Page 15 of Death on Riddle Road
“Who knew about Derrick Dorrio being at Kentucky Manor, Ruby?”
“Not many.Only heard about it myself the day before yesterday.”
“When did he get there?”
“Day before yesterday.”
I stifled a chuckle inappropriate to the topic of murder, but completely fitting for Ruby considering herself a latecomer to the news when she knew the same day it happened.
“What else have you heard about his going to the hospice center?”
She lifted one shoulder.“They wanted to keep it quiet.Thought they’d have him a short time because he wasn’t expected to live much longer — though not from being murdered.Of course, there’d be family in and out to see him, but they wouldn’t call attention to him being there, wanting privacy.”
“Family beyond Robbie and Dova?”
“Oh, yes.His parents and a cousin.Don’t think I heard anything specific about Dova and Robbie going there.Except, of course, this morning.”Her small face scrunched.“That’s something about how Dova got so angry.Just not her way.Usually smiles and smiles and moves mountains that way.”
I felt a twitch across my shoulders, probably a fear of hordes of customers rushing in on us, barely able to see for the pile of return packages they carried.
“You knew Derrick, right?What was he like?”
“Knew of him, more like.His family’s been around here a long time.Did real well for themselves.She — his mother — would come in now and then, but not him.See him around town, hear things.He was popular enough in school, but not at the top.Played sports, but not a star.Got in a little trouble, but nothing big.”One shoulder rose.“If I saw him now — well, before he died, I mean — not sure I’d place him right off.You know what I mean?”
“Absolutely,” Clara said.
I nodded.“Anything else you can tell us about Derrick being in hospice or his death?”
“Person you need to talk to is Rose Gleiner — she’s a hospice nurse up there at Kentucky Manor.From what I hear, she’s the one who raised a flag that it wasn’t a natural death.Trouble is, she’s real discreet, that one.But as for more about Derrick—” She went grim.“—ask what you want about him killing Jaylynn—”
Clara stiffened, but didn’t argue.
“—and I’ll tell you anything I know.Won’t soon forget all that.Not losing that sweet young woman.Not the way it happened.And not that baby being in the car when his mother was lured out to be murdered — and then left there.”
Ike raised his head from hugging Gracie, no doubt catching the vehemence in his wife’s voice.Ruby made a patting gesture of reassurance.
I asked, “What makes you think she was lured there?”
“Don’t say it like I’m the only one thinking that.Me and most everybody else, including the deputies.I know Dova and the Dorrios and their camp all say they were knuckleheads that investigated, but that’s not so.Didn’t have all the tools they’ve got these days, but still had brains.She had pulled off the side of the road.”
I was working so hard not to look at Clara that Ruby’s last words took a second to sink in.
“Pulled off...Anything wrong with her vehicle?”
Ruby pointed at me.“That’s it exactly.Not a solitary thing.The way she was shot, she couldn’t have pulled off and parked after, because she was dead, so she must have done it before.And why would she do that, at night, on that empty stretch of road, with her baby in the back, unless it was for someone she knew?”
“Someone she knew,” I repeated.“Who’d arranged to meet her there?Or who knew she’d be passing and stepped out like they needed help?But how would they know she’d be coming past there—?”
“Unless they set it up,” Ruby ended for me triumphantly.“Some tried to make excuses that she knew the road.Not at that time of night.Not taking her baby out of his crib.No, had to be someone she knew who got her to go to that spot.People said if Derrick called and said he needed help that’s exactly what she’d do — bundle up Robbie and go to help him.”
“Even if she and Derrick were arguing?”
“You mean if she knew about the affair with Dova that came out after?Yeah, even then.No one was surprised she’d do that.”She clicked her tongue.“Trusting.Way too trusting.Never seemed to even suspect he was fooling around on her when she was pregnant.She was that kind.”
“What kind was — is — Dova Dorrio?”
It was natural to transition from the first wife to the second.
Especially when the second started having an affair while the first wife was still around.That didn’t put her at the top of the class for...well, class.
