“Pfft. That’s the understatement of the year. I should’ve never married him. But,” she sighed dramatically, “I’d have never gotten this house or this fabulous pool. Or a bunch of other things. The future looks bright! What a gorgeous morning!”
She cackled and a chill ran up my spine. She was positively gleeful. I tried to steer the conversation back to my fact-finding mission.
“I felt terrible that he was murdered.”
“These things happen.” She shrugged and took a sip of her drink.
Holy shit. I wondered if Alex Holt had interviewed her, and if she’d acted like this with him. “No one deserves to die like that.”
“I suppose not.”
“I can’t imagine what you’re going through.” I paused. What I really wanted to know was where she was the day of the murder. “It must have been terrible, finding out while you were going about your business.”
“I got a call from the cops. They asked me if I was sitting down.” For the first time, her voice quivered.
“Aww,” I murmured, hoping she’d talk more. “Where were you when they called?”
“I was actually in my car. Coming back from Orlando. I go there twice a week for an advanced baking class. Each class is eight hours, and I’m just glad the cops didn’t call while I was there. I would’ve hated to mess up my project. I was making the best cake. SpongeBob-themed.”
“I see.” It sure sounded like she had an alibi, but Christ on a bike, this was messed up. “It must have been quite a shock.”
“Honestly, not really. Gene upset so many people and had been threatened over the years. There’s no telling who did it.”
I knelt down. “Really? Who threatened him? Who do you think killed him? Did you share any theories with the police?”
Barbie lifted her sunglasses and perched them on top of her head. “I don’t know who killed him, and I don’t really care. That’s what I told that new detective. Alex Holt. My word, is that man handsome. Have you seen him?”
“I have.”
“I think every woman in this town’s going to be after him.”
Every woman but me. “Uh, but what about Gene?”
“What about him?”
“Who could’ve killed him?”
“Oh, right. It could be the animal rights people, I suppose. Gene fought with them so many times. He also owed money to a few guys because he liked to gamble. I’ve also heard around town that it was possibly your sister. Or... you.”
I swallowed hard. “We didn’t kill your husband.”
She waved her hand in the air dismissively. “I don’t believe you killed him. I don’t think women are capable of shooting someone in the head, unless it’s self-defense, and trust me, I had to defend myself against Gene a couple of times. Let’s just say it’s a good thing I didn’t have access to a gun. No, women are smarter than homicide, you know? When we want revenge against a man, we play the long game.”
Her smile was positively feral. Despite the heat and the spice of the drink, a chill went through me.
“I suppose you’re right,” I said slowly. I was glad she didn’t think Vera or I had anything to do with it. But her cavalier attitude toward her husband’s murder was unsettling.
Understandable, but problematic.
“When’s the funeral, anyway?”
“Tuesday. He wouldn’t have wanted a church service. If we wheeled his casket into a church, it would burn to the ground. So we’re doing it at the Mortimer Funeral Home downtown. I’d be honored if you came.”
I nodded. “OK.”
She floated in silence and I attempted another sip of the liquid inferno Bloody Mary. “Well, I hope you can find a measure of peace. Be kind to yourself, OK? It’s hard losing someone.”
She swirled her free hand in the water. “Thanks. There was a time that I loved Gene, but those days were long gone when he died. Now I’m just relieved that I don’t have to put up with his abusive crap. And I can pursue my passion.”
