A Flicker of Doubt - Tim Myers [3]
Markum said, “Harrison, you’ve just had a tremendous shock. Close the blasted place up for a day, or a week if you need to. Your customers will understand.”
“And what do I do in the meantime? Should I hang around my apartment feeling bad about what happened to her?” I asked him. “Becka was my friend. Who am I trying to kid? She was a lot more than that to me, at least at one time. I’m sorry she’s gone, but there’s nothing I can do for her anymore.” I was surprised to find myself crying again as I spoke.
Markum looked surprised by my outburst, but Millie just patted my shoulder with a comforting touch. “Why don’t you at least let Eve handle things this morning? You can work after lunch if you feel up to it.”
I shook my head, wiping at the tears that betrayed my words. “I can’t. She’s not coming in until this afternoon.”
Millie wasn’t about to let it go, though. “So we’ll call her at home. You know she’ll pitch in if you ask her to help you.”
I started to protest when Millie added, “Please, will you do it for me? You need to take some time to accept this.”
I was still struggling with the suggestion when the sheriff walked in and sat down heavily at our table, blowing out a bellow of air as he did.
Millie asked him, “Can I get you something?”
“I wouldn’t say no to a cup of coffee. I’ve been up all night, and I’m starting to feel it”
She left to get his coffee, and Markum said to me,
“Harrison, if you need me, I’ll be over there.” He and the sheriff had a heavy dose of natural animosity between them, and they would never willingly be together anywhere, not even to support me.
After the sheriff and I were alone, Morton asked gently, “Are you up to talking about this?”
I nodded. “We might as well get it over with. I was kayaking this morning before I had to open the candleshop. It was a good day to be out; the rain had finally broken, and the sun was coming out There was a lot of junk that had been washed into the water, though. At first I thought I’d hit a log, but then I saw it was a woman’s body. I didn’t realize it was Becka until she flipped over. I managed to tow her to shore. That’s when Millie called you.” I stared down into my empty coffee mug, then asked, “Do you have any idea what happened to her?”
He shook his head as he played with the sugar dispenser in front of him. ‘There were no obvious signs of trauma, so they’re going to have to look harder. She hasn’t been in the water long, maybe an hour or two at the most, from the look of her.”
“So you don’t have any idea at all what could have happened?” I asked.
Morton said, “That’s right I don’t know, and I’m not about to start guessing. I’ll let the coroner figure it out, and then we’ll go from there.” He paused, then asked gently, “When’s the last time you saw her, Harrison?”
“Are you honestly looking for an alibi?” I asked, letting my words bite, not caring if he felt my hostility in them.
‘Take it easy, I have to ask.” When I saw the softness in his gaze, I knew he hadn’t wanted to ask me that question, but I also realized that he didn’t have any choice, either.
Fighting to keep my temper in check, I said, “We went out for pizza at A Slice of Heaven last month.”
“So then you two were dating again?”
Millie brought him his coffee as I said, “No, we were just two friends going out together for a meal. There was nothing happening between us, at least not romantically. What about the guy who was stalking her a few months ago? Is he still in jail?”
Millie hesitated at the table and frowned at Morton— no doubt hovering nearby to offer me her support—when the sheriff said, “As of ten minutes ago he was. Listen, I’m not accusing you of anything, Harrison, I’m just trying to collect information. I know finding her like that had to be hard on you. How are you holding up?”
“I’m not afraid to admit that I’ve been better,” I said. Millie must have been satisfied with the sheriff’s softened tone, because she left us and went back to her register.
I told Sheriff Morton, “Everybody