I pulled out the chair and sat down. “Then I can talk to you until they get here.”
She sighed and picked up her teacup. “I suppose if you want.”
She was less than enthusiastic about our meeting. I wasn’t exactly happy about it either. But I had to do it. I knew Tammy would wonder what had happened to me. Soon she would start to worry. I wished Tammy was here at the table with me while I talked to Penelope. I didn’t relish the idea of speaking with her alone. Regardless though, I couldn’t get up and motioned for Tammy to come in here. If I did that then I’d stand a big chance that Penelope would leave. would just have to tough this out and do it on my own.
How would I bring up the fact that I knew she’d fought with Tabatha? I would just ease my way into it, I suppose. First, I wanted to ask her if she saw anything suspicious.
She shook her head. “I told you I don’t have any clues for you, so I don’t know why you’re harassing me.”
“I don’t mean to rush you,” I said I just want to see if maybe your memory comes back something you forgot
“I don’t forget things,” she said as she placed her teacup back onto the saucer. “I remember every single detail about everything.”
Obviously, she was a good liar too. Or she’d told these lies so often that she truly believed them now. I wasn’t falling for it though. I didn’t care if she claimed to remember everything. I knew she wasn’t telling me everything. I had to press forward and keep pushing for more information from her.
The hostess who’d seated us stepped into the room. She scanned the room with a frown on her face. I had a feeling she was looking for me. I was allowed to speak to other customers. There was no rule that I couldn’t be in this room. Was there?
Chapter 22
Luckily, the hostess didn’t see me sitting in the corner of the room, which was perfect because now I could continue talking with Penelope. I focused my attention back on the potential murderer. She stared down at her teacup as if it was the most interesting thing she’d ever seen. Obviously, she was just trying to avoid talking to me. But I wouldn’t let her get by with that. I would press forward and ask as many questions as possible. Whether or not she’d answer was a completely different question. Nevertheless, I’d try my best.
“So you’ll tell me anything that you saw unusual at the wedding?” I pressed.
She didn’t look at me for several seconds. Then finally, she met my gaze. “I guess there was one thing. I don’t know if you want to hear about it.”
“Of course I want to hear. Please tell me. That’s why I’m talking to you,” I said.
“Well, it’s about the bride.” A smirk appeared on her face.
Instantly I felt the blood drain from my face. What was she going to say about Tammy? Would it be something that made me upset? I wasn’t sure I was prepared for what she had to say.
“What about her?” I asked, already sounding defensive.
Penelope still had that smirk on her face. “I heard her arguing with Tabatha.”
“I already know about that,” I said. “And it was nothing.”
She shrugged. “It certainly didn’t seem like nothing. I’m not accusing her of murder. I’m just saying that it was right before the murder occurred. They were fighting, so you know, it’s only natural to come to that assumption.”
I felt myself becoming more defensive by the second.
“Exactly how did you know they were arguing?” I studied her face for a moment.
This was a serious question. I mean, unless she had been upstairs, she wouldn’t have known they’d fought. Based on the expression on her face, I sensed that possibly I’d caught her. Had she been upstairs? Was that how she’d heard the fight? Had she waited until Tabatha entered the other room and then went after her? It seemed like a logical explanation. Now if I could just get her to confess or find a clue that would incriminate her. I couldn’t assume her guilt based on her expression, although right now I thought she was totally guilty.
“I just happened to walk up there to see if the bride was ready for the wedding. That’s when I heard the fight.”
“You know that I was eavesdropping?”
“Yes, that’s why I left right after,” Penelope said.
“So you don’t know what happened after that,” I said.
“No, but I have my suspicions.”
“Are accusing my friend of murder?”
“I didn’t say that,” she said defensively.
“I’m supposed to just take your word for it?” I glared at her.
“I think this conversation is over,” she said.
I didn’t want the conversation to be over, but if she had already made up her mind that it was done, then I doubted I’d be able to get anything else out of her. Unless I tricked her to talk more. I wasn’t sure I was a good enough detective for that. Brannon had already talked to her, but maybe he needed to pay her another visit. Maybe he could pressure her into saying more. Maybe she would feel more compelled to talk if the police were interviewing her again.
A couple of women approached the table. Both tall with blonde hair and coordinating black dresses. They looked at me and smiled. I suppose they didn’t know that I wasn’t a friendly visitor. They must be who she was waiting on. I suppose my questioning session was now officially over. I wasn’t going to let this go. I would push for more information the first chance I got.
Without saying another word, I stood from the table. I just walked away. Maybe I should have gotten an introduction to her friends. Talking to them might be a good idea. Did they know more? Would they open up to me? And how close of friends were they to Penelope? Maybe I could catch them on their way out.
I headed away from the table, not looking back to see if they watched me. Though I felt eyes on me, and I assumed that they were watching. Penelope was probably telling them all about me and how bad I was for asking her for information about the murder. Could she really blame me? I mean, if she thought my friend was involved. I wanted to defend her against the charges.
Yes, Tammy said that she’d fought with Tabatha, but I knew my friend could never do something as terrible as murder. There was just no way. I wouldn’t even entertain the thought.
Tammy was watching for me as I stepped back into the other room. I hurried over to the table and sat down. The tea was already there, and Tammy had ordered sandwiches. I knew she’d want to leave the teashop to get burgers.
“What happened?” Tammy asked.
“Of course she didn’t want to give any information. That’s basically all she said.”
“You were gone for quite a while. I figured she gave a lot of info,” Tammy said.
I was reluctant to tell Tammy about what Penelope said. But I knew I couldn’t keep it from her forever. She would eventually get it out of me. I might as well tell her now. I picked up the delicate cup and took a sip of the tea. Tammy stared at me. Obviously realizing that now I was stalling. I placed the cup back onto the saucer and released a deep breath. and said
“She claims she overheard the argument you had with Tabatha.” I rushed the words.
Tammy’s eyes widened. “What? So now she’s accusing me of murdering Tabatha?”