Free Swamp Sniper by Jana DeLeon Page B

bit reckless, but I respect this Foxworthy’s code. Is he a Sinful resident?”
    Gertie sighed. “Later. Right now, we need to get on with business. That is if Mr. High-and-Mighty here will lower his standards to helping us. Unless, of course, you’re afraid talking will get you arrested.”
    Walter shook his head. “Fine, you old fool. What do you want to know?”
    “A reason someone might want to kill Ted,” I said.
    Walter’s eye widened. “Straight to the point. But I’m afraid my answer is going to disappoint you. I have no idea why someone would want him dead.”
    “Not even a little reason?” I asked, unable to believe that Ted’s used-car-salesman personality hadn’t rubbed someone the wrong way.
    “I think the women considered him a bit of a letch,” Walter said, “so they mostly avoided him. The men mostly thought he was full of hot air and he could drive you to drink when he got on a roll and wouldn’t stop talking, but that’s not something you kill a man for.”
    “What about an affair?” I asked. “You said he was a letch. Maybe there’s a woman in Sinful who didn’t want to avoid him. Someone with a jealous husband.”
    Walter frowned. “I guess anything’s possible, but I’d have no idea who it could be. I’ve never seen him talking to anyone in particular and certainly not carrying on in a way that I would suspect an affair.”
    Gertie sighed. “This is a pointless line of questioning. Walter would have to see Ted in bed with another woman to know he was having an affair. Men have blinders on when it comes to that sort of thing.”
    “Really?” I asked. My experience with men had mostly been limited to other CIA operatives. Being observant tended to keep you alive, so I was unaware of this pedestrian male blind spot.  
    “Maybe,” Walter said, looking a bit indignant, “it’s that women are underhanded and sneaky and men don’t want to believe the worst about them.”
    Gertie waved a hand in dismissal. “Keep telling yourself that. Angelina Jolie could be a known archcriminal and men would still line up to have sex with her.”
    “Hmmm,” Walter said, apparently lacking a good argument.
    “Sex with Angelina Jolie aside,” I said, “can you think of anything at all that Ted might have done to make someone angry enough to kill him?”
    “I wish I could,” Walter said, “but I haven’t seen or heard anything that would make me think someone was gunning for him. If one of the men around here was out for Ted, either he was damned quiet about it or it’s so recent the rumor mill hasn’t gotten it around.”
    “Have you had any interaction with him recently?” I asked.
    “Sure. He’s been to see Scooter the last two weeks for repairs. That man really shouldn’t own anything with a motor.” Walter looked a little sheepish. “Well, I guess he doesn’t anymore. That was awfully rude of me.”
    “You forgot,” I said. “What kind of repairs?”
    “Brake problems on his truck—nothing out of the ordinary. His boat motor was a different story. Damn thing melted—bad wiring, probably. Scooter said it wasn’t worth repairing, so he had to buy a new one.”
    “And he seemed normal when he was here for those repairs?” I asked.
    Walter nodded. “He was talking a blue streak about some show on cable. I pretty much tune him out once he gets going, but he seemed same as always to me.”  
    “Maybe we’re thinking about this the wrong way,” Gertie said. “We’re assuming someone was trying to kill Ted because of something he did, but maybe Paulette was the one having an affair.”
    I frowned. “You think a jealous lover killed Ted so he could have Paulette to himself?”
    Walter grimaced. “If that’s the case, he’ll get off on an insanity plea. No one in their right mind would want that woman.”
    “I agree,” Gertie said, “but most men aren’t as discerning as you are, Walter.”
    “You did say Paulette spent most of her time in New Orleans,” I