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“Yes, a…” He groped in vain for his glasses, until Odelia pointed out they were on top of his head, then consulted his written notes. “Leonora Ledger. She’s here to arrange for the body of her sister to be flown back to Ohio, and also to find out why we still haven’t caught the person responsible for her sister’s death. So you talk to her, all right? Now.”

“Yes, Chief,” said Odelia and Chase in unison.

“Now get lost—and get me some results!”

Chapter 25

“Uncle Alec doesn’t seem to believe that Todd Bond was murdered, does he, Max?” said Dooley.

“That’s because the police have to follow the evidence, Dooley,” I said, “and the evidence seems to indicate that the young man’s death was an unfortunate accident.”

“What do you think, Max? Do you think it was an accident?”

“I’m not sure,” I said, and I wasn’t lying. I still had my doubts, to be honest.

“But if he was killed, who could have done it?”

“Well, as far as I can tell, the most likely suspects are Scott or Layla,” I said, “though to be sure we would need to investigate further. Ask Todd’s friends—talk to Scott and Layla’s parents—maybe interview other neighbors who might have heard something or seen something.”

“But if the investigation is closed, that won’t happen, right?”

“Unless Odelia decides to ignore her uncle’s decision and continue the investigation in her own time.”

But at that moment Odelia and Chase were too busy conducting a different investigation. We were in the lobby of the Star Hotel, waiting for Josslyn Aldridge’s sister to arrive to talk to us. Moments later the elevator dinged and two middle-aged ladies walked out. Odelia and Chase got up to greet them. Presumably these were Josslyn’s sister and Josslyn’s friend, the one with whom she’d come on this vacation. Sadly enough a vacation that had ended in tragedy.

“Let’s sit outside,” Odelia suggested, and escorted both women to the outside dining area, where we could talk undisturbed.

Josslyn’s sister looked like her, only a few years older. She was a gray-haired woman of sizable proportions, and had to be supported by Josslyn’s friend, whose name was Sadie Yentis. Sadie was about Josslyn’s age, I would have guessed, which meant she was in her late fifties, early sixties. She wasa round-faced, cheerful-looking woman with a frizzy mass of gray curly hair and large thick-framed glasses.

“So what can you tell us about the investigation?” asked Leonora. “Have you caught the man responsible for my sister’s murder?”

“I’m afraid not,” said Chase.

“But you were on TV,” said Sadie. “I saw you. Has no one come forward?”

“We did receive several phone calls,” said Chase, “but nothing helpful so far.”

Leonora shook her head.“It’s so sad. My sister was so looking forward to her retirement, when she finally could do all the things she’d been planning.”

“We were going on a cruise next month,” Sadie revealed. “We’d been saving for years.”

“I’d go with you, but unfortunately my health won’t allow it,” said Leonora.

“These are the hardest cases to solve,” said Odelia. “Because it’s almost always a crime of opportunity. A bag snatcher sees an opportunity to target a potential victim and he strikes, then removes himself from the scene as soon as possible.”

“It’s often gangs, isn’t it?” said Leonora. “Or at least that’s what I read. Gangs of thieves moving from town to town and stealing from tourists.” She shook her head. “Josslyn was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time. She’s never had much luck in her life, I’m sorry to say.”

“What makes you say that?” asked Odelia.

“Well, for one thing she never found a husband.”

“She was in love once,” Sadie said. “At least that’s what she told me.”

“It wouldn’t surprise me if she was,” said Leonora. “Josslyn was a hopeless romantic, always falling in love with men who were absolutely unsuitable—or even remotely interested in her. Unrequited love—the phrase must have been coined for her.”

“She was very cheerful, though,” said Sadie. “Happy to finally do what she wanted to do—go where she wanted to go.”

“And then suddenly this…” Leonora fixed Odelia with a hopeful look. “Please tell me that you’ll do everything that is in your power to catch this maniac. I simply cannot accept that my sister’s death will be forgotten, the beast who killed her allowed to walk free.”

“I can promise you that we are doing everything to find this person,” said Odelia, placing her hand on the woman’s arm in a gesture of reassurance.

“Oh, dear, oh, dear. I still can’t believe that no one saw what happened.”

“Don’t you have cameras set up along the boardwalk?” asked Sadie.

“We do, but not at that particular spot,” said Chase.

“Bad luck,” said Leonora. “The story of Josslyn’s life.”

“Isn’t there anything we can do, Max?” asked Dooley. “Look at how sad Josslyn’s sister is, and her friend.”