Page 108 of Trouble Comes in Threes

“Neither,” Darlene said. “I hate coconut.”

Neely Kate stuck out her bottom lip as she considered her statement, then put one bag back on the shelf and the other in the cart.

“Thanks for meeting us here,” I said.

“Are we meetin’ here so your husband doesn’t find out?” she asked.

“One of multiple reasons,” I said. “I don’t plan on telling him we’ve met unless you give me permission.” I gestured to the aisle. “How about we talk in the back of the store?”

“There’s a couple of tables and chairs by the deli counter,” Neely Kate said. “We could sit there.”

The people at the deli counter weren’t exactly fond of me, so I wasn’t sure that was a good idea. Still, it would be awkward walking with three of us side by side in the aisle, not to mention we had two carts to manage.

Neely Kate led the way, and I parked my cart against a wall, pulling Liam out before I sat at one of the round tables with them, ignoring the dirty looks from the deli workers.

Obviously, they still held a grudge.

I set Liam sideways on my lap, and he leaned into me, closing his eyes. This was going to be a crappy nap for a second day in a row, but the poor baby was used to it by now with our busy weekends.

I leaned into the table and asked Darlene in a low voice, “Do you have any idea who killed your brother?”

“No,” she said. “I’ll admit that Harvey used drugs, but he wasn’t your typical junkie. He was a casual user. He had a job. He had friends. People liked him.”

“So no enemies?” I asked.

“None that I know about.”

“Do you know where he got his drugs?” Neely Kate asked.

“He used to get them from a guy he went to high school with, Derby Sloan. But I heard Harvey was getting them from a new guy. When the sheriff’s deputy told me he was dead, I thought maybe he’d overdosed or gotten a bad batch of drugs.” Her chin quivered, and tears filled her eyes. “I never in a million years thought he’d be shot.”

“Do you know who the new guy is?” I asked.

She shook her head. “No idea.”

“Do you know how we can find out his name?” Neely Kate asked.

She shrugged. “I don’t.”

“Maybe you can give us the names of some of his friends,” I said. “We can start there.”

Darlene looked apprehensive but said, “Sure. I can do that.”

“Has the sheriff’s office given you any information?” Neely Kate asked. “What kind of questions have they asked?”

Darlene shot me a stern look. “Seems like you’re the person who would know those things.”

Liam shifted, and I adjusted him on my lap. “My husband doesn’t share his work life with me, just like I don’t share confidential stuff with him.”

“And this is confidential?” she asked, sounding dubious.

“I already assured you that I won’t tell my husband anything you don’t want me to,” I said. “But you have to believe me when I tell you that he’d want to help you. He’s not your enemy, Darlene.”

The irritated look on her face suggested she wasn’t convinced.

“So what did the sheriff’s detective ask you?” Neely Kate nudged.

“A big fat nothing,” she said. “He showed up at my front door before the sun came up on Thursday morning and told me my brother was dead. Asked where he’d worked and lived, then said they’d be back to ask me more questions. I’m still waiting.”

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