Nick decided to ride through Mindy’s condo complex after letting Millicent out. As he passed by, the Garveys pulled into their parking space, and Max got out of the car. Robyn drove off again. Nick presumed she was going back to work.
Nick was about to pull into another section when Max Garvey turned away from his door and headed across the street, then cut between two rows of condos. Nick slowly moved his car in that direction until Max tapped on the back door of a unit three buildings away,
Nick pulled into an unmarked space in front of the building and waited. When Garvey didn’t come out, Nick took off his tie, removed his coat, and got out of the car. No people were on the street, so he ambled toward the condo. He rounded the corner and found a neighbor weeding her garden on the side of the building, so he decided to go around back. Large forsythia bushes were planted on either side of the walk leading to the back door of the condo Max had entered. Nick had a direct view of the kitchen through the open window. He was happy the shade was up.
A woman inside appeared to be paying bills. She touched a stack of envelopes on the table and stood beside her chair. Max Garvey wrapped his arm around her waist.
“Are we alone?” he asked in a raspy voice.
“All alone,” she said.
“It’s good to see you.” He brushed his lips across her cheek.
“It’s always good to see you, too, Max.” She hugged him closer to her. “You look so handsome dressed up in that suit. Were many people at Mindy’s funeral?”
“Mostly family. Rebecca tried to keep it as quiet as possible.”
“Where’s Robyn?”
“She had some work to finish at the office. She dropped me off.” He took his arm from around her waist and went to the refrigerator. “Want something?”
“I was about to get a Coke when you arrived.”
He opened the refrigerator and handed her a Coke. He took a beer for himself. “Has anyone asked you any questions, Tess?”
“Not yet. Every time the doorbell rings, I jump.” She sat at the table, and he joined her. “How about you?”
“I haven’t heard from anyone, but I’m sure they’ll show up soon. The detective they hired was at the funeral. He’s a personal friend of Mrs. Armfield, so I’m sure he won’t give up. He’ll probably call on everybody in the complex. Seems the type. The police are going to get active in the case, too, now that they have a body.”
“Do you think anything will come out about our private parties?”
“I hope not. I have a good thing going with Robyn. I’d hate for them to mess it up.”
“Max, if they find out about you and Mindy, please don’t say anything about me.”
“I won’t unless I have to.”
“Please, Max. George would kill you, and maybe me, too.”
“I know.” He leaned back in his chair. “Hopefully, nothing will come out about either of us. I think they would’ve already come to talk with us if we’d left any signs in her condo that we’d been there.”
“I wanted to go over there and check everything out, but didn’t get a chance before the police closed it off.” She sipped her Coke. “I usually go back after the party to help her clean up.”
“We were careful. Everything is fine.”
“I hope so, Max. I really hope so.” She reached over and took his hand. “George is supposed to come home tonight. Shall we get together with him and Robyn?”
“Maybe we could go out to eat. The more we keep Robyn and George together, the less likely they’ll be to suspect us.” He kissed her ear.
“What time will Robyn be home?”
“Not for a while. We’ve got time.”
“Good.” Tess stood up and tugged at his hand.
With a big grin on his face, Max set his beer on the table and followed her out of the room.
Nick hadn’t meant to stay and listen to everything they’d said, but when the woman weeding her garden appeared behind the other forsythia bush, he had no choice but to stand still and wait. Now he was glad he had. He had something to go on. He was going to talk to Max Garvey and the woman, too, now. From what they had said, they might have killed Mindy. At the very least, they knew something about her death.
When the form behind the other bush moved back toward the front of the condo, Nick slipped from his hiding place, walked several doors down, and came out at the end of the next building. He then proceeded down the walk on the front side.
The neighbor was again busy with her weeding, but Nick was sure she was the person who had tried to conceal herself behind the bush. It had probably been easy for her because she was the skinniest woman he’d ever seen. She had on a bright red, loose fitting house dress.
He approached her.
“Hello,” he said in his cheeriest voice when he got close.
She looked somewhat startled to see him.
“Don’t let me frighten you. My name is Nick Quimbley.”
When she didn’t answer, he went on, “I’m working for the Davidson family and am looking into the death of Mindy Davidson. I thought I’d walk around the neighborhood and talk with some of the residents.”
She nodded. “I’m Nan Shallowford.” She pulled her tiny frame up off her knees, removed one of her gloves, and extended her hand. “I don’t know if I’ll be much help. I didn’t know Mindy very well.”
“But you met her?”
“Yeah, a few times. I’m a nurse, and I work the night shift. I’ve met some of the neighbors at the complex pool, but I’m not really close to anyone.”
“How about your neighbor here?” He indicated the condo where he’d eavesdropped.
She glanced in that direction, then looked back at him. “Tess? She’s okay. I see her and her husband George once in a while. They consort with a different group than I do.”
“Oh?” Nick raised an eyebrow.
“She was a friend of Mindy’s and she…” Nan hesitated.
“Yes?”
“Well, it’s not my place to say anything, but a lot of the people around here fool around when their mates are at work. Max Garvey is always on the prowl.”
“Do you know if he was close to Mindy Davidson?”
She hesitated again. “I don’t know for sure about her, but he’s pretty close with Tess.”
“I thought I saw him head this way when I was coming down the street.”
Nancy nodded. “It’s a shame. Both of them have good, trusting mates, and they play around on them.”
“Do you mean they’re having an affair?”
“Something like that.” She squared her shoulders. “I ought to tell Robyn, but I don’t have the guts.”
“Mrs. Garvey doesn’t know?”
“Hasn’t got a clue. Neither does George Carter.” She shook her head. “Why can’t they appreciate a good thing when they’ve got it?”
“I agree with you. If you have a good mate, you should be faithful.” Nick smiled.
Nan nodded and looked at her watch. “It’s about time for me to get ready for work.”
“Then I won’t keep you. If I have more questions, may I call on you again?”
She blushed. “I’d be happy to help you anyway I can. Sometimes I think somebody should let the world know what’s been going on in this complex.”
Nick wanted to ask her further questions, but she seemed rushed. He’d postpone it. “Maybe when I come back you can tell me some of the secrets.”
She giggled. “I might just do that.”