Real Bad Things(17)

She released a long breath full of spite and made her way to the counter, but a guy clutching a pack of Milwaukee’s Best against his uniform made it there first. He looked familiar. Gerry What’s-His-Name. That was it. Rusty had sold him a house early on in his career. Something small. Nothing fancy. Nice fellow. Took care of his momma. Worked at the lock and dam. Probably found the body. Wouldn’t be the first. It’d been a while since the last one. Early spring, an older man out fishing. She was surprised they’d not found more bodies after that flood.

Georgia Lee refocused on the two of them. She wondered if Diane knew that he’d likely found the body. She’d add it to her bulleted list of items to ask John about later if he felt up to talking instead of continuing with his annoying tight-lipped stance on an “active” case.

If she wasn’t mistaken, Gerry was sweet on Diane. His eyes stayed focused on her face instead of traveling down her body. Fine time to woo a woman. Diane didn’t seem to mind. In fact, she bared her teeth and smiled, something Diane rarely did. She could use some of that teeth-whitening stuff.

Diane said something and Gerry laughed, shifting his stance in the process and bumping into Georgia Lee. She had a mind to educate him about standing too close and invading her personal space.

“Oh goodness. Pardon me,” he said in the sweetest, thickest accent before casting his eyes to Diane. He looked uncertain as to whether he should leave or not.

“Good to see you again,” Diane said to him, all formal-like, as if they hadn’t been flirting two seconds prior. Then Diane gave Gerry a closed-mouth smile and a little wrinkle of the nose, like she’d tasted something off in the casserole at a dinner party and didn’t have the heart to tell the host. Though Georgia Lee doubted Diane had ever been invited to one of those.

“Oh, I think I forgot something,” Gerry said, doing a poor job of faking surprise in the service of spending more time with Diane. “I’ll just take another spin around the store.” Diane practically vibrated with irritation, though Georgia Lee wasn’t sure if it was because of Gerry or her.

“Diane Ingram, is that you?” Georgia Lee looked over her Breakfast at Tiffany’s–style sunglasses—used for slipping in and out of liquor stores without her constituents noticing.

Diane swiveled Georgia Lee’s way and did a double take.

“It’s Georgia Lee. You remember me?” She took off her sunglasses. Less suspicious that way. Kindly. Thoughtful. “I’m on the city council. Perhaps you’ve seen my posters. There’s an election coming up—”

“I’m voting for Andy Bollinger.”

“Oh,” Georgia Lee said. She could walk away, wait and see if an image of Jane being escorted to jail crossed her TV once more. But sitting by wasn’t Georgia Lee’s style. “I was friends with Jane. Your daughter.” Maybe Jane didn’t remember her. Maybe Diane wouldn’t either. The last thing she needed was to be associated with Maud’s confessed killer.

“I know who you are.” Diane gave Georgia Lee the once-over. “I ain’t stupid.”

Georgia Lee bit down on a retort. “I was passing by on my way home from a council meeting and thought I’d stop by to pay my respects. I heard the news. What a shock that Warren has been found after all these years.” She paused, swallowed, smiled. “Did they say what happened? I remember it being such a mystery, especially after the confession.” She couldn’t bear to say Jane’s name. “Was it true? Did she kill him?”

Cold rushed through her. She clasped her arms against her chest and rubbed at the goose bumps that had risen. Stay focused, she told herself.

Diane began to speak but hesitated, and her bottom lip got all quivery like she might cry. Well, she wasn’t the only one. Georgia Lee would prefer to read about the details of Warren’s demise and Jane’s fate in the news instead of hunting them down in the bad part of town, but they still hadn’t released the information to the public. Granted, it was her town. But that was why she’d initially become a city councilor. To beautify! Make Maud Bottoms as good as or better than Maud Proper!

Stay calm, she reminded herself. She needed Diane.

Diane searched the store for a customer to help, but she was trapped behind the register. She looked at Georgia Lee, and Georgia Lee looked right back. Diane scratched at her head, and that made Georgia Lee want to scratch her own head. She wondered what kind of shampoo and conditioner Diane bought. That cheap stuff, probably. Might as well use bar soap.

“You trying to make me feel some kind of way?” Diane had always seemed uneasy around her. Like Georgia Lee might tell on her or something. Call the cops on her for being a bad mother.

“Of course not.” Georgia Lee smiled harder, clenched her jaw. “I wanted to see how you’re doing.”

“How the hell do you think I’m doing?”

“Look, Diane . . .” Georgia Lee clenched her fists and smiled. “I know we weren’t always on the best of terms, but I truly am sorry for your loss. That can’t be easy, having this come up again after all these years.”

“Well, it’s not easy,” Diane said. “That’s a fact.”

“I’m sure you’re relieved. As are the cops. Have they mentioned any next steps?” Georgia Lee couldn’t help but get to the point. Questions swirled. Were they planning on issuing a warrant for Jane’s arrest? Did they already conduct an autopsy? Did they know how Warren truly died? She straightened her posture, tried to keep her body from shaking.