Bad Business

12

Marlene and I discussed her husband's death, sitting on the side porch, sipping iced tea and looking at the uneventful sweep of her front lawn.

"A person from the state police called me," Marlene said. "A captain."

"Healy," I said.

"Whatever," she said. "Did you get the pictures of Trent cheating?"

"No."

"I told you I wanted pictures." I nodded.

"Have you identified the woman?" Marlene said.

"Does it matter now?" I said.

"Of course it matters," Marlene said. "I'm paying for this information."

"Woman's name is Ellen Eisen."

"My God," she said, "that stupid little Jew."

"Nicely said."

"Oh, God. Don't get PC on me. She is a stupid little Jew." There didn't seem anywhere to take that, so I nodded and left it.

"Sorry things worked out the way they did," I said.

"Don't worry about me. I'm strong. I can take it. I don't need any sympathy."

"I'm sorry anyway," I said.

"They'll think I did it," Marlene said.

"They will?"

"Of course they will, they always suspect the wife."

"In a homicide," I said, "the cops routinely investigate everybody. They'll clear you."

"My friends will think I did it. I know they will. They will love blaming me."

"What are friends for?" I said. She paid no attention.

"They'll think because of who I am, the police would be intimidated and not really investigate."

The image of her intimidating Healy made me smile, but Marlene took no notice.

"I'll need you to prove I wasn't involved," she said.

"I don't think you do," I said. "On the reasonable assumption that you weren't, I should think the cops could do that on their own."

"You still work for me," she Said. "I want to be cleared."

"Where were you last night," I said, "between, say, six and ten."

"I went to the movies."

"Where?"

"At that new big theater complex near the new Ritz."

"What did you see?"

"Chicago. And I don't like being questioned this way."

"The easiest way to be cleared is to have an alibi," I said.

"Well, I was at the movies. I often go into Boston alone to the movies."

"You didn't see anyone you knew?"

"No."

"You have the ticket stub?"

"No, of course not, why would I save a ticket stub?"

I was quiet.

"It's like you think I did do it," she said.

"You have very little chance of getting at the truth," I said, "if you know in advance what the truth ought to be."

"Oh don't lecture me," she said. "Go do your job."

"Marlene," I said. "I think I'm going to have to file you under Life's Too Short."

"Excuse me?"

"I quit again."

She stared at me. "You can't quit," she said.

"Sure I can."

I stood up.

"I'll send my bill to Randy," I said.

She began to cry. I started for the door. She cried harder.

"Please," she said.

I got to the door.

"Please," she said again.

I looked back. She was bent way over in her chair as if her stomach hurt. Her face was buried in her hands.

"Please don't leave," she said. "Please don't leave me like this."

She had me. I put my hand on the doorknob but I knew I wasn't going to turn it. I took in some air. She blubbered.

"Okay," I said.

"What?"

"Okay," I said.

I turned away from the door and went back and sat down. I was 0 for 2, quitting.