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Blake played pedal steel guitar and keyboards. Sonny played guitar, sometimes drums depending on who all showed up to play. They all had day jobs.
    â€œ Brunette? ” Nate asked.
    â€œ Yeah, short hair. She was real cute.” As far as I knew, Sonny hadn’t been serious about anyone in years. I couldn’t stop staring at the photo.
    â€œLiz—”
    â€œ Of course we need to talk to Sonny. And to this Delta Tisdale.” Her name came out of my mouth like maybe she was someone who frequently reported zombie alien Sasquatches. “Anyone else on the suspected adulterer list?”
    â€œNo. Just Charles Kinloch and Sonny. ”
    â€œ If Paul Baker billed Fraser for four months, billed for a trip to London, and Sonny was the best idea he came up with, I don’t blame Fraser for being pissed.” I was feeling defensive of my friend and I knew it. I had to follow this wherever it led.
    I finished the call with Nate and tapped Sonny ’s name in my favorites list. He answered on the third ring.
    â€œ How well did you know Shelby Poinsett?” I asked without preamble.
    â€œ Well I’m fine, Liz, how are you? How’s married life treating you?” If the question rattled Sonny at all, it wasn’t in his voice.
    â€œ This is serious.”
    â€œ Why’re you asking?”
    â€œ Nate and I are taking over the case for Paul Baker, investigating for Rutledge and Radcliffe.”
    â€œ Is that right?” He went quiet, like he was giving the matter careful consideration.
    â€œ Answer the question, Sonny. How well did you know Shelby? Did you know Paul Baker was investigating you?”
    â€œ I would be a damn poor excuse for a detective if I couldn’t pick up on that. He was asking questions around One80Place. I have friends there. Seems like Baker had some fantasy maybe I knew Shelby a little too well.”
    â€œ Did you?” I maybe sounded a little crazy. I was staring at his smiling face in that picture.
    â€œ Seriously, Liz ? ”
    â€œ Sonny, I have to ask. This was his primary line of investigation—that Shelby was having an affair. His theory was that her lover killed her. Your name is one of two in his file, and the other guy has an ironclad alibi.”
    â€œ Yeah, and when Paul Baker mentioned that crap theory to Bissell and Jenkins, we all had a good laugh about it. Rutledge and Radcliffe ought to get a refund.” Sonny sighed, muttered something. “ Shelby and I were good friends. Have been for years. She volunteered at One80Place. So did I. But as someone who is also my good friend, you know damn good and well I don’t date married women. Besides that, Shelby was crazy about her husband. I told Paul Baker as much. I guess he didn’t believe me because he thought that served my interests. But it’s the truth.”
    I sat back, relaxed. Only then I realized how I’d been coiled tight as a spring. “ I had to ask.”
    â€œ Yeah, I get that.”
    â€œ So if Shelby wasn’t having an affair—”
    â€œ No one ever thought she was except Clint. And now Bissell and Jenkins, the solicitor, and Paul Baker. To hear Shelby tell it, Clint’s a good guy, but insecure. Held on a little too tight to Shelby. Hell, he probably knew she was way out of his league from day one. Shelby, she talked about him all the time, and her face lit up when she said his name. I’d bet my favorite Gibson guitar she was not having an affair.”
    â€œ But who else besides a lover would come inside her house at nine o’clock at night, throw her out the french doors, and leave without her husband ever knowing they were there?”
    â€œ If I knew the answer to that, you wouldn’t have a new case.”
    â€œ How well do you know Clint?” I asked.
    â€œ Never met him. Everything I know about him came from Shelby. Bissell and Jenkins are convinced he killed her. I hate to think that, the way