Free From Newsprint to Footprints: A River's Edge Cozy Mystery (River's Edge Cozy Mysteries Book 1) by Elaine Orr Page B

fifty. Not too tall. Always wore a hat."
    Betty? Shirley? Impossible .
    "Are you okay?" Jean asked.
    I must have done a silent version of a shriek. "Fine. I don't think I ever met that woman."
    "We never did either. She usually came after eight or nine o'clock. We used to joke that she was probably married, and they were having an affair."
    A clunking sound emanated from the kitchen. Jean stood. "Excuse me."
    My mind had jumped to Betty and Shirley, but there were dozens of women about forty-five or fifty in River's Edge. Certainly Hal never acted as if he had a special relationship with either of them. He was as rude to them as everyone else.
    Jean came back with Andrew in tow. He didn't look happy. "Stay near the toy box."
    I nodded as she sat back down. "Did you see Hal leave again that night? Later than you might have expected him to go out?"
    "Didn't see him at all. When my head hits the pillow, I'm out until Stephanie cries for her three o'clock feeding, so I probably wouldn't have heard him."
    "You said something about bill collectors."
    She looked toward Andrew, who was trying to fit the rabbit into the back of a dump truck. "It's just been the last few months. One knocked on our door. I know they aren't supposed to do that."
    "That's true." I waited for her to say more. When she didn't, I asked, "Did they say who Hal owed money to?"
    Jean shook her head. "No. My husband talked to Hal. He didn't say the guy at our door said Hal owed money, just that someone who acted kind of nasty was looking for him. We thought Hal should know."
    She looked expectant, so I said, "Maybe it was for something at the paper."
    She shrugged. "Maybe. Seems they would have gone there."
    "Mom. My rabbit's stuck."
    I hadn't noticed that Andrew had shoved the rabbit into the truck's cab. I stood. "I should get going. Would you mind asking your husband if he heard Hal go out late the night he died? If he did, here's my number."
    I handed her half of a three-by-five card, on which I'd written my name and mobile number. I had burned all my South County News business cards with a bunch of brush in the burn barrel behind Mrs. Keyser's house. Plus, it wouldn't have been appropriate to use them now.
    My hand was on her doorknob when I thought of one more question. "I suppose a sheriff's deputy or one of the IDI agents talked to you."
    Jean shook her head. "No one's been by."
    Great. If they were considering anyone else, they'd be getting information from neighbors.
    Knocks on two other neighbors' doors brought no response. They were probably at work. I'd have to come back.
    I sat in my truck looking at notes and thinking about how Jean's comments might relate to Hal's murder. Knowing he was not just in debt but seemingly late on payments could be important. Still, it wasn't likely that a bill collector would off him. They'd never get their money.
    I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel. A credit report would list who he owed money to, but I had no way to do one. The paper did. Hal said he only did them when he was hiring someone, but I always suspected he asked for credit reports on people that he had a beef with. Good old Hal, always looking for dirt. One more reason he irritated people.
    Whatever account Hal had used to access credit checks was likely still open. I debated asking Sandi for help, but other staff could possibly see any requests she made. She might get in trouble. If Fred was the interim editor, I'd probably have to go to him. Heck, he could have already done one.
    What would happen if I stopped by South County News ? No one would throw a stapler at me anymore.
    Betty was at a desk behind the counter, where a receptionist sat before one of Hal's cost reductions. She had changed into a black dress with white trim, and kind of formal jewelry – a silver pendant and pearl earrings.
    She must have decided she was underdressed for the funeral. It's like she's in mourning .
    "Goodness, Melanie. I wouldn't have… Didn't expect to... Who