A Flicker of Doubt - Tim Myers [36]
Markum said, “We were both pretty convinced that it was Klein’s voice on the tape, but I’m not so sure anymore. I found myself wondering if Runion’s voice could have been a match as well as Klein’s, and I’m sorry to say I couldn’t rule out either one of them.”
“You had your other source, too.”
“One that turned out to be less reliable than I first thought.” He shook his head. “Don’t forget, Becka did have Runion’s telephone number in her purse. That’s got to mean something.”
“She wouldn’t have to write her boyfriend’s number down to remember it, would she?”
Markum frowned, stood, then stared at a poster of Bali. “If the relationship was new enough, maybe she did. I’m afraid we can’t rule him out”
“So she was either sleeping with a muckraking married newspaper publisher or a sleazy developer. It doesn’t speak well of Becka’s taste in men, does it?’
“You can’t judge her, Harrison, she’s beyond that. Remember, she broke up with whoever it was she’d been seeing. The question is, why? If it was Klein, did she dump him because he was married? If Runion was the man, maybe she stumbled across something he was doing, something she couldn’t live with.”
“So, instead of getting clearer, we’ve managed to muddy the water more.”
He frowned and ran his hands through his unruly black hair. “I admit it’s more complicated than I first thought. Don’t worry, though, we’re not finished yet.” He stifled a yawn, then said, “Excuse me.”
“Listen, why don’t you see if you can catch a nap? I’ve got to open the candleshop in ten minutes, and we can’t do anything at the moment”
He nodded. “I think I will. If you need me, call. Don’t worry about waking me up.”
“Do you want to use my couch for your nap? I don’t mind.” I paused, then added, “I’d offer you my bed, but I don’t have any clean sheets on hand.”
He slapped my shoulder with a meaty hand. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m going to head home. Remember, call me if anything occurs to you. I can’t help but think we’re missing something.”
Markum locked his office behind us and. we parted company outside.
I saw Heather leaving her shop, an odd thing to be happening ten minutes before opening, but she met my greeting with a sharp wave of her hand and scampered past me as she hurried to The Crocked Pot I hoped Pearly had better luck than I had resolving the conflict my tenants were putting us all through. I didn’t want to face too many more days in the midst of Heather’s and ‘ Sanora’s feud. If I didn’t desperately want them both at River’s Edge, I was tempted to let them battle it out with v the loser leaving the complex forever. After Heather was gone, I walked to At Wick’s End and started to put my f key in the lock.
That’s when I realized that it was already open. .
Someone had gotten to my candleshop before me, but I knew Eve wasn’t scheduled to come in until noon.
That left a dozen possible reasons why At Wick’s End was open, and none of them were good.
Chapter 10
“Who’s there?” I called out as I walked into At Ml Wick’s End. I probably should have called Morton before going inside, but blast it all, that candleshop belonged to me.
“I’ve got a gun,” I said, for some insanely irrational reason.
“Then I certainly hope the safety’s on,” a cultured voice called out from back. I felt my heart settle back down as Pearly stepped out of the shadows.
“What are you doing here in the dark?” I asked as I flipped on the main bank of lights. Nothing happened.
“You asked me to replace the light switch in back, remember? I was forced to cut the breaker for the entire store because whoever installed the fuse box left some ,’ sketchy notes that are impossible to decipher.”
“That’s fine. Sony about the threat”
He laughed. “You were quite convincing, actually. I found myself fighting the urge to come out with my hands up.” He tossed a switch in his hand and said, “I’ve replaced the culprit, so as soon as I can reengage the fuse box, you’ll have power again, and a working switch as well.”
“Thanks, Pearly,” I said. “Have you had a chance to speak with Heather and Sanora yet?”