Lon still had to notify Barb Holland. The Holland residence was at the far edge of Blessings, and he needed to tell her before someone else beat him to it.

Workers from the city were sweeping up glass from the street as Lon got in his cruiser to make the notification. He took the short route to their house by going past Blessings High School and then up through the neighborhoods until he reached the west side.

The Holland home was a two-story Tudor with formal landscaping all across the front of the property. Lon turned up the driveway and drove to the house, parked, and got out. This was the absolute worst part of his job, but it had to be done. He reached the house and rang the doorbell, then waited.

* * *

Barb Holland was going through the house with a large garbage bag, removing the empty beer cans and the occasional empty liquor bottle, making certain all remnants of her husband’s secret vice stayed a secret before the cleaning ladies came tomorrow.

She didn’t know where Niles had gone, but she suspected to the club or the golf course. Those were his two favorite hangouts. She moved from their bedroom to the media room to clear out the trash cans and the empty bottles at the wet bar, then made a sweep through the den.

She was on her way down the hall when the doorbell rang. Now she was in a quandary. She could hardly drag the garbage to the door with her, and on impulse, she ran to the kitchen with it and tucked it in the pantry, then hurried back, smoothing down her hair before she opened the door. The last person she would have expected to see was the police chief.

“Good morning, Chief. What can I do for you?”

Lon took off his hat. “Morning, Mrs. Holland. May I come in?”

Barb frowned. “Why…uh, yes, of course,” she said, and stood aside as he entered, then shut the door behind him.

Now they were standing in the foyer, and the silence was worrisome.

“What’s going on? Did I forget to pay a parking ticket?”

Her lame joke went nowhere, and the look on the chief’s face was scaring her.

“Mrs. Holland, I’m—”

“Please, call me Barb,” she said.

Lon sighed. “Barb, I’m afraid I have bad news.”

Barb gasped. “Is this about Niles?”

“Yes, ma’am, and—”

She groaned. “I knew this would happen one day. I mean, he took chances every time he got behind the wheel. He was driving and drinking, wasn’t he? Please don’t charge him publicly. We’ll gladly pay the fine.”

Lon’s heart sank. Barb had just confirmed their suspicions and didn’t even know it.

“Barb…ma’am… Niles had a bad wreck. He was speeding when he came off a side street onto Main without stopping and hit Melissa Dean as she was driving past.”

Barb gasped and then staggered.

Lon caught her. “Where can we sit?”

She pointed down the hall, and Lon led her into the first room on the left. He seated her on the sofa and sat in a chair facing her.