Death on the Coast, M Comley [book club books TXT] 📗

desk sits beneath the living room window. You might say that little goes on that I’m not aware of.”

She drew in her breath and flapped her hand at a buzzing fly. She looked down to do it again and realized with horror that there was blood on her hand. “Oh! Oh, no!”

“Don’t worry. You’ll find a hose with a spigot right there behind the gazebo seat. I use it for watering.”

Lucy leaped up and cast off Brendon’s jacket, hastily searching for the hose. Mr. Smith pointed, and she gratefully turned the spigot, and the cool, clean water poured over her outstretched hands. She took longer than was necessary. It was more than blood. It was a cesspool of evil, and she’d been sucked into it.

“I imagine you don’t know what to think right now,” he commented quietly from where he sat.

Lucy turned off the spigot, wiped her hands on her slacks, and wrapped herself once again in Brendon’s jacket. “You could say that.”

“You know, Mrs. Diamond,” he began, flicking the feathery skeleton of a dead dandelion that had landed on his leg, “there isn’t much I miss. Should you find you ever want to know what I might have seen, with regard to your house, that is, don’t be afraid to come talk to me. I don’t want to interfere.”

She stared into his eyes, not sure she wanted to ask. “I probably won’t like it, will I?”

“Decidedly not,” he affirmed.

“Is it important that I know?”

He took his time answering. “I would say it is. It may answer a great many of your questions.”

She heaved a sigh. “Wait until Brendon comes back so he can hear it, too.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t feel as free to talk with the sergeant here. You see, what I might tell you, between just you and I, would be filled with speculation. I wouldn’t want to pretend any of it should go on record.”

“I see. Well, if you’re willing to tell me, I guess I’d better hear it. I can’t hide from the truth.”

“Okay, here goes. I’m pretty sure your husband is cheating on you.”

Even though she knew it, it still felt like a bullet in the gut.

“Ah, it has come as no surprise to you. She’s a teacher at the school where he works. Not pretty, double his size, and talks really loud. I wasn’t impressed, and he’s made a mistake, in my opinion.”

“Huh. Well, thank you for that. I know you’re not a gossip, but it gives me the final nail in the coffin. I had my suspicions.”

“There’s more.”

“Oh?”

“That friend of yours? The one who was killed?”

Lucy’s heart took a dive. She nodded.

“She was hanging around there, too.”

Lucy’s tears finally broke loose and rolled down her cheeks.

“Hey, I didn’t mean to upset you, but then maybe I did. I knew it would. I should have kept my mouth shut.”

“No, it’s okay. I…uh…uh…I knew things weren’t right. But knowing Angie was there puts a whole new angle on the murder.” She’d said the words before she’d thought them through.

“What I just told you stays between you and me. That’s why I wanted it off the record.”

“I appreciate you telling me.”

“It’s not my business, but I’m guessing they’re going to blame the whole thing on whoever is lying in your basement right now. Would be a nice tidy ending to the story. Would be a shame to have to sell your house and use all your savings to drag your husband through the courts. You hear what I’m saying?”

“I’m trying not to. You know I have to do the right thing.”

“Young lady, I’ve written a lot of books, and they’re based on real people. When they say truth is stranger than fiction, they aren’t lying. You might think about that before you begin digging that hole for yourself.” He stood and walked back toward his house, leaving Lucy in an even bigger ball of misery, if such a thing were possible.

23

“The coroner says Bertha Bannutt died from blood loss as a result of a head wound sustained by falling down your stairs and hitting the concrete.”

“That’s it?” Lucy cried.

Brendon frowned. “You want more?”

“What I mean is, are you sure that’s what killed her?”

Exasperated, he sat back in his chair. “Lucy, I don’t know what you’re fishing for. You’ve been acting strangely since I picked you up and took you to Sal’s last night. Is there something you want to tell me?”

“Want? No. Need to? Probably.”

Brendon gave her a sidelong look as he rounded his desk and closed his office door. Sitting down again, he picked up his pen and prepared to write. “Okay, what is it?”

She cleared her throat. “You remember Mr. Smith?”

“Of course.”

“He told me some disturbing things he’s seen going on at my house.”

“What sort of disturbing things?”

“Which involve Mark.”

Brendon held his hand up. “Stop right there. Don’t say another word.” He got up from his desk and left the room, leaving Lucy with her mouth hanging open.

What did I say?

The door opened about fifteen minutes later, and there was a man trailing Brendon.

“Lucy, this is Kevin Willow, your new attorney. I’ll leave the two of you alone for a chat.” With that, he left the office.

“Hello, Mrs. Diamond,” Kevin said, his tone friendly. He held out his hand.

She shook it, and he settled into Brendon’s chair.

“Now, I’m told you and your husband are involved in at least one homicide. Not that you’re suspected of being the perpetrator, but I believe the suggestion was that your soon-to-be ex-husband may have been. Sergeant Colt seemed to think it appropriate that you have some legal advice before proceeding any further?”

“What? I didn’t kill anyone!”

“No, ma’am, and I don’t believe that’s being inferred. However, I understand you and your husband are estranged, and there is some possibility he may be involved at some level. It’s important you understand the ramifications of where you stand in all of this.”

Her mind darted back to what Mr. Smith had said. “In what regard?”

“You’re still legally married, and no papers