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“No,” the detective said. “Since you’re relatively new to the area, I guess you wouldn’t have been exposed much to the news around here six years ago.”
That corner of Hardy’s mouth was still curled up a notch, as though she might actually be enjoying this.
“A splash of milk,” Hardy said.
“I’m sorry?”
“My coffee. That’s how I take it. I figured you’d get around to asking sooner or later.”
Jayne took two mugs down from the cupboard and a carton of milk from the refrigerator. The coffee continued to drip down into the carafe. When there was enough for one serving, Jayne filled one mug, added some milk, and put it on the table in front of Hardy.
“Thank you,” she said.
Jayne said nothing.
“Has Andrew ever mentioned anything to you about his wife?” Hardy asked.
Jayne blinked. “His ex-wife, you mean.”
Hardy shrugged. “Sure.”
“He told me he used to be married. That it didn’t work out. He doesn’t like to talk about her very much and honestly I don’t think it’s any of my business.”
“He tell you her name?”
“Brandy, I think,” she said.
That brought a smile to the detective’s face. She picked up her phone. “Let me show you something.”
She held up the device for Jayne, who took a couple of steps closer. A picture filled the screen. It was a soft image of a woman standing by a black car. It was parked in a driveway, the tailgate in the raised position, and there were what appeared to be a couple of bags of groceries spilled on the driveway.
“Okay,” Jayne said. “Who’s that?”
“That is the question,” the detective said. “The image could be crisper, I know. I got this nifty little app on my phone you can run photos through, the idea being that it sharpens them up some. Admittedly with varying degrees of success. So I used the app on this shot and enlarged it and it’s not a lot better, but there is some improvement. Here, have a look.”
She was about to pass the phone to Jayne when Tyler strolled into the kitchen. He’d pulled some jeans on over his boxers but was naked from the waist up, and shoeless.
“Oh,” he said, seeing Hardy. “I didn’t know someone was here.”
“Hi,” Detective Hardy said, putting the phone down and extending a hand. Tyler took it. “I’m Detective Hardy with the Milford police.”
Tyler looked as though he’d received a minor electrical shock. “Uh, what?”
“The police,” Jayne said. “Detective Hardy just had some questions about a neighborhood thing.”
Tyler saw the detective’s phone and picked it up. “Who’s this?” he asked, looking at the picture.
“That’s why I’m here,” Hardy said. “Wondering the same thing.”
“Nice ride,” Tyler said.
“I’m sorry?” the detective said.
“The Volvo wagon. I like those.”
“Is there something I can do for you, Tyler?” Jayne asked.
“Was just gonna get some breakfast or something.”
