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“I’m very sorry, Mrs. Moffitt, about Dick,” Peter said.
“His close personal friends, some of who I didn’t even know,” Gertrude Moffitt went on, “were at the house last night.”
It was a rebuke.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t come by last night, Jeannie,” Peter said.
“Your mother explained,” Jeannie Moffitt said. “Did Denny Coughlin ask you?”
“About being a pallbearer?” Peter asked, and when she nodded, went on: “Yes, and I’m honored.”
“Dennis Coughlin was a sergeant when he carried my John, God rest his soul, to his grave,” Gertrude Moffitt said. “And now, as a chief inspector, he’ll be doing the same for my Richard.”
“Mother, would you please put the kids in the car?” Jean Moffitt said. “I want a word with Inspector Wohl.”
That earned Jeannie a dirty look from Mother Moffitt, but it didn’t seem to faze her. She returned the older woman’s look, staring her down until she led the boys down the stairs.
“Tell me about the TV lady, Peter,” Jeannie Moffitt said.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Isn’t that why you didn’t come by the house last night? You were afraid I’d ask you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Jeannie,” Wohl said.
“I’m talking about Louise Dutton of Channel Nine,” she said. “Was there something between her and Dutch? I have to know.”
“Where did you hear that?”
“It’s going around,” she said. “I heard it.”
“Well, you heard wrong,” Peter said.
“You sound pretty sure,” Jeannie Moffitt accused sarcastically.
“I know for sure,” Peter said.
“Peter, don’t lie to me,” Jeannie said.
“Louise Dutton and me, as my mother would put it, if she knew, and doesn’t, are ‘keeping company,’ “ Wohl said. “That’s how I know.”
Her eyes widened in surprise.
“Really?” she said, and he knew she believed him.
“Not for public consumption,” Peter said. “The gossips got their facts wrong. Wrong cop.”
“I thought you were seeing that nurse, what’s her name, Barbara—”
“Crowley,” Peter furnished. “I was.”
“Your mother doesn’t know?”
“And, for the time being, I would like to keep it that way,” Peter said.
She looked in his eyes, and then stood on her toes and kissed his cheek.
“Oh, I’m glad I ran into you,” she said.
