Page 53 of Passions in Death
“Yes.” A slight frown crossed Wanda’s face. “I mean, I hope so. I think she did. I certainly trusted her.”
“With secrets?”
“If I had one, I’d trust her to keep it. If she had any and shared with me, I wouldn’t tell you unless I thought it would help find who killed her. No, I’ll tell you this one,” Wanda corrected. “It can’t hurt. They weren’t going to have a band or a professional DJ at the wedding—they were saving for a big honeymoon down the road. Their parents would have kicked in, but they’re not rolling in it, either, and had already contributed. Erin asked me if I’d sing, maybe talk some of the musicians I knew into coming—for the free food and drink. Just do one set maybe. Especially the first dance—they’d planned a recording for that. She was going to surprise Shauna.”
Wanda dashed a tear away. “Then Shauna came to me with an almost identical request. Could I sing them down the aisle, maybe do the first dance. She didn’t want me to work the whole wedding and reception, but wanted to surprise Erin.”
She dug out a tissue. “God. I didn’t tell either one of them about the other, and like I said, I know Erin’s family. I know Shauna’s now a little. I told them, so we put it together behind the scenes, you know?”
“That was a beautiful thing to do, each of them, the families, you.” Reaching over, Peabody laid a hand on Wanda’s.
“Did she tell you about the surprise for Erin she planned for last night?”
Drying her eyes, Wanda shook her head. “No. What surprise?”
“Did you know she’d sold some paintings recently? Studio work, not street.”
“I don’t think so. I mean not in the last few weeks. I’ve been slammed. Lucky enough to get some good evening and night gigs, showings and meetings at my day job. And we’ve been squeezing in rehearsals for the wedding. I haven’t talked to Erin much in the last two or three weeks.”
Now she blinked tears away, shoved back her hair. “And she and Shauna were busy with the wedding plans, plans for last night. What surprise?” she asked again.
“She took the money from the sale of the paintings, got a little boost from her moonlighting jobs. She bought tickets to Maui, booked a hotel.”
Wanda stared at Eve before the tears rolled. “Oh, oh, that’s so Erin. That’s just so Erin.”
“She had someone bring in her weekend case,” Peabody continued. “She had a costume—grass skirt, coconut bra, leis.”
Wanda pressed both hands to her mouth. “Even more like Erin. That’s just what she’d do, just what she’d do. Big surprise, big fun, big splash. Giving Shauna something she’d only dreamed of, and share it with all of us. That’s who she was. That’s Erin.”
“Who would she have trusted to keep the secret, to bring in that case?”
“I—any of us, I think. Angie, Donna, me, a dozen others. Erin was so open. She trusted and loved her friends. Her tribe,” she said to Peabody.
“But she didn’t ask you.”
“No. I would’ve done it. I would’ve been happy to. But, I guess, she’d already asked me for something, and… spread it out. I didn’t think this could get harder, but now it is.”
Struggling for composure, she turned to Eve. “Did you ask Angie? Angie’s so efficient, she could’ve asked her. Except—”
“Except.”
“Becca and Angie did the shower, and I know they helped at least some with the party last night. Spread it out,” she repeated. “Donna—wait, Donna had to go to Baltimore. Her sister went into labor. Donna didn’t make the party.”
“Who else comes to mind?” Eve pressed.
“Honestly, they’re first, or me, then it could be anyone. Well, I’d eliminate a couple who have a hard time not either blurting out a secret or who can’t help but act like they have one. Why, is it important?”
“Everything’s important,” Eve told her.
They spent a little more time, pushing for details, for answers and memories, but couldn’t pull out more.
When Peabody walked Wanda out, Eve sat another moment.
Not only did Wanda’s statements ring true, she simply didn’t ring.
Probably strong enough, Eve considered as she started back. Maybe tall enough in heels. But the rest? It didn’t play through.
She met Peabody outside the bullpen.
