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It stinks that you’re getting the cold shoulder treatment over it.”
    “Don’t worry about it. I expected some noses would be out of joint; I’m just surprised to hear it’s about that. As an outsider, I knew my getting the detective opening over a local cop was bound to go down hard.”
    “Well, yeah, there’s that, too,” Waverly said. “It’s prob’ly a horse apiece. I promise you they’re good guys, though. Give ’em a little time. They’ll get over it.”
    “I’ve seen you take some flack, too.”
    “Nothing I can’t handle. Frankly, where my old partner’s concerned, I don’t give a damn what they think. They didn’t have to work with the guy; I did. Should’ve happened sooner.” Waverly gunned the engine and made a left-hand turn. “About the Gaines kid…” he said, “so far, there’s nothing to tie him to Paul Davis. But his quitting like he did… It sounds off. Could be he was just shook up or—”
    “Or there wasn’t any reason for him to stick around,” Ray finished for him. “Maybe he’d accomplished what he set out to do.”
     

 
     
     
     
    5
     
    Todd Gaines’ house was practically the mirror image of the Chalmers’ place, but while the structures were equally unimpressive, that’s where the similarity ended. Flower boxes boasted petunias, English ivy and pansies. No weeds poked through the walkway cracks, and a freshly trimmed hedge set the postage-stamp yard apart from the neighboring properties.
    An affable woman of generous proportions greeted them at the door. She bore a striking resemblance to the pleasant image Ray still retained of the Aunt Jemima of old, whose smiling face once adorned syrup bottles.
    “I’m sorry,” she said, “my grandson’s not home just now, but you come on in out of the heat, and I’ll give him a call.” She saw them in and walked away still talking, her buttocks rising and falling like massive pistons with each step. “He’s over at his friend Martin’s place,” she called from the kitchen. “Todd’s helping him work on his sorry excuse of a car. Hang on while I get ahold of him.”
    A minute later, she returned carrying a black enamel serving tray with three ice-filled glasses and a heavy pitcher brimming with lemonade and a flotilla of ice cubes. “Martin says Todd headed home a little bit ago. Oughta be getting back anytime now.” She set the tray down and poured the lemonade. “You’ve got just enough time for a cold drink while you wait.”
    The ice cubes clinked against the glasses already glistening with condensation. The sight and sound seemed to lower the room’s temperature by ten degrees.
    “Oh,” she said. “I didn’t think to ask. Maybe you fellas would prefer coffee.”
    Ray licked a drop of lemonade from his lips. “No, ma’am, this is perfect. Thanks.”
    Waverly took a long drink, savoring the cold, sweet/tart tang and said, “I imagine you know why we’re here, Mrs. Gaines.”
    Her smile faded. “I suppose it’s about that awful business where Todd worked.” She shook her head. “Such an awful thing that poor man killing himself like that.”
    “Maybe you can answer a few questions for us while we wait for Todd,” Waverly said.
    “Will if I can.” She settled her bulk in a corner of an overstuffed floral couch.
    “We heard your grandson quit his job at ACC the day after Paul Davis was found dead.”
    “That’s right. The very next day.”
    “Any particular reason he quit so suddenly?” Ray asked.
    She tilted her head. “Particular reason?”
    “Was it a coincidence? I mean, prior to Mr. Davis’s death, had Todd already planned on quitting that day?”
    “No,” she said, smoothing her dress. “He liked it there. Well, not the job so much, but it was convenient. That time of night, ain’t nothin’ going on over there, so he got to study and work pretty much at the same time. It worked out for him. He talked about staying on ’til he found something permanent after