Becky’s fist goes to her hip. “Because I refused to let some underage shit with perky breasts, silky black hair, and a stupid agenda get under my skin.”
Obviously.
I hand Becky back the glass, this time filled beyond the respectable serving. “But she did...get under your skin.”
“Hank has never...he wouldn’t...” She looks at me with a determined gaze. “He wouldn’t cheat. But that doesn’t mean he’s dead. He has eyes. It’s like those girls had no limit to what they’d do. It was a game to them—probably, still is. Life is a game.”
“A game? Did Marty come on to Hank?”
“Those little girls think they’re grown up. They think they can play grown-up games.” Again, she swirls the wine, each turn reaching closer and closer to the rim. Her brown eyes peer upward. “They never consider the consequences—the lives they ruin.”
“Wait...are you saying you think that’s what got Marty and Julie?—”
“No,” she interrupts. “Shit, I’m not talking about Julie. Hell, she and Austin were hot and heavy until the beginning of this year. I’m talking about Marty and her ploy to see if she can seduce older men. Believe me, she didn’t give a shit if they were married.” Becky shakes her head. “I think it added to the excitement.”
The little hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention. “Is it always the girl’s fault? Maybe it went both ways?”
“What?” Becky turns my way, her eyes wide.
“Not with Hank,” I correct. “I’m just saying that sometimes young girls are infatuated and men take advantage...”
Becky’s eyes close as the air seems to leave her chest. It’s like watching a balloon deflate before my eyes. “Shit, I can talk to you because you don’t live here anymore. I shouldn’t because...God, Jillian, I forgot.” She sits back on the stool. “I’m sorry. It’s just...Hank is my husband, and a few weeks ago, I showed up unexpectedly at the store. Hank was there helping John with inventory. I thought I’d bring them a snack. Inventory is usually a late night. John was up front with a customer. Hank was in the back.” She sighs. “John motioned me back. I got to the doorway and I stood. I swear, I didn’t move. The scene was like a bad B-movie. Marty’s damn breasts were barely contained in her shirt. Even wearing the store apron, her ass was showing from her short shorts. She was beinghelpful.”
“Helpful?” I ask.
“Reaching high for boxes and bending with her ass up.” Becky is again shaking her head.
The attire doesn’t sound much different than the way I saw the girls dressed at the park on Saturday.
“In Hank’s defense,” Becky says, “he acted clueless.”
“Did he know you were there?”
“No, and obviously, Marty didn’t either, calling him by his first name.” Becky takes a smaller sip. “I mean, we’re not old, but she’s working in the Sanders store.”
“What happened?”
“After I made my presence known, Hank made an excuse to check on his dad. That little slut had the nerve to not act ashamed. She said that if my husband was getting what he needed at home, he wouldn’t be looking at her.”
“No way,” I exclaim. “She said that?”
Becky nods. “I got in her face and told her that he is off-limits. I also may have said that if she didn’t keep her fucking boobs covered, I’d make sure they were never thrust in Hank’s or any other married man’s face again.”
“Was that the threat you may have said?”
Becky sighs, looking down. “Yes.”
“You didn’t threaten her life.”
Her brown gaze is back on me. “No, but I wasn’t nice. And now she’s dead.”
“Wait, tell me again how you found out she died?”
“The whole town knows.”
“Did the sheriff make an announcement?”
Becky’s lips purse. “Jillian, this is Blue Gil. Everyoneknows she was found off Country Road 62 near where the coach was found.”
