"You don't have to stay," Veronica told Tom, trying to sound braver than she actually felt. It was bad enough to find out that someone had been murdered in her living room. To have a storm hit and the electricity go out made everything seem that much creepier. "Really, I'm OK."
"Are you sure you don't want me to wait until the lights come back on?"
Veronica considered his offer for less than five seconds. "Actually, yes, please stay. I guess I'm not all that OK. Besides, you'll get soaked if you go out now."
Tom settled down on the floor again near the fireplace. Veronica remained curled up on the couch, a very large glass of red wine in her hands. Outside the thunderstorm raged and every so often a flash of lightening illuminated the room, throwing strange shadows across the floor. She was glad Tom was willing to stay. Heaven knew where Kirk was and the last thing she wanted was to sit in the dark in that house.
"Well," Tom said in a voice that was a touch too hearty, "we've gone over both of our childhoods, told each other what our favorite movies are and described the perfect dessert. What else do you want to talk about?"
Veronica asked the question she'd been wondering about all evening. "You might tell me more about Mary Austin's murder," Veronica said slowly.
Tom dropped his head and studied the flames dancing in the fireplace. His legs were stretched out over the hooked rug and it occurred to her that he was sitting on the spot where Mary's body had been found. An involuntary shiver ran through her. "What's there to say?"
"Try everything."
Tom sighed. "Why? It won't change anything."
"No, but I might feel a little better if I know some of the details."
"All right. I'll tell you what I know. Mary came home from work one day and someone was in the house waiting for her. She was attacked and she died. End of story."
Veronica cocked her head at him. "Your lack of detail borders on astounding."
"That's all I know, Veronica. I wasn't here that night."
"You said everyone thought her husband killed her."
"Yes, they didn't have a very good marriage but no one thought Eddie would flip out like that."
"Do you think Eddie killed Mary?"
"I'm not sure," Tom said honestly. "There have always been rumors that it might have been someone else."
"Such as?"
"Well, just about everyone knew that Mary and Eddie's marriage was on the rocks and that Mary was seeing another man. Some people think he might have killed her." Tom waited for Veronica's next inevitable question.
"Who was Mary seeing?"
Tom's eyes met her's. "Ron Schuyler."
Veronica didn't know why she was shocked but she was. Had Ron slept with just about every woman in Schuyler Square who wasn't jail bait? How did he ever manage to get any work done? "Ron was seeing Mary Austin?"
"That was the scuttlebutt."
"Was he ever charged with anything? Was he brought in for questioning?"
"What do you think? The Schuyler's own this town, Veronica. Ron Schuyler would have to be caught with a smoking gun in his hand and a dead body at his feet before he was arrested and we both know it."
Tom was right but the idea that a man she had once been in love with, a man who was the father of her only child might also be a murderer sickened Veronica. With a shaking hand she refilled her wine glass. It looked like this was going to be a very long night.
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