Theo’s face dropped in understanding. “I was so sad when I heard what happened. Must have been awful for you all to find her like that. What a terrible accident.”

I must have twitched at the word accident because Theo reached out and patted my hand. “What is it?”

“I’m sure you’ll hear it from somebody soon enough,” I said. “The police think Constance’s death may not have been an accident.”

Theo straightened up on her stool. “I’m sure that’s not true.”

“I know. It must be a shock. Beatty Barnes mentioned you were friends with her.”

“I suppose you could say that,” Theo said, her eyes far away. “I was friendly as anyone could be with Constance. That woman had a wall up a mile high, but she did like her books, so we had that in common. I managed to keep her well stocked in mysteries. Agatha Christie was her favorite, but she had gone through all of those a long time ago. She didn’t like to come into the store. I always had to drive them out to her place.”

“Really? How come?”

Theo turned her teacup in its saucer. “I think she was afraid she might run into her sister. I’ve been friends with Mary since we were kids. You’ve met her. We play cards every week.”

“I have?” I sorted through the memories of my time at the bookshop. Wait, I did remember someone coming in after hours. She had been a nice woman from what I could recall. Shy though. “I didn’t realize that was Constance’s sister.”

“The very one. And I assume someone has told you about the bad blood in that family?”

“I’ve heard a little.”

“It’s such a shame. I blame their father. Even when they were little, he’d play those kids off of one another. The only time I ever saw him amused was when the kids were fighting for his affection.”

“That sounds terrible.”

“It was. He was probably hardest on Mary though. He blamed her on some level for his wife’s death. She just wanted his love, and that was the one thing she never got from him.” She shook her head, then snapped her gaze up to mine. “I know how that must sound given the circumstances, but I can assure you it’s not the case.”

“What’s not the case?”

“That all this hurt from Mary’s past might be a motive for what happened to Constance.”

I shook my head quickly. “I wasn’t, I mean, it’s far too soon to be thinking anything like that.”

Theo’s shoulders relaxed. “Not that it matters. Mary has an alibi. Me.”

“Mary was with you the night Constance died?”

“Yes. It was our card night. We started late. She wasn’t going to come at first, but I was able to change her mind. We didn’t finish up until almost ten.” Theo let out a heavy breath. “To think we were playing cards when poor Constance passed.” She turned her teacup again. “I suppose it’s best not to dwell on it.”