Page 24 of Little Dark Deeds

“Do you know anything about their conversation?”

Ron pressed a hand to his throat, clearing it once, then a second time.“Hey ...ahh, Foley.You mind getting me a soda?Should be some cans of lemon lime in the fridge.”

He nodded, saying nothing as he walked toward the kitchen.

“The wife’s name is Jana,” Ron said.“At first, Tiffany worried the woman came to her office to create a scene, but she didn’t.She just wanted to talk, woman to woman.After Tiffany learned Tyler had been unfaithful, she explained she had no idea Tyler had a wife.”

“Did Jana believe her?”

“Tiffany thought she did.They talked for a while longer, and when Jana left, they’d even hugged each other.”

“Did Tiffany ever see or speak to Jana again?”

“To my knowledge, no.”

“How did Jana find out about the affair?”I asked.

“I don’t know.She didn’t say, as far as I know.”

“Is Tyler aware this happened?”

“Jana confronted him right after she saw Tiffany.”

“How did he react?”

“He admitted to it, and then he asked for a divorce.”

Foley returned with a can of soda, which he handed to Ron.

“This Tyler fellow sounds like a stand-up guy,” Foley muttered with a smirk.

“Strange thing is, I thought he was,” Ron said.

“You’ve met Tyler?”I asked.

“Yeah, Tiffany invited me over for dinner one night, and he was here.”

“What was your first impression of him?”

“I thought he was great.He was polite, and he asked me a lot of questions about myself and my life.When he learned I like to play pool, he suggested we get together for a few games sometime.I have to say, in the short time we chatted with each other, he won me over ...well, until I learned he’s a dishonest bastard.Makes me wonder what other secrets the man’s been keeping.”

I wondered the same thing.

“Do you know what happened after Tyler asked Jana for a divorce?”I asked.

“He went straight to Tiffany’s house and apologized for not telling her sooner.He begged her not to end their relationship.He said he’d asked Jana for a divorce so they could be together.”

“How did Tiffany respond?”

“She had such strong feelings for him, his pleading almost worked, but I talked to her, helped her come to her senses.Once a liar, always a liar, in my opinion.Can’t trust a guy who lies right out of the gate—no siree.”

I now had two possible suspects, a great way to start my investigation.

I wondered, though ...had Jana’s understanding attitude the day she confronted Tiffany been genuine, or had it all been for show?

And Tyler, when the begging and pleading failed to win Tiffany back, had something darker taken hold, a different man rising up inside him, a man driven by rage?

Perhaps he loved Tiffany in a deceitful, unhealthy way.