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“So who was the person who drove your fianc?’s car that night?”

“I don’t know. He wouldn’t tell me. You see, he was very loyal to his friends, even though lately they hadn’t been seeing as much of each other as they used to. In fact he only told me about this when I asked him. I read an article in the paper. Commemorating ten years of Poppy Careen’s death. So I asked him about it, since the article mentioned him and the others. He swore up and down that it wasn’t him. Said someone else was driving his car that night, and he had nothing to do with what happened.”

“But he wouldn’t say who did.”

Justina shook her head.“They were all pretty reckless, you know. Used to be into all kinds of stuff. Poker games where they played for high stakes. One of them once lost a house, and another one a boat. He told me some crazy stories. But Dunc wasn’t like the others. He couldn’t afford to lose a house or a boat. He wasn’t rich like them. So he was always different. More careful. And ever since we met, he started distancing himself from his friends even more. Said he regretted some of the stuff they got up to back in the day.”

“So what happened to Dunc’s Mustang?” asked Chase.

“I don’t know. All I know is that he didn’t have it anymore.”

“He didn’t say where it ended up?”

“No. All I know is that he got rid of it at some point.”

“Dumped it in a lake, maybe? Or the junkyard?”

“He never said. And I’m afraid I never asked, either.”

Chase studied her for a moment.“Have you told us the truth this time, Justina?”

She looked up.“Yes, I have, detective—I swear.”

After Justina had left, Chase looked thoughtful.“So if Dunc didn’t drive his Mustang that night, who did?”

“There’s only one person left who can tell us,” said Odelia.

Chase nodded.“Omar Wissinski.” He grabbed his jacket. “I think we better have a chat with our Mr. Wissinski.”

“What about Dominic?”

“Oh, he can think about his sins some more.”

Moments later, we were in Chase’s car, driving back to the Keystone Mall—though very soon now it would probably change its name to Timpermall Hampton Keys. At least if the standoff between the Hampton Keys mayor and the Timperleys was resolved.

The security guard planted in front of Omar Wissinski’s office stepped aside when Chase showed him his credentials and even opened the door for us.

“If this guy keeps standing there,” I said, “business will become very slow for Omar.”

“Why?” asked Dooley. “Don’t you think people will like knowing they’re safe inside?”

“I doubt it, Dooley. This isn’t a jewelry store or a bank. It’s just an insurance agency. People will start to think that Omar is up to something funny with their money.”

“Like investing it in a bitcoin scheme, you mean?”

I smiled.“Something like that.”

Omar looked a little harried when we stepped into his office. Or I should probably say even more harried than the last time we saw him, on the roof of his friend Sergio’s house.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” he said, shifting nervously in his seat. “I called the station but they said you were busy. And yet here you are. Quick work, detective. And I appreciate it! So I want you to arrest Kristina Careen and her son Rick. I know that Kristina has you all fooled into thinking she’s arachnophobic.”

“Agoraphobic,” Odelia corrected him.

“Whatever. But that’s just a ruse, see? She’s been coming and going without anyone noticing, and murdering my friends! As I see it, she killed Joel and Dunc, while Dominic killed Jona and Sergio and tried to kill me. And their son Rick is assisting them both!”

“And you have proof of this, sir?” asked Chase.

Omar’s face fell. “Proof! I don’t need proof. Isn’t it obvious? The woman is dangerous! There’s a reason we all took out a restraining order against her and her family. But that hasn’t stopped her. Oh, no. On the contrary. She’s on a rampage. A murder spree!”

“We’re actually not here about that,” said Chase, holding up his hand to stem the flow of words.

“You’re not?” asked Omar, his face expressing his surprise.

“We talked to Dunc’s fianc?e, and she told us that Dunc didn’t drive his Mustang that night—the car that was implicated in the hit and run that killed Poppy Careen.”

“He didn’t?”

“No. Dunc said you swapped cars, and someone else was driving his Mustang.”

Omar was silent for a moment, as he stared at Chase and Odelia, who were clearly expecting an answer. The insurance man licked his lips nervously.

“So who was it, Omar?” asked Chase. “Who was driving Dunc’s car?”

Omar finally relented.“Okay, so we were street racing that night.”

“In the Careens’ neighborhood?”

“Yes. The reason we didn’t tell you is obvious, I think. But now that he’s gone…”

“Who was it, Omar? Who was behind the wheel?”