"I don't know the exact time. Fifteen, twenty minutes after the fire engines come as best I recollect. He was out to dinner with his sister as I hear tell and he comes home to find his own wife dead. His knees give out and down he went. Right on the sidewalk with me standin' not this far away. Turned white and dropped like a big hand had give him a thump and knocked him out. It was the awfullest thing you ever saw. They brought her out zipped up in a plastic sack –"

"How'd Tillie happen to see her?" I interrupted. "I mean, if she was zipped up in a body bag?"

"Oh, that Tillie, she sees everything. Ask her. She prob'ly pushed through when the door got bashed in and seen the body for herself. Makes me sick to think of it."

"I understand Leonard's been staying with his sister since then."

"That's what I heard, too. Her name is Howe. Lives on Carolina. It's in the book if you want to get in touch."

"Good. I'll try to see him this afternoon. I'm hoping he can tell me something about where Mrs. Boldt might have gone."

I got up and held out my hand. "You've been a big help."

Mr. Snyder struggled to his feet and shook my hand, walking to the door with me.

I looked over at him with curiosity. "What do you think your wife was referring to when she mentioned the hammering that night? Do you have any idea what she meant?"

He waved impatiently. "She don't know what she's talkin' about. She got that all confused."

I shrugged. "Well, I hope Mr. Grice is doing all right at any rate. Did he have good insurance coverage? That would be a big help, I'm sure."

He shook his head, pulling at his chin. "I don't think he come out too good on that. Him and me has the same insurance comp'ny, but his policy didn't amount to much as 1 understand it. Between the fire and his wife's being gone now, he's about ruined. He collects disability for a bad back, you know, and she was sole support."

"God, that's terrible. I'm sorry to hear that," I said, and then took a chance. "What insurance company?" "California Fidelity."

Ahh. I felt my little heart go pitty-pat. This was the first break I'd had. I worked for them.