Chapter Thirteen
Carol added the dry ingredients to the wet and gave the mix a stir. Ava’s mother was making more of her famous chocolate chip cookies but even that wasn’t making Mary happy. She’d sulked most of the morning, complaining on and off about Drake, Logan, and the unfairness of the universe in general.
Not that they needed to do any baking, but Ava had a feeling that her mother was simply trying to keep busy. There was something about a death that seemed to bring out the chef in everyone. The refrigerator and freezer were crammed with all of the casseroles and baked goods that had been dropped off by the townspeople.
“They’re going to make things sound worse than they really are,” Mary pronounced. She wasn’t happy that Logan and Drake were questioning the neighbors. In fact, she’d been so upset about it, they’d brought her to Carol’s home so she wouldn’t have to see what was happening. “They’ll exaggerate every little thing.”
Ava pinched one of the chocolate chips and popped it into her mouth. The twins loved chocolate chip cookies and were going to be thrilled when they were done with their playdate. They were spending the morning at Tori and Drake’s house playing with their two kids.
“Is there something you don’t want Logan and Drake to know? If you don’t have anything to hide it’s better that they learn all the details.”
Mary’s lips pressed together. “I don’t have anything to hide.”
“Then you don’t need to worry,” Carol replied with a smile. “Let Logan and Drake do their jobs. They said their first task was to clear you. I would think you would be happy about that.”
“I don’t like people sticking their noses into my personal life.”
There was no such thing as privacy when a murder happened.
“They’re not pawing through your underwear drawer.” Carol’s tone was soothing but firm. “They’re talking to the neighbors, that’s all.”
Ava didn’t enlighten her mother but that wasn’t all. In a box on her kitchen table was phone and financial records that needed looking through. That’s where she should be now but she wanted to talk to Carol. In private. So far they hadn’t been alone.
“Whose side are you on?”
“Yours, dear, but you’re making this harder than it needs to be. You look exhausted. Why don’t you go upstairs to my room and lie down for a little while? I’ll wake you up when the cookies are done.”
To Ava’s relief her sister agreed and flew up the stairs. There was always tension when Mary was in the room and in one of her moods. She had a good reason but it was still uncomfortable.
But that meant it was time, so Ava wasn’t exactly relaxed.
“Um, Mom…is everything…okay these days?”
Carol poured the chips into the thick batter. “You mean other than my son-in-law being shot to death and my oldest daughter being a suspect? Then yes, things are good. Why do you ask?”
Ava had to concede the question had been stupid. Maybe the direct approach was the best. She took a deep breath and plunged in.
“It’s just that Colt and Brianna mentioned that you and Dad argued yesterday.”
Carol stopped stirring but she didn’t look up, instead bustling over to the corner cabinet to dig out the cookie sheets. “I didn’t realize they’d heard us.”
“They said you were kind of…loud.”
Placing two cookie sheets on the kitchen island, Carol still managed to avoid making eye contact with her daughter. “We had a disagreement.”
“So you were just having a little fight?” Ava could have dropped it right then but her mother was being evasive. Did she think no one would notice?
Carol’s cheeks had turned red and she took a shuddering breath. “Your father can’t seem to decide what he wants and doesn’t want in the settlement. Frankly I’m getting tired from all of the back and forth. I just want to be done with it. I want us to have a friendly relationship especially now with all that’s going on.”
“It’s gone on a long time,” Ava said. “Maybe you both don’t really want the divorce?”
“I know that I want it,” Carole sighed, her lips turned down. “Your father and I…I just can’t anymore. Ever since he retired his behavior has become more and more erratic. He gets angry at the slightest thing and never seems happy. Least of all with me. I suggested we go to counseling, but he refused and that’s when I decided to move out. I’ve suggested your father sell the house so we can split the proceeds and that’s what we argued about. He doesn’t want to sell. He doesn’t want anything to change. He wants to stick his head in the ground and pretend everything is the same.”
Ava digested the information. Like most children – whether grown or not – she didn’t like to think of her parents divorcing but it wasn’t that much of a shock. They’d had their ups and down over the years. Her father had never been particularly easy to live with either.
“I’m sorry,” Ava finally said.
Her mother began dropping cookie batter onto the pans. “I had hoped we could work it out but that’s not going to happen. He has to make some changes and he doesn’t seem willing to do that.”
Bruce seemed to take pride in living in the past. Ava didn’t imagine that getting him to change would be all that easy. His favorite decade was the 1950s.
“You could always move in with me and Logan,” Ava suggested. Her mother deserved more at this point in her life than being hidden away in this little town. “We’re close to the city and there are lots of things to do.”
Carol laughed and slipped the pans into the oven. “Just what you and your husband need…your mother underfoot all the time. Maybe you should talk that over with Logan before you offer.”
Ava had a feeling Logan would love the idea. He adored her mother – and her cooking – and found her charming whenever she came to visit.
Bruce on the other hand? Not so much. That relationship was strained at best.
“I will talk to him about it. I’m serious, Mom. You should get out, make new friends, and have fun.”
“We’ll see. Now how about a fresh cup of coffee before you have to pick up the twins?”
Ava checked her watch. They had about forty-five minutes left and then she had to return back home and get to work on those files. She was positive her sister hadn’t shot her husband and that meant someone else did. The truth was always in the minute details. There had to be something there that pointed to the killer. Just one little clue. That’s all she needed.
* * * *
The story was the same when Logan and Drake talked to Lyle’s employees. Their boss was a great guy, terrific to work for, but money was tight. Now that he was gone, they were worried about their jobs. Would Mary be closing down the construction company? Logan didn’t have the answer but he’d ask.
There was only one more person to talk to. Gary Newhouse, Lyle’s supposed best friend according to the people they’d talked to. He was a local real estate agent who was rarely in his office so they met him at the coffee shop in town. Logan and Drake arrived first but Gary came in right after. He looked the part of a successful businessman, dressed in a well-tailored blue suit. His dark hair was cropped close and he wore a big smile despite the fact that his close friend had been gunned down only a few days ago.
Gary shook their hands and sat down at the table after ordering at the counter. “It’s nice to see you again, Sheriff. I mean…Logan. Is it okay if I call you Logan?”
“Of course,” Logan replied, trying to remember this man but his mind was blank. “I’m afraid I don’t remember making your acquaintance the first time.”
The real estate agent chuckled and turned pink. “I wouldn’t say we actually met so much as we have some of the same friends. I used to hang out at the roadhouse before I was married.”
The roadhouse. Logan had taken Ava there a time or two.
“I’m sorry we didn’t get to meet then. So thank you for coming to talk to us today. We do appreciate it.”
“Anything I can do for law enforcement. I want whomever did this to be caught. My wife is beside herself with fear thinking we have a killer walking the streets of our town.” Gary leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Plus, it’s bad for business. No one wants to buy a house in a town with a killer.”
Drake cleared his throat and coughed a few times. “I would imagine that would be an issue. So we do have a few questions for you. We’d like to talk about Lyle and if he had any enemies. Did he piss off anyone in business? Or perhaps personally?”
Logan was pretty sure he already knew what Gary was going to say but they had to ask no matter what.
“I think everyone liked Lyle, although a lot of people kept their distance. Because of his brother, if you know what I mean.”
Yes, Logan knew what he meant.
“But still, he was a good guy. He’d do anything for you.”
“So he didn’t have any enemies?” Logan asked. “He didn’t even cut someone off in traffic?”
Gary smiled and shook his head. “He drove like my grandma so the answer would be no. As for pissing off a business partner, well…not that I know of. He tried to keep his nose clean and do everything above board. The only person that gave him a hard time was Mary, and from what I’ve seen she gives everyone a rough time. She’s a pistol, that’s for sure.”
Now they were getting somewhere. As the best friend Gary should know more than a casual acquaintance or employee.
“We’ve heard that he and Mary were having some marital difficulties,” Logan replied. “Is that true?”
“It’s true.” Gary grimaced and looked away. “Lyle had talked divorce a few times but I don’t think he was going to do it. He loved Mary but she was tough to live with. Nothing he did was good enough and every now and then it just got to him.”
“So what did he do about that?”
Shifting in his chair, Gary wouldn’t meet Logan’s eyes. “You know…guy stuff. He’d blow off some steam.”
“Golf? Shooting range?” Drake queried, scribbling on his notepad. “Maybe having a drink too many?”
A sigh escaped and Gary’s shoulders slumped. “Listen, Lyle was my friend and I don’t like to speak ill of the dead.”
“I’m not asking you to,” Logan said, hiding his impatience. “But we do need the truth here. It could be the smallest detail that helps us find out who did this. If Lyle was into something, we need to know about it. You’re not being a bad friend. If anything, you’re being a good one.”
Gary seemed to think about Logan’s words. “Lyle…well…Mary could sometimes be rough on him. He’d go have a beer or two and well…there was a woman. He was seeing her off and on. I don’t think he was serious about her, though. I mean…I don’t think he was in love with her. Not really.”
Logan gripped the arm of his chair until his knuckles were white. Lyle had been having an affair. This was a huge revelation.
“Did you ever meet her? Do you know her name?”
“I never met her but her name is Natalie Denning. She’s a hairdresser over in Springwood who moonlighted as a waitress a few nights a week at this club he liked to go to. Lyle had a few pictures of her on his phone. She was pretty…and young.”
Logan had to ask the next question. “Did Mary know?”
Once again Gary’s gaze dropped to the floor. “She did. He said he told her once when they were arguing. Then he promised not to see Natalie again.”
Logan and Drake exchanged a cynical glance.
“And did he keep that promise?” Drake asked.
“No. No, he didn’t.”