Page 134 of Hello, Summer
Lorraine scowled. “Winnie absolutely refused to drive me here today. Said she had ‘other fish to fry.’ And of course, as the outgoing president of the altar guild, I couldn’t very well not show up. So I called Sean, and he said he was going and he even volunteered to be my chauffeur.”
Conley didn’t mention seeing Winnie at the back of the church.
“Skelly is our knight in shining armor once again,” Conley said. “Are you two going over to the reception?”
“I feel we should at least put in an appearance,” G’mama said, giving Skelly a meaningful glance.
“Okay by me,” Skelly said. “I’ve got my high school girl working until four.”
“I might see you over there,” Conley said. “But I think Rowena’s actually going to be working the crowd, taking notes, and misspelling people’s names.” She touched Skelly’s sleeve. “Can I talk to you for a second?”
He shrugged and followed her a few yards away.
“Thanks for being so sweet to G’mama,” Conley said. “I know you’re mad at me, but I really appreciate that you’re not taking it out on her.”
“I’m not mad at you,” Skelly said, his expression mild. “Maybe it’s all for the best that you made it clear you’re not interested.”
“It’s not that I’m not interested,” Conley protested. “If we were both in the right place at the right time…”
“But we’re not,” Skelly finished her sentence. “And I’ve been through this already. Go do your job,” he said wearily. “I’ll take your grandmama home after the reception. And I’m not doing it as a favor. I’m doing it because that’s what neighbors do.”
“Okay,” she said.
He was standing at the edge of the crowd, hands in his pockets, dressed in a sport coat and tie, trying to blend into the landscape, but the wraparound aviator sunglasses, military bearing, and spit-shined, lace-up shoes gave him away as law enforcement.
“Sheriff,” she said, sidling over to him.
“Miss Hawkins.”
“I did ask you to call meConley.”
“So you did.”
“What are you doing here today?” she asked.
“Can’t a fella pay respects to his congressman at his homegoing celebration?”
“Of course. But I’m getting a vibe that there’s more to your visit than that.”
“Who am I to argue with a vibe?” Merle Goggins asked. “Whatever that is.”
“I think you owe me, Sheriff. And I think there’s something you’re not telling me.”
“There’s a lot I’m not at liberty to tell you, even if I wanted to, this being an ongoing investigation.”
“What if you told me off the record?”
His eyes looked straight past her, and she saw that he was watching Vanessa and the rest of the family climb into limos for the short ride to the reception. He seemed to be weighing a decision.
“I had a call from the medical examiner’s office late yesterday,” he said finally. “We’re completely off the record, right?”
“That’s right.”
“He told me Symmes Robinette was already dead when that deer hit his windshield.”
“So I was right! He did hit the deer.”
Goggins nod was barely perceptible.
