Free A Grid For Murder by Casey Mayes

give it every consideration it deserves,” he said with a smile.
    I matched his smile as I said, “In other words, butt out of something that’s none of my business.”
    “Your way is more succinct than mine, but not nearly as elegant. Now, if we’re done with our bantering, let’s go do a little digging in Parson’s Valley and see what we can uncover.”

Chapter 6

    “D O YOU HAVE A SECOND?” ROB ASKED GREG LINCOLN AS we walked into his barbershop. There wasn’t a soul in any of the waiting seats, or the two barber chairs near the long mirror in front. The floor was clean swept, an apron was draped on one side of one chair, and the other cutting area was completely vacant. Though the shop had, at one time, housed two men, Greg was now literally the only barber in town, and I was sure he grew tired of folks asking him who cut his hair, or if he managed it himself in the mirror.
    “Sorry, my appointment book is all full at the moment,” he said with a smile as he leaned against the wall. Greg was in his early forties, and I’d heard Zach say that he’d bought the place from his dad when he retired, at a steep interest rate. If Greg minded, he didn’t seem to showit. He looked as at home there as if he’d had a pipe, a robe, and slippers.
    “Try to fit me in anyway,” Rob said, matching the light mood of the moment. He turned to me and said, “You know Savannah Stone, don’t you?”
    He nodded in my direction. “I’ve seen you around town. You’re married to Zach, aren’t you?”
    “Guilty as charged,” I said with a little of the humor my husband liked, though I realized as soon as I said it that it might not be appropriate at that exact moment. I wondered how long this playful bantering was going to last, and Rob’s next question took care of that nicely. “What were you and Joanne Clayton arguing about the other night out on the street?”
    Greg looked guarded, but not surprised, as he answered, “What are you talking about? I didn’t have an argument with her.”
    “Save it, buddy. I saw it myself,” Rob said. From the abrupt tone he was now using, it was clear there was no doubt in his mind about what he’d seen.
    After a moment of thought, Greg finally gave in. “We never argued. Joanne might have raised her voice a time or two when we discussed things, but it was all innocent enough. Why does it concern you, anyway?” He looked a little more intently at Rob. “When did you start spying on me?”
    Rob shook his head. “I wasn’t spying. I was out walking around town and I saw you two together. I heard you threaten her, Greg.”
    The barber looked uncomfortable now. “I didn’t mean it, and she knew it. You know how Joanne can be. You’ve known her longer than I have. Sometimes she says things just to get a reaction from folks.” Greg sat up straight andasked, “Has she been spreading rumors about me in town, Rob? Let’s get her over here right now. I’m certain she’ll tell you I didn’t mean anything by it. We’re on good terms, generally. We just had an off night, that’s all.”
    “Are you trying to say that you two were in love, Greg?”
    “I’m not saying anything of the sort.” He looked a little dumbfounded by the question, as if he were searching for the underlying joke attached to it. When he saw Rob was serious, he asked, “What’s gotten into you? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
    “You hid it well, but you weren’t able to fool everyone in town,” Rob said. For the moment, they were both ignoring me, which was fine with me. I could get a lot more out of their conversation if I wasn’t actually a part of it.
    “I don’t know where this is coming from,” Greg said, still holding on to his denial. “I suppose I like her well enough, but love might be a little strong to describe how I feel about her.” He narrowed his eyes as he asked, “Why, did she say that I loved her?”
    This had gone on long enough. The pathetic look in his eyes