Free Moss Hysteria by Kate Collins

about it.”
    I brought my notebook and a pen to the table. “Would you give me their names?”
    After I’d finished writing, Marco asked, “Is it your impression that most people believe Dirk is guilty of those thefts?”
    â€œYes, sir. Everyone I’ve talked to believes he’s the thief.”
    â€œI know Mitzi Kole is one of them,” I said.
    Rye chortled softly as though laughing at a private joke. “Yep, she’s one of them.”
    His reaction was revealing, but I had a feeling he wouldn’t be as forthcoming with his words. So I looked him in the eye and said, “So you’re aware they were having an affair?”

CHAPTER SIX

    R ye seemed shocked by my question so Marco jumped in. “What my wife means to say is that we’ve heard rumors about the two of them. We wondered whether they were true.”
    Rye ran his hands over his thatch of hair, distinctly uncomfortable with the question. “I don’t want to answer that, Mr. Salvare, because I don’t know for certain.”
    â€œFair enough. Would you verify that Dirk was in Mitzi’s house the day before she reported her jewelry missing?”
    He ducked his head, using his thumb to scratch between his eyes. “I guess it’s okay to tell you since I already told the detective. Yes, Dirk was at her house the day before Mrs. Kole called the police.”
    â€œWas he in Mitzi’s home alone?” I asked.
    Rye just kept scratching his forehead, clearly a signal that he didn’t want to answer, so I tried again. “Was Mitzi
there
while Dirk was working?”
    After a long hesitation he said, “All I know for sure is that her Jaguar was in the garage while his truck was in the driveway.”
    I glanced at Marco and raised my eyebrows.
    â€œThanks for your candor,” Marco said.
    Rye glanced at his watch. “I should get going. I’ve got another appointment.”
    â€œJust a few more quick questions, if you don’t mind,” Marco said. “You mentioned something earlier about checking the houses at the end of the day being your responsibility now. Does that mean you’ve been promoted?”
    â€œI applied for it.”
    â€œIs it true that Dirk kept you from being promoted before?” I asked.
    â€œYes, ma’am. Dirk took a disliking to me for some reason.”
    â€œI’m sure you’ve been through this with the police,” Marco said, “but would you mind telling us what you were doing Friday afternoon and evening?”
    â€œI was caulking and painting at the model home on Friday afternoon. I left at four like usual and headed home.”
    â€œDid anyone see you at the model?”
    â€œNo, sir. I was there alone.”
    â€œWas your truck out front or in the driveway?”
    â€œNeither. I walked over from the office.”
    â€œWhere was Dirk while you were there?”
    â€œI don’t have a clue. I spoke briefly with him before he went out for lunch and never saw him again.”
    â€œWas it unusual for you not to see him all afternoon?”
    â€œNot at all. We often worked separately. And Dirk kept odd hours. Sometimes he’d get there at ten in the morning instead of at seven like everyone else. Or he’d be gone by three. I never knew what times he’d be there from one day to the next.”
    â€œWas that allowed?” I asked.
    Rye shrugged. “I don’t know if Mr. Thorne was aware of it. Dirk was always on time on the day the boss was due to stop in.”
    Stealing from residents, slacking on the job, humiliating coworkers—Dirk Singletary sounded like a real piece of work. It made me wonder what kind of husband and father he’d been. “What time did you arrive home on Friday, Rye?”
    â€œIt takes me forty-five minutes, so about five o’clock.”
    â€œAnyone there who can back you up?” Marco asked.
    â€œNo, sir. My wife doesn’t get