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Jeep and headed for the town next to ours.   “Suzanne, as of right now, I’m on vacation until further notice.”
“You don’t even have to ask anyone?” I asked her.
“I’ve got some latitude taking time off,” she said.
“That must be nice.”
“Why do you say that?   You can take off whenever you want,” Grace said.
“Maybe in theory, but we both know how many times I’ve taken advantage of that.”
“Not nearly enough,” Grace agreed.

 

 
Chapter 4

 
 
It was a little after seven when we got to the Bentley Hotel.   It was nice, never part of a chain, and it had an older elegance about it that I liked.   I’d never stayed there since I lived just one town away, but I’d eaten there with Momma a few times over the years, always on special occasions.   As a matter of fact, I’d taken her there this past Mother’s Day, and we’d had quite a nice time enjoying their Sunday-afternoon fete.
“Suzanne, it’s so early, do you think anyone will even be awake, given that the reunion just happened last night?   And even if they are, how are we going to know if they’re up yet?”
“That part’s easy enough,” I said as I headed left toward the restaurant entrance instead of right to the front desk.   “We’ll see who’s eating breakfast and go from there.”
“I never even thought of that,” Grace said.   “That’s probably why you’re the lead detective.”
“Funny, but I like to think that we’re co-conspirators ,” I said.
“Ooh, I like your word for us better,” she said.   As we approached the maître d’s stand, Grace asked me, “Is that Janet and Billy Briscoe eating?   What are they doing sitting together?”
“Didn’t you know?” I asked.   “They were hot and heavy at the end of school right before we all graduated.   I wonder why they split up?”
“Maybe she got some taste?” Grace asked.
“Then how do you explain how she ended up with Zane?” I asked softly.
“So much for not speaking ill of the dead,” Grace said.
“I’ve never been much of a believer in that custom,” I said.   “We both know what kind of man he was, and the fact that he’s dead now doesn’t really change that one bit, does it?”
“Maybe not, but I’d probably pick a different way to approach the subject with his widow.”
“You know that I will,” I said.
“Just checking,” Grace said.   “Are you ready to talk to them?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I said as Grace and I walked over there together.   No one had come to the hostess’s station while we’d been standing there, so it must be self-seating this early in the morning.
“May we join you?” I asked as Grace and I got to their table.
They clearly hadn’t seen us coming.   Billy looked startled to suddenly find us standing there, and Janet looked absolutely mortified.  
“We’re not together,” Janet said quickly as she pushed her plate away from Billy’s.   Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, and she looked as though she hadn’t slept all night.   “He just came over to offer me his condolences, but he has to go now.”   With that, she turned to him and added, “You do have to go, don’t you?   Thanks again for stopping by.”
“Happy to do it,” Billy said as he stood.   He looked awkwardly around for a second, and then he said, “If you all will excuse me, I have a few telephone calls to make.”
I wasn’t about to let him go that easily.   “Billy, what’s your room number?   After Grace and I speak with Janet, we’d like to have a chat with you.”
“I can’t imagine why you’d want to do that,” he said.
“Trust me, you’ll want to talk to us,” Grace said in a way that made it sound as though it would be in his best interest to cooperate.   I didn’t know how she did it, but my best friend was really good with tone and inflection, and she had a way of sounding as though she always knew exactly what she was doing.   It was something that I admired