“Millicent had been there. That man, I know it was the serial killer, caught her by herself, probably saw her unlocking the door. You can see it from 98, you know.”

“Wait a minute, Lolita. You’re telling me you’re blaming yourself for Millicent’s death because you weren’t at the office? That’s pretty farfetched. And even if there were some truth to it, how does Emily’s death fit in? Hers was a murder, too, you know. And it makes sense that they’re connected some way.”

Lolita looked up. “I’ve thought about that. Emily came up as the man was abducting Millicent and saw him. He knew she would eventually realize what she had seen. So he had to come back for her.”

“And he waited for her over at her condo, killed her, and tried to make it look like suicide? Unh uh, Lolita. I don’t know much about serial killers, thank God, but I don’t think one would go to that much trouble. I think they want people to know they’ve struck again.”

“Well, maybe not. But Millicent was at the office the morning she was killed, and I think she was forced to leave.”

“What makes you say that?”

Lolita wiped her face generously on the dishcloth. “God, Mrs. Hollowell, I’m so scared.”

Her nervousness was contagious. “Is this something you should have told the Marine Patrol and haven’t?”

“I’ve got two kids, Mrs. Hollowell. I can’t afford to get involved in anything.”

The schoolteacher in me wanted to tell her that she couldn’t afford not to. But I kept my mouth shut. Fortunately, she decided for herself. She got up, went to the counter where her purse was, and brought it back to the table.

“Here,” she said, unzipping the side compartment and taking out a large gold earring shaped like a turtle. I recognized it instantly as one of the pair Millicent had had on the night we saw her at The Redneck.

The kitchen door opened and Fred stuck his head in. “Just wondered where you were.”

“I’m here.”

“So I see.” The door closed. Lolita had clamped the turtle between her palms and her skin color was fast approaching that of her hair.

“It’s okay,” I assured her. “I know what it is. We saw Millicent wearing them.”

Lolita put the earring back in her purse. “It was in the office by the door. The door was unlocked and a chair was turned over.” She grabbed the dishcloth again. “It’s my fault. If I’d gotten to work on time, it wouldn’t have happened.”