ACT II
Scene 1 – Outside Irene’s house
(Lights come up on IRENE’s body, still lying on the ground. ANDROMEDA wanders on, wrapped in a trenchcoat. She is tense and appears lost.)
ANDROMEDA: Irene? (kneels beside her and checks her pulse) Irene! Oh, my God, what happened? (Examines bullet wound) I’m going to wake up any second…. Irene!
(ALEX enters, with MELANIE on his heels.)
ALEX: Andy! What’s going on? Why are you at Irene’s … Oh no. Andy, what happened here?
ANDROMEDA: She’s… She’s dead, Alex. Irene’s dead.
MELANIE: Dead? But… How? Andy, did you see anything when you came here?
ANDROMEDA: No. I came here and she was lying on the ground. I called to her, and there was no response. Then I saw the bullet wound and…. (She shakes her head, going silent.)
ALEX: (Puts his hand on ANDROMEDA’s shoulder.) I’m sorry. Mel, you’d better call Officer Bob and let him know about this. (MELANIE nods and exits) Andy… Come on, you should go home. How did you get here? The car was still in your driveway when we figured out you were gone.
ANDROMEDA: The car?
ALEX: Well, it’s ten miles between your place and Irene’s. You didn’t walk here, did you?
ANDROMEDA: I… I don’t know…
ALEX: What do you mean?
ANDROMEDA: I don’t remember.
ALEX: Do you remember what you were doing here?
ANDROMEDA: No.
ALEX: No? Well… The car’s out in the driveway. Do you think you can make it home?
ANDROMEDA: I guess. Be careful, Alex.
(ANDROMEDA exits. ALEX kneels down to examine the body. OFFICER BOB enters moments later.)
OFFICER BOB: I came as fast as I could, Mr. Waters. Have you found anything?
ALEX: Just the gunshot wound. I don’t see any other marks, or a murder weapon. It might have gone with the killer.
OFFICER BOB: I saw Miss Silver driving off. What was she doing here?
ALEX: She was down here when I arrived, panicking over Irene.
OFFICER BOB: She was here already? Why?
ALEX: She said she didn’t know. And the funny thing is, she really looked like she didn’t.
OFFICER BOB: What do you mean?
ALEX: I’m not sure… She just looked lost and scared. But she took Irene’s death pretty hard.
OFFICER BOB: How did she even get here?
ALEX: She didn’t know that, either.
MELANIE: (Entering) And you believe her, Alex?
ALEX: Yes.
MELANIE: Why?
ALEX: Because I know her. If Andy had any sinister purpose in coming here tonight, she’d have a much better story than ‘I don’t know.’
OFFICER BOB: I hate to tell you this, but the only tracks I see are yours, Irene’s, Miss Johnson’s, and one other woman’s. Since Miss Silver was here, she must be the fourth person.
MELANIE: Do you suppose this is the same person who killed her husband?
ALEX: It’s possible… Officer, check around the house. Maybe he shot her from inside. (OFFICER BOB exits) Mel, see if you can get a forensics team to come pick her up.
MELANIE: Very well. What about Andy?
ALEX: What do you mean?
MELANIE: You know what I mean. What do you think she was doing here?
ALEX: I’m not sure, but I know this isn’t a coincidence. Whoever killed Irene had something to do with Andy’s being here.
MELANIE: You think the murderer kidnapped and drugged her? Alex, this isn’t some old black and white movie.
ALEX: Calm down, Mel. It is possible; the murderer could be using Andy as a shield. And she certainly looked drugged.
MELANIE: This is crazy.
ALEX: Crazy or not, we have a killer to find. Go call the forensics team and we’ll meet back here.
Scene 2 – Alex’s temporary office
(MELANIE enters, followed by OFFICER BOB)
MELANIE: Mr. Waters will be a few more minutes. He’s making sure his cousin is settling in all right.
OFFICER BOB: Sure, I understand. Poor Mrs. Stepton’s death won’t be an easy thing for her to get over.
MELANIE: Mr. Waters is afraid Miss Silver might be next.
OFFICER BOB: I don’t know about that. Seems to me that he’d want to keep his shield alive for a while yet. Want some coffee?
MELANIE: No, caffeine makes my head hurt.
(ALEX enters)
ALEX: Thanks for waiting for me, Officer. (He sits) Sorry I’m late. Andy cried all through breakfast. I had to make sure she’d be okay.
OFFICER BOB: Miss Johnson told me.
ALEX: Well. Did the forensics team turn up anything?
OFFICER BOB: Nothing. The only mark on her was that bullet wound. Nothing unusual about it. An average hand gun, no fancy and traceable collector’s item.
ALEX: Do many people out here own guns?
OFFICER BOB: Not many, but enough that the bullet can’t be traced. They already tried.
MELANIE: And?
OFFICER BOB: Nothing. (Takes a sip of coffee.) Hmm… What kind of coffee do you people keep around here?
MELANIE: (reading package) Just average decaf. The local grocery store brand. Why?
OFFICER BOB: It’s disgusting! Tastes way too sweet.
MELANIE: Sweet? Officer, can you put that down?
OFFICER BOB: Sure, what’s the matter?
MELANIE: I may just be panicking… (Picks up cup and sniffs carefully) Oh my…. Officer, is there a lab where I can get this analyzed?
ALEX: There’s one in the pharmacy across the street. Why?
MELANIE: It smells like antifreeze.
OFFICER BOB: Coffee that smells like antifreeze? What’s wrong with you? And how would you know what it smells like?
MELANIE: My car started leaking it two years ago. My dog drank the stuff and died. Antifreeze is a sweet-tasting poison. I’ll be back in a little bit; I want that coffee analyzed. (She exits)
ALEX: Well… This is getting interesting.
OFFICER BOB: Poison in the coffee… I’d say it’s a safe bet that someone doesn’t want us on this case.
ALEX: Do you know how many people have access to this place?
OFFICER BOB: The coffee was fine yesterday afternoon. Only the staff have access at night. Well, and the people who are using the offices.
ALEX: My key was back in my wallet this morning.
OFFICER BOB: Just as you left it?
ALEX: I don’t pay much attention to the exact position of my keys.
(MELANIE comes back in with JANET)
MELANIE: This is Janet Goldstone. She works in the pharmacy lab.
JANET: Where did that coffee come from?
OFFICER BOB: It’s over there in the coffee maker. Care for a cup?
JANET: No thanks, Officer. I only medicate people with suicide tendencies; I’m not one of them.
ALEX: What was in the coffee?
JANET: Antifreeze, and lots of it.
ALEX: Do you know where someone could get it?
JANET: The repair shop sells it, for the people who like fiddling with their own cars.
ALEX: Thank you, Miss Goldstone.
JANET: Does this have something to do with the Stepton case?
ALEX: How did you know about that?
MELANIE: This is a small town. News travels fast.
ALEX: I see. We’ve considered the possibility that it might, but nothing for certain yet. Now, how much damage could one sip of this do?
JANET: A night of nausea. Some vomiting and lethargy. Not much more.
ALEX: I see. Thank you. (JANET exits)
OFFICER BOB: Wait! Are we going to do something? Try to counteract what I swallowed?
ALEX: No.
MELANIE: What? Alex!
ALEX: Let me explain. We’re not going to try and cure this. If the murderer can get in here and knows our office number, he probably keeps tabs on us. If we’re perfectly fine, he’ll know. And he might think we’re on to him. If one of us spends the night sick, he’ll guess that Officer Bob here tried it, hated the taste, and threw it out.
OFFICER BOB: This isn’t in my job description.
MELANIE: You’ll do it, though, won’t you?
OFFICER BOB: Oh, fine. I’ll go home in a few minutes and lie on the couch all night.
ALEX: Thank you. We appreciate your sacrifice.
MELANIE: Here. I got you some painkiller when I was in there.
OFFICER BOB: Why?
MELANIE: In case our poisoner was watching and knew I went to the pharmacy.
ALEX: Thank you, Mel. Now, see if you can find a number for the repair shop in the directory.
MELANIE: Very well.
Scene 3 – Andromeda’s living room
(ANDROMEDA and EDWARD are sitting on the couch. He is holding her while she cries. ALEX and MELANIE enter)
ALEX: Andy? You all right? Oh… Who’s your friend?
ANDROMEDA: (sitting up) Hey, Alex. This is my fiancé, Edward LeValle.
ALEX: You never said anything about getting married.
ANDROMEDA: Well, it’s been a crazy couple of days.
EDWARD: Do you need some more tissues?
ANDROMEDA: I’m okay. Edward, this the cousin I told you about – the one who’s investigating Irene and Hector’s deaths.
EDWARD: Nice to meet you, Alex. I could’ve asked for better circumstances, but…
ALEX: Thanks for keeping her company today. (he looks at MELANIE)
MELANIE: Andy, can you help me find a phone book? There’s a few places I need to call.
ANDY: All right. I take it you found something?
MELANIE: I’m hoping we did. (MELANIE and ANDROMEDA exit.)
ALEX: Melanie will keep her out of trouble for a few minutes. Edward, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about.
EDWARD: Sure. It’s about Andy, isn’t it?
ALEX: What makes you think that?
EDWARD: Well… Under the circumstances…
ALEX: I know. And you’re right. Have a seat. (They sit on the sofa) I think Andy might be in trouble.
EDWARD: In trouble? Why, what has she done?
ALEX: She’s not in trouble with the law, Edward. It’s the murderer.
EDWARD: The murderer? The one who killed the Steptons?
ALEX: You know about that? Did Andy tell you?
EDWARD: Irene was going to be her matron of honor.
ALEX: I had no idea… And yes, I think Andy might be next.
EDWARD: What? Why?
ALEX: She was the one who found Hector dead. Her finger prints were the only ones anywhere nearby. And then she was also the one who found Irene. Her footprints were the only ones we found, and she had no clue why she was there.
EDWARD: How did she get to Irene’s without knowing why?
ALEX: I have a theory that the murderer could be framing her, and that Andy was drugged and kidnapped.
EDWARD: Do you actually suspect her?
ALEX: No. Melanie did at first, but we put Andy on the lie detector; she didn’t kill Irene.
EDWARD: I’m glad you’ve confirmed…
ALEX: But she knows who did.
EDWARD: Did she tell you?
ALEX: She denied knowing, and the detector found her out. We’re pretty sure that Andy caught him and has been threatened.
EDWARD: Oh, God… Why are you telling me?
ALEX: Because I need you to keep an eye on her. None of the people on the case can watch Andy without the murderer getting suspicious. And if he does get suspicious, he’ll go after her. And also, if you’re willing to report back to me, Andy might lead us to something important.
EDWARD: I’ll be happy to watch over her.
ALEX: There is a catch, though. You can’t tell her anything.
EDWARD: What?
ALEX: Even if she isn’t working for him, anything you tell her might reach him.
EDWARD: I don’t want to lie to her. Or use her as a chess piece.
ALEX: I know. But would you rather lie to her… Or see her die?
EDWARD: … All right. I’ll do it.
ALEX: Thank you.
(ANDROMEDA enters)
ANDROMEDA: Melanie found the phone book and went to use the upstairs phone. She said she won’t be back down all evening. (Looks at gloomy men) What’s wrong, Edward?
EDWARD: Why don’t you ask Alex?
ANDROMEDA: He’s a better liar than you are. Alex?
ALEX: Someone poisoned the coffee at work today, Andy. Officer Bob went home ill.
ANDROMEDA: He did? What was in there?
ALEX: Nasty stuff. Melanie’s trying to track the source right now.
EDWARD: I hope things’ll be all right… Come on, Andy, let’s go in an eat.
Scene 4 – Alex’s temporary office
(ALEX and MELANIE enter. They sit down and begin getting out papers and such from the briefcase, reading up on their reports)
ALEX: The officer’s still out sick, I see. Did you turn up any leads last night, Melanie?
MELANIE: Not much. I mean, we’d already ruled Andy out.
ALEX: What? What are you talking about?
MELANIE: The manager of the repair shop told me that he had received a call from a man who gave his last name as ‘Silver.’ The manager said that he ordered some of the antifreeze, and sent his ‘sister, wife, or daughter’ to pick it up. She signed her name on the receipt as Andromeda Silver.
ALEX: Andy? Did he notice anything about her?
MELANIE: Well… He said there was something weird about her voice. It was deep enough to be male – not something I’d say about Andy’s. But his description of what she looked like matched Andy.
ALEX: But Andy’s an only child, her father’s only sibling was my mother, and she’s engaged to Edward LeValle, as we were told last night. As far as I know, there are no men in her life with the same surname as she has. It makes no sense… And I know for a fact that Andy’s voice doesn’t reach that low – she was a second soprano in her school choir.
MELANIE: Maybe our murderer has more of a handle on her than we realized.
ALEX: Ask to have the signature checked, Mel; I want to know more about this.
(EDWARD enters, slightly out of breath.)
ALEX: Edward! What’s wrong? Did something happen to Andy?
EDWARD: She’s fine, Alex. I dropped her off at the dentist’s on the way here.
ALEX: If Andy’s all right, then what…
EDWARD: (grimly) I have a name for you to go on: Ivan. The killer’s name is Ivan.
ALEX: How do you know?
EDWARD: I heard him talking to Andy.
MELANIE: When? What did they say?
ALEX: Sit back and let him explain. Edward, the floor is yours.
(EDWARD stands up and walks to SR, while OTHERS watch from SL. Lights fade out so that EDWARD stands in a spotlight.)
EDWARD: I went over to pick her up at ten this morning. She’d called me a half hour ago and asked if I could pick her up for her dentist appointment – she’d forgotten about it and given you her car for the day. She didn’t answer the door, and it was unlocked, so I let myself in. Andy was nowhere to be seen. I went upstairs to find her. I heard voices behind her bedroom door, so I stopped and listened.
(EDWARD’S spot fades. ANDY and IVAN are heard arguing offstage)
ANDY: But why? Why did you kill them?
IVAN: Why? Why, you impertinent little wretch? Quite simply, they were in the way.
ANDY: In the way of what? Ivan, the Steptons never did anything to you! They didn’t even know you existed!
IVAN: Didn’t they? I wonder sometimes… Anyway, I don’t have to defend myself to you!
ANDY: And I suppose you’re the one who poisoned their coffee, as well.
IVAN: If you mean your favorite cousin and his nosy cohorts, yes, I did. They’re prying a bit too closely into my affairs.
ANDY: So you tried to kill them?
IVAN: (Laughs evilly) Thanks for the loan of your credit card and your pretty little face, by the way. You made it so much easier for me.
ANDY: I’m telling him.
IVAN: Telling your fiancé about me? I wouldn’t advise it, Andromeda. What makes you think he’ll still care about you if he knows?
ANDY: (Whispers) I hate you, Ivan. (IVAN laughs at her) And no, that’s not what I was talking about. I’m going to tell Alex the truth about the Stepton murders.
IVAN: Well, don’t we sound like a little first grader? “I’m telling! I’m telling!” And again… I wouldn’t advise it.
ANDY: I don’t care what you think!
IVAN: Ah, ah. Remember one thing before you going rushing off in a temper, little fool. Whatever happens to me…happens to you.
ANDY: I…I don’t care. I’m going to tell him.
IVAN: Do what you like. He won’t risk doing anything – he’s too afraid of harming you.
(Spot back up on EDWARD)
EDWARD: At that point, I couldn’t take it any longer. I barged into the room. I thought for sure that Andy was either in trouble, or…or with someone else. But… When I got in there… She was alone. There was no sign of anyone else in the room.
(Stage lights come back up.)
MELANIE: “Whatever happens to me, happens to you.” That’s a threat if I ever heard one…
ALEX: I wholeheartedly agree with you, Melanie.
EDWARD: What worries me is that it doesn’t sound like she just saw him after he killed Hector Stepton.
ALEX: What do you mean?
EDWARD: The things they said… She told him the Steptons didn’t know he existed. He hinted at the idea of her telling me about him… If I weren’t so worried, I’d say there was a good story in there somewhere.
MELANIE: There’s history in there somewhere, I can guarantee that.
EDWARD: Then… Then you think they…
MELANIE: No. I don’t think that your fiancée is having an affair with her friend’s murderer.
EDWARD: Then what is going on between them? How do you know?
MELANIE: If it were something as simple as that, why would she be telling him that the Steptons didn’t know he existed? Ivan, whoever he is, doesn’t just want to hide from you; he’s hiding from everyone. Andy is the weak link in his chain – however she came to be in that position – and he’s keeping her firmly under control.
EDWARD: So, I’m guessing I just go pick her up and act like I never heard this?
ALEX: I’m sorry, but yes. Ivan is right about one thing. I am worried that something will happen to Andy. If it reaches our murderer’s ears that you know something, he might make another move.
EDWARD: Couldn’t we use that as a way to draw him out, then?
ALEX: No. I’m not going to put either you or Andy at risk. If he thinks you know something, it certainly doesn’t sound as if he’d have any problem killing you.
EDWARD: But if we can get this over with…
ALEX: I said no, and that’s final. Keep an eye on her, Edward. And be careful.
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