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“Apparently so. And he never tried to contact you?”
“Never. If he had, Imighthave tried to kill him. But he didn’t and so I didn’t.”
Decker said, “You opened a florist shop, didn’t you? With the proceeds from your husband’s insurance policy? I remember seeing it. Over on Ash Place?”
She eyed him warily. “I buried myfamilywith a chunk of the insurance money. And then I went on living. I’m not sure how.”
“And the florist shop?” persisted Decker.
“There wasn’t that much left after the funeral expenses. But, yes, I opened a florist shop. I’ve always loved gardening and flowers. It did okay. Provided a decent living. Even did some holiday events for the police department. I sold it a few years back. Now I run the place for the new owners. When my Social Security kicks in, I’m going to retire and just work on my own garden.”
Lancaster looked at Decker. “Anything else?”
He shook his head.
“How was he killed?” asked Richards.
“We’re holding that back for now,” said Lancaster.
“Am I free to go?”
“Yes.”
She rose and looked at the pair. “I didn’t kill him,” she said quietly. “Years ago, I probably would have, no problem. But I guess time does help to heal you.”
She walked out.
Lancaster looked at him. “You believe her?”
“I don’t disbelieve her.”
“There were no usable prints or other tracein Hawkins’s room.”
“I didn’t expect there would be.”
“So what now?”
“We do what we always did. We keep digging.”
Lancaster checked her watch. “Well, right now I’ve got to get home and get some sleep or I’m going to keel over. I’ll give you a call later. You should get some sleep too.”
He rose and followed her out of the room.
Outside, Lancaster said, “I can drop you off where you’re staying.”
“I’d rather walk, thanks. It’s not that far.”
She smiled. “Nice to be working with you again.”
“You might not think that much longer.”
“I’ve gotten used to your ways.”
“So you say.”
He turned and walked off into the breaking dawn.
