Omens (Cainsville 1)

Gabriel waited, his gaze on her until she continued.

"It was about Pete."

"Peter Evans? Jan's fiance?"

"I don't know if this was in the file," she said. "The police probably didn't consider it important. Jan had been engaged to another man before Pete."

Tim Marlotte. He did have a page in the file, because an estranged fiance made a good suspect when the victims were his ex and her new boyfriend. Marlotte hadn't been a serious suspect. Too much time had passed between the breakup and the murders. The cops investigated, though, and found Marlotte had a rock-solid alibi--he'd been at a family dinner, where a dozen people could vouch for him, including his new girlfriend.

"Tim was Christian's best friend," Anna said. "The three of them had hung out together since they were kids, and Tim and Jan dated all through college. Then she met Pete. That was tough enough for the family--everyone liked Tim--but combined with the other issue, it made for some serious family drama."

"Other issue?"

"The age difference."

"He was younger than Jan," Gabriel said.

Anna nodded. "Three years. Pete was barely nineteen when they started going out. My parents were embarrassed. His parents weren't happy. Tim was confused. Christian was upset. No one was pleased."

"Except Jan and Pete, I presume."

She wrapped her hands around her mug. "Yes. They were very happy. I look back now and I feel bad for everything we put them through when they were obviously in love. Even I wasn't nice about it. I think I was jealous. Pete was only two years older than me and he was such a great guy. Tim was nice and sweet, and I'd known him forever, but he and Jan ... there weren't sparks, you know? Maybe it was because they knew each other so long. It was like a comfortable marriage before they even got engaged. They genuinely liked each other but like isn't enough for a relationship. Jan realized that when she met Pete. She loved him and he loved her back, and I wish we'd all seen that and left them alone."

"So the fight was about Jan and Pete?"

"Yes. Tim had started seeing a new girl. Christian had still been hoping Jan and Tim would reunite. He found out that Jan had called Tim to say she was happy for him. Christian exploded. He told Jan it was rude and cruel to congratulate Tim on finding a replacement for her. They fought. Christian stormed out. He came back that night after Jan was in bed. They didn't speak the next day and then..."

And then Jan and Pete were dead.

"So it was nothing," Anna said. "A family fight. Hardly anything that would make Christian..." She shook her head. "I can't even say the words."

After a few more questions, Gabriel wrapped it up. He asked if Anna had any contact with Tim Marlotte. Turned out they still exchanged Christmas cards. She had his number and was happy to ask him to speak to us.

As we left, Gabriel was closing the door and I noticed the welcome sign. Earlier I'd seen only red flowers on it. Now I saw what they were and tried not to stiffen.

"Poppies," I murmured. "An odd choice for decoration."

"Why?"

"Do you know what they signify?"

"Opium?"

I shook my head and started down the steps. "Death. Appropriate, I suppose, given all she's been through." I tried not to think of her father, of what she'd go through then. "God, I don't think I said one word in there."

"You did very well." He reached into his pocket. "Have a cookie."

I took it. "I didn't even see you swipe that," I said as I circled the front of the car.

"Just like you didn't see me take Grace's scone the other day. You need to pay more attention, Olivia. You're very good at listening. But paying attention is about more than listening."

"Yes, sir."

We got into the car.

As he backed out, he checked his watch. "Not yet one o'clock. We can talk on the way back to Cainsville or we can go to lunch."

"Lunch, please. Keep it under fifty bucks and you can even put it on my tab."