Page 166 of Trust No One

“Did she ever mention Amy Stocker?”

“She didn’t, but other people did. There was plenty of gossip. Someone spotted Gabe with Amy in Richmond and Charlottesville.”

Gabe didn’t need an excuse to be reckless. “Do you have an idea of when Maria found out?”

“Two months ago. It explained all the behavior I just mentioned. But like I said, when she came back from her break, she seemed okay. If she knew about it, she appeared to be dealing. I figured she was biding her time.”

“How so?”

“Divorce, I guess. She wasn’t the type to make a scene. She’d have divorced Gabe when it suited her.”

Pushing aside a spouse’s extramarital affair was tough. Most didn’t just let something like this go so easily. “Gabe thought she was having an affair.”

Mrs. Brown frowned. “She was careful not to mention his name. I don’t think he lived in town. If he had, it would have gotten out.”

“That about the time she stopped showing all signs of worry or distress?”

“Yes.” Mrs. Brown’s smile was genuine. “I’m not sure what happened, but she and Gabe seemed closer than ever.”

“Any idea how someone could get ahold of cyanide?”

Her gaze sharpened. Word of the autopsy had spread. “We have it at the hospital. It’s part of other blended medications, and it’s used in research. It’s also used in local industries and on farms as a pesticide.”

“No shortages at the hospital?”

“No, of course not. We have careful controls.”

“Was Maria involved in inventory?”

“Yes. Many of the nurses are.” She leaned forward. “Maria was a victim. She was poisoned. She’s dead. She wasn’t a thief or a killer.”

“Just covering all the angles. Any idea who would have wanted all three dead?”

“A monster. They’ve left a small child an orphan.”

Monsters rarely saw themselves as evil. They believed they were justified by anger, desperation, or need. But this killer wasn’t reckless. The murders were deliberate.

“Did Gabe ever hint he could kill his wife?”

“I don’t know. Whenever I saw him, he was smiling.”

“Did anyone here know Amy Stocker?”

“She’s a real estate agent. She handled the sale of my house.”

“What were your impressions of her?”

“Professional. Very competent.”

“And Raine Hale?” I asked.

“Why do you bring her up? She moved away years ago.”

“Raine and Maria were cousins. They argued a year ago about money. Curious what their relationship was like now.”

Mrs. Brown hesitated, her voice dropping. “Maria didn’t like her.”

“Why not?”