Murder in Marietta (A Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mystery Book 2) by Deborah Malone Page A

and ask some questions. “Marianne, have you heard the police fingered Doc as a person of interest?” Her eyebrows arched and her eyes widened.
    “No. I didn’t.”
    “He’s in big trouble. Do you have any information that could help us find the real killer?” I recognized I was in deep over my head – questioning her about a murder. Please Lord, help me help Doc .
    At first, I believed she was going to clam up. Then a lone tear slid down her cheek. “I’ll support Doc any way I can. He’s been so good to me.” She swiped the tear from her face. “Jacob was a jerk. He’d worked at the museum for less than six months when he started to make moves on me. Moves I didn’t want.”
    “Did you tell Doc?” I remembered Doc said Jacob had made advances toward Susan. The guy must have hit on everyone.
    “No. Jacob threatened me,” she said. “I should have told Doc, but Jacob had something on me. He said he’d expose my secret to Doc and the board. It scared me. I have a daughter I care for by myself, and I was afraid I’d lose my job if Jacob let this out.”
    What information did Jacob have on her? “Marianne, what did he discover that made you keep quiet about something as horrible as unwanted passes?”
    She started to cry in earnest, “I can’t tell you,” she sobbed. I managed to find a clean tissue for her. She sniffed and wiped her nose. “But the time has come to tell Doc.”
    I had to find a way to observe the conversation if I planned to help Doc. “Do you want me and Dee Dee to sit in with you? The more information we have on Jacob could possibly help us clear Doc.” She regarded me with a startled expression. Was it because I asked a stupid question or because I was willing to help her?
    “I guess so.” She sniffed and dabbed her eyes. “Maybe Doc won’t be so mad if I have someone on my side. I hope as mothers, you’ll understand why I did what I did.” The tears stopped and her face relaxed. She was ready to get this off her shoulders.
    “Let’s go find Doc. We’ll explain what happened. He seems like an understanding guy.”
    “Oh, he’s been so good to me,” she said. “I hope he doesn’t fire me. I need this job.” We walked back to the entrance of the museum. She stopped and looked me in the eye. “My ex-husband laughed and told me I’d never be able to survive without him. He insisted I’d eventually crawl back to him.” Marianne had a far-away gaze in her eyes as if she relived the moment.
    My heart ached for her. Fear overwhelmed me when I went through my own divorce. Wade never said those same words to me, but he left me financially broke. I experienced first-hand the distress of having to support myself. I could relate to Marianne’s distress.
    By the time we made our way back to the lobby, Doc had returned and was talking with Dee Dee.
    “Hi, Doc. Any news?”
    His face held the answer. “No. Nothing new.” He looked as forlorn as a little boy who wasn’t old enough to go hunting with his daddy.
    I nudged Marianne. It was now or never. “Doc, Marianne needs to talk to you. I think we’d better go somewhere private.”
    We all traipsed behind the counter and into Doc’s office. Penny had returned with Doc, so she volunteered to man the front desk.
    “Doc, I realize you’re going to be mad at me when I reveal what I’ve done,” Marianne said. “I’ll probably lose my job.”
    “Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?” Doc took Marianne’s hands in his own.
    I was touched with the display of compassion. I wondered how compassionate he’d be when he found out what Marianne had to say.
    “I’m so sorry for what I’ve done. I know better than to do something dishonest, but I was in a tight spot and couldn’t figure out a solution.” Marianne’s chin quivered and she dropped her head.
    “Go ahead dear. It can’t be that bad.” Doc’s gentle encouragement seemed to give her confidence to continue.
    “I needed money. After my divorce I