Merry Market Murder(74)

“Uh, not sure I remember that,” Dad said.

“It’s terrible that her career was ruined because of her husband’s indiscretion,” I said.

“Yes. Now such circumstances would create a few news stories, some twittering, or whatever that’s called, and it would most likely blow over. The politician could easily continue to serve. Different times back then. Evelyn just didn’t want to deal with it, I guess,” Dad said.

“Do you know who was the affair with?” I said. I’d literally crossed my fingers around my coffee cup with the hope their answer would give me a big, more important piece of the puzzle.

Mom shrugged. “That’s probably the biggest reason Evelyn quit, so the press wouldn’t take a deeper, closer look at the details. I never knew who the affair was with. As far as I know, she mostly kept it to herself.”

“I would think the press would have looked more closely when she quit. They’d want to know why. They’d find out about the other person and report the details,” I said.

“Well, maybe, but her quitting probably had a different effect then than it would nowadays. Yes, there was some investigation, but journalism was different and journalists liked Evelyn. Maybe they just respected her privacy,” Mom said.

“And,” Dad said thoughtfully, “I really do remember something about some pictures, but not much happened with them.”

“I can’t help but think blackmail was involved then,” I said.

Mom tapped her finger on her lips. “No, I think she simply didn’t let it get that far. Again, if I remember correctly, she just quit. She might have actually wanted the pictures to surface once she stepped down. She was very bitter toward her husband, who became her ex-husband very soon after she left the public eye.”

“Excuse me a minute,” I said. I pulled out my cell phone. Sam answered on the first ring, though I could tell he was in a hurry. “Sam, Reggie was the one to have the affair.”

I explained to him my parents’ memories and then asked him if he’d learned anything new.

“No, I haven’t, but I’m having a hard time finding Brenton. I went to his house after you and I talked and he wasn’t there.”

“He must have left right after I did.”

“I’d like to find him. I will. I’ll let you know when I do.”

“What’s wrong?” Dad said after I ended the call.

“Sam appreciates the lead and he’s going to talk to Evelyn,” I said, not wanting to worry them with other details.

“Evelyn’s still around?” Mom sat up straight.

“Yes, she goes by Evie and she has an egg stall at the Smithfield Market.”

“We’ll have to go see her,” Dad said.

“She’s odd, probably very different than when you knew her,” I said.

“We’re kind of different, too,” Mom said. “I look forward to seeing her no matter what.”

I tried to help jog their memories about who Reggie might have had the affair with, but it didn’t help at all. I had my own suspicions, but I didn’t want to plant false seeds so I kept those thoughts to myself.

Finally, I sent them home to take a nap before the evening’s parade. I also went home to Hobbit. I still had cookies to bake, and even thought I doubted I’d be able to stop my mind from whirring enough to close my eyes, a nap might do us all some good.





Twenty-two





“That’s it, I’m installing cameras and maybe a safe room for Hobbit,” I muttered to myself as I pulled onto my driveway.

A car was parked at the bottom of the drive, close to the house. But Hobbit sauntered around the old, white sedan with her ears perked and her tail wagging; she wasn’t distressed by whoever was visiting.

I parked the truck at an angle that would accommodate both me hoisting Hobbit into the passenger side and then us making a quick getaway, if need be.

My visitor appeared from around the house and waved happily.

“Mamma!” I said as I got out of the truck. “I didn’t even know you had a car. I thought you just drove a truck.”

Mamma laughed. “Well, gas being the price it is, I got this old thing to help with mileage. Traveling back and forth between Monson and Smithfield was getting expensive.”

“Makes sense to me. Come on in. I’ll get us something to drink.”

“No, I can’t stay.” Mamma looked at her watch. “I’ve got to meet Carl. I thought I might see you tonight at the parade, but I wanted to talk to you as privately as possible. Sorry I didn’t call first.”

“No problem,” I said. “What’s up?”