Murder by Cheesecake

Rose is relaxing on the beach, watching her St. Olaf family. Gustave comments that everyone is enjoying themselves and worries that perhaps they will want to stay. When Rose says they all love their hometown, he points out that she left and visits rarely. Rose privately reflects that this had nothing to do with the town itself, but rather with the depth of her grief after losing Charlie. Rose explains to her cousin that she secretly churns butter in her room and lets Blanche believe it is margarine. The two laugh uproariously.

Back on the tour bus, Sophia reminds Rose she promised to question her relatives to help save Dorothy. Rose intentionally impersonates the detectives from Miami Vice as she moves down the aisle. Rose ends her interrogation with her older aunt, Katrina. Katrina explains that the night before the tea, she went to the kitchen in search of food. She saw a person carrying a sack. Her aunt cannot describe the person’s appearance, but comments, “It was funny that they were so fast” and when Rose asks why, Katrina says, triumphantly, “because […] they had a limp!” (191).