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“We’ve got Ellen covered,” Finley promised.
They said their goodbyes, and Finley made her way back to her Subaru.
She thought of her comment to the elderly woman. Were they good people? Both she and Jack had so many secrets. They pushed the envelope. Crossed lines.
All in the name of protecting their client. Surely that was good in anyone’s opinion.
After putting through a call to Laney Pettit’s number, Finley navigated her Subaru toward Cumberland Place. The call went to voice mail. Next, she tried Ellen Winthrop. The woman answered after the second ring. One to ID the caller and the second one to consider what she intended to say. It was a tactic Finley used all the time.
“Finley,” she said rather than hello, “I hope you have an update for me.”
“No update,” Finley said as she merged into traffic. “But I do have questions. Let’s start with, How can I reach Laney Pettit? Her cell is going to her voice mail.”
Finley braced for stonewalling.
“I’m sorry, but Laney is out of town. She left for Birmingham early this morning. A dear friend is very ill and in need of assistance. Since she retired, Laney’s always helping others. If you leave a message, I’m sure she’ll call you back as soon as she can.”
It was moments like this that made it difficult for Finley to trust Winthrop entirely. Laney being out of town was just too convenient.“Maybe you can let Laney know I really need to speak with her as soon as possible.”
“I’m happy to make a call, but in the meanwhile perhaps I can help you,” Winthrop offered.
Why not? After all, Duncan would likely tell Winthrop about her visitor.
“Who was the man who stole from Nora Duncan and whose disappearance apparently prompted her suicide?”
Hesitation. Hard to believe Winthrop hadn’t been expecting this call. She seemed to be one step ahead of Finley at every turn. Evidently no one from Blakedale had called to warn her about Finley’s visit. Winthrop had no shortage of connections. Why not one there?
Something else she and Finley had in common.
“Oh yes. Poor Nora. Such a sad, sad situation. Laney was devastated, as was I. The two of them were like sisters. More than sisters, really. It was a terrible, terrible time.”
Losing a loved one was rarely easy. “Who was the man?”
A sigh hissed across the connection. “Finley, this is a very sensitive matter. Nora’s mother is fragile, and I don’t want anyone doing anything that will hurt her in any way.”
“I wouldn’t think of it,” Finley returned, tamping down the frustration that attempted to make an appearance. “But you did promise her that you’d find him and make him pay.”
“You’ve already disturbed her with this nonsense, haven’t you?”
Finley didn’t respond to the question. No point confirming what Winthrop had already figured out.
“Was the man—this Ned—Jarrod Grady?” Finley asked.
Winthrop laughed, though the sound was void of humor. “Finley, I’m afraid you’ve reached the wrong conclusions. You see, it wasn’t a man. It was a woman. Nora kept this from all of us for the longest time. I think she really wanted to see if the relationship would workout before she broke the news to us and to her elderly mother that she preferred women rather than men.”
Finley braked and eased into the turning lane for Harding Place. “Who was this woman?”
“Who the woman was is irrelevant. She disappeared, and Nora decided she didn’t want to ever tell her mother. It was utterly tragic. Poor Nora slipped into a deep, dark depression, and Laney and I couldn’t pull her out of it. Dr.Mengesha tried to help, but I think it was too late. Nora had made up her mind, and no one was going to change it.”
“If the woman is irrelevant, why make the promise to Nora’s mother?” Finley asked. She waffled between being annoyed at Winthrop for sounding so condescending and being flat-out pissed off at Marsh for possibly lying to her.
More of that impatient sighing. “What does this have to do with anything?”
Finley reached for patience. “Perhaps nothing, but we need to have the facts, which means I will still need to speak with Laney when she is available.”
“I want to know where this is coming from. What does Nora’s tragedy have to do with my case?” Winthrop demanded. “Is it that damned receptionist?”
Before Finley could respond, Winthrop ranted on, “You cannot believe anything she says. She’s only trying to make me look bad because Jarrod chose me over her.Shehad an affair with my husband.”
