that did him in.” Jake paused and started to wipe imaginary spills on the bar top.
“Jake, is there something else?”
“Mr. Faraday, there’s one other thing I should mention.”
“What? Another candidate for investigation?”
“I guess the police would think so.” He paused. “I saw Mrs. Faraday the night of the dance.”
“You mean with Todd?”
“No, later, about two thirty in the morning. I saw her slip back into the Club. But I haven’t told anyone.”
“Now you know the pickle we’re in. Carrie woke up and realized she didn’t have her tennis bracelet. She figured she’dlost it in the library when she was struggling with Todd. She returned to the Club to get her bracelet. Actually, I returned too.”
“I didn’t see you.”
“I was here, and that’s the problem. We were both here during the murder period. But I assure you, Jake, when Carrie was in the library, Todd’s body wasn’t there.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“You know?” Charles was astonished.
Once again, Jake looked around to see whether anyone was listening. “When I saw Mrs. Faraday, I went after her. I thought maybe there was a problem, or maybe I could help her with something. I saw her go into the library. However, I was at the other end of the hall just outside the ballroom. By the time I got to the library, she was gone. I looked out the window and saw the taillights of a car, so I figured she had left by the veranda. I walked back through the library. I can tell you Todd’s body wasn’t there, and there was a huge, blazing fire providing plenty of light. If he was there, I’d have seen him.”
“Jake, why haven’t you told the police you saw Carrie leave? You can verify she didn’t commit the murder,” Charles said excitedly.
“Now hold on, Mr. Faraday. Think about it. Remember, I didn’t see you. I can say I saw your wife leave, but it means I’d also have to admit she was here. And where were you? Did you think she was meeting Todd? Did you confront Todd after she left? You see the problem?”
“Yeah, I do. I appreciate your thinking this through. I know I’m not guilty, but proving it’s going to be another matter.”
“Exactly! The police questions haven’t been specific, so I haven’t lied. I just haven’t told them everything I know.”
Charles put a couple of twenties on the bar. “Jake, as always, you have been a wealth of knowledge. If we could keep this conversation just between us…”
“You bet, Mr. Faraday, but you don’t have to pay. I’ve no intentions of telling the police anything.”
Charles pushed the empty glass toward Jake. “Just paying for my drink.” Charles got up to leave, then turned back. “Jake, if the police questions get more specific, don’t lie, including the fact that you saw Carrie. Just tell the truth. Ultimately, the truth will clear us.”
“You got it, Mr. Faraday. If and when asked, I’ll tell the truth.”
fter Charles paid the bill, he was anxious to get home and tell Carrie about his conversation with Jake. He had a few more details to add to their file on Todd, plus a couple of new names of ladies involved with him. Charles wondered in particular about Linda Barrington’s relationship with Todd, as well as Delores Chaney’s.
As he was passing through the lobby of the Club, he saw Delores Chaney sitting in one of the lobby chairs. Delores always made a nice appearance, whether she was in ball gowns, casual clothes, or something to wear for dinner at the Club. She was one of the few women Charles knew who didn’t mind her age and also seemed to age well. While her skin had developed some of the telltale aging signs, her complexion had a youthful look.
No time like the present
, he thought. “Delores, hello.”
“Oh, hello, Charles.” She looked past him. “Carrie not with you?”
“No, she’s home doing some writing. How about John?”
“He’s parking the car. It’s starting to rain, and I’ve a bit of a cold, so he didn’t
“Jake, is there something else?”
“Mr. Faraday, there’s one other thing I should mention.”
“What? Another candidate for investigation?”
“I guess the police would think so.” He paused. “I saw Mrs. Faraday the night of the dance.”
“You mean with Todd?”
“No, later, about two thirty in the morning. I saw her slip back into the Club. But I haven’t told anyone.”
“Now you know the pickle we’re in. Carrie woke up and realized she didn’t have her tennis bracelet. She figured she’dlost it in the library when she was struggling with Todd. She returned to the Club to get her bracelet. Actually, I returned too.”
“I didn’t see you.”
“I was here, and that’s the problem. We were both here during the murder period. But I assure you, Jake, when Carrie was in the library, Todd’s body wasn’t there.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“You know?” Charles was astonished.
Once again, Jake looked around to see whether anyone was listening. “When I saw Mrs. Faraday, I went after her. I thought maybe there was a problem, or maybe I could help her with something. I saw her go into the library. However, I was at the other end of the hall just outside the ballroom. By the time I got to the library, she was gone. I looked out the window and saw the taillights of a car, so I figured she had left by the veranda. I walked back through the library. I can tell you Todd’s body wasn’t there, and there was a huge, blazing fire providing plenty of light. If he was there, I’d have seen him.”
“Jake, why haven’t you told the police you saw Carrie leave? You can verify she didn’t commit the murder,” Charles said excitedly.
“Now hold on, Mr. Faraday. Think about it. Remember, I didn’t see you. I can say I saw your wife leave, but it means I’d also have to admit she was here. And where were you? Did you think she was meeting Todd? Did you confront Todd after she left? You see the problem?”
“Yeah, I do. I appreciate your thinking this through. I know I’m not guilty, but proving it’s going to be another matter.”
“Exactly! The police questions haven’t been specific, so I haven’t lied. I just haven’t told them everything I know.”
Charles put a couple of twenties on the bar. “Jake, as always, you have been a wealth of knowledge. If we could keep this conversation just between us…”
“You bet, Mr. Faraday, but you don’t have to pay. I’ve no intentions of telling the police anything.”
Charles pushed the empty glass toward Jake. “Just paying for my drink.” Charles got up to leave, then turned back. “Jake, if the police questions get more specific, don’t lie, including the fact that you saw Carrie. Just tell the truth. Ultimately, the truth will clear us.”
“You got it, Mr. Faraday. If and when asked, I’ll tell the truth.”
fter Charles paid the bill, he was anxious to get home and tell Carrie about his conversation with Jake. He had a few more details to add to their file on Todd, plus a couple of new names of ladies involved with him. Charles wondered in particular about Linda Barrington’s relationship with Todd, as well as Delores Chaney’s.
As he was passing through the lobby of the Club, he saw Delores Chaney sitting in one of the lobby chairs. Delores always made a nice appearance, whether she was in ball gowns, casual clothes, or something to wear for dinner at the Club. She was one of the few women Charles knew who didn’t mind her age and also seemed to age well. While her skin had developed some of the telltale aging signs, her complexion had a youthful look.
No time like the present
, he thought. “Delores, hello.”
“Oh, hello, Charles.” She looked past him. “Carrie not with you?”
“No, she’s home doing some writing. How about John?”
“He’s parking the car. It’s starting to rain, and I’ve a bit of a cold, so he didn’t
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