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“Forget the coffee. I’ll come with you.”

We made sure the dogs had done their business before we left them to guard the house. Then we headed to the apartment of the singer-maid who seemed to turn up around every corner of this case.

* * *

Tinkie was charmed by the house where Kissie lived. We circled around to her apartment, Tinkie admiring the architectural wonders of the old gingerbread trim and cool porches. The door, standing ajar with the window air conditioner churning as hard as it could, set me on red alert. I motioned Tinkie behind me. We’d both suffered our share of hard knocks and injuries while working on cases, but my head was harder than hers. I signaled I’d enter and for her to remain outside and call help if necessary.

Tinkie’s response was to put her hands on her hips and try to stare me down. It didn’t work, because I didn’t hang around. Ducking low, I entered the apartment as quietly as I could. I didn’t need to go farther than three steps to realize something was very wrong.

The sign in the kitchen window said it all. For Rent.

When I peeped in through the back door window, I saw the cabinets were open, all dishes and staples gone. Even the curtains had been removed. Kissie had cut and run.

“Excuse me, ladies, may I help you?”

I turned to find an older man standing at the bottom of the steps.

“I’m looking for Kissie McClain,” I said.

He slid a hammer into a tool belt. “You’re about ten hours too late. She pulled out of here this morning.”

“She moved?”

“To Nashville.” He gave a wide grin. “That little girl is taking her talent to the city where dreams become reality. Before long, you’ll hear her tunes on the radio, mark my words.”

“Did she give you notice?” Tinkie asked.

“Wasn’t necessary. She was one of the best renters I’ve ever had. She got a golden opportunity and she had to take it. No hard feelings from me.”

This was more than coincidence. Kissie didn’t just skip off to Nashville. She’d been opposed to gambling everything on Music City for a second time, and she also had no money. “Did she say what kind of opportunity?”

“No, she didn’t. But it must have been a good one. She took most of her furnishings to Goodwill and packed her clothes in her car. She barely had room for her guitar.”

“Did her boyfriend go with her?” Tinkie asked.

He pursed his lips. “With young people today, who knows? Now did you want to see the apartment?”

We did, but after a quick look around, we accepted there was nothing to be learned. Kissie and her convenient opportunity were gone and there was nothing left to tell us the story of her circumstances.

21

Backing out of the driveway, Tinkie seemed lost in thought. We headed west, toward downtown and the river. I didn’t ask where she was taking me, because I had no idea what to do next.

“Where did Kissie get the money to move to Nashville?” she asked.

“Moving is expensive. She left a paying gig here, for what?” I had my own set of questions.

“Do you think she and Jerome are together?”

It was strange the Leverts’ housekeeper and gardener, both with access to the Levert estate and the sisters’ secrets, had decamped. Briarcliff was experiencing a domestic crisis, on top of all the others.

“Do you think Kissie really went to Nashville? And Jerome? Did he just vanish?”

I could tell Tinkie was worried something unfortunate might have happened to the housekeeper and possibly the gardener. “We can check on Kissie in Nashville, but it will take too long. I don’t even know where to begin with Jerome.”

“He isn’t missing. Eleanor knew he’d left.” Tinkie clenched the steering wheel.

“You still think he’s the horseman?”

“I honestly don’t know what to think. I just know once Monica is returned, I want them both arrested.”

I couldn’t disagree.

Tinkie cruised by the insurance company and the bank, but nothing looked amiss. My mind kept worrying the matter of Jerome and Kissie, both gone.

“Hello, darlink!”

I looked around me at the shady Natchez