asked.

“Across the hall in the green room,” he said.

I nodded my thanks. I don’t know if Mr. May felt the sudden shift in the atmosphere but he became very quiet. I couldn’t blame him. The tension felt as heavy as a cement slab lying on my chest.

We crossed the hall quickly. I could hear the sound of Mrs. Portis sobbing in a room down the hall. Judging by the way Mr. May’s shoulders stiffened, he could hear it, too. I knocked on the door and then turned the knob and pushed the door open.

The green room was aptly named with green carpet, lighter green walls and green-and-cream-brocade upholstery on the heavy wood furniture. Piper and her mother were seated together on a divan. Rita had her arm around Piper, who was sobbing into her mother’s shoulder.

“Rita, Piper, my dears,” Mr. May cried. “Whatever is the matter?”

“Oh, Daddy,” Piper sobbed. “They think I killed him.”

Chapter 9

“What are you talking about?” Mr. May asked as he rushed over to his wife and daughter. He took Piper’s hands in his. “Killed whom?”

“Dooney,” Piper sobbed.

“I don’t understand.” Matthew May rocked back on his heels.

Rita rose from her seat. She smoothed her pantsuit and explained, “Dooney was found dead in the library.” Then she gestured to me and said, “By her.”

Mr. May glanced back at me. “You might have mentioned this on the walk over.”

“Sorry,” I said. “I wasn’t sure how to work it into the conversation, and I thought it would be better for you to hear it from your wife and daughter.”

He nodded. “I’d have done the same, I suppose.” He turned back to Piper. “Why would they think you killed him? How did he die?”

“We don’t know yet,” Rita said. “The detective is speaking with his parents and he said he’d come talk to us next.”

“His parents?” Matthew May scoffed. “Those insufferable toffs.”

I suspected this was the opposite slam to “parvenu.” I began to ease my way to the door. This was clearly time for the family to be alone together, and the least I could do was give them some privacy.

The open door was right behind me. All I needed to do was take one more step, but before I could, a hand grabbed my arm and I was yanked into the hallway, the door closing after me. I yelped but if the Mays heard me, they didn’t care. I expected to see the detective or a constable standing there holding my elbow, but instead it was Viv with Andre beside her.