“You watchedSmall Town, Big Romance?” I said, incredulous.
“That’s the one.” Her nose crinkled. “Brett was always just so smarmy.”
That was a word I hadn’t heard her use to describe anyone until now. Still, I wasn’t backing off of the investigation.
“Listen, I think I’m safe, and I’m pretty sure that anyone trying to kill Brett wouldn’t be after me.”
“Unless you get too close.”
“I’ll keep the appropriate distance,” I told her, knowing that this vague promise was a very subjective line. I couldn’t help being involved, though. Brett deserved justice. He might not have been a good person, but hours before he’d had a whole life ahead of him.
And solving the mystery of his death might be the only way to keep suspicion off Lacy.
Aunt DeeDee sighed. Squaring her shoulders, she continued: “When Joe came down here to tell me what happened, I told him that people would be hungry, especially for comfort food, if they have to stay here tonight, so we should keep sending out platters of goodies periodically.”
“Did Joe seem upset?”
Aunt DeeDee tapped her nails on the counter and squinted. “Joe was sad, but I could tell he was trying to keep it together.”
“For you?”
“For himself, and maybe for the gal who was with him.”
“Who was with him?”
“Cute girl. Dark hair and eyes. About your height. Name was… Priscilla?”
“Presley?” I asked.
“That’s it. Like Elvis, not his wife.” Aunt DeeDee turned and dropped a cup of blueberries into a batter of some kind that was in a bowl on the counter. “You know, sweetheart, Joe’s been through some things.”
I had no idea what my aunt meant, unless she was talking about the time Joe got suspended for squeezing super glue in all the locks on the doors to the academic classes—as if he actuallythought the administrators would let us only attend our electives the rest of the school year.
“Joe’s always been a sensitive boy, probably wanted to study theater because of that, but look where he is now. Trying to start a business and make ends meet. Life doesn’t always go as planned.”
I knew this to be true.
“Anyway, I guess kids don’t often know other kids’ struggles,” Aunt DeeDee said almost to herself as she added a pinch of salt. “Youth can be very near-sighted.”
Growing up in Aubergine hadn’t been perfect, but I supposed that for me, with Momma and Aunt DeeDee seeing to my every need, it had been kind of idyllic. It made sense that this wouldn’t have been true for everyone.
I waited and when she seemed reluctant to continue, I prompted her. “What happened to Joe?”
“Not one single thing. Just…” Aunt DeeDee looked to the high ceiling before staring back at me. “You had a good childhood, right?”
The question was even heavier now with the recent news about my father.
“Sure,” I answered. “I knew you and Momma loved me, had my back. I didn’t feel like I was missing anything, not really.”
“Right. So… Joe’s was good too until he was about nine and his dad injured his back. A pain doctor in the city started his father on opioids, and after that, he went the way of a lot of citizens in small-town America twenty years ago. I heard about it as an ongoing prayer request on the roster of First Baptist. From what I can tell, Joe’s dad still struggles.”
I winced. That would’ve been when we were in third or fourth grade, my era ofThe Suite Life of Zack & Codyand hatching baby chicks for a science fair project, not watching a parent struggle with addiction.
“I’m just saying,” Aunt DeeDee continued, “each person has been through something, regardless of whether or not it’s visible.”
“I hear you,” I said. “But the more info I have about Joe, then the faster I can help Charlie eliminate suspects.”
Aunt DeeDee folded her arms and considered my logic. “Joe’s a good kid. I’m sure he’s innocent, but if you want to be certain that you can cross him off your list, then fine, take a look at his things.”
