The Second Wife Read Online Free PDF

didn’t get me to hand over my bank account information.”
    â€œThat’s terrible.” This clinched it. Marjory had used Brian too. He’d been even stupider than I thought. No wonder he couldn’t look me in the eye.
    We finished our tea and Rose talked about the kids she had taught. She had a special fondness for the ones she called rascals. I thought that the kids must have been lucky to get her for a teacher.
    â€œYou’ve been a big help,” I said as I stood to leave. I looked down at her. “I’d enjoy if you’d come with me to bingo next Saturday evening at the seniors’ center. I read a notice in the paper this week. They’re looking for new players. I could pick you up and bring you home.”
    Rose’s face lit up. “Why, I’d enjoy that. I used to like a night out.”
    I returned her smile. “I’ll come by to get you around seven.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN
    I thought about what I’d learned as I waited for my frozen dinner to cook in the microwave. Marjory came to town without much money. She was a liar, and if Rose was to be believed, a thief. She had fights with her son and her co-worker Tina Sweet. Brian thought she had started having another affair.
    I sighed. Everything I’d found out about Marjory gave Brian even more reason to kill her. I could either give up in defeat or keep turning over stones. If I gave up looking, Brian would go to jail for a long, long time. It also would mean that I should have listened to Marjory when she begged for my help. I would have to spend the rest of my life knowing I might have saved her. Both ideas were difficult to accept.
    I decided to dig deeper into the last months of her life. The documents that Marjory’s boss gave me listed the recent employers—a doctors’ office and a dental clinic. The next day was Sunday. The offices would be closed. I’d have to wait until Monday to pay them a visit.
    I sat with the plastic tray of fried chicken, potatoes, green beans and applesauce in front of my computer screen. I clicked on Google. A search gave me Tina Sweet’s address. She lived not far from me. I’d drop in on her tomorrow afternoon. That should give her time to recover from the hangover that she probably was working on getting right that moment.
    I decided to take the night off. I called a girlfriend, then my brother in Boston. After that I went to bed and dreamed I was in an eight-by-eight cell. Brian stood on the outside of the bars, waving at me. He was holding a chocolate cake. I got up off the bed and walked toward him. I was relieved to see him. I knew he was there to save me. When I reached the bars, he pressed his face close to mine. He smiled and whispered into my ear. He thanked me for killing Marjory and giving him back his life. He said that she’d deserved to die.

    Tina Sweet lived in a townhouse on Wildwood Drive. I parked on the street and walked to the front door. It was just past one o’clock. I hoped she was up.
    I was surprised at how full of energy she looked when she opened the door. She was wearing a denim miniskirt and halter top. Her face was scrubbed and her bleached hair was tied back. She had taken out the gold nose ring. Her smile disappeared when she saw it was me. She looked over my shoulder as if expecting someone else.
    I flashed my badge. “Sorry to bother you, Tina. We met at the funeral service. I just have a couple more questions about Marjory White.”
    â€œThey have the guy who did it.”
    â€œI’m just tying up loose ends.”
    â€œWell, come in then. Let’s get it over with.”
    We sat at the kitchen table. Tina lit a fresh cigarette from one burning in the ashtray. “Is your boyfriend here?” I asked.
    â€œWho? That guy I went to Mexico with? Roy and I broke up the day of the funeral.”
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    â€œDon’t be. He didn’t look as good once I sobered up.