Today, all it got was an “Um.”
145
MARGARET MARON
“Guess Cindy’s got her hands full now that he’s start-
ing to crawl.”
“Yeah.”
It was a sour response and Mayleen backed off. If
Jack and Cindy were having marital problems, best she
stay out of it. She turned the heater down a notch and
concentrated on keeping up with Percy Denning, who
was in the car ahead of them.
“Her sister’s husband got a big raise back around
Christmas,” Jamison burst out suddenly. “They bought
a new house. New car. And now she’s told Cindy that
they’re going to have an in-ground swimming pool put
in this summer.”
He did not have to say more. Cindy and Jack lived
in a doublewide next door to his widowed mother.
Although Jack had never specifically said so, Mayleen
was fairly sure that he gave Mrs. Jamison some financial
help with her utility bills and car repairs in return for
using her well and septic tank.
“She knew what the county pays when she married
me.”
Knowing it’s one thing, Mayleen thought. Living on
it’s something else.
“She ever think about going back to work?”
“While Jay’s still nursing?” He sounded shocked at
the idea.
“I was just thinking that if she wants a bigger place
or—?”
“Not if it means leaving our son.”
Mayleen glanced over at him. “Well, then?”
“I could maybe get on with the Wake County sheriff ’s
department, but it wouldn’t pay that much more.”
146
HARD ROW
“Plus you’d lose any seniority,” she said. “Anyhow,
you’re happy here, aren’t you? Money’s not every-
thing.”
“Right,” he said with more sarcasm than she had ever
heard from him. “It’s just new houses, new cars, and
fancy swimming pools.” He sighed. “Police work’s all
I ever wanted to do. But if it won’t pay enough here,
then maybe I should—”
He broke off as they saw Denning flip on his turn
signal upon approaching two dignified stone columns
that marked a long driveway up to a much-remodeled
farmhouse.
The housekeeper was expecting them and opened
