Page 128 of Head Room

“Oh, wait,” Mrs.XX said as their hands separated.“I’ve seen the men spit on their hands before they shake when they truly want to seal a deal.Should we do that?”

Maggie stared at her, not entirely convinced this lady unlike any other lady she had met was joshing.

“No, Ma’am,” she said firmly.“If we did that, I’d have to wash those gloves again, and they gave me fits the last time.”

Mrs.XX broke into laughter.To her surprise, Maggie found herself joining in.

(Notes: Maggie starts doing finer needlework for others, then the officer’s wife gets her to barter — genteelly, a favor for a favor — rather than take money.But gets cow and makes butter and has enlisted man sell for money.

****

Irene had shiftedfromthe womantoMrs.XXfor names as Kit promised — or threatened — I might encounter, dropping me deeper into the creator’s world.

The lack of a name didn’t matter because I had a strong sense of the character, which was a surprise.

DAY FOUR

TUESDAY

CHAPTER FIFTY

From the stationin the morning, I called Connie and wasted no time on niceties when she answered.Fortunately, she’s used to me.And she’s a forgiving person.

“Connie, tell me everything you remember about the day Frank Jardos walked by you in the courthouse parking lot.”

“I told you.I said his name to stop him.He said hello.I asked if something was wrong.He said no.That was it.”

“Back up.You said he came from the side street.”

“Oh, yeah.He did.”

“Did you see him come out of a building on that street?”

“No.Oh...Well, maybe.It could have been James Longbaugh’s office, but maybe I thought that because that’s the one I’m most familiar with on that street.I sort of saw Frank as I came out of the courthouse, then lost sight of him for a while as I walked to my truck, then there he was, coming toward me, then past me, like I said.”

Yes, I already had James acknowledging that Jardos had been at his office and asked about registered agents.And Connie wasn’t definitive, but it helped tie the topic of registered agents closer to Jardos being distracted and concerned.

“What happened after you asked if something was wrong?If you can remember the exact words he used...”

“Exact words...Well, I’m pretty sure I asked if something was wrong.And he said — he saidI’m okay.And now that you mention it, that’s not the same, is it?Because he could be okay, but something could still be wrong.

“And then I asked if there was anything I could do.He said,no, and touched me on the arm.Then...yes, he said something about he wasn’t sure there was anything he could do, either.Then he turned around and walked off.”

He walked off.

I wanted to hit my forehead with the heel of my hand.Why hadn’t I thought to ask before— Self-recriminations were a waste of time when I could be askingnow.

“Where did he walk to, Connie?”

“Toward his truck.”A pause.It felt long, because, I realized, I was holding my breath.“But he didn’t get in.He went past it.Toward the sheriff’s department.By then, I was pulling out of the lot and not paying attention anymore.I’m sorry, Elizabeth—”

“No need to be sorry, Connie.Thank you.I appreciate you letting me pelt you with questions.”

I heard the smile in her voice.“Any time.Especially if it helps in even the smallest way with what happened to Frank.”

That was the rub.

I had no idea if it did.