Free 86 Avenue du Goulet (A Samantha Jamison Mystery Volume 3) by Peggy A. Edelheit Page A

over the others in the past. I smiled at the notion this presented.
    What if she saw something? Would she risk using that information for extortion, power and control? Her social position was slipping now that her influential husband, Henri, was dead. Why give up all that power?

 
     
     
    Chapter 36
    Sidelined By Solicitous Salutations
     
     
    Making up for lost time was my number one priority for the day. I mean, after all, if she slammed the door in my face, at least I’d feel I had tried to accomplish something rather than sitting out on the terrace and trying to figure out who knew what. I had to go to the source, but in a round about way, and worm some information out of her.
    Sorrell’s gate was already open, so I climbed her drive and upon reaching the entrance, hit the doorbell, hoping for the best. Ordinarily people in my situation had a plan of action. Not me. I usually let things play out, grabbing at whatever I could. Sometimes it worked.
    I’m not discussing when it didn’t.
    I took a deep breath as the door slowly opened. I was about three feet lower on the bottom step and already felt at a disadvantage by her towering figure staring down at me.
    “Madame Sorrell, do you have time to talk?”
    Surprisingly, she gave me a smile. “Of course. Please come in and share some tea with me.”
    Up till now, not one person in this neighborhood had been pleased to see me. Why the change in attitude? Was this a new tactic they were trying on me? I thought it was supposed to be me who was trying out new game plans and was thrown by Sorrell’s unexpected greeting.
    “It’s very generous of you to see me without prior notice. I appreciate your time. I know how a woman of your stature has more important matters to tend to.”
    She stopped and turned to face me in the entryway. “I think we both know why you are here, so let us both get straight to the point once we are seated. Oui?”
    Well, I was sort of nonplused for something to say as a retort, so I kept quiet and just nodded, and then followed her down a darkened hallway that opened up to her kitchen.
    “Wow!” was all I said. It had a rough-hewn wood floor, iron and copper pots hanging everywhere with a huge wood fueled stove against one wall, and a rectangular old large farm table right in the center of it all.
    The fireplace off to the side had two comfortable leather chairs facing each other with a small table in between. She pointed for me to sit by the window. I stared out at the sea, and then turned back to her. “This is beautiful.”
    She prepared the tea. “I thought we would dispense with the formalities of the living room, so you could ask me what you really need to know. No polite games. I am only interested in clarifying any misunderstanding on your part.”
    I wasn’t expecting her to be so straightforward. It was unusual for the French to be confrontational. I recovered and said, “Merci, I like you getting straight to the point.”
    “As you yourself already know, being a widow has its learning curves.”

 
     
     
    Chapter 37
    Reading More Than Tea Leaves
     
     
    What was she trying to convey, that we had something in common, or we both understood the reality of the moment? Just because I was a widow, it didn’t make me feel any closer to what she was going through. I could relate on some level, but I was extremely suspicious of this woman, especially after hearing what the others said about her unforgiveable behavior.
    I stopped myself mid-thought.
    Were they telling the truth? This was exactly what Luc had warned me against, prejudging anyone by other’s previous comments. What if there was more to it? What if this woman never got to explain the whole story? Maybe Madam Toussout wasn’t so innocent, but was just playing a role to get everyone on her side and against Sorrell?
    No, it didn’t make any sense, because if that were true, it clearly didn’t work. No one was on friendly speaking terms with each other.
    When she sat