“She married him,” he said. “Goes by the name of Crissy Freeman these days. Damn near broke my heart, but he’s the one who’s still holding a grudge after all these years.”

“So you were never romantically involved with Eleanor Lavelle?”

“Absolutely not. We never had that kind of relationship. What I said about Eleanor before—maybe I gave you the wrong impression when I said she was something special. She was special, but the way I felt about her wasn’t sexual or romantic.”

“How did you feel about her?”

“Protective, I guess. The first night she turned up here, she tried to come across all sassy and sure of herself. But I could see it in her eyes.”

“See what?”

“She was lost. Eleanor never told me much about her past, but I know this much: that girl didn’t have it easy. She was a hell of a lot more vulnerable than she liked to let on.”

“Is that why you allowed her to stay at the motel for free?”

Hopper shook his head vigorously. “Uh-uh. Another of Freeman’s lies. Eleanor paid her way, same as everyone else. I don’t know where she got the cash from, and I never asked. None of my damn business. But she paid me a week’s lodgings in full every Monday without fail.”

“Okay, I get that you and Ace don’t get along. But why would he make this stuff up about Eleanor? She worked for the guy. He gave me the impression they got on well.”

Hopper laughed bitterly. “I already told you—Ace Freeman is spiteful and jealous. I think he truly believed something was going on between Eleanor and I. You know, history repeating itself.”

“How so?”

“According to Eleanor, Ace was all roaming hands. A pat on the backside here, a squeeze of the arm there. Then he went too far and tried to get it on with her one night and earned himself a good hard slap for his troubles. She told him she already had a fella and she’d quit the bar if he laid a finger on her again. I guess he thought I was her fella.”

“Could this boyfriend she was referring to have been Rob Young?”

“Nah, this was way before the Young kid arrived in town. I never asked her who the guy was. Again, I figured it was none of my business. I wouldn’t have been surprised if she’d made the boyfriend up just to get Ace off her case.”

“That bad, huh?”

“Worse,” he said. “The guy is a grade-A creep. If you’re going to be spending any more time at that bar, just keep an eye out for him.”

“Seriously?”

Hopper nodded grimly. “Young, pretty, and sassy—you’re just his type.”

17 JESSICA

17

JESSICA

Jessica was relieved to find Razor, rather than Freeman, behind the bar when she slid onto a stool at Ace’s later that evening.