Nancy returned with a tray containing coffee for both of them, a plate of delicate cucumber sandwiches and lemon cookies that looked homemade. Was there anything quite like Southern hospitality? Because she knew it would mean the world to this very nice woman, Sam poured some cream into her coffee and took two of the tiny sandwiches.

“I wish I’d known you were coming. I would’ve made something better.”

“This is very nice of you,” Avery said. “Now about the reason we’re here. You were friends with Courtney Hamilton while she lived here in Knoxville?”

“Yes, I was, and I’m devastated for her today. Troy was such a lovely man, and they were a beautiful family. My David and I had so many good times with them. Our children were roughly the same ages, and we spent many a weekend night playing cards and having a few drinks while the kids played. Those were good times.”

“Did Courtney confide in you when things between her and Troy began to fall apart?” Sam asked.

“She did,” Nancy said. “She was heartbroken over it, and she struggled with the decision to leave.”

“Did she say why they were having problems?” Avery asked.

“She never came right out and said it, but I got the feeling that one of them might’ve had an affair. Now mind you, I couldn’t figure out when either of them would’ve had the time. They were so busy with work and the kids and the house and all the stuff young parents deal with. David and I speculated endlessly about what might be going on, but we never did know for sure. It’s further proof that the only two people who truly know what goes on in a marriage are the two people in it.”

Wasn’t that the truth. “When they lived here and you were socializing with them,” Sam said, “did you ever meet his colleague Dustin Jacoby?”

Seeming startled by the question, Avery shot her a look.

“I met him a couple of times. They ran around together, and he joined us for cards sometimes. Dustin was single, and I got the feeling that they were like his family away from home. They did holidays together, that kind of thing. She joked about them being her two husbands.”

Sam’s skin tingled with the sensation she often got when she was on to something in an investigation, but this time her ears were buzzing too, which was odd.

“Was there ever any sense of something more than friendship between either of the Hamiltons and Dustin?” Sam asked.

“I don’t think we need to go there,” Avery said, scowling at her.

“Not that I ever saw,” Nancy said. “They were the best of friends.”

“This has been very helpful,” Avery said. “Thank you for your time.”

Nancy whipped out her phone. “How about a photo?”