A Quiet Death

TWENTY-FIVE

The vindaloo was still burning its way though my small intestine when I got home around eight.

Paul uncurled from his spot on the sofa and rose to meet me. ‘So, I graded exams today. How was your day?’

I gave him a peck on the cheek, then dragged him down on the sofa to sit next to me. ‘It’s all coming together now, Paul. It was Hoffner who had Zan’s letters. Although I can’t prove it, I think he called Meredith, arranged to meet her somewhere, told her he wanted money to keep his mouth shut about Chandler’s love child, something went wrong and she died. Hoffner panicked and gave the letters back to Nick at the Library of Congress, figuring if he didn’t get caught with the letters, no problem.

‘Now I find out from Nick that he’d made photocopies of some of the letters. Hoffner had a fit when Nicholas destroyed them. Why?’

‘That’s easy, Hannah. Because he still needs them, that’s why.’

‘The only thing that makes sense is that Hoffner planned, or even still plans, to blackmail Chandler. Nick even suggested that in a not so subtle way.’

I was playing with a loose thread on Paul’s ragged sweater, the one he kept rescuing from the Goodwill bag, when something occurred to me. ‘I’m going to call Jud Wilson.’

‘Hannah, it’s too late.’

‘Right,’ I agreed. ‘And I don’t have his cell. I guess it can wait until tomorrow.’

Paul’s arm snaked around me. ‘Come here.’ He kissed me and said, ‘You taste like curry.’

‘Vindaloo,’ I said. ‘Extra spicy.’

‘Ooh, hot kisses.’

‘You should experience it from my side.’

The next morning, I called Jud, left a message saying it was important I talk to him. In five minutes, he returned the call.

‘Jud, did that guy on the LC tape, James Hoffner, ever show up at Lynx News?’

‘Not that I’m aware of. Why?’

‘Is there any way to reach Chandler, other than through you?’

‘Sure. If you have his private number. Or his cell.’

‘What if you didn’t have his private number? How would one reach him?’

‘Dunno. Wait until he left the building and corner him, maybe. Or…’

‘Or, what?’

‘Go through his wife.’

‘Where’s Dorothea today, do you know?’

‘Mrs C. is always out and about. Sometimes hard to pin her down. Right now she’s flitting around town trying to wheedle donations out of businesses for a vintage hat party and jewelry sale that’ll take place next spring.’

‘Do you have Doro’s cell?’ I asked, starting to panic.

‘Nope. I can give you the home phone, though.’

‘Jud, I’m going to try to track Doro down, but I really, really need to talk to John. It’s important. Can you put me through?’

‘Sorry, Hannah. Would if I could, but he’s out of the office today. Off the radar.’

‘Damn it. Where?’

‘I don’t have a clue. When he called this morning, he said he had some sort of family emergency.’

‘Did he say what?’

‘He rarely does.’

‘Do me a favor. Call his cell and leave a message. Tell him James Hoffner is on the loose and he’s in a bad mood.’

‘Sure.’ Jud took a deep breath, puffed it out into the receiver. ‘You think Hoffner killed Meredith?

‘Of course. Don’t you?