A Flicker of Doubt - Tim Myers [58]
“You’re welcome to join us anyway,” I said as I pushed one of the chairs toward him with my foot
“Are you certain I’m not interrupting anything?” he asked.
Markum was quick with his reply. “No, we’re just trying to solve the world’s problems.”
Pearly sat with us. “Wonderful, I just happen to have a solution to most of the planet’s woes. The first step would be to emulate the advice of the Bard of Avon.”
I grinned. “So what’s the second thing we do after we shoot all the lawyers?”
He smiled at me. “Very good, Harrison. Let’s see, what should we do after that indeed? After the celebrations are over, at any rate.”
Markum said, “We can go after the politicians next, unless anybody has any objections.”
When no one spoke, I filled the void. “Motion carried, passed by acclimation. Anybody want to get rid of another group with our third edict?”
Pearly said, “We’ve turned rather bloodthirsty, haven’t we? I should think we’ve eliminated enough of the undesirables to begin shaping our new world.”
“Come on, I’m just getting warmed up,” Markum said. “We can do better than that. There are a lot more groups on my list”
Pearly thought about it a moment then said, “While I’m a peaceable man by nature, perhaps I spoke prematurely.”
“That’s the spirit” Markum said. “Now who else is going to make our list?”
“How much time do you have?” I asked.
“It sounds as though we’re all in the perfect mood for a discussion like this,” Pearly said. . By the time we decided to call it a night an hour later, we’d gone through every group, organization and cluster of people who had ever irritated or annoyed us. It would certainly be a quieter world if we were making real decisions, and a much gentler one, too, at least after the initial purge.
After Markum and Pearly left, I went upstairs and found myself out of sorts, pacing around the small apartment wondering what my next step should be. I’d managed to alienate quite a few folks over the course of the day without coming that much closer to the truth. I didn’t know how the police ever solved a crime, especially given peoples tendencies to lie, skew the truth and spin its rationale to always put themselves in the best light possible.
At the rate I was going, all of Micah’s Ridge would wash their hands of me before I found out what had really happened to Becka Lane. I didn’t care if I left a wake of hurt feelings and crumpled relationships behind me in my questioning. What mattered most was finding the truth, and if parts of my life suffered for it, so be it. It was the least I owed to Becka. For now, all I could do was sleep, so I could start fresh in the morning.
Chapter 16
I’d just opened the candleshop the next morning when an older woman with silver hair and an upright posture came into At Wick’s End.
“Hello. May I help you find anything?” I asked. I’m looking for Mr. Harrison Black. I understand he’s the proprietor here.”
“I’m Harrison,” I said. “What can I do for you?” She extended a gloved hand. “I’m Ruth Nash. We spoke on the telephone.”
“Mrs. Nash, it’s good to meet you. I’d offer you a cup of coffee, but we don’t have any here at the shop. We can get some at Millie’s, though. It’s just twenty feet away.”
“Mr. Black, I appreciate the offer, but I’m not here on a social call. I must say, I’m quite alarmed about my brother. I came by to collect you as a courtesy only. Would you care to join me?”
“Absolutely. I’m upset, too. Please, call me Harrison.” I figured, what could it hurt to ask her again?
She looked at me with obvious distaste, though I couldn’t imagine why. I had on a clean pair of jeans and a new polo shirt.
“If I must,” she said. “Now are you coming, or shall I go alone?”
Eve walked in at that moment, ten minutes late. “Harrison, I’m sorry, my car wouldn’t start.”
“No problem. I need you to watch the store.”
She looked at Ruth Nash, then said, “Certainly, it’s not a problem.”
“Would you like me to drive, or should I ride with you? I should warn you, I’ve just got two pickup trucks.”