Death Bed
Page 31
“Anything at all different about her?”
She frowned and shook her head. “I don’t think so. She looked like she’d just stepped out of Vogue, as usual. Camel slacks: White boat-neck sweater. Carrying her coffee cup and her newspaper, as usual. She always brought her own cup.”
“And you talked about the meeting with the lawyer?”
“Yes. Teresa thought Wayne might have hidden some assets away. She didn’t want me to sign anything until Wayne had been forced to swear under oath as to what property we owned.”
“Who’s your lawyer?”
“C. Dale Gibson.”
“Where’s his office?”
“Here in El Gordo.”
“Did Mrs. Blair know him?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Anything else happen?”
“I’m trying to see her that morning, envision what she did. She skimmed the paper, like she always did. Somehow she could read and talk to me at the same time and absorb from both sources. Looking back, it does seem like she was worried about something. But it’s probably my imagination.”
“Any idea what might have worried her?”
“No. I don’t think Teresa ever once complained to me about anything.”
“She sounds like quite a woman.”
“She is quite a woman.”
I smiled. “Do you know anything about her being a witness in a criminal case?”
“What? Oh, that auto accident thing? Is that the one?”
“That’s the one. Did she talk about that at all?”
Kathryn Martin shrugged. “Back when it occurred, I saw something in the paper so I asked her what had happened. She told me she’d seen a car run down a pedestrian and would probably be called to testify against the driver if it ever went to trial.”
“Did she seem worried about it?”
“Not at all.”
“Did she mention it again?”
“No.”
“Was she the kind of person to run away from having to do something like that? Appear in court, I mean?”
“Teresa Blair wasn’t the type of person to run away from anything.”
The testimonial was heartfelt and didactic and as a result impressive. I asked Mrs. Martin if she could think of anything else that might be helpful and she shook her head. I glanced at my watch. I was late. I stood up.
“Hey,” Mrs. Martin said. “How about staying for dinner? I mean, I’m starving, and Davy hasn’t eaten anything hot for days. It’s easy to set an extra place.” Her words trailed off into silence. The invitation was awkward, too eagerly issued, revealing a lack of practice.
“Sorry,” I said. “I’ve got an appointment and I’m late already.”
I left Kathryn Ellington Martin standing in the middle of her family room and her divorce, a dazed and slightly apprehensive look on her face, and went over to call on the man she had just accused of murder.
Buy State’s Evidence Now!
About the Author
Stephen Greenleaf (b. 1942), a former lawyer and an alumnus of the prestigious Iowa Writer’s Workshop, is a mystery and thriller writer best known for his series of novels starring PI John Marshall Tanner. Recognized for being both literate and highly entertaining, Greenleaf’s novels often deal with contemporary social and political issues.
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 1980 by Stephen Greenleaf
Cover design by Drew Padrutt
ISBN: 978-1-5040-2735-9
This 2016 edition published by MysteriousPress.com/Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
345 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
www.mysteriouspress.com
www.openroadmedia.com
THE JOHN MARSHALL TANNER MYSTERIES
FROM MYSTERIOUSPRESS.COM
AND OPEN ROAD MEDIA
These and more available wherever ebooks are sold
MYSTERIOUSPRESS.COM
MYSTERIOUSPRESS.COM
Otto Penzler, owner of the Mysterious Bookshop in Manhattan, founded the Mysterious Press in 1975. Penzler quickly became known for his outstanding selection of mystery, crime, and suspense books, both from his imprint and in his store. The imprint was devoted to printing the best books in these genres, using fine paper and top dust-jacket artists, as well as offering many limited, signed editions.
Now the Mysterious Press has gone digital, publishing ebooks through MysteriousPress.com.
MysteriousPress.com. offers readers essential noir and suspense fiction, hard-boiled crime novels, and the latest thrillers from both debut authors and mystery masters. Discover classics and new voices, all from one legendary source.
FIND OUT MORE AT
WWW.MYSTERIOUSPRESS.COM
FOLLOW US:
@emysteries and Facebook.com/MysteriousPressCom
MysteriousPress.com is one of a select group of publishing partners of Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
The Mysterious Bookshop, founded in 1979, is located in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood. It is the oldest and largest mystery-specialty bookstore in America.
The shop stocks the finest selection of new mystery hardcovers, paperbacks, and periodicals. It also features a superb collection of signed modern first editions, rare and collectable works, and Sherlock Holmes titles. The bookshop issues a free monthly newsletter highlighting its book clubs, new releases, events, and recently acquired books.
58 Warren Street
info@mysteriousbookshop.com
(212) 587-1011
Monday through Saturday
11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
FIND OUT MORE AT:
www.mysteriousbookshop.com
FOLLOW US:
@TheMysterious and Facebook.com/MysteriousBookshop
Open Road Integrated Media is a digital publisher and multimedia content company. Open Road creates connections between authors and their audiences by marketing its ebooks through a new proprietary online platform, which uses premium video content and social media.
Videos, Archival Documents, and New Releases
Sign up for the Open Road Media newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox.
Sign up now at
www.openroadmedia.com/newsletters
FIND OUT MORE AT
WWW.OPENROADMEDIA.COM
FOLLOW US:
@openroadmedia and
Facebook.com/OpenRoadMedia