Dead Broke in Jarrett Creek: A Samuel Craddock Mystery (Samuel Craddock Mysteries) by Terry Shames Read Free Book Online Page B

toward the kitchen and then says in a low voice. “I should say I get along with her. Clara and Annalise…” He shrugs. “They never took to her. They say she’s hard to get to know, but I don’t have a problem with her. She’s always friendly to me.”
    “When she left just now, she was upset.”
    “She and Annalise had words. Annalise… let’s just say sometimes she has strong opinions and doesn’t mind letting people hear them.” Interesting that both Gary and his sister were outspoken when their parents are self-effacing people.
    “Grief doesn’t always bring out the best in families. What were they arguing about?”
    He shoves his hands into his pockets and takes a turn around the room. “She was put out because she said Barbara didn’t seem upset by Gary’s death.”
    “Barbara seems like the kind of person to keep her feelings to herself. Sometimes people can take that the wrong way.”
    “You’re right. Barbara has never been one to let her feelings show, but she was pretty offended when Annalise said what she said. She told Annalise it was nobody’s business how she mourned. And then…” He glances at me and ducks his head, looking at the floor.
    “Then what?”
    “Barbara got a little ugly. She said that Gary was unfaithful to her and if he had been a better husband she might have been more broken up.” He sighs. “It escalated from there. Annalise said something she shouldn’t have. She said that Barbara let herself go and if she had kept herself up better, he wouldn’t have been interested in other women. It was a bad fight. Both of them were way off base.”
    “Did Clara get involved in the argument?”
    “No, she stayed out of it. As I said, she never took to Barbara. But I’m sure she didn’t approve of the way Annalise talked to Barbara today.”
    “Do you know of any problems Gary had with anyone else lately? Anybody who was especially upset with him?”
    He thinks for a minute and shakes his head. “I can’t think of anybody. Gary confided more in Clara than he did in me. Maybe she can help you out. You want to talk to her?”
    “I’ll have a quick word with her.”
    “Why don’t we go in the kitchen? You can meet the wild man.” It’s the first time there has been a light in Alan’s eyes since I got here.
    I ask how old his grandson is.
    “He’s two. Cutest thing you ever saw. And smart! But he’s giving Annalise fits. Her two older ones are in school, and between them she didn’t have half the trouble that little pistol is giving her.”
    In the kitchen it’s taking the efforts of both his mother and his grandmother to keep little Mikey from pulling everything he can reach out of the cabinets. “I don’t mind a bit,” Clara is saying to her daughter. “After you leave, I’ll have plenty of time to put things away.”
    “Mamma, I don’t want to give him the idea that it’s okay to make such a big mess.”
    “I understand. You have to discipline him. But I’m his grandmother and I can indulge him if I want. He’s so darling.”
    The little darling starts running around the kitchen, roaring, holding a pan over his head like a club. I make the appropriate noises, saying how smart he is while dodging his efforts to hit me with the pan. I can’t help being skittish that he might clobber my knee.
    I tell Clara I need to be on my way and ask her if she’ll walk out with me.
    At the front door I ask if she knows of any problems Gary was having with anyone.
    She holds herself straight, and despite the misery in her eyes, her voice is clear and strong. “It’s no secret that Gary wasn’t as discreet as he could be with bank business. Alan was always on him to do better, but I chose not to bring it up with Gary.” She falters. “I wish I had tried to talk to him. I wish I had told him to shape up.” She shakes her head. “I indulged him.”
    “Clara, you know as well as I do that he probably wouldn’t have listened to you.”
    She puts her hand on