Pepper started to gather everything up and put it in the bag. “Yes, sorry. We do have to get back to our shops.”

“Oh, of course.” Ophelia stood and extended her hand to Pepper. “Thank you so much for stopping by. I feel much better now … though I didn’t even realize that I didn’t feel good before.”

“You’re welcome. See, my teas really do work wonders.” Pepper shook her hand then started toward the door.

“Oh, and Wilhelmina, I do hope you will excuse my nasty behavior at my office. It’s just that … well … I wasn’t in the library that morning and I guess I felt like you were accusing me.”

“I was just checking on what I heard. I didn’t mean to accuse you.” Like heck I didn’t, I thought, as I pictured the navy blue cape hanging in her closet.

I opened the door and pulled Pepper outside. Ophelia stood just inside the threshold, her hand on the door, about to close it.

“You know, there is one thing I remember from that morning that was strange.” Ophelia said as we were walking away.

I turned back, wrinkling my brow at her. “What’s that?”

“I was in town … but not at the library.” A pained look crossed her face and she shook her head. “Anyway, as I was leaving after doing my banking, a long black car went speeding past me up the mountain road. They were going very fast, driving recklessly, as if they wanted to get away from something fast. Nearly ran me off the road.”

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

“See now, Ophelia isn’t so bad, is she?” Pepper asked as she drove back to town in her yellow Fiat.

“Not so bad? I found a navy blue cape in her closet—she’s probably the killer!”

Pepper glanced sideways at me. “Oh, come on. Didn’t Myrna say she was wearing a raincoat?”

I pressed my lips together. “Yeah, but maybe Myrna was mistaken. I’m pretty sure that cape was the same color blue as the thread, and Lavinia said whoever pushed her was wearing a cape.”

“Are you sure you aren’t just so focused on the possibility that it could be Ophelia that you are blinded to anything else?” Pepper asked. “I mean, you saw how nice she was today.”

“Yeah, what did you give her, anyway?”

“Oh just a special tea,” Pepper said smugly.

“Well, nice or not she could be a killer.” I pulled out my cell phone. “I should call Augusta and let her know Ophelia has a cape that matches the fibers on the murder weapon.”

“Augusta … or Eddie?” Pepper smirked.

“Very funny.” I stared at my phone.

“What’s wrong?” Pepper asked as she pulled into the municipal parking lot.