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"What do you mean, she quit?" Edward yelled at his father when Charles Saunders made an impromptu visit to the house for lunch.
Edward had not gone into work today, knowing that it was going to be Lily's first day back. He hadn't seen her since the scene at his house with Detective Stone. The one thing he had done since then was fire Bridget, Patty, and Stone, though the detective had managed to talk him out of it somehow. The man really was quite persuasive when he needed to be.
Stone had told Edward that it was his own fault he'd given money to a man he knew to be no good, trusted him to keep his word, and then lied about it to the woman he loved. Edward had not been able to argue with him on those points.
The detective had then told Edward he believed Ray was still alive, and that he was getting close to tracking him down. He'd heard some whisperings—nothing quite so solid as a full-fledged rumor—that Ray was hiding out in a woman's house somewhere in town, possibly the next town over.
Edward had agreed to continue with the detective, provided that the next time he had a question for Edward, he asked it in private.
"I did ask to speak with you alone, if you'll recall," the detective had told him.
"Yes, yes, I recall. Next time, insist upon it."
Edward was not so stupid as to ignore the fact that although irritating, this man had managed to find out a great deal of information in the short time he'd been on the case.
Standing now facing his father, Edward thought he'd made yet another error in not going in to work today. If he'd been there, he'd never have allowed Lily to walk out of a job he knew she loved.
"How could you let her go?" he demanded of his father.
"How was I to stop her? She's a grown woman."
Edward sighed, grabbed his coat, and left the house.
Since he knew she would not be at work, he stopped first at her house. After some time spent knocking, and a reproachful look from Mrs. Ruthers, he left, confident in the knowledge that she was not at home.
He next went by Dr. Shannon's, thinking it would make sense for her to have gone to her friend.
"I haven't seen her," the doctor replied, stroking his chin. "Have you two had another argument?"
"You might say that," replied Edward.
Dr. Shannon nodded. "Has it anything to do with... her health?"
"Her health?" Edward looked at him questioningly. "What do you mean? Is there something wrong with her health?"
"Never mind," the doctor said quickly and urged him from the home. "I'm afraid I have a patient coming in any moment."
Edward shot a look to the doctor, whose behavior struck him as strange, though he was too preoccupied with finding Lily to give it more than a passing thought. He knew perfectly well that Lily was in good health. If she had been in poor health, her temper would not have been so fiery.
He walked the streets of Blisspeak, peeking into the general store, the sweet shop, even the haberdashery. She was nowhere to be found.
He spotted Bridget hurrying across the pathway. She stopped when she saw him, her face first going red then turning a dark shade of purple. He thought she would continue on her way, but she headed toward him instead.
"Do you have a moment?" she asked, batting her long lashes.
"No," he said and brushed past her.
She followed him. "I think you might change your mind if you were to listen to what I had to say."
"If it is about your job, then there is nothing left to discuss. The Saunders Factory does not employ liars and those who would do harm to others."
"Wait!" she yelled, and there was something so desperate in her cry that he actually paused and turned to her.
She looked around, as if wanting to check her surroundings. Was she looking for someone? She stepped closer to him and whispered, "Please, if I help you find Ray, might I be able to get my job back? I need the money very badly."
Edward shook his head. "First off, I wouldn't believe a word you told me. First, you perjure yourself with the sheriff—"
"I'm sorry for that."
"Then you try to tell me Lily is with child."
Her eyes widened. "You mean she denied it?"
"I never even asked her. Your obvious falsehoods only continue to do you harm. I pray you learn from your mistakes and ask that God go with you."
He turned away from her, quickening his pace, but Bridget remained oddly determined. She continued to keep pace with him, speaking as they walked. Her face had grown cold, and her eyes hard. He thought this was her real face. The frightened, desperate woman he'd seen a few moments ago was nothing more than an act.
"I have proof that Lily killed her husband," she said.
Edward laughed. "Do you really want to go through all this again?"
She blanched. "It's true. The only reason I changed my story was because, despite her guilt, I could not allow any woman carrying a child to be sent to prison."
His pace slowed. He glanced at her. "What's this proof you now claim you have?"
"Ray's body. I know where it is."
Now she had Edward's full attention. "If you truly know where his body is, then you best tell me now or so help me I'll—"
"Lily's hair is all over his clothes. And... and there is a nail file coming out of him that I'm certain belongs to her. It will incriminate her all over again."
He inhaled slowly. "Why didn't you tell this to Sheriff Chambers?"
"I've already told you. I had a change of heart after learning Lily was with child." She licked her lips. "If you were to give me four hundred dollars, I might be able to dispose of the body for you and see to it that no one is the wiser."
Edward laughed now, unable to believe he'd been so foolish as to let himself get duped.
"Now I see. You've heard about the money I gave to Ray, and you think you can get some for yourself as well." He turned away from her. "Go on and tell the sheriff what you've discovered. If he gives you the time of day, it will amaze me."
"I shall only give you one warning," she yelled to his back. He continued walking on, confident that he'd made the right decision in dismissing her.
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