“Yes,” Jesse confirmed.

Mancini turned to Tepper. “All right. Pass that information on to Garcia and have him bring two sets of gloves and booties. I’d like to see the room before the team goes in.”

Tepper’s eyes widened. “Garcia goes in with you?”

Mancini understood the officer didn’t like his seniority being jumped. “No. I simply want an extra set. Stress to Garcia he’s not to enter the room but have the gloves and shoe covers ready. And you’ll have enough to do managing the outside logistics. Tent off the car and body so we’ve got some working privacy. Tell the captain I’m recommending we double our uniform presence.”

“Yes, sir.” Tepper started to leave.

“One more thing.”

Tepper paused, but Mancini spoke to Ethel.

“Is anyone else in the house?”

“No. Just Jesse and me. I have two other renters who are out of town. I expect them back sometime tonight. Jonathan Finch was driving in from Richmond this morning.”

Mancini nodded. “Tepper, tell Garcia to come through the front door, where Mr. Cooper will be waiting for him.”

“Me?” Jesse exclaimed.

“Yes. Garcia will escort you to your room, where you’ll remain until I’m ready to talk to you.”

Jesse looked to Ethel.

“Do as he says,” Ethel said. “It’s my house and only logical the detective would wish to speak to me first.” She turned to Mancini. “Can we have our conversation in the kitchen? I’ll put on the coffee. It’s obvious you need a jolt of caffeine.”

Without waiting for permission, she left the men standing in her living room.

When Mancini joined her, he found her scooping ground coffee into a vintage percolator.

“What? No French press or Keurig machine?”

“No. I call this a coffeepot. You can’t beat the smell or the sound. I’m just glad I can still buy my Eight O’Clock coffee at the grocery store without having to mail order the damn stuff.”

Mancini chuckled. He hoisted his rotund body onto the barstool at the island in the middle of the kitchen floor. Ethel threw a switch on the percolator and turned to the detective. Even standing, the short woman had to look up at him.

“Did you really hear the shot, Frank?”

He ran a hand down the front of his shirt. “You think I’d have come dressed like this if I hadn’t? I phoned it in only a few minutes after you did, and then I followed the blue flashing lights.”

“So, it’s your case?”

“It’s a homicide. I’m the veteran homicide detective. My partner’s on medical leave, but I’ll pull a team of juniors together.” He paused and studied the older woman a few seconds. “So, what did you do? Fake a swoon for Tepper?”

She ignored the question and took two mugs from an overhead cabinet. “You still like your coffee black?”