Page 103 of Death on Gallows Path

I had multiple reactions.

First, déjà vu from Blanche Todd Alsup.

Second, selfish relief that talk of TV was directed at Clara. I stayed clear of interviews.

“Now and then.” Clara looked toward Pammy, this time seated on a sofa, in the process of closing a laptop. “I’m glad you’re here, Pammy, so I can give you the list I promised.”

“List?”

“Of funeral homes.”

Pammy appeared slightly at a loss, which surprised me.

Clara took a paper out of her purse and held it out to Pammy, who took it automatically.

“Thank you.” No longer at a loss. “I hadn’t realized your background when you came here Saturday. Are you investigating?”

Clara so often took the lead in talking to people, I was surprised to hear myself say, “How could we not be interested in seeing justice done for Damon after meeting him at Zepke’s? And bringing that justice to you as his widow, as well as to his friends.”

I tossed a look toward Zoley on the last phrase, but immediately came back to Pammy.

“Justice has been done,” she said. “Bryon’s been arrested. As difficult as it is for Zoley and me to accept, Bryon murdered Damon.”

“Mmm.”

The sound came from Clara and me in unison.

Zoley twisted around to Pammy, then to us, “What do you mean, mmm??”

“The sheriff’s department is talking to Bryon, yet many questions remain.”

Zoley pulled in a breath and Pammy gripped her friend’s forearm. Giving support? Or needing it? She looked from me to Clara and back. “You mean you think Bryon didn’t kill Damon? That would be such amazing, wonderful news.”

“Amazing.” Zoley looked blank.

“I’m so sorry, but it’s not clear he’s not a murderer, either. As I said many questions remain.”

“And you think . . . you think . . .” Pammy appeared to be trying to work through possibilities. “We can help you answer those questions?”

“Yes. You’re the best people to ask how Damon and Bryon got on, for instance.”

Zoley said, “Bryon felt inferior. He was convinced Damon was trying to show him up. That’s what he said. Kept saying he wasn’t a game-player. Damon was. That he was a man of action. Damon wasn’t. I tried to tell him he was being an idiot, but obviously, he didn’t listen to me.”

“What do you mean?” Clara asked innocently.

“Obviously—” She gave it talking-to-an-idiot emphasis, “He went off to Gallows Path to finish things. He used that phrase.”

I looked past Zoley and asked Pammy, “Do you think Bryon killed Damon?”

She paused in apparent thought. “You never think someone you know is going to do something so horrible—” Back to that word she’d overused at training Monday. “—but the evidence . . . And no one knows him better than Zoley.”

We couldn’t very well argue that Zoley didn’t know her husband.

Time to switch gears.

“We’ve heard people weren’t satisfied after doing business with Damon. Wanted their money back, but it was nowhere to be found.”

Pammy looked at each of us. “I have not heard that. I stayed well away from Damon’s business.”