“It’s okay,” I said. “I haven’t the faintest idea where I am anyway.”
Robyn smiled at that, and a couple of the women giggled.
Vermillion, carrying a toddler, came over.
“Why were you following me?” she asked.
“I’m sorry—” I began.
“The safe house is supposed to be a secret,” she said. “I was supposed to pick up Eil—one of the residents—at her job and bring her back here without anyone following us, especially her horrible ex. And—”
“Then maybe you should take some lessons on how to lose a tail,” I said. “Starting with driving a less distinctive car.”
She blinked and took a step back as if I’d hit her.
“Now, now,” Robyn said.
“Vermillion, I’m sorry,” I said. “If I’d known where you were going, I wouldn’t have followed you. But remember, we’ve had a murder at the show house, and you’re one of the few people in the house whose whereabouts last night I know nothing about, and you were acting incredibly furtive.”
“Meg does have a point, Vermillion,” Robyn said.
Vermillion’s shoulders slumped.
“Yeah, okay,” she said. “I just get really nervous when I’m bringing someone to the house. And if it makes you feel any better, last night I was here at the shelter. All night.”
“Vermillion’s been staying here on night duty,” Robyn said. “And we had a new family move in last night. I arrived with them around ten thirty, and I didn’t leave until past one. She was helping, too. So I think she’s in the clear on the murder.”
“Excellent,” I said.
“If I knew anything, I’d tell you,” Vermillion said. “I loathed Clay and I wanted him out of the house, but still, it’s not right for someone to murder him.”
“Why don’t you go ahead and get dinner started?” Robyn said to the women at the table. “I just want to have a quiet word with Meg. Vermillion, can you help them?”
Vermillion lugged the child she was carrying into the kitchen. Robyn led me back out onto the porch.
“So how long has Caerphilly had a battered women’s shelter?” I asked.
“Only been operating six months,” she said.
“Keeping it secret for six months is a miracle in a small town like this.”
“And Vermillion is one of our best volunteers,” she said. “Although I’ve been worried about her lately.”
“Worried? Why?” I asked. Would it have something to do with Clay?
“She’s really good with the residents because she’s been through what they’re going through,” Robyn said. “Not here, but back home, wherever home was. She hasn’t told me much more than that. She was doing pretty well until the last few weeks. Lately she’s taken to sleeping here overnight most nights.”
“Did something happen to her here in Caerphilly?”
“No,” Robyn said. “I asked her. She said no—and I believe her—but she also said there was someone in the house she didn’t trust.”
“Clay Spottiswood,” I said.
“Yes.” Robyn nodded. “Not that she said as much, but it stands to reason.”
“Do you think he … threatened her in some way?”
“I think she’d have told me if he did,” Robyn said. “But I trust her judgment. Not her fashion sense, mind you. But her ability to spot someone capable of violence, absolutely.”
“Yesterday, when she arrived at the house, Rose Noire said she could feel the negative energy trying to keep her out,” I said. “And that there was something evil in the house.”
“Rose Noire is a good person,” Robyn said. “I trust her judgment, too. Do you think this man Clay was evil?”
The question surprised me.
“No,” I said, after thinking for a few moments. “Unpleasant, yes. Responsible for that negative energy, definitely. He was not a nice person. Maybe even a violent one. But evil? No. If there really was evil in the house, maybe it was that someone was already planning to kill him.”
“Yes.” Robyn nodded emphatically. “So be careful out there. There’s an evildoer still at large.”
Then her mood lightened.
“We’re having chili for dinner,” she said. “One of our current residents is a fabulous cook. Would you like to stay and share it?”
“I would love to,” I said. “But I’m going to miss the start of Michael’s show if I don’t rush over to the theater right now. Rain check?”
“Absolutely,” she said. “And you do realize now that you’ve found your way here to the safe house, we’ll figure out a way to make use of you.”