Viv observed.
“We can’t get any closer with the truck. I think we’ll have to get out and walk up the street.”
“Nicky and Queenie will be fine.” Viv looked at the dog and cat. “Guard the truck, you two. We won’t be long.”
Lin and Viv approached the first cluster of gawkers. They didn’t recognize anyone they knew. Viv asked for news even though she knew the basics of what had happened. People supplied some information.
“A woman committed suicide.”
“Her lawn guy found her in the garage.”
“She worked at the cultural museum.”
“Some people think she was the one who stole that valuable basket.”
Viv asked, “When was she found?”
“A few hours ago.”
“Have they taken her away?” Lin wondered if Martha had been left in the car where she’d died as the police investigated the scene.
“An ambulance drove away about an hour ago.”
Viv nodded at the people and she and her cousin moved down the street to get closer to the house.
“There aren’t many streetlamps. It’s hard to make out who’s hanging around out here in the dark.” Lin linked arms with Viv.
As they walked, they looked from side to side trying to see who was there. When they were almost across from the house, Viv stopped short. She nodded to a spot across the street. “Isn’t that Nathan Long?”
Lin squinted. “It looks like him.”
Nathan was swaying slightly from foot to foot while speaking intently with a tall, lean woman. Occasionally, they would glance up the driveway to Martha’s house. The tall woman had a white tissue in one hand and she dabbed at her eyes every few seconds. A police officer walked down the drive towards Nathan and the woman, said a few words, and then led them up to the house.
“Huh,” Lin said. “Why are they being taken inside?”
“Maybe Nathan saw Martha earlier in the day. Maybe the police want to ask for some details.”
L in noticed a woman with a long black ponytail straddling a bicycle. “Isn’t that Mary Frye?” Lin and Viv walked over and said hello.
“How sad,” Mary commented. “I can’t believe it. It’s a terrible shock.”
“How did you hear?” Viv asked.
“I stopped in town to buy a water bottle. People in the store were talking about it. At first, I thought they must be wrong.”
“It’s an awful shock when someone you know dies,” Lin said.
“It’s not just that.” Mary switched off the blinking light on her handle bars. “Ms. Hillman is the last person I would ever think would take her own life.”
Lin tilted her head. “What was it about Martha that made you think that way?”
Mary looked at Lin. “She was … forceful, confidant.”
“She may have been depressed for a long time and hid it well from everyone,” Viv said softly. “I guess we don’t always know someone or what they might be feeling.”
Mary seemed to be processing what Viv said. “It doesn’t fit though.” Mary gave a shrug. “It just doesn’t fit.”
Lin took a step closer to Mary. “Who was the person who got fired recently from the museum? I know Martha let someone go not long ago.”
Something flickered over Mary’s face. “I didn’t know that someone got fired.”
Lin wanted to sigh, but took a different tack. “Maybe I’m wrong then. Didn’t someone give notice? Someone resigned?”
“Oh. Is that who you mean? She didn’t get fired. She left for a different position.” Mary nodded.
“Who was that?” Lin gave a gentle smile.
“Avery Holden. She’d worked at the museum for quite a while.”
“How did you like her? Did she work well with everyone?” Lin kept her innocent smile on her face trying to encourage Mary to be forthcoming.
The same fleeting look that had flickered over Mary’s face earlier showed itself for a second and then was gone. “Sure. I liked her a lot.” Mary turned her handlebar headlight back on and changed the subject. “Will you be taking the other weaving class I’m giving next week?” She
“We can’t get any closer with the truck. I think we’ll have to get out and walk up the street.”
“Nicky and Queenie will be fine.” Viv looked at the dog and cat. “Guard the truck, you two. We won’t be long.”
Lin and Viv approached the first cluster of gawkers. They didn’t recognize anyone they knew. Viv asked for news even though she knew the basics of what had happened. People supplied some information.
“A woman committed suicide.”
“Her lawn guy found her in the garage.”
“She worked at the cultural museum.”
“Some people think she was the one who stole that valuable basket.”
Viv asked, “When was she found?”
“A few hours ago.”
“Have they taken her away?” Lin wondered if Martha had been left in the car where she’d died as the police investigated the scene.
“An ambulance drove away about an hour ago.”
Viv nodded at the people and she and her cousin moved down the street to get closer to the house.
“There aren’t many streetlamps. It’s hard to make out who’s hanging around out here in the dark.” Lin linked arms with Viv.
As they walked, they looked from side to side trying to see who was there. When they were almost across from the house, Viv stopped short. She nodded to a spot across the street. “Isn’t that Nathan Long?”
Lin squinted. “It looks like him.”
Nathan was swaying slightly from foot to foot while speaking intently with a tall, lean woman. Occasionally, they would glance up the driveway to Martha’s house. The tall woman had a white tissue in one hand and she dabbed at her eyes every few seconds. A police officer walked down the drive towards Nathan and the woman, said a few words, and then led them up to the house.
“Huh,” Lin said. “Why are they being taken inside?”
“Maybe Nathan saw Martha earlier in the day. Maybe the police want to ask for some details.”
L in noticed a woman with a long black ponytail straddling a bicycle. “Isn’t that Mary Frye?” Lin and Viv walked over and said hello.
“How sad,” Mary commented. “I can’t believe it. It’s a terrible shock.”
“How did you hear?” Viv asked.
“I stopped in town to buy a water bottle. People in the store were talking about it. At first, I thought they must be wrong.”
“It’s an awful shock when someone you know dies,” Lin said.
“It’s not just that.” Mary switched off the blinking light on her handle bars. “Ms. Hillman is the last person I would ever think would take her own life.”
Lin tilted her head. “What was it about Martha that made you think that way?”
Mary looked at Lin. “She was … forceful, confidant.”
“She may have been depressed for a long time and hid it well from everyone,” Viv said softly. “I guess we don’t always know someone or what they might be feeling.”
Mary seemed to be processing what Viv said. “It doesn’t fit though.” Mary gave a shrug. “It just doesn’t fit.”
Lin took a step closer to Mary. “Who was the person who got fired recently from the museum? I know Martha let someone go not long ago.”
Something flickered over Mary’s face. “I didn’t know that someone got fired.”
Lin wanted to sigh, but took a different tack. “Maybe I’m wrong then. Didn’t someone give notice? Someone resigned?”
“Oh. Is that who you mean? She didn’t get fired. She left for a different position.” Mary nodded.
“Who was that?” Lin gave a gentle smile.
“Avery Holden. She’d worked at the museum for quite a while.”
“How did you like her? Did she work well with everyone?” Lin kept her innocent smile on her face trying to encourage Mary to be forthcoming.
The same fleeting look that had flickered over Mary’s face earlier showed itself for a second and then was gone. “Sure. I liked her a lot.” Mary turned her handlebar headlight back on and changed the subject. “Will you be taking the other weaving class I’m giving next week?” She
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