Page 13 of A Deeper Darkness

They took their tea to the pristine kitchen’s island, where blue-and-white-striped cushions softened the iron café stools that stood in readiness. Vivaldi’sWinterplayed softly on the house speakers.

Eleanor settled herself on the cushion.

“Was the flight okay?”

“Fine.”

“Did you eat?”

“No. I wasn’t hungry.”

They drifted into silence. Sam watched Eleanor expectantly. The dam would break soon enough. She was right.

Eleanor shook her head.

“They found him bleeding on the corner of Seventh and L Southeast, at that nasty little market. The car must have drifted off the road a bit, like his foot was on the gas. It ran into the signpost, they found paint in the scratches. The car was taken from that point, there were skid marks leading away. They dropped his body out the door like he was trash. He was dead quickly, they did tell me that.”

Eleanor’s tone was surprisingly matter-of-fact. Sam was impressed.

“No one saw anything?”

“Hardly. Nothing reported. They interviewed people from the neighborhood, but nobody saw a thing. The detective talked to Eddie’s boss at work, Rod Deter. He claims he didn’t call him to come in, doesn’t know who would have, because he had taken the day off. The last incoming number on his cell phone was from a blocked number. The detectives think it was a disposable cell of some kind.”

“So it could have been anyone calling. And the autopsy?”

“Gibberish. They’ll issue the final report in a few weeks, once the toxicology is complete. I had to go by what the detective said. He was shot once in the temple. They said at close range. There was shattered glass all over his body.”

“Left or right temple?”

“Right.”

“So the shooter was on the passenger’s side of the car?”

“That’s what they said. Glass on his clothes, glass in the street.”

“They haven’t turned up the car yet?”

“No. I assume it’s in parts by now.”

“And his wife?”

Eleanor met Sam’s eyes then.

“Devastated. She’s done a good job at pretending otherwise, simply to get the girls through. And the planning…well, you know.”

Sam did.

We can bury them all together, if that’s what you want. They’re small enough….

She swallowed more tea.

“Susan is none too happy with me calling you, that’s for sure. She wants to get him in the ground and get the girls’ lives back on track.”

“That’s understandable.”

Eleanor’s voice rose an octave. “It’s unconscionable. Doesn’t she want to know the truth?”

Sam put her hand on the woman’s arm. “It’s entirely possible that she does know the truth. Eleanor, you’re going to have to give me more to go on than this. Why do you think this is more than a simple carjacking? You said he was working on something?”