Ten minutes later, Coop sat opposite the lawyer who appeared aloof and disinterested. Perhaps too aloof, pushing his cop instincts to full alert.
“As I said, I have court in less than an hour. Judge Walker has no tolerance for tardiness in his courtroom.”
“I appreciate you seeing me. I won’t take up too much of your time.”
“What’s this about?”
“I’m investigating the deaths of two women. I’m sure you heard about it.”
He glanced pointedly at his watch. “What’s that got to do with me?”
“You were at Teddy’s last Sunday night.”
“So were half the men in the county.” He squared the yellow tablet in front of him. “Ladies’ Night, you know. Even saw your impertinent secretary there.”
Coop ignored the comment. “What time did you arrive?”
“I didn’t check the time.”
“What time did you leave?”
“I don’t remember.”
“Did you leave alone?”
A muscle twitched in his jaw and his eyes narrowed slightly. “I can’t see that as being any of your business.”
Coop pulled Joyce Ayers’ photo from the folder he carried and slid it across the desk. “Recognize this woman?”
A tic above Anson’s left eye was the only visible reaction to Coop’s question. “No.”
“You were seen talking with her Sunday night.”
“I talked with a lot of women.”
“This one ended up dead.”
Anson’s faced reddened, and he sat up straighter in his chair. “I made the rounds, talked with a lot of women. I left alone. I don’t know what time. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m due in court.”
Before Coop could respond, the lawyer stood holding the door open.
“I’ll be in touch,” said Coop as he walked out.
“Bring a warrant, or you’ll be wasting your time.”
“Thank you so much for shopping for me, Sam.” Eva stirred a pot on the stove, then pushed a silver curl away from her flushed face. “I feel like I’m meeting myself coming back these days.”
“I’m very glad to help in any way I can.” Sam considered her next statement carefully, not wanting to appear rude. “I know you love what you do, but really, Eva, you don’t need to do so much for me. I mean, I appreciate it, I really do, but you work much too hard.”
She smoothed down the front of her apron, cheeks a rosy pink. “You sound like Coop. He tells me that all the time.”
“At least consider letting me help out some while I’m here.”
“You aren’t thinking of leaving are you?” Eva’s face wrinkled up in a frown. “We’d be so disappointed.”
“No. At least not right away. I love being here, but I just don’t want you to work yourself down doing too much.” On impulse, she put her hands on Eva’s shoulders. “I’ll make a deal with you. I won’t leave anytime soon if you let me help out. I can’t cook as well as you but I can help in other ways, and I can certainly clean and do laundry.”
Her head bobbed in agreement. “Deal.” Eva covered one of Sam’s hands with her own. “I’m so glad to see you and Coop together. You have no idea what a difference you have made in his life.”
“He’s made a big difference in mine as well. As have you.” She gently rubbed the older woman’s arms. “You are a wonderful human being. Thank you for all that you do for me. For us.”
Flustered, Eva waved a hand in front of her face. “Don’t make me get all misty-eyed. We have work to do.”
“What can I do to help?”
The rest of morning flew by as the two women worked together to complete necessary chores. At Eva’s request, Sam put a note on the B&B website stating they were not booking rooms for a while, and later, she did something she hadn’t done in a long time. Laundry. And loved every minute of the whole domesticated process.
After lunch, she gathered up what she needed for her appointment with Mr. Puckett at the bank, left a message for Coop on his cell, and drove to town. Anson would be in court all afternoon, but she was to drop by his office on the way home to sign the papers.
Outside the banker’s glassed-in office, the dour-faced secretary barely glanced up when she told Sam to take a seat, and he’d be with her soon.
Her first impression of James Puckett wasn’t so flattering, either.
He made a steeple with his fingers as he sat behind his desk like a king granting an audience to a subordinate. His icy smile held no mirth.
