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“Different how?” Luke asked.
“He made Ben Stein in Ferris Bueller look like he had ADD.”
“That exciting?” Luke asked, a smile in his voice.
“More so.” She straightened as the three stopped in front of her. “Gentlemen, please allow me to introduce you to Special Agent Papadopoulos and Assistant District Attorney Al Landers. This is Dr. Fink, Dr. Grim, and Mr. Grant.”
The old men nodded politely. “Miss Susa
“Thank you, Dr. Fink,” she said quietly. “I appreciate that.”
The next man brushed a kiss against her cheek. “You’re looking lovely, my dear.”
“And you’re looking well, Mr. Grant.”
“We heard the news about Daniel,” Mr. Grant said, worried. “Is he improved?”
“He’s still in intensive care, but his prognosis is excellent.”
Mr. Grant shook his head. “I can’t believe twenty-four hours ago he gave me a volume of poetry, and now… But he’s young and strong. He’ll pull through.”
“Thank you, sir.”
The third man was studying her intently. “You’re looking peaked, Miss Vartanian.”
She straightened again. “I’m just tired, Dr. Grim. It’s been a long few weeks.”
“Are you taking B-twelve? You haven’t forgotten the importance of vitamins, have you?”
“I certainly could never forget the importance of vitamins, sir.”
Dr. Grim’s face softened. “I was so sorry to hear about your mama and daddy.”
Susa
“Excuse me,” Luke inserted, “but I’m sure you gentlemen have heard about the death of Dr. Granville yesterday.”
All three grimaced. “It’s a terrible shock,” Dr. Fink said. “Before I retired, my dental practice was next door to his clinic. I spoke to him every day. I’d have lunch with him sometimes. My daughter took my grandkids to him for their shots. I had no idea…”
“He was one of my students,” Mr. Grant said sadly. “A brilliant mind. Skipped two grades to graduate early. What a waste. Fink’s right. It’s a shock to all of us.”
Dr. Grim looked most devastated. “He was my star pupil. Nobody absorbed biology like Toby Granville. Nobody knew he had such evil in him. It’s unbelievable.”
“I understand,” Luke murmured. “You three must see a lot that goes on in Dutton.”
“We do,” Dr. Fink said proudly. “At least one of us is on that bench at all times.”
Susa
“Well, we don’t leave unless there’s a good reason, of course,” Mr. Grant said. “Like my weekly therapy on my knee or Fink’s dialysis or Grim’s-”
“That’s enough,” Grim said roughly. “He didn’t ask our daily routine, Grant. Do you have a specific question, Agent Papadopoulos?”
“Yes, sir,” Luke said. “I do. Did you notice Dr. Granville talking to anyone unusual?”
All three men frowned and looked at each other.
“Like a woman?” Fink asked. “Are you asking if he was having an affair?”
“No,” Luke said, “but are you saying he did?”
“No,” Grim said. “To say he was a God-fearing man seems ludicrous, but I never saw him in an inappropriate situation. He was the town doctor. He talked to everyone.”
“So he didn’t have anyone he was especially friendly with, or did business with?”
“Not to my knowledge,” Mr. Grant said. “Fink, Grim?”
The three men shook their heads, curiously unwilling to speak against a man who was now known to have been a rapist, killer, and pedophile. But their reticence could also be due to a general mistrust of outsiders, Susa
“Thank you,” Luke said. “I wish we could have met under different circumstances.”
The three gave Susa
Susa
“I’m glad I didn’t say anything then,” Al said, mildly affronted.
Her mouth curved a little. “Sorry, Al, but the older generation still holds a grudge.”
“I didn’t expect them to be happy with my questions,” Luke said. “Granville’s scandal is a shock and reflects poorly on the whole town. Who’s the woman with the camera?”
“That’s Maria
Luke let out a low whistle. “Daniel said she was voted most likely to do everyone. Now I understand. Whoa.”
Susa
“Maria
“Lisa Woolf was one of O’Brien’s victims, too,” Luke said for Al’s benefit.
Susa
“Presto I know. I was at the scene with Daniel after Sheila was shot.” Luke lifted his head to scan the crowd and Susa
She hesitated. “Thank you, by the way, for coming to my parents’ funeral. I know it meant a lot to Daniel to have you and your family here.”
He squeezed her arm. “Daniel’s family. We couldn’t let him go through that alone.”
She shivered, whether from the contact or the sentiment she was unsure. Studying the crowd, she frowned at the figure standing alone off to the side. “That’s odd.”
Al Landers instantly tensed. “What?”
“Just that Garth Davis’s sister Kate came. I didn’t expect to see her here, under the circumstances. I mean, Sheila was one of Garth’s victims. That’s her, standing alone.”
“Maybe she’s just here to pay her respects,” Al said.
“Maybe,” Susa
“Sshh,” Luke cautioned. “They’re getting ready to start.”
It was a short service, and sad. Next to Pastor Wertz, pizza parlor owner Corey Presto stood quietly crying. Susa
Based on the avidly curious expressions of nearly every face in the crowd, not many. Sheila was news. She’d be gossiped about around water coolers for days to come.
Once the news of my statement hits, so will I.
Pastor Wertz began reading from the Bible, his face weary. He’d already officiated over two funerals in as many days and there were many more to come.
She thought about Daniel as Corey Presto put a red rose on top of Sheila’s casket. Her brother had very nearly died yesterday. Had Alex not acted so quickly Susa
And then I would be as alone as Sheila Cu
And for just a moment she let herself yearn for a man like Luke Papadopoulos, decent and kind. But that was not in the cards. Not after what he now knew. He would be kind because Daniel was family, and he might even be attracted to her, but ultimately the man whose mama still carried a rosary around in her purse would never want… a woman like me. And who could blame him? I don’t want a woman like me.