Killer Listing by Vicki Doudera

“Ladies, I’ll leave you to your tea and crumpets,” he said. Pausing at the door he turned and looked at Darby. “It was a pleasure to meet you. I have a feeling we’ll see each other again.” Once more Darby saw cold steel in John Cameron’s penetrating gaze.
    While Helen and Mitzi murmured in low voices regarding Jack’s condition and the plans for the services for Kyle Cameron the next day, Darby found her thoughts wandering to the investigation surrounding Kyle’s murder and whether any progress had been made in finding the killer. She thought of Jonas Briggs, the detective on the case, and wondered if he’d been working with the lead investigators on the other side of the state. In the distance, a phone rang. Carlotta was at the door moments later, motioning to Mitzi Cameron.
    “It is the police,” she said softly. “Detective Briggs.”
    Darby nearly choked on her last bite of snickerdoodle. Hadn’t she just been thinking of the detective moments before? Get a grip, she told herself. He’s the lead investigator of a murder and you’re sitting in the living room of the murdered woman’s family. It makes total sense he would call here.
    Helen stood by Mitzi, one hand on the back of the wheelchair. She glanced at Darby, both of them wondering what the call could mean. Mitzi took the cordless phone, said “Hello,” and listened for several minutes.
    “Thank you, Detective,” Mitzi said. “That is good news indeed.” Darby noted that her voice sounded empty of all emotion.
    Mitzi let the phone fall into her lap. “The police in Stuart have found the man who killed Kyle,” she said. “They tracked him down and stormed his house. They have enough evidence to prove that he is the Kondo Killer.” She exhaled. “Thank God.”
    Helen returned her friend’s weary gaze. “It will be some relief to Jack, at least. Don’t you think so, Mitzi?”
    “Perhaps.” She rolled away from Helen and into the center of the room. She turned the chair sharply as if in frustration and glanced down at a cell phone on her lap. “I have no idea where Jack is. He doesn’t answer when I call.” She closed her eyes. “He needs to know about this before he sees it on television or hears about it at his bar.”
    “Try the Dive,” Helen suggested. “Darby and I were just there and spoke to him.”
    Mitzi nodded and punched in a number. She asked to speak to Jack and then hung up once more. “He left forty-five minutes ago.”
    “Could he be at Kyle’s condominium?” Darby asked.
    “Whatever makes you say that?” Mitzi had an edge to her voice.
    Darby rose to her feet. “A hunch. It’s obvious that he’s deeply upset over Kyle’s death, and in a strange sort of way he might find it comforting to be among her possessions.” She paused. “If you’d like, I’ll head over there and see if my guess is correct. I can go by the restaurant as well.”
    Helen regarded her friend. “Darby could be right,” she said softly. “Someone should check it out. We could call Alexandra …”
    “No. She’s counseling clients today.” Darby detected pride in the older woman’s voice. “I’d appreciate your help, Darby. There is one problem: I don’t have a key to Kyle’s condominium, and I have no idea where to find one.”
    “Just give me the unit number and I’ll figure it out.” Darby gave Mitzi what she hoped was an encouraging smile. The poor woman was in need of some encouragement—that much was obvious. “I’ll know if Jack is there,” she assured her. “I’ll call you as soon as I can.”
    _____
    Darby was sure that Jack Cameron was seeking solace at Kyle’s condominium. Something about his haunted demeanor hours before, the hollows beneath his eyes and his furtive glances led her to believe she would find him at Somerset Sound, the development where Kyle Cameron’s condominium was located. Seated in the Mustang, Darby consulted a hand-held GPS that Mitzi had pressed into her palm back in John