Free Throw in the Trowel by Kate Collins Page B

drinking,” Grace said, “probably because of Henry. After Kermit left, Henry worked for Kermit’s wife and continued to do well until he left to start his plumbing company.”
    I wasn’t seeing much in terms of motive for Henry, so I went on. “Other than Kermit and Henry, who else might have had a key chain? Their wives?”
    â€œHenry never married, did he, Gracie?” Lottie asked.
    â€œNever,” Grace said. “It’s possible that Kermit’s wife had one, I suppose. Her name was Lila. She died a few years ago, as I recall.”
    â€œHow about customers?” I asked. “Would Kermit have handed them out as a promotional item?”
    â€œI would hardly think so,” Grace said. “Kermit was as tightfisted as a fellow could be.”
    â€œProbably spent his extra money on booze,” Lottie said.
    â€œHe certainly didn’t spend it on his family,” Grace said.
    â€œWell, he had at least one key chain made,” I said, letting it dangle from my fingers.
    â€œPerhaps Lila had it made as a gift for him,” Grace offered, “or perhaps Henry Greer had one made for each of them. Henry was the one who was always trying to promote the business, as much as Kermit would allow, of course.”
    Lottie looked at Grace in amazement. “How do you know all this?”
    â€œI got to know Kermit’s children quite well,” Grace said, “especially the oldest, Douglas, or Doug, as he preferred to be called. I was the high school librarian back then, and Doug spent a lot of time in the library reading books on architecture and construction. I truly believe it was to impress his father so Kermit would take him on as an apprentice after high school, but of course that never happened.
    â€œVery bright young man, Doug was,” Grace continued, “and quite close to his mum.”
    I tapped my pen on the pad of paper. “That narrows the list to Kermit, his wife, Lila, possibly their children, and Henry Greer.”
    â€œI would eliminate Kermit’s two daughters,” Grace said. “They would never have been allowed in a bar, so they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to drop a key chain there. I doubt they would have wanted to be around Kermit anyway. No love lost between the children and their father.”
    â€œWouldn’t you say the same for Kermit’s wife?” Lottie asked.
    â€œI think the poor dear cared for him despite his flaws,” Grace said. “I remember numerous occasions when Lila was seen pushing and pulling him to her car, with Kermit drunk as the proverbial skunk and barely able to walk. Unfortunately, there’s no way to question her now.”
    â€œAm I remembering right that she married Rusty Miller?” Lottie asked.
    â€œYes, you are,” Grace said. “About two years after Kermit’s alleged abandonment, Lila got a divorce and married Rusty.”
    â€œHold on,” I said, writing furiously. “I’m getting confused. Kermit took on Henry Greer as a partner, and Henry continued to work for Lila after Kermit vanished—until when?”
    â€œI believe until Doug graduated and took over the business,” Grace said.
    â€œDo you have any idea why Henry left to open his own company?” I asked.
    â€œSorry, love. Do you recall hearing anything about that, Lottie?”
    â€œI’m gonna guess that Henry was ready to be his own boss,” Lottie said. “Would you want to work for an eighteen-year-old?”
    I continued reading my notes. “After Kermit disappeared, Lila got a divorce and married Rusty Miller. Did Rusty own Down the Hatch then?”
    â€œI want to say he did,” Grace said, “but please do check with Gert.”
    â€œSo it’s most likely that the key chain belongs to Kermit, his wife, his son, or Henry,” I said. “The question is, does it have anything to do with the body we found?”
    The