She shrugged and propped her sunglasses up on her hair, put her hands on her hips and leaned forward challenging him with mock wide eyes. What he saw was an unblemished face with perfect skin and warm blue eyes, which at that moment were dilated with anger.
All at once, the situation became clear to him. He nearly collapsed into his chair. Loraine had lied. That whole routine in the motel room meant—what? There was no rape. She must have had some other reason for shooting Barner. “Oh, God I’m so sorry. Please sit back down. What have I done?”
He was there embarrassing this poor woman for no reason at all. He had no defense, no excuse. In a low voice, “I believe you and I apologize. Will you help me? Do you even know this Barner? Have you ever dated him?”
She sat down still agitated. “Do you know what fat chance means? He’s the town bug man, not that there’s anything wrong with that. The man might be okay, but definitely not socializing material. How did he get into this anyway? You say he’s dead? Anything else? How about those space ships you’ve seen? And those CIA agents who are gathered in town ready to launch their sinister plot? Can I leave and go back to the real world now?”
“I deserved that, I truly don’t know what’s going on.” Either she was lying or Loraine had lied to him. Neither possibility made any sense.
“You know you can check your phone to see where that text came from. Are you the one lying?”
“I did check, but the origin didn’t mean anything to me.”
“You have colossal nerve to come here without even knowing me and laying all this on me. What sort of man are you?”
“I’m an idiot, but I didn’t come here intending any harm. I should have checked it out somehow and never approached you. Believe me Tammy.” There was no sign she was softening. “I know you can’t wait to get out of here. One more question before you leave, are you friends with Norma Martin?”
“What’s she got to do with this?”
“Loraine said the three of you are friends.”
“Really getting strange now. She owns the Jardin Cafe west of town. She’s Cuban-American from up north somewhere. I had the real estate listing for the restaurant for a full year yet I couldn’t move it. In the end, she bought it through another agent. I didn’t make a dime. I’ve never even met her.”
“Another of Loraine’s lies. I wish I’d never gone to that party.”
“It was kind of cool of you to be so unconcerned about a woman’s age and leave with her. No one can accuse you of robbing the cradle.”
“I figured she was a little older. At first, I thought she might be as old as fifty. Then I got up close and started thinking sixty. Then Towson said she’s seventy something. Aren’t seventy-year-olds supposed to just read books and play bridge?”
“Towson ought to know, he was married to her.”
“What?”
“Sure. Back awhile, before he was mayor. Her maiden name was Dellin. They met at a Mensa meeting. How’s that for classy dating?”
“Married huh? How’d she ever get in Mensa?”
“You keep implying she’s dumb. She must be playing with you. Loraine is smart and sophisticated. You’re really out of it, you know. For a minute there I started to think somehow you might be a nice, harmless guy.”
“Help me, Tammy. Why is she doing this to me?”
“When did she tell you all this?”
“This morning.”
“You were with her this morning—where?”
He hesitated and dropped his eyes. “Well, actually we were at a motel.”
She raised her eyebrows at that. “This just keeps getting better and better. And you want my help.”
“We just talked. I was enjoying an innocent Saturday morning at home when she phoned asking for help. I went over. I had nothing to do with any of this until she phoned.” He leaned closer. “Is it possible Loraine is the one who was raped? That could be it. She didn’t want me to know, but she’s calling out for help. She was hiding her bruises with her sunglasses. That’s why she didn’t want the lights on in her motel room.”
“Or to hide her wrinkles. So you two were just talking in the dark, both fully dressed at all times, of course. You’re one sad case. Does what you just said make any sense to you? Let me tell you, Sonny Barner is no match for her. If he ever accosted her, she'd aim that death ray look of hers at him until he started shaking, then with a snap of her fingers he’d dissolve down into a slippery, greasy spot.”
“She seemed so defenseless, like she needed help.”
“Loraine hasn’t been helpless since she started changing her own diapers. Then again, maybe she had some other reason for shooting Barner—if in fact she did. Anyway, it’s not your concern. Get out of it.”
“I thought I could straighten it out. I’m going back and confront her now. She has to explain all this. I gave her a deadline of three o’clock to get a lawyer, but I won’t wait that long if she’s been lying to me.” He glanced at his watch again.
“What do you mean deadline? What are you talking about?”
“I told her I’d hold off going to the police about the shooting until three. It’s after one now.”
“Wait, wait, wait, you’re not going to the police. You are
“No!”
She raised her voice, “Are you certain? I don’t want to be the victim in any gossip. Any such rumors could ruin my reputation and my business. Were you so crude as to discuss it with Towson?”
“No, swear to God. I was careful not to mention it to him.”
“You absolutely are
“But possibly she did murder him, and if I don’t go to the police then I’m on the spot as a criminal accessory.” But he knew Tammy was correct. The police would interview her whether it’s true or not. She’d be embarrassed and that would be the least of her worries. The story was too good not to leak out.
“Thanks a lot, buddy.” She was silent for some time. She took a sip of her tea. She folded her arms and stared out the window for a full minute then back at Ray, studying his face carefully. Then another sip of tea. He wondered if she wanted him to just get up and leave.
Finally, she spoke, “Well, perhaps I’ve been too quick to judge. I was certain you were off the wall at first, but you might actually have a slight streak of sanity. I don’t care for Loraine but it’s horrible if she was raped. I can picture her going after Barner with a gun. That might have happened. You’re on the right track after all. Give her extra time today. Wait the three hours. Give her time to find a good lawyer. Then you come forward without being asked, and you’re out of it.”
“But you said….”
“I’ll be okay. I can handle the police. I know the chief and most of those guys anyway. I’ll just laugh it off with them. Yes, this will work. I’m not getting involved, but you can call me at my office if I can help. I’ll be there until late.”
“Whatever you say Tammy, I just want to get out of this. I know I’ve upset you, and I’m sorry, but I’m glad you’re okay after all. Can we meet again, perhaps have dinner sometime?”
She rolled her eyes. “Get a grip.”
***
Toward evening that day, Tammy Jerrold was back at her desk, alone in her real estate office. Talking to Ray Reid had started her thinking. She had exaggerated the glamour of being associated with Towson. In truth, he had called on her less and less and then lately not at all. The business referrals had dried up.
She had gone on and on to Reid about how great things used to be when she worked for Towson when he was mayor. Looking back, had it been all that great? It sounded as if he really appreciated her. Well, he did and he
