It was dinnertime by the time they arrived in Tennessee, and they didn’t expect to find George at the school so they went straight to his house. Situated on a quiet residential street, it was a white clapboard with an inviting front porch that held pots of marigolds and begonias. It looked peaceful and happy, the sun glowed on the windows with an inviting light, and Hick had a foreboding that he and Adam were bringing evil to that place.
They climbed the steps and hesitated, looked at one another as if they needed to reassure themselves that this was a task that needed doing, then Adam rapped on the door. The knock was followed by the sound of footsteps within and the door was opened by Elizabeth Shelley.
“Why Hickory Blackburn and Adam Kinion. What a surprise! Do come in.” She stepped back and gestured for the men to enter the house. The front room was furnished with a sofa and loveseat covered in tight plastic. It was light and formal and didn’t seem to be much in use. Glancing at the room, she told them, “Why don’t you come to the family room. It’s a bit more inviting.”
The two men followed her to the back of the house, noticing that no one else seemed to be home. “Can I get you something to drink?” she asked.
“No thank you,” Hick replied. “Is George home?”
“No,” she said, gesturing for them to sit on the couch. She in turn sat in a stiff arm chair. “He and the girls are at the park watching the American Legion baseball team practice. After that they were going to get some hamburgers. I have a bit of a headache so I stayed home.”
“Sorry to hear you’re feelin’ poorly,” Adam said. He glanced at Hick and the look seemed to say, “We don’t really want to interview George in front of his kids.”
Hick nodded in silent agreement. “Ma’am, do you know what time they’re likely to be home?”
Elizabeth glanced at the clock which read 5:00 p.m. “I don’t think they’ll be much later. The practice should have ended over a half hour ago.”
“Would it be too much of an imposition if we waited here for them?” Hick asked.
“Of course not,” Elizabeth replied. “Can I ask what you need to see George for?”
“Just some questions related to the closing of the school,” Hick said.
“Really? I thought that was pretty much wrapped up.”
“We just need to clear a few things up,” Adam said in a reassuring voice.
“I see.” Elizabeth’s forehead wrinkled with thought.
“Seems a might eager you drivin’ all the way out here at this time of day to ask questions about the high school. Is something wrong?”
“No,” Adam answered. “We just need to see George.”
“It’s about Gladys, isn’t it?”
“Partly,” Hick admitted. “We’re tryin’ to figure a few things out.”
“Are you … are you close to makin’ an arrest?”
Hick and Adam exchanged a glance. “We might be.”
“I see,” she said and her eyes glanced toward the door. “And you suspect … George?”
“We didn’t say that,” Hick said quickly. “But you’re here.”
“Yes. But don’t make any assumptions … we’re not.”
“But I don’t understand what George would have to do with Gladys Kestrel. They got on marvelously when she worked for him. She thought he walked on water.”
“We just want to—” Hick began but was interrupted by the ringing of the telephone.
“Excuse me.” Elizabeth rose and went to the hallway where the phone was installed. Returning, she said, “It’s for you, Hickory. Deputy Metcalfe.”
Hick thanked her and took the receiver from her hand. “What did you find?”
Hick turned as Adam came up behind him. He nodded, locked eyes with Adam, and said “Good work, Wash. Got it.” Slowly he hung up the phone and turned back to Adam.
“Well? Did he find out?”
“Yeah. He found out.”