A Killer Read (29 page)

Hmm, partial answer. “I went to Auburn and spent a few years working elsewhere but then came back home. You weren’t tempted to go back home?”

“Nope.”

“Why Ashton Corners anyway? I’d never have thought of this town as being a lawyer magnet.”

He crossed his arms across his chest and looked out at the river when answering. “I’d been here as a child. On holidays. It was a good time and I remembered it, so I thought I’d like to try living here. Something smaller, slower paced.”

“And you’re glad you did?” she said with a grin, hoping to ease some of the tension that she noticed in his body.

He nodded. “It has its positive features. However, I didn’t realize just how inquisitive folks could be. Just what are you trying to find out, Lizzie?”

She didn’t know what to say to that.
I’m sorry, but I’m wondering if you’re a two-timer… or even a murderer.
Maybe she’d better back off. Try again another time or another way. But she had to know about the woman.

“I’m really wondering about the woman I saw with you in town on Saturday two weeks ago.” She watched the shocked look creep over his face.

“I know it’s none of my business,” she went on, “but you did look cozy. And Sally-Jo’s a close friend, you know. It was probably your sister or something like that, and I’m going to feel real foolish, aren’t I?”

Jacob sat staring at the river for such a long time, Lizzie wasn’t sure he’d bother to answer. She’d really crossed the line this time.

“She’s my wife, Lizzie,” he finally said, still not looking at her.

“Your wife, as in ‘still married’?”

“Yes. But we’ve been separated for a year now, which is part of the reason I moved here. We own a house in Mobile, and she’s still living in it. I tried an apartment in town, but it was just too close. I thought getting away might help put everything in perspective, help us both make some decisions.”

“Like whether to get back together or not?” Lizzie asked.

He looked at her. “Exactly. I thought I’d made the decision, especially after meeting Sally-Jo, so I told my wife I wanted a divorce. She came here to talk about it— well, it seems, to talk me out of it. That was her kissing me, actually.”

Lizzie couldn’t think of what to say. She wanted to know if that kiss had changed his mind. Instead, she asked, “Does Sally-Jo know?”

“Not yet. I had planned on telling her this weekend, but she’s been so busy, I haven’t seen her yet. Hopefully, tomorrow night. I know, I should have been up front right from the start, but I just so totally wanted it all out of my life. Can you understand? Do you think she’ll understand?”

Lizzie thought about Sally-Jo’s previous relationship, which had ended when she found out her fiancé was having an affair. She had no idea how this would affect her.

“I really can’t say, Jacob. But I do know that you have to tell her, real soon.”

“You’re right and I will, I promise. Just, please, don’t tell her before I get the chance?”

Lizzie agreed.

Jacob’s smile was wobbly. “Well, I’d best be heading into town. That’s why I stopped by, to see if Bob wanted anything at Clifford’s Home Hardware.”

Lizzie glanced at her watch. “Yikes. I’ve got too much to get done in too little a time period. I guess I spent more
time daydreaming and watching the water than I realized.” She had a final look at the river, with the sun now visible lower in the sky, and then followed Jacob around to where their cars were parked.

She stared at Jacob as he backed out, wondering how betrayed Sally-Jo would feel when she found out.

M
ark pushed the doorbell precisely at six o’clock. Lizzie liked that in a date, as she always tried to arrive on time wherever she was going. She’d chosen the floaty white blouse that Paige had suggested but teamed it with a pair of new dark indigo jeans and a cotton-knit blood orange jacket. She felt kinda foxy and was ready to have a good time.

Mark gave her an appreciative once-over, which set her toes to tingling again, and walked her to his Jeep. She turned to him as he started it up, about to ask him if he’d had any news about Frank Telford. She silently admonished herself. This was a date, after all, and murder had no place on it.

Mark apparently didn’t have the same qualms. “Before you ask, I don’t have any further news about Frank Telford. I did, however, meet someone who remembers talking to your daddy a few weeks before he died.”

“Oh my gosh, who? And did they know what story he was working on?”

“It’s Ms. Lillian Galbraith. She’s retired now, but she was the reference librarian here in town when we were growing up. I used to bother her something fierce, but she never told my folks about it, and I sort of figured out she knew what my home life was like. She seemed to know a lot about the folks in town. So, I tracked her down at the Sherman Seniors’ Home. She remembers him coming in several times and trying to get information on something. Unfortunately, she can’t remember what. But she did suggest he go over to the Stoney Mills Public Library. Maybe that’s where he was coming home from?”

“From what I hear, he made several trips over there, but that’s a great lead. I’ll go over there and see what I can find out. Thanks, Mark.”

“My pleasure,” he said as he pulled into the municipal parking lot just off Main Street and a couple of blocks from where FallFest had set up.

“I got the reservation at the Black Tomato, across the street, and then we can wander around after.”

“Sounds great. And I’m starving. I just realized I didn’t eat any lunch,” Lizzie said, sliding out of the Jeep and waiting while he clicked the doors locked.

Mark groaned. “You mean, you’re not going to be a cheap date?”

Lizzie laughed. “Sorry. Not tonight.”

He took hold of her hand, and they crossed to the restaurant, where they were seated right away at a table overlooking the outside courtyard fountain and ordered drinks. Lizzie looked around the room. She’d always wanted to eat at the Black Tomato but hadn’t done so in the year since it had opened. The décor was a modern mixture of black walls at two ends of the room, light gray on the others, platinum fixtures and bold splashes of orangey red for the chair upholstery, light coverings and of course, small bouquets of poppies on each table. She hoped the food was as memorable as the decorating style.

“I like this. It’s very modern but still cozy,” she commented.

“Just as promised in their ads. I’ve been wanting to come here for a long time. Couldn’t find the right date.”

Lizzie laughed.

“No, it’s true. My brother, Mikey, has been trying to get me to sign up with an online dating service,” Mark said as they waited for their drinks.

“What?” Lizzie couldn’t hide the surprise in her voice. “You, Mr. Football Hero, Most Eligible Bachelor, and all that jazz?” She watched the subtle pink coloring infuse Mark’s cheeks. It made him look young and shy, emphasizing the sexy dark brown eyes.

Mark shook his head and chuckled. “That was a long time ago, Lizzie.”

“But there are still a couple of unmarried former cheerleaders in town. Well, one’s divorced, so I hear. And what about the young and pretty Officer Intrepid?” She bit her tongue. She shouldn’t have mentioned that one.

“Well, I don’t date colleagues, especially those who work for me. Rule Number One. It can just mess up lives and careers so fast. And as for the cheerleaders and all, I may not have been away all that long, but it seems like a lifetime. Life’s not full of parties anymore.” He had been playing with the salt shaker but now looked at her. “I came back a changed man, Lizzie. I want a whole lot more substance in any relationship these days.”

Their drinks arrived and each took a sip, then turned their attention to the menu. Lizzie couldn’t help but feel pleased by what Mark had revealed. Not that she assumed they were headed toward a relationship. She was just happy to get to know the new Mark.

She ordered grilled salmon with mango salsa and mixed greens, then took a piece of hot, fresh cornbread that Mark offered.

“What was it like, Mark? Being in the army?”

A dark cloud passed over his face, and he took another sip. “I’ll tell you someday, Lizzie. But not tonight, okay?”

She nodded. Okay, one topic to avoid. For now.

“I will tell you about the new little fellow in my life, though.”

He was teasing her, waiting a bit before going on, giving her time to imagine all sorts of possibilities. None of which she wanted to dwell on. She looked expectantly at him.

“His name is Patchett and he’s a sixteen-week-old bloodhound. I told myself he’d be useful on the job, but I really got him for the company. I used to have a hound when I was younger and man, they’re some dog.”

Lizzie could picture him with a dog at his side. Although he hadn’t minded her cats, she knew he wasn’t the type to own any. Not that you truly owned a cat.

“I can’t wait to meet him. I’ll bet he’s so cute right now at this age and probably getting into everything.”

“Into everything and wanting out at all hours of the night. I’m trying an experiment tonight and have him in his crate. I’m hoping he’ll sleep till I get home. But I’m telling you to warn you, my conscience might get the better of me and I’ll feel I need to go home and take him for a walk at some point.”

“I could handle that,” Lizzie said and toasted him with her glass.

He smiled and reached out for her other hand on the table.

Mark’s roasted chicken with black-eyed peas and sweet potato casserole arrived, followed by Lizzie’s order. They ate in companionable silence, decided to split a slice of pecan pie for dessert, had coffees and then walked the two blocks to the FallFest tents.

The entire south end of Pritchard Park, which covered two acres in the center of town, had been given over to the celebration. Named after one of the town’s founders, Jethro
Clark Pritchard, the park featured a towering bronze statue in his image, guarding one of its main entries. The sun had just finished setting when they arrived, and Lizzie put her jacket on. A cool evening breeze had arrived with the setting sun, yet another reminder that even though the days thought it was still summer, the nights knew otherwise.

They walked hand in hand past the many craft tents, stopping to admire some wood carvings and later, a jewelry table. They could hear the bands starting up in the background as the crowds slowly started making their way to the main stage. The show that night featured a couple of local bluegrass bands and the Alabama Rivermen, one of the hottest blues groups in the country. It had been a small coup for the organizers to book them for the Ashton Corners event.

Running into so many people who knew them slowed their progress. Most looked surprised to see them together. “There’ll be a new topic on the grapevine tomorrow morning, that’s for sure,” Lizzie said.

Mark grinned. “Yah. Hope you don’t mind.”

She smiled. “Not in the slightest.”

They got in the ticket line, and Lizzie noticed Mark checking his watch on and off. “I’m guessing you’re feeling a bit torn. Like maybe Patchett needs you?”

Mark looked sheepish. “That obvious, huh?”

“Listen, it would be fun to go to the concert, but I think a puppy is more important. Why don’t we go take him for that walk?”

Mark squeezed her hand. “You’re my kind of girl, Lizzie.”

She smiled all the way to the car and his house.

L
izzie spent the morning with her mother and stayed for lunch even though they were back to no responses. In between trying to think of things that might interest her mama, Lizzie thought about her date with Mark.

Mark’s house turned out to be on Jardine Street, near the southern edge of town. He’d bought it when he’d returned to town and had been slowly renovating the sixty-year-old two-bedroom bungalow in his spare time. So far he’d managed to upgrade the kitchen with new appliances, slate tile floors, chopping block counters and a newly added dog donut bed tucked into a small alcove by the back door.