The smile stayed. But a shadow crossed over the face. 'Come on in,' she said. 'Can I get you something to drink? Maybe a little tea?'
'That would be nice.'
He stepped inside. He and Jessica had not visited here often during their time together. A major holiday or two, that was it. Myron never liked the house. Something about it was stifling, as though the air were too heavy for normal breathing.
He sat down on a couch that was hard as a park bench. The decor was solemn. Lots of religious memorabilia. Lots of madonnas and crosses and gold-leaf paintings. Lots of halos and serene faces looking skyward.
Two minutes later Carol reappeared, minus the gloves and apron, plus some tea and shortbread cookies. She was an attractive woman. She didn't really look like her daughters, but Myron had seen pieces of her in both of them. Jessica's straight posture. Kathy's shy laugh.
So how have been you?' she asked.
'Fine, thank you.'
'It's been a long time since we've seen you, Myron.'
'Yes.
'Are you and Jessica…?' She feigned embarrassment. She did that a lot.
'I'm sorry. That's none of my business.'
She poured the tea. Myron sipped it and nibbled on a cookie. Carol Culver did likewise. tomorrow's the memorial service,' she said. 'Adam donated his corpse to a medical school, you know. The spirit was all that mattered to him. The body was worthless tissue. I guess that's part of being a pathologist.'
Myron nodded, took another sip.
'Well, I just can't believe this weather,' she rambled, a distracted smile frozen to her face. 'It's so hot out. If we don't have rain soon, the whole front lawn will be brown. And we just paid to have it reseeded last season-'
'The police will be here soon,' Myron interrupted. 'I thought we should talk first.'
She put her hand to her chest. 'The police?'
'They'll want to talk to you.'
'Me? What about?'
'They know about the fight,' he said. 'A neighbor was walking a dog. He heard you and Dr Culver.'
She stiffened. Myron waited, but she said nothing.
'Dr Culver wasn't feeling sick that night, was he?'
The color ebbed from her face. She put down her cup of tea and dabbed the corners of her mouth with a cloth napkin.
'He never intended to go to that medical conference in Denver, isn't that right, Mrs Culver?'
She lowered her head.
'Mrs Culver?'
No movement.
'I know this isn't easy,' Myron said gently. 'But I'm trying to find Kathy.'
Her eyes remained on the floor. 'Do you really think you can, Myron?'
'It's possible. I don't want to give you false hope, but I think it's possible.'
'Then you think she might be alive?'
'There's a chance, yes.'
She finally raised her head. The eyes were wet. 'You do what you have to do to find her, Myron.' Her voice was surprisingly steady and strong. 'She's my daughter. My baby. She has to come first. No matter what.'
Myron waited for Carol Culver to continue, but she fell back into silence.
After nearly a full minute, Myron said, 'Dr Culver just pretended he was going to that medical conference.'
She took a deep breath and nodded.
'You thought he'd left that morning.'
Another androidlike nod.
'Then he surprised you here.'
'Yes.'
Myron's soft voice seemed to boom in the room. An antique clock ticked maddeningly. 'Mrs Culver, what did he see when he arrived?'
Tears began to flow. She lowered her head again.
'Did he see you,' Myron continued, 'with another man?'
Nothing.
'Was the man Paul Duncan?'
She lifted her head. Her eyes met his. 'Yes,' she said. 'I was with Paul.'
Myron waited again.
'Adam set a trap,' she continued, 'and we got caught.' The words were once again steady and strong. 'He had become suspicious. I don't know how. So he did just what you said - pretended to go to a conference in Denver. He even had me arrange his flights, so I would be sure he was gone.'
'What happened when your husband saw you?'
Shaking fingers rubbed her cheeks. She stood, turned away. 'Exactly what you'd expect to happen when a man finds his wife and best friend in bed.
Adam went crazy. He'd been drinking pretty heavily, which didn't help matters. He shouted at me, called me horrible names. I deserved that. I deserved a lot worse. He threatened Paul. We tried to calm him down, but of course that was impossible.'
She picked up the tea again. Each word was making her a little stronger, making it a little easier to breathe. 'Adam stormed out. I was scared. Paul went after him. But Adam drove off. Paul left after that.'
'How long have you and Paul Duncan…?' His voice just sort of mumbled away.
'Six years.'
'Did anybody else know?'
Her composure gave way. Not slowly. But as if a small bomb had blown it off her face. She crumbled, weeping freely. A realization came to Myron. He felt his blood freeze.
'Kathy,' he whispered. 'Kathy knew.'
The sobbing grew more intense.
'She found out,' he continued, 'during her senior year.'
