“Kobe implied she did more than just flirt.”
“What are you saying?”
“Well…” I gave a gruff laugh because it seemed fairly obvious what I was saying. “To put it bluntly, he said that if he’d been willing… she’d have slept with him.”
“He’s delusional.”
“Are you sure?”
Her hand curled into a fist on top of the table. “Flirting with someone and actually having sex with them are completely different things.”
“I agree. But that’s what Kobe told me would have happened if he’d been open to your mother’s advances.”
The pink in her cheeks deepened, partly from anger. “He actually told you that?”
“Yes.”
She scowled, staring at the tabletop. “I can’t believe that. My mother wouldn’t do that.”
I didn’t speak for a bit, watching her trying to grapple with what I’d said. I suspected Kobe was telling the truth, but it was obvious Janelle had trouble swallowing the idea. “He said other things too.”
She seemed to brace herself. “Did he?”
“Yes.”
“What… kind of things?”
I took in a steadying breath, knowing she’d be upset with what I was about to share. “At the reception, Kobe swears he saw Archie sneak around the side of the restaurant with your mother.”
She flicked her gaze up. “What?” she asked sharply.
“He said they went to a little private gazebo that’s over there. They were gone for about twenty minutes.”
She swallowed hard. “Well, Archie was probably just trying to calm my mother down. She was furious with Kobe.”
I grimaced. “According to Kobe, when your mother reappeared, her dress was… well, let’s just say she looked… disheveled.”
Her eyes were wide, with obvious confusion rippling through them. “Just what are you implying.”
“Not me. Kobe.”
“Fine,” she snapped. “What washeimplying?”
“It must be obvious to you.” When she stayed mute, I frowned. “Kobe was convinced something inappropriate happened between them.”
She shook her head. “No. I absolutely don’t believe that. No. No. No.”
“Calm down, Janelle.” I reached out a hand to her. “There’s no proof of anything, but it is something I have to consider.”
“What do you mean?”
I leaned back in my chair, choosing my words carefully. “Obviously, someone wanted Archie dead. I’m searching for opportunity and motive of each person who interacted with Archie.”
“You think mymotherkilled Archie?” Shock washed over her face.
“I’m not saying that, but if her relationship with Archie was sexual, that could have been the motive for his murder.”
“So youdothink she did it.”
