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“In Texas at a sales meeting,” said Chase. “I checked the hotel and he did check in and spend two nights there, but who’s to say he didn’t sneak out at some point and fly back here to murder his wife and fly back? Though I admit that does seem very unlikely.”

“Did you check possible flights?”

“Still working on that, Chief.”

“Okay, go on. Anything else?”

“Well, there’s Dotty’s boyfriend Mitch Utz,” said Odelia. “He also got into a fight with his girlfriend, on the day of the murder, as witnessed by one of Dotty’s neighbors. He denied it at first, but when we confronted him with the evidence, he admitted he’d just found out that Dotty wasn’t working for a caterer as she claimed but as a call girl. And I think it’s safe to say he wasn’t happy about it. Not happy at all. He told her to quit and when she said she wouldn’t he blew his top.”

“So where was he?” He held up a meaty hand. “Don’t tell me. Also home alone?”

“No, he went to see a movie. Him and Dotty had arranged to have dinner and see a movie but she ended up bailing on him so he went by himself.” And before the Chief could ask, he quickly added, “And yes, I did check, and no, nobody remembers seeing him at the cinema, but of course that doesn’t mean he’s lying.”

“It also doesn’t mean he didn’t do it,” said Odelia. “Since the movie ended at ten and time of death was between midnight and two. Plenty of time to head on over to Dotty’s place, kill her and then drive across town to Calista’s and take care of her.”

The Chief sat forward.“So how did he strike you, this Mitch Utz? Is he capable of murder, you reckon?”

Chase and Odelia shared a look, then both shrugged.“Hard to say,” said Chase finally. “He doesn’t have any priors. Never been arrested. Not even as much as a parking ticket. By all accounts a decent guy. Comes from a good family. So I really couldn’t tell, Chief.”

“No, me neither,” said Odelia, shaking her head. “He seems like a levelheaded young man. But then of course you never know. Finding out that his girlfriend was a call girl could have made him snap. It has happened before.”

“Yeah, I could see him strangle Dotty in a fit of rage, but then to drive across town and kill Calista?” said Chase. “That’s premeditated murder, and that doesn’t fit his profile.”

“Mh,” said the Chief, leaning back again. “Okay, so that’s it? Dotty’s clients Dewey Toneu and Garwen Blemish, Calista’s husband Dave and Dotty’s boyfriend Mitch?”

“There’s also the neighbor,” said Chase. “Sybil Garlic? She was engaged in a one-woman campaign against Dotty, trying to drive her out of the apartment. Put flyers in people’s mailboxes, smeared dog poop on Dotty’s car, wrote letters to the owner. Basically tried to damage Dotty’s reputation and force her to move out. Claimed her presence was driving down property prices and would attract all kinds of unsavory characters.”

“Apart from the harassment campaign, she seems harmless enough, though,” said Odelia. “A little dotty and spiteful but not really killer material, I’d say.”

“Fair enough,” said Uncle Alec. “So plenty of suspects, not a lot of alibis and so far nothing conclusive that really points to one person in particular if I understand you correctly.”

“That seems to be about the gist of it,” Chase admitted.

“Well, then get me something, people. Go find me a smoking gun, for crying out loud.”

“You mean a pair of smoking stockings,” Odelia quipped, but judging from her uncle’s unhappy expression her attempt at levity didn’t go down well with the chief of police.

“Just get me results,” her uncle growled, tapping the blotter with a pudgy finger. “You wouldn’t believe how many phone calls I’ve received over this. A double homicide in the middle of tourist season? The entire council is up in arms and even Charlene is frantic. Not to mention the head of the chamber of commerce and every storeowner in town.”

“We’ll find you your killer, sir,” said Chase. “And that’s a promise.”

“Don’t think I won’t hold you to that, son.” Then he frowned at Odelia’s sweaty face and her protruding belly. She’d gone back to her breathing exercises, releasing her breath in little puffs. “And you—shouldn’t you be resting instead of gallivanting all over town looking for a killer?”

“But you just said—”

“I know what I said, but I wouldn’t be much of an uncle if I didn’t put the health and safety of my beloved niece first and foremost, now would I?”

“I’m fine, Uncle Alec,” said Odelia with a grimace.

“You don’t look fine.”

“Well, I am,” she said, getting up with some effort. “As long as people stop asking me if I’m fine, I’ll be just terrific, thank you very much!” And with these words, she shuffled out and slammed the door.

Uncle Alec turned to his deputy.“She shouldn’t be running around in her condition.”

“Try telling her that, Chief. She’ll bite your head off and stomp on your remains.”

“Yeah, I get that impression.” He sighed. “Well, don’t let me keep you. And please, whatever you do, keep a close eye on Odelia for me, will you, buddy? She’s my favorite niece.”