A Fine Line by William G. Tapply Read Free Book Online Page B

something hard and heavy. Probably a brick.”
    “Jesus,” I said.
    She shrugged. “We’ll know more when the ME gets a look at him.”
    “And you’re thinking Ethan did this?”
    “There was a lot of passion in that blow,” she said. “Whoever hit Walter Duffy intended to hurt him. Probably meant to kill him. You figure it out.”
    I shook my head. “I can’t.”

S IX
    S ergeant Currier and Detective Mendoza dropped me off at my office a little after noontime. When I walked in, Henry scurried out from under Julie’s desk and wagged his tail at me. I told him I was glad to see him, too.
    Julie didn’t seem all that glad to see me. She said she wanted to check out a shop on Newbury Street and would pick up lunch for us on the way back. I told her to take her time. She said she intended to.
    That’s how she always behaved when I canceled appointments.
    Henry and I went into my office, and he waddled directly over to my sweatshirt, curled up, and went to sleep.
    I poked through my Rolodex and found the number for Barbara Cooper, who had been Walt Duffy’s wife’s attorney for their divorce. Among those of us who generally represented the husbands in divorce proceedings, Barbara Cooper’s name was pronounced “Barracuda.” She defended her clients’ interests relentlessly—which, of course, was how it was supposed to work.
    Her secretary put me through to her right away.
    “Mr. Coyne,” she said when she picked up the phone. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
    “Not much of a pleasure, I’m afraid,” I said. “The name Walter Duffy ring a bell?”
    She hesitated, then said, “You and I did their divorce—what, ten, twelve years ago? They had a son?”
    “That’s the one,” I said. “Walt died last night. I wanted to speak to his ex-wife. With your permission.”
    “You don’t need my permission,” she said.
    “Actually, I wondered if you had her phone number. She’s remarried, as I recall. I don’t know her new name.”
    “I have the number right here. Hang on.” She paused for a minute, then recited a number to me. “Her name is now Bramhall. Ellen Bramhall. She’s living in Sudbury. What happened to Mr. Duffy?”
    “He fell and fractured his skull. Didn’t make it through surgery.”
    “I’m very sorry to hear it,” she said. “How’s the boy taking it? What was his name?”
    “Ethan. He’s a college freshman now. He seems to be bearing up okay.”
    “I don’t recall if Ellen was a beneficiary in Mr. Duffy’s will,” she said.
    “He didn’t carry life insurance,” I said. “I haven’t even had a chance to check the will. It only happened yesterday.”
    “And the alimony?”
    “It terminated when Mrs. Bramhall remarried, of course.”
    “Of course,” she said. “Well, I know you’ll be in touch with me.”
    “Sure,” I said.
    Barracuda.
    I lit a cigarette and dialed the number Barbara Cooper had given me. It rang a couple of times, then a woman’s soft voice answered.
    “Mrs. Bramhall?” I said.
    “Yes?”
    “This is Brady Coyne,” I said. “I’m Walter Duffy’s attorney.”
    “Oh,” she said. “I remember you. What’s wrong?”
    “I have some bad news, I’m afraid.” I hesitated. “Walt died last night.”
    She didn’t speak for a minute. Then she said, “What happened?”
    “Evidently he fell and hit his head on the bricks in his patio.” I felt uncomfortable lying about the manner of Walt’s death to her, but Detective Mendoza had been very clear on the subject. I had not felt at all uncomfortable lying to Barbara Cooper.
    Ellen Bramhall laughed quickly. “That man climbed mountains and prowled around jungles, and he ends up falling down in his own home.” She hesitated. “I don’t mean to make light of it. I’m terribly sorry. I never wished any harm to him. He wasn’t a bad man. It’s just that . . .”
    “I understand, Mrs. Bramhall. It is kind of ironic.”
    “How’s Ethan taking it?”
    “That’s one of the reasons