'My name is Spenser,' I said. 'I'm a detective working on a case out here in the desert. I understand that your ex-husband is the chief of police in Potshot.'
'My ex-husband? Yes, I guess he is. I haven't seen him for nine years.'
'I'm doing a little background check. You're divorced from Chief Walker?'
'Yes.'
'What were the grounds?' I said.
'Why on earth would you want to know that?'
I laughed.
'Good question,' I said. 'I guess because my boss will fire me if I don't find out.'
She laughed very slightly on her end of the phone.
'We were divorced on the grounds that he coveted his neighbor's wife.'
'Really,' I said. 'And what was her name, if you remember.'
'I remember,' she said.
'Of course.'
She was silent. I waited.
'Mary Lou,' she said. 'Mary Lou Buckman.'
'I see,' I said, just like I didn't know. 'And, I'm sorry to be so indelicate. But I have to ask. Was his covetousness, ah, fulfilled?'
'You mean was he shacking up with her? Yes.'
'You're sure?'
'Of course, I'm sure. That's why I divorced the bastard.'
'And I certainly don't blame you,' I said. Sincere as a siding salesman. 'Do you know where Ms. Buckman is now?'
'Sure. She's out there in Potshot. The dumb bastard followed her out there.'
'Are they together?' I said.
She was warm on the subject now and I didn't have to be so delicate. Pretty soon I'd have trouble getting her to shut up.
'Together? No. Of course not. She's married and with her husband. My stupid husband just followed her out there, in case she decided to cheat on her husband again.'
'And if she didn't?'
'He could just moon around her, like a big fruit fly. Men are idiots.'
'True,' I said. 'That's so true.'
'Her husband even threatened Dean, once, told him to stay away from his wife.'
'How did your husband react?'
'Oh he's a policeman, thinks he's a tough guy, like they all do. I think they're a bunch of babies.'
'Did they actually have a fight or anything?'
'Not while I was around.'
'Did either of them threaten to kill the other?'
'Kill? Oh God no, it wasn't like that. I never said anything about killing. Why are you talking about killing?'
'Just routine, m'am.'
'Is Dean all right?' she said.
'He's fine, m'am. Fine.'
'Well, is that all? I've got a lot of things waiting for me.'
'Yes, m'am. Thank you for your time.'
She hung up without saying 'you're welcome.' Since I was on a hot streak I called the Department of Water and Power in L.A. and talked with a guy in the personnel department.
'I'm interviewing a Mary Lou Buckman,' I said, 'for a job. Her resume says she worked for you. Could you verify that for me?'
'Did she say what section?'
'No.'
'Give me a minute,' he said.
It was more like ten, but finally he came back on the line.
'I hate computers,' he said.
