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guess.”
    I settled down and wanted to prop my chin on my fist. Since Junior’s presence made that impossible, I settled for locking my fingers over my abdomen. “What’s up?” When would he get to the point?
    “When was the last time you spoke with Finella?”
    I had to think about that one. Finella’s path didn’t cross mine all that often. We attended the same church—the Gaynor-leaning Word of Faith Fellowship—until her divorce from Ham. She dropped out after that. I stretched my mind back several days, searching for a specific memory. I found it. “I saw her at the grocery store last Friday night. We traded ideas for using fresh herbs in recipes.” She had told me about a new twist on macaroni and cheese, one that added mint to the sauce. Unfortunately, the store had run out of fresh mint.
    “How did she seem to you?” Reiner’s gaze never left my face.
    “The same as always. We were never really close. Jenna might know more.”
    Reiner’s mustache twitched at the mention of Jenna’s name. “Don’t worry. I’ll be talking with her. I’m aware of her former, uh, association with Mrs. Gaynor and Mr. Brodie.”
    I nodded my head. “They were good friends in high school. They called themselves the Three Musketeers”
    “What about Brad Merriman? I understand he discussed the plans for his mural with you fairly often.”
    The chief didn’t usually keep up with the minutiae of Grace Gulch life.
    Perhaps Frances had filled him about Brad Merriman. She used to accompany the Chief on these calls; but since her wedding, she had stuck to a strict eight-hours-a-shift policy with her job.
    “I saw him last on Saturday, after I called him about a vintage pair of Levis someone brought in. He asked me to let him know whenever I received vintage men’s clothing.” I decided to go on the offensive. “I heard he’s missing. Do you know where he’s disappeared to?
    Reiner smirked, his “if I knew, what makes you think I’d tell you?” smile in full force. “Don’t worry, we’re on the lookout for Mr. Merriman. Can you think of a reason why he wouldn’t return to his studio after it burned down?”
    I sneaked a glance at Audie. The same question had bothered me. The timing of his disappearance looked suspicious. No wonder Jenna was worried. For her sake, I offered alternative reasons. “Maybe his agent had to talk with him urgently. Maybe an emergency came up elsewhere. Maybe he just wanted time by himself to, you know, think . Artists do that a lot.”
    Audie flashed a smile that said way to go, girl.
    Reiner grunted. “But you don’t actually know, do you? He didn’t talk to you about it?”
    I had to admit that he hadn’t.
    “What do you know about the relationship between him and the murder victim?”
    Murder victim. I shuddered at the words. Lovely, sweet Finella, reduced to a statistic. “I never heard them arguing.” I hedged.
    Reiner smiled faintly. “That’s what your husband said. Let me phrase my question this way. They had a very public argument recently. What have you heard about it?”
    I couldn’t avoid answering his question unless I lied outright, something I refused to do. “Nothing except what you must have heard a hundred times already.”
    “Spit it out. Stop making me prime the pump.”
    Forgive me, Jenna. I have to tell him. “Finella and Brad had dated for awhile. He broke it off recently, and Finella wasn’t happy about it. She wanted to get back together.”
    Reiner settled back in his chair, satisfied.
    At least he hadn’t asked about the relationship between Brad and Jenna. Maybe that tidbit hadn’t reached the Grace Gulch rumor mill yet.
    “Any idea where your sister will be at this time of day?”
    Maybe I had relaxed too soon. “Which sister?” I temporized.
    “Jenna.” He practically barked her name. “Your other sister called me before I finished my first cup of coffee, wanting to know the latest details of the case.”
    That sounded like