the original rush had been replaced by an inexpensive plastic substitute. She wore a grayish housedress with a tiny floral print on it. Her sneakers were old and white and low, with the toe cut away in one of them to relieve pressure on a bunion. Her gray hair was in a tight perm. There was a fireplace, which appeared to burn a gas log. On the wall above it was a much too big portrait of Garner in academic robes, wearing a mortarboard and holding a rolled- up scroll of some kind.
'What do you want?' Mrs. Garner said.
I gave her a wide, warm, and compelling smile.
'I'm just trying to tie up loose ends of the terrible shooting at the school,' I said.
She showed no reaction. Maybe she hadn't noticed my smile. I laid the smile on her again. Women have been known to show me their undergarments when I give them that smile. Thankfully, Mrs. Garner did not. She was sitting in a large padded rocker. On the table beside her was a decanter of something, maybe port. She was drinking some of it from a small wineglass. She didn't offer me any. I didn't mind. Port is never my first choice, and especially so on the morning side of lunch.
'Did you know either of the boys?' I said.
'No.'
'Do you know many of the students at the school?'
'No.'
She emptied her glass and poured herself some more. It smelled like port.
'How about faculty?'
'I have little to do with Royce's school,' she said.
'Did you know any of the people killed?'
'Not really.'
'Do you know Dr. Blair, the school psychologist?'
'The one who looks like a whore?'
I smiled dazzlingly before I remembered that it didn't seem to be working here.
'Eye of the beholder,' I said.
'I don't know her, anyway,' Mrs. Garner said. 'I saw her once, someplace.'
'Do you have children, Mrs. Garner?'
'No.'
'Do you remember where you saw Beth Ann Blair?'
'No.'
I was really running on all cylinders. Mr. Interrogation!
'Everything all right in your marriage?' I said.
'None of your business,' she said.
I nodded. 'Gee,' I said. 'I hadn't thought of it that way.'
She said nothing.
'Well,' I said. 'I won't bother you anymore.'
'Good.'
I stood.
'Give my best to your husband,' I said.
She didn't answer. I tried the smile once more. It was too late. But I couldn't believe it wasn't working.
'Enjoy your day,' I said.
At last she decided to heed my advice. As I started for the front door, she poured herself more port.
Chapter 54
I HAD FINISHED the morning paper and was cutting out today's episode of 'Arlo and Janis' to save for Susan when the Clark family, including Lily Ellsworth and minus Jared, came into my office with their lawyer, Richard Leeland. Pearl raised her head and growled at them from her place on the couch. I shushed her as I stood.
'We need to talk,' Leeland said.
'Sure,' I said and came around my desk and organized the chairs. Pearl settled back but kept her eyes open, alert for a false move. Nobody made one. Everyone sat.
'My daughter,' Lily Ellsworth said after a moment. 'And my son-in-law, and this lawyer want me to fire you.'
'Eek,' I said.
Leeland leaned forward and started to speak. 'The boy is . . .'
Lily Ellsworth turned her head and looked at him.
