“I had heard something about it,” Sheriff Stevens says.

“And what’s that?” I pipe in.

He gives me a look, a why are you talking to me look. “That he was murdered—”

“Yeah, by her,” Sarah says with a bit of bite in her voice.

“What?” Sheriff Stevens widens his eyes.

“It was in her file. The case against her fell apart during the trial after some key evidence went missing. Isn’t that where you heard about it from?” Sarah asks. She pours three cups and hands one to me and one to Sheriff Stevens.

“If she did murder her first husband? And hypothetically, if Adam killed her? Is it even a crime? Like double jeopardy or something?” Mom calls from the living room. The wine is clearly going straight to her head.

“Yes, Eleanor. Killing someone is a crime.” Sarah rolls her eyes.

Mom hiccups. “Someone’s got to be asking the hard questions around here.” She mollifies her hiccups with another mouthful of wine.

Sheriff Stevens takes a drink quickly and then slams his fist against the counter. “Shit. Ouch!” He winces.

“Yeah, it’s hot coffee,” I say with a laugh. This guy is a moron. He gives me a dirty look. Sarah quickly sets down a glass of cold water in front of him. He drinks the whole thing in one gulp and thanks her for it.

“Well, I better be going,” he says. “I’ll let myself out.” He says goodbye and leaves rather quickly. Sarah and I stand on opposite sides of the kitchen, holding our cups of coffee, and looking at each other. She’s trying to read me, and I’m trying to read her. Is something going on with Sheriff Stevens? Why did he leave suddenly? Did he pick up on the fact that I was figuring these two out? Are they having an affair? If they were, would I even have the right to be mad? Of course, I would. She’s still my fucking wife, and she’s my lawyer. Her only focus should be my case, not some hick sheriff. She sets her cup of coffee on the counter, her eyes looking off into the distance, not fixated on anything.

“I have to go,” she says suddenly as if she was just snapped back to reality.

“Can’t you stay?”

“No.” She dumps her coffee cup in the sink and leaves the house without another word.

“Good riddance. I thought she’d never leave.” Mom says as she refills her drink

“She was here for five minutes.” I shake my head and pour myself a glass of scotch. I take a seat on the couch. “Can you please try to put down your sword, Mom? Sarah is my wife, and she’s defending me. You need to try to get along.”

She sits down on the loveseat and cradles her wine with both hands. “I suppose I can try.”

29. Sarah Morgan

29

Sarah Morgan