Classic Revenge by Mitzi Kelly

I'm sure it's a
well-kept secret, I'd constantly be worrying about
somebody finding it."
    "It's not a secret," Charlie chuckled. "I think everybody who knows the Wileys knows about that key. I
used to worry about it myself, since it was originally
left out for me. Not many people are that trusting."

    Millie's ears perked up. "Yes, he does trust everybody," she said, remembering how reluctant Sam had
been to disclose the names of his friends and associates. "You think other people used that key also?"
    "I know they did. I saw it all the time. It was mainly
people that worked for him, you know. They'd come by
to pick up something for Sam, and if Susan wasn't home,
they'd just use the key. None of them were sneaky about
it, though. They'd tell me outright what they were doing.
It probably happened all the time. I wasn't here that often, you know"
    Trish wanted to ask specifically who Charlie had
seen using the key, but she sensed that he was becoming curious as to why they were so interested in who
used the key. Charlie didn't know that Susan's death
was now considered murder. Let him continue to think
it was a horrible accident-at least, for a while longer.
    After agreeing that Charlie would start Trish's yard
in two weeks, the women said good-bye and drove back
to Trish's house. By unspoken agreement, they piled
into her kitchen and poured fresh coffee.
    Edna covered a yawn with her hand. "I don't know
about you two, but I'm exhausted"
    Trish glanced into the living room at her exercise machine and then purposely looked away. Her legs were
still tingling from her recent workout. "I could use a nap,
myself"
    "Wimps," Millie muttered as she pulled a pen and
the list of names from her purse and spread it open on
the table. "We've got work to do" She placed a check
mark beside Charlie Simms' name and wrote "no" beside it.

    "I'm glad we all agree," Trish said dryly.
    "What? You think there's a possibility that Charlie's
guilty?"
    Trish rolled her eyes. "Of course not, but before you
go checking anybody off that list we should all voice an
opinion, in case one of us picked up on something the
others missed."
    Edna nodded. "That's a good point. So, do we all agree
that Charlie is off the list?"
    "I should hope so. I'd hate to think Millie just hired
a murderer to do my lawn."
    "Don't worry. You've never made me that angry.
Okay, I think it's safe to say Charlie is not our man. He
looked me straight in the eye."
    "What do you mean?"
    "A guilty person never looks you straight in the eye
when they talk to you"
    "That's true," Edna said. "I've heard that all my life.
In fact, just the other day, this remodeling company was
trying to sell me new flooring-"
    "Edna, we get the point!" Millie snapped.
    Trish hid a grin. "So, who do we check out next?"
    "Maybe we should turn this list over to the police,"
Edna suggested.
    Millie frowned. "Do you really think Chief Espinoza
is going to check all these people out? Of course he
isn't," she said before Edna could reply. "We need to
have some concrete dirt on someone before we say a
word to the police. We need motive and opportunity. You
saw the way he acted today. He isn't going to take us seriously unless we can raise some doubt in his mind that
Sam is guilty."

    Trish sighed. "As much as I hate to admit it, Millie has
a point. You both realize, though, that this could have
been done by a complete stranger, don't you? This could
be a waste of our time."
    Millie leaned back and crossed her arms over her
chest. "I don't think so. I have a gut feeling the guilty
person is on this list. I just wish it wasn't such a long
list. Sam sure has a lot of friends."
    Trish looked at both Edna and Millie. "They could be
friends-or enemies. Look, girls, there's something we
need to consider before we go any further. If, as we suspect, Susan's murder is the result of someone out to get
Sam, then that person isn't going to take our interference
lightly. Actions