Page 57 of Lost Hours
She swung that ponytail again. “Actually, they were arguing about something.”
Mina leaned closer to the server. “Did you hear what they were talking about?”
“No,” she said with certainty. “They clammed up every time I came close to the table. I did hear what sounded like the word ‘taxes’.”
Taxes. Unexpected.“And you’re sure you don’t know this man?”
“I don’t.” She pressed her hands down her apron as if wiping off a distasteful thought. “It wasn’t like Ernie to argue with people, so I asked the others if they knew him. No one did.”
Could they be on to something? Was this man blackmailing the mayor, and was he the recipient of the money Mayor Sutton had been withdrawing from his account?
Mina got out her phone and displayed the digital sketch of Smythe. “Was this the man?”
Paisley studied it, her forehead creasing. “No. Definitely not.”
“Have you ever seen the guy in here before?” Mina stowed her phone.
“No.”
The perfume smell at the mayor’s house came to Nolan’s mind. “Did the mayor ever have lunch with a woman he seemed romantically involved with?”
Paisley gnawed on her lower lip. “I don’t know about romantically involved, but he had lunch with the same woman a few times lately. They’ve huddled together, talking and whispering. It’s not normal for the mayor to try to keep his conversation so quiet, and it’s unusual for him to be meeting with a woman I’ve never seen before.”
“And he didn’t introduce you to this woman either?” Mina asked.
“No, and just like the guy yesterday, I asked the others and no one knew her. I hinted around a few times for an introduction, but Ernie just sidestepped it. I figured it was none of my business, so I left it alone.”
“Can you describe her for us?” Nolan asked.
“An older woman probably around Ernie’s age. She dressed expensively. Tailored suits. Pearls. She had gray hair with white streaks in a blunt cut and always wore large diamond stud earrings.” Paisley got a sour look on her face. “But she also had a big honking diamond ring on her finger, so she was likely married. I figured that’s why Ernie wasn’t introducing me.”
“You mean you thought he was having an affair with her?” Nolan clarified.
“Yeah.” Her gaze ping-ponged around the room as if unable to look at them. “I didn’t see Ernie as the kind of guy who would have an affair with a married woman, but then none of us are perfect.”
“Did she wear perfume?” Mina asked. “Specifically Chanel N°5?”
“Oh man, yeah. She laid her perfume on heavy, but I don’t know what brand it was.”
Mina slid closer to Paisley. “Has the mayor seemed off or worried lately?”
She frowned. “His appetite has been off, but he’s been his cheerful self all the time. I asked him about his appetite, but he said he had some bug that he couldn’t seem to shake. Still, at lunch yesterday, he was able to eat his salmon and hush puppies with no problem. Even asked for seconds on the hush puppies.”
“Did he always pay for the meals with this woman?” Nolan asked.
“I don’t ever remember a time he let anyone else pay. Even the guy he argued with.” Paisley’s eyes narrowed. “What’s this all about, anyway?”
Mina leaned close to Paisley. “I’m sorry to say that Mayor Sutton has been murdered.”
“Murdered!” Paisley grabbed hold of the table. “Who would want to kill Ernie?”
“That’s what I was hoping to ask you.” She kept her attention on Paisley. “Is there anyone you’ve seen the mayor dining with who you think might be out to get him? Other than the guy he argued with?”
“I mean, he’s had some good-natured political discussions with people, and he always argued with his brother-in-law before Wade stomped out. There didn’t seem to be any love loss there, but Ernie didn’t seem to give up on the deadbeat. Just kept giving the guy money and buying his lunch on top of it.”
“The mayor really was a top-notch guy,” Mina said, her tone ringing with sincerity. “Anyone else you can think of who he might’ve had a negative interaction with?”
“There was never anyone who seemed really angry with him until yesterday.” Her eyes flashed open. “Wait. Do you think that’s the man who killed him? A killer was in here yesterday? Oh my gosh!”
