“I didn’t want to stir up the media unless I had something positive to offer them.

They’d love to dredge up all that sensational stuff we went through after Bently disappeared.” He breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m glad we can have everything out in the open now.”

Eve gazed at him skeptically. “Then you won’t mind if I check with Sheriff Bouvier about the skeleton.”

“I do mind your lack of trust, but I’ll call the sheriff and tell him to be entirely open with you.” Melton paused. “And now that you realize how fully you’re going to have our support, you certainly won’t need any outside help.” He was leading up to something. “Meaning?”

“You probably don’t realize that Sean Galen has a criminal background and is completely untrustworthy. I’m sure you’ll want to send him packing.”

“Really? John Logan trusts him.”

“Mr. Logan is a respectable businessman and I’d never want to impugn his choice of associates. Perhaps he doesn’t realize the extent of Galen’s—”

“Logan doesn’t wear blinders. He knows more about Galen than you do.”

“We won’t argue. The crux of my argument is that you have no need of Galen. I’ll be glad to dismiss him for you.”

“He’s not an easy man to dismiss.” Eve stared Melton directly in the eyes. “And I’ve no desire to dismiss him. Galen stays.”

“In what capacity? You surely don’t think you need a bodyguard just because of this little incident.”

“This ‘little incident’ almost killed me.” She waved an impatient hand. “But no, I don’t need a bodyguard. Don’t you dare suggest that in Marie’s hearing. It was an accident. She’s going to feel bad enough about my getting ill.”

“Then in what capacity?” Melton repeated. “Galen isn’t qualified for anything but—”

“You’re Melton?” Galen was standing in the doorway. “I’m Sean Galen.” He came forward. “And I really think you’ve overstayed your visit. Eve’s looking a little stressed.”

“I’m not stressed.”

“Will you accept ‘pissed off’?” He turned to Melton. “Eve doesn’t like to be told what to do. Now, I realize that you only have her well-being at heart, but she can get a little cranky. Suppose you leave.”

“You have no right to—” Melton broke off as he met Galen’s gaze. He took an involuntary step backward, but recovered quickly. “Ms. Duncan realizes I only want what’s best for her.” His glance shifted to Eve. “I’ll be here to pick you up tomorrow morning.”

“I’ve already claimed that pleasure.” Galen made a shooing motion. “Bye.” Melton gave him a cold glance and left the room.

“And what if I hadn’t wanted him to go?” Eve asked.

“You were bristling. When a person is as sick as you are, it takes a major annoyance to make her bristle. I overheard quite a bit, including the bit about me. I’m flattered.”

“You shouldn’t be. You’re right; I was only irritated because he was trying to tell me what to do.” She thought of something else. “But I’m not pleased you scared him away. I wanted to ask him some more questions about this damn reconstruction.”

“To quote one of your fellow southerners, ‘Tomorrow is another day.’ ”

“That’s a terrible southern accent.”

“It’s the best a poor lad from Liverpool can do.” He sat in the chair beside her bed.

“You didn’t know anything about this job when you came here?”

“I knew it was a request from a respected member of the Senate.”

“And you wanted to get away from Quoin.”

She looked at him.

“Okay, I’m obviously out of line.”

“Right.” She paused. “And Melton was also right. I don’t need you, Galen.”

“You’re getting hoarse again. You’ve been talking too much.” He took her glass and filled it with ice chips. “I’ll stay away from talking about Quinn. But there’s the slimmest possibility you may need me, so I’ll stick around.” He handed her the glass.

“I just came from Marie Letaux’s house. She’s dead.” Shock surged through her. “What?”

“I found her on the kitchen floor. There was a plate on the table with the remains of stew on it.” He grimaced. “And also remains all over the floor. She’d evidently been throwing up.”

“She took the stew home?” Eve shook her head in horror. “My God, that’s terrible.”

“You said you assumed she put it in the refrigerator.”

“She must have changed her mind. I left before she did.” Sad. So incredibly sad.

“She had a son. He was studying medicine in New Orleans.” Galen nodded. “She had pictures all over the living room. Nice-looking kid.”

“It was clear she adored him.” Eve could feel the tears sting her eyes. “Shit. I’d only just met her, but I liked her. I guess I identified with her. She was a woman alone who’d had to make her way in the world. They’re sure it was food poisoning?”

“There hasn’t been time for an autopsy, but I suspect that will probably be the decision. Particularly since you landed here with the same ailment.” There was something in his tone… “You don’t think it was?”

“I didn’t say that. I believe it was food poisoning.”

“Galen.”

“Sorry. It’s my suspicious nature. She was in a nightgown and a chenille robe, and her bed had been slept in. That means she probably got up in the middle of the night and ate a huge plate of the stew. Very heavy meal for a midnight snack.”

“Maybe she didn’t eat dinner and woke up hungry.”

“Possibly. Now when you started throwing up, you tried to get help, didn’t you?

Marie Letaux had a phone, but evidently wasn’t able to contact anyone. She lives very close to her neighbors, so wouldn’t you think that she’d manage to get one of them to take her to the hospital?”

“It would have been difficult. I was so weak I could barely move.”

“But you did move. And you said she was a woman who was accustomed to taking care of herself. Evidently she was so overcome she didn’t even make it to the sink or the toilet to throw up. Wasn’t that your first instinct?” She nodded. “What are you getting at, Galen?”

“Oh, I was just playing ‘what if.’ ” He took the glass from her and set it on the table. “What if she didn’t get the munchies during the night? What if someone sat across from her at that table and forced her to eat that stew and then waited with her until the poison took effect.”

Her eyes widened in shock. “That’s crazy. For one thing, I didn’t show symptoms for over three hours.”

“I agree it would have taken a good deal of patience and tremendous focus. It would have taken even more nerve to sit and watch her die. Particularly if he wasn’t sure that someone wouldn’t barge in any minute after they figured out Marie might also be at risk for food poisoning.”

She shuddered. “The idea’s completely macabre.”

“I have that kind of mind.”

“Why would anyone do that?”

“Well, after I found the body and before I called the police, I went to her desk and checked out her financial records. There was no deposit in her checking or savings account, but she rented a safety-deposit box two days ago. Very convenient. What if she stashed a pile of loot in the box?”

“You think she poisoned me on purpose?”

“I believe there’s reason to ask why you contracted food poisoning from a meal produced by an experienced cook.”

Eve shook her head. “I can’t believe that.”

“Because you liked her.”

“And why would she have been killed?”

“So that she couldn’t talk?” Galen shrugged. “Any number of reasons.”

“But you’re only guessing.”

He smiled. “What if?”

“Did you suggest this to the police?”

“Be for real. I’d be the first one on the suspect list. I had enough trouble explaining why I was the one who found her. They even called the hospital to make sure you’d been checked in with food poisoning.” He thought for a moment. “I have a few friends in New Orleans with forensic backgrounds who might be able to go in and scavenge around and see what else they can come up with.”

“Official friends?”