Deco sun above them. Matted in gray; narrow black frame. 25 x 28 inches. Price: $895.
Since all that was left in Gussie’s kitchen was teabags, cans of diet cola, and two of the bottles of champagne Maggie had brought, Jim’s arrival the next morning bearing hot breakfast sandwiches from the Salty Dog Diner was a happy surprise. “My kitchen’s pretty much empty,” he admitted. “I had a feeling yours was, too.”
“Have you heard anything about the investigation of Dan Jeffrey’s murder?” Maggie asked, she hoped casually.
“Talk around town is it was a drug deal gone bad,” said Jim. “Bob Silva’s saying he was always sure Jeffrey was responsible for his kid’s death last spring. He’s just sorry he wasn’t the one to kill him. Frankly, no one seems too interested. I’m surprised a murder in town hasn’t stirred up more feeling.”
“Dan had only been around a couple of years. If he was involved with drugs and someone from Boston or somewhere else far from Winslow killed him, then no one here’s in danger, so no one needs to worry,” said Gussie. “Makes sense. This is a closely knit community.”
“Bob Silva. He’s the one you were telling me about, right, Gussie?” asked Maggie, taking the last bite of her sandwich. If anyone believed Jeffrey was responsible for his child’s death, wouldn’t that be a good motive? In addition to a mysterious drug dealer from Boston, whom she wasn’t ruling out. Or someone connected to the victim’s previous life in Colorado.
“Silva’s the one. When his son died of an overdose, pretty much the whole town went to the funeral.”
Jim nodded. “At first his dad, Bob, blamed everyone. His teachers, for not teaching drug education. The police, for allowing drugs in the community. Chief Irons had a hard time with him. Then Bob decided someone in the community must have given Tony the drugs, and got the idea it was Dan.” Jim shrugged. “No one ever proved where the boy got the drugs. They were prescription meds, so they could have come from anywhere. But Dan was the newest face in town, and he didn’t have a history here. Bob followed him around and harassed him. I think he threw a rock through the window at Cordelia’s once.”
“That’s more than just bad-mouthing someone,” Maggie pointed out.
“True. Ike talked to him about it more than once, I know. Bob has a tendency to drink when he’s angry, and he gets angrier when he drinks. After his son’s death…well, the whole town was making allowances for him. I guess Ike was, too. Or else he couldn’t do anything about it. Anyway, everyone pretty much ignored the situation.”
“It sounds awful for Dan.”
“Must have been,” agreed Jim. “As I think about it, that’s probably why I hadn’t seen him around town much the past couple of months. He was probably staying out of Bob’s way.”
“He’s the one Ike Irons said he’d be checking out when you asked if he had any leads in the case. He certainly sounds as though he had a motive.”
Jim shrugged again. “I guess. But I suspect Ike thinks he’s what they call in Texas, ‘all hat and no cattle.’ Bob yelled a lot, but I’ve known him all the years I’ve been here and the only time I’ve seen him throw a punch was once last spring when he and Dan got into it at the Lazy Lobster.” He looked at Maggie. “But, you’re right. He had motive. I’m sure Ike’ll be checking him out.”
Maggie wasn’t convinced. Besides, Dan Jeffrey, as he was called here in Winslow, was shot. You didn’t need to get up close and personal with someone to shoot them. “If I were making a list of suspects, Bob Silva would be on it. Just sayin’.”
“You’ve been spending too much time with your students,” said Gussie. “Or maybe with Diana.”
“Diana?” asked Jim.
“Remember? You said it would be all right if she helped us with the move and the wedding. She was here yesterday to help us pack,” said Maggie. “She’s had a
Since all that was left in Gussie’s kitchen was teabags, cans of diet cola, and two of the bottles of champagne Maggie had brought, Jim’s arrival the next morning bearing hot breakfast sandwiches from the Salty Dog Diner was a happy surprise. “My kitchen’s pretty much empty,” he admitted. “I had a feeling yours was, too.”
“Have you heard anything about the investigation of Dan Jeffrey’s murder?” Maggie asked, she hoped casually.
“Talk around town is it was a drug deal gone bad,” said Jim. “Bob Silva’s saying he was always sure Jeffrey was responsible for his kid’s death last spring. He’s just sorry he wasn’t the one to kill him. Frankly, no one seems too interested. I’m surprised a murder in town hasn’t stirred up more feeling.”
“Dan had only been around a couple of years. If he was involved with drugs and someone from Boston or somewhere else far from Winslow killed him, then no one here’s in danger, so no one needs to worry,” said Gussie. “Makes sense. This is a closely knit community.”
“Bob Silva. He’s the one you were telling me about, right, Gussie?” asked Maggie, taking the last bite of her sandwich. If anyone believed Jeffrey was responsible for his child’s death, wouldn’t that be a good motive? In addition to a mysterious drug dealer from Boston, whom she wasn’t ruling out. Or someone connected to the victim’s previous life in Colorado.
“Silva’s the one. When his son died of an overdose, pretty much the whole town went to the funeral.”
Jim nodded. “At first his dad, Bob, blamed everyone. His teachers, for not teaching drug education. The police, for allowing drugs in the community. Chief Irons had a hard time with him. Then Bob decided someone in the community must have given Tony the drugs, and got the idea it was Dan.” Jim shrugged. “No one ever proved where the boy got the drugs. They were prescription meds, so they could have come from anywhere. But Dan was the newest face in town, and he didn’t have a history here. Bob followed him around and harassed him. I think he threw a rock through the window at Cordelia’s once.”
“That’s more than just bad-mouthing someone,” Maggie pointed out.
“True. Ike talked to him about it more than once, I know. Bob has a tendency to drink when he’s angry, and he gets angrier when he drinks. After his son’s death…well, the whole town was making allowances for him. I guess Ike was, too. Or else he couldn’t do anything about it. Anyway, everyone pretty much ignored the situation.”
“It sounds awful for Dan.”
“Must have been,” agreed Jim. “As I think about it, that’s probably why I hadn’t seen him around town much the past couple of months. He was probably staying out of Bob’s way.”
“He’s the one Ike Irons said he’d be checking out when you asked if he had any leads in the case. He certainly sounds as though he had a motive.”
Jim shrugged again. “I guess. But I suspect Ike thinks he’s what they call in Texas, ‘all hat and no cattle.’ Bob yelled a lot, but I’ve known him all the years I’ve been here and the only time I’ve seen him throw a punch was once last spring when he and Dan got into it at the Lazy Lobster.” He looked at Maggie. “But, you’re right. He had motive. I’m sure Ike’ll be checking him out.”
Maggie wasn’t convinced. Besides, Dan Jeffrey, as he was called here in Winslow, was shot. You didn’t need to get up close and personal with someone to shoot them. “If I were making a list of suspects, Bob Silva would be on it. Just sayin’.”
“You’ve been spending too much time with your students,” said Gussie. “Or maybe with Diana.”
“Diana?” asked Jim.
“Remember? You said it would be all right if she helped us with the move and the wedding. She was here yesterday to help us pack,” said Maggie. “She’s had a
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