Page 45 of Happy Wife

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to. But, you see, Will told Dean he didn’t want to use any of his usual private investigators. What I can’t make sense of is what Dean was investigating. And I’ve got a bad feeling that whatever it was, it might have gotten him killed.”

I knew Will used PIs from time to time for work, but I’ve never heard of a Dean. I feel a pang of anxiety—or maybe even guilt. Constance’s comments about our marriage falling apart taint my thoughts. Hiring someone from outside his usual network would be a great way to keep the details of what Will was looking for out of the gossip mill.

“You said Dean had a soft spot for Will?” I shake my head, still confused. “How did they know each other?”

“We’ve always been really proud of Will back home.”

Back home?

Will seldom mentioned his hometown. A one-stop cattle town southwest of Central Florida that he left to attend college and never looked back. It had never occurred to me that he would keep in contact with people there. Both of his parents were dead.

“You know Will from Arcadia?”

“We go way back. Dean and I were good friends with Will’s dad. His father…struggled. With a lot of things. Mostly alcohol. And, well, every few months, Dean and I would try to drag him into a meeting or two and try to dry him out before he would fall off the wagon again. We both felt bad for Will. It was no way to grow up. Dean did all he could. When Roger passed, Will was in college. Dean stepped up and helped Will with his law school applications and such.”

“Will hadn’t told me much about his family. I guess now I know why.” My cheeks heat with embarrassment.

Maybe Iamthe interloper everyone keeps saying I am. How can I not know these things about the man I am married to?

“I don’t mean to pry, but do you have any idea what Dean could’ve been working on? Is there any chance he was…” He trails off.

“Was what?”

“Marriage is a complicated business. I should know. I’ve been married close to forty years.”

I understand the implication. “You think Dean was here looking at me?”

Did Constance put you up to this?

“It would explain why Will wanted to keep things confidential. I’m sorry to imply anything untoward. I just feel like nothing is adding up here.”

I wonder if this is why he’s been following me. Was he trying to make sure I wasn’t having an affair? To gauge whether I’m trustworthy?

“I love Will,” I say with all conviction. “He’s my person.”

“Right.” Perry nods. “Again, I don’t mean to suggest anything untoward.”

Silence settles between us, and I realize we’ve been standing out here for a while. Beads of sweat from the midday sun have gathered on Perry’s forehead.

“I wish I knew more about what Dean was up to. I really do.” I’m not ready for Perry to leave without getting his help, too. I think back to useless Austin at the Verizon store. “Do you know how Dean did any of the investigative things he did?”

“I’m not a PI, but I have some favors I can call in with Dean’s friends back home. There’re a lot of people who are torn up over his loss. What did you have in mind?”

I look at Perry, not sure that I should trust him. But at this point, I don’t have anyone else to turn to. And if Will was bringing people in from Arcadia because he trusted them, maybe I can follow his lead.

“Will got a phone call the night of the party,” I say. “I thought it was his daughter calling—that’s who he told me it was—but it turned out not to be. Maybe if we knew who called him, it could help us figure out why he left?”

Perry nods at me. “I can try to do a little digging around. But it might take a day or two.”

“Thanks. I just need to see if I can figure out who called him.”

And why.

Perry offers me a business card for refrigerator sales. “I’m not a salesperson anymore. Just an old retired guy, but that’s my number.”

As I finish texting him my number, another text comes in from Este.

2:17p.m.