Part 7 of 15 – Lily

Down on the Salcombe Beach

I got a chance to whisper a warnin' to James. I only hope he don't treat this new guy as idly as he treated Charlie. This new guy isn't Charlie. Not a'tall. Oh, double merde, now he's askin' about the safe! Careful, James!

Questioning Lady Salcombe

Oh, here's a possibility! Sarah got so rattled that she acted guilty as hell! I'm gonna push the idea that SHE'S involved somehow. I gotta keep James in the clear. He will agree to sacrifice Sarah if we hafta, they don't love one another, haven't for a long time now. I don't know why he married her inna first place…unless as high-born camouflage. She always made me nervous, bein' so close to our doin's. She's blue-blooded an' all but she ain't blind.

Back at the Jeep

OK, now I'm seriously worried! He hit on the impossible question; how did the murderer kill Charlie an' escape from a locked room? How do I lead him away from that thought? An'… now what? He wants to see all the evidence for hisself?! WHY? Oh, god, what if he finds somethin'? I can't think! I need a plan an' I can't think! I gotta smile an' nod an' follow his orders… but it feels like a BIG mistake helpin' this guy with anythin'! I need to talk to James! We gotta get this guy off our trail!

Please, Erzuli, not another murder! We'll never get away with it!

Driving in the Jeep

Oh, mother Mary, I got so upset I snapped at him without thinkin'! An' the look he gave me, all suspicious like! I gotta cool down, act normal, or he's gonna wonder why I'm so upset! I can't have him watchin' me so close! I gotta talk to James soon as I drop this guy off at his shack!

Next day, station, 8 am

OMG, what's HE doin' here so early? I didn't even have time to check over this evidence an' get rid of anythin' that looks suspicious. I need to check Charlie's cell phone! I need time to think! Me an' James have planned 'an accident' for this new guy but we're not ready yet. We need time an' Poole is gettin' too close for comfort. He's like a dog what got a bone an' won't let go!

An' look at Dwayne an' Fidel, jumpin' to this guy's tune! How am I to handle all three of them at once? Dwayne would be easy but… Fidel? Please don't drag Fidel into this! I don't wanna take drastic action on Fidel. James an' me are ready to take action on Poole… but Fidel? I don't know if I could do it. I don't know if I could let James do it. Not Fidel.

Salcombe estate

Well, there's a surprise out in the open. Who woulda guessed at Charlie an' Sarah? But that's a GOOD thing, isn't it? A love triangle? The perfect motive for murder! If I can just muddy the waters enough, keep Poole guessin', maybe he'll wander off our trail! It's worth a try.

An' this re-enactment! This is unexpected. Maybe another way I can throw him off the scent? But no, now he knows the .22 bullet that killed Charlie isn't the one heard that night. An' James! You fool! You mentioned the .38! You shouldna done that! But wait, this puts Sarah back inna picture! Good! The more confusion we can sow, the sooner Poole will make a mistake!

The shower comment

OK, misdirection an' stayin' quiet ain't workin'! He's gettin' too close. I gotta take direct action! I'm sorry, James, but it's either you or me an' it ain't gonna be me. Now, how do I lead Poole to the safety deposit box fulla incriminatin' evidence I set up so long ago just in case I ever hadda hide my tracks? Hey? What's that? The shower, whaddabout the… ? A'course! His shower! I'm drivin' him home an' it's the perfect opportunity to plant the key where his prissy self is sure to find it!

Beach shack visit #2

Oooo, that was sweet! My sudden thought to drag him onta the beach an' smile at him was brilliant! He fell apart! He absolutely went to pieces! I don't know what's wrong with him but he sure can't handle women! Now I know his weakness I feel much better but… it's an awful solution to our problem. If this safety deposit box idea don't work and I can't arrange his 'accident' soon enough, I might hafta actually seduce the creep… an' I will… if I hafta.

But only if I hafta. Ugh… those clammy hands, the sweaty suit, that doughy body and whiney voice…

Merde, please don't let it come to that! Please!

End – Part 7