“Before you start asking, I wouldn’t say we remained close after the divorce, just civil. We’d chat briefly at parties and such.” She turned away from him and began fussing with the glasses. “Some love never fades.”
He doubted that was true but said, “Sorry for your loss. We’ve a suspect in custody, Raymond Reid. Have you heard of him?”
“Save the nonsense Chip, it annoys me. It’s all over the papers. I’m glad that man is behind bars. That’s exactly where he belongs. That’s why you’re here isn’t it? Shall we start over?”
“Sorry Mrs. Dellin. Your name came up.”
“Which town bitch talked about me this time?”
“It was in Reid’s statement. How did you meet him?”
“Megan Emerson’s little soiree a week ago,” she answered. “He came on to me. I guess you’d say I let him pick me up. How about that? First time for everything, they say. He was new in town and I was a little high. I felt sorry for him, so I agreed. It might be an amusing way to the end the evening. While we were driving to his apartment, he started talking crudely. I had second thoughts. I said I had a headache and asked him to take me home. He became angry and then started his pitiful begging. As a result, I went along with it, sort of a mercy thing, if you know what I mean.”
He made notes. “You were intimate?”
“None of your business but I suppose I can’t deny it. I’ve never done anything like that before. An after-party fling for me, but he considered it the start of the romance of the century. I never dreamed he’d get serious. When he took me home, he wanted to come in. No gentleman would act in that manner. I had terribly misjudged him. I was frightened. I didn’t let him in. He phoned me the next morning. Said he loved me, for God’s sake, imagine. Pathetic. I tried to be civil at first, but he kept calling. During the week, he showed up at my door. He was actually right out there on my front porch. I didn’t call the police because I didn’t want to admit I’d been with such a person.”
“You met him later at the InnTowner—poolside I understand.”
“Of course not poolside, but I did meet him there. I didn’t know what else to do. By then I was certain he was stalking me. There were times when he was here, outside my house, late at night trying to watch me. I couldn’t go on with that. Indeed, the next time he phoned, I agreed to meet him at a neutral location.”
“He phoned you?”
“Yes, he wanted me to come to his apartment. I suggested the motel. I didn’t dare to go to his apartment; he might tie me up and do whatever those men do. I thought I could explain I had no interest in him, and could let him down gently, so we met at the InnTowner. I suppose it’s difficult to understand.”
“When?”
“Saturday morning, one week after the party, the day of the shooting. I thought the motel was better than being seen in public, but that was a big mistake. I just intended to talk but he misunderstood. Thought we were meeting for sex. He threatened me when I refused. He was all hung up on Al being my ex. Al and I had laughed at something at the party and Reid saw us. He said he knew I was still in love with Al and that I wanted to go back to him. Of course, now I regret leaving the party with the weirdo. When I read they arrested him, I phoned the chief. There you have it, Loraine’s big indiscretion.”
“I need to ask you where you were Saturday afternoon.”
“The museum most of the afternoon. Then I was home.”
“How long were you at the museum?”
“I got there about three and I left about five. I talked to a docent and a couple of guards. They know me over there, they’ll remember me. How long is this going to take?”
“Did Reid ever say anything to lead you to believe he might kill Towson?”
“Absolutely. He said I’d love Al as long as he remained alive, and he wished Al were dead. Is that what you mean? No doubt about it, he’s your killer. Are we about through here, I’ve got a hair appointment?”
He didn’t look up from his notes. “You’re lucky he didn’t decide you should be the victim. Do you know Norma Martin?”
“I know who you mean. I attended a luncheon once out at her restaurant. I didn’t see her but I assume she’s common, like her food. I think she’s one of those Guatemalans or something. Why would Al take up with a tradeswoman who fancies herself a restaurateur?”
“What did you say?” Goddard straightened in his chair.
“Guatemalan.”
“No, you said Al Towson was seeing Norma?”
“Indeed. They were seen places.”
“How about Sonny Barner?”
“The exterminator? What about him? I use him. Half the town uses him. He’s done handyman work for me around here.”
“So, he’s around here quite a bit.”
“Not lately. I used to save up little jobs I needed done, and he did them when he came around to do his spraying thing. But I had to watch him every minute.”
“What do you mean?”
“I guess he’s okay but he’s a drinker. He smells of insecticide and whiskey, fortunately it kills his body odor. I caught him over here once in the middle of the night in my swimming pool!”
“That’s a serious intrusion.”
“Of course, and I put a stop to it immediately. He’s rather heavy-handed. Once I told him about a mole problem in the backyard. Later I looked out and he had a shotgun, I guess it was. I yelled out not to kill them. He wasn’t going to shoot them, he said. Just fire the gun down the mole hole. Said the moles go insane, stagger around for a while, and then wander off. I told him to put the gun away and forget about the whole thing.”
“When did you last see him?”
“I had enough of him. I told him to come for the spraying and absolutely nothing else. I guess he was here last month.”
“Everyone knows Tammy Jerrold. Did you talk about her with Reid?”
“Why would I talk about her? I ignore tramps.”
“Reid claims you told him you and Norma Martin knew that Tammy was raped by Barner, and for payback you shot him.”
“Ridiculous, why would I make up such an absurd story? Besides, I’m too busy to shoot someone whenever Tammy Jerold forgets whether or not she gave consent.”
The mention of the rape and shooting didn’t seem to bother her. He wondered if anyone could ever tell when this woman was lying. “Can you think of any connection among Ray Reid, Norma Martin, Sonny Barner, and Tammy?”
“No, other than the Sonny-Tammy thing.”
He gave her a confused look.
“Never mind.”
“What about them?” He knew she was playing with him.
“Come on, Chip. All the police know how Tammy sleeps around.”
He thought that was ridiculous, but he wasn't there to defend Tammy. “Tell me about her and Sonny.”
“I’m not one to repeat gossip. Let’s just say outside of her apartment is a strange place to park his van overnight.”
Goddard let the whole Tammy thing go. “Okay, Mrs. Dellin. That’s it for now. We’re trying to punch holes in Reid’s story. If it became necessary, would you be willing to come to my office and make a formal statement?”
“No, I’ll do no such thing. I think I’ve been more than cooperative but there are limits. I don’t intend to be interrogated further at police headquarters. Unless you can give me one good reason why I should do so.”
He couldn’t resist. “Well, you slept with the man who killed your ex-husband.” Some would see that as a love triangle and a murder that happened because she went after sex with a stranger. That would be one good reason to lie.
