little over a year ago. You know, sometimes just a chat after rehearsal and then that turned into going for coffee after rehearsal…”
“And that turned into a relationship,” I finished.
She nodded. “I feel guilty and sad about the whole thing but now I’m also angry. Angry that Gil didn’t tell me the truth about his marriage to Tiffany. Angry that we don’t ever get the chance of a future together. And most of all, angry that no one can ever know how much I loved him because I had no right to.”
She started to cry again and Gertie patted her hand.
“It’s difficult, keeping all that in,” Gertie said. “But you’re doing the right thing. The fewer people who know about your relationship with Gil, the better. Other than the police, of course. It only serves to hurt everyone else and doesn’t change anything.”
She wiped her eyes with the napkin and nodded. “I keep telling myself not to be jealous of Tiffany but it’s so hard. She had him for seven years and she had him all to herself. I never had that and I never will.”
“You’ll get past this,” Gertie said. “And maybe when you’re ready to try again, you pick someone who’s completely unencumbered. I’ve rarely seen a case where a start with a married man ended well. And you deserve better than a man with split obligations.”
Gwyn gave her a small smile. “Thank you. I need to keep reminding myself of that. Is that all you need from me? Because I’d really like a long shower and an even longer cry. Maybe a pint of chocolate mint ice cream.”
“That’s all,” I said.
“And we’re really sorry for your loss,” Gertie said.
Gwyn gathered her purse and left, still sniffling. Ida Belle gave me an appreciative nod.
“You nailed that one,” she said. “The hunch that there was another woman, where to find her, and then the woman herself. You’re batting a thousand.”
“It just made sense,” I said. “We know Tiffany never really cared for Gil and I’m sure he knew that too. Pair him up with someone who loves acting but is another much younger woman, who is an easy target and will worship him because she’s got her own issues that need addressing, and you’ve got Gil’s next move. Honestly, given what I know about him, I’m surprised it took him this long.”
“Maybe it didn’t,” Ida Belle said. “He could have had others before her but never made a move to change his current situation.”
“But why wouldn’t he?” I asked. Romantic relationships were still somewhat of a mystery to me.
“Didn’t want anything serious with the other women, most likely,” Gertie said. “Being married is the best way to avoid having to get married.”
“Ah,” I said. “So do we think Gil was serious this time? Or was Gwyn just another passing fancy?”
They both shook their heads.
“It’s impossible to say,” Ida Belle said. “Unless he actually talked to that attorney about a divorce.”
I frowned. “And that attorney is not going to talk to us, even though Gil is dead.”
“No,” Ida Belle said. “But he’d have to talk to Detective Casey. I just don’t know that it’s smart to feed her information. Puts her in a bad position with her captain if he’s keeping a close watch, and he doesn’t sound like a picnic.”
“Yeah, I’m keeping my mouth shut on everything for the time being,” I said. “If I thought there was any risk to others, I would say something, but it looks like Gil was the only target. And I have no doubt Casey will make it back around to the troupe soon, following the same line of inquiry that we did.”
“So I guess we head home now?” Gertie asked.
I tapped my fingers on the table and stared out the window.
“Maybe we should drive by that attorney’s office,” I said. “You know, just to see.”
Ida Belle laughed. “You mean to see what kind of security system he has?”
“I never said that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
The office of Randoll P. Maxwell, Attorney at Law, was just outside the French Quarter in the business district. It was very quiet there given the hour, as most of the businesses closed in the evening. Randoll’s office building was one of the newer ones, with five stories and glass sides. A quick check online listed Randoll’s office on the second floor. There were staircases that led to the second-floor walkway on each end of the lobby. In the middle of the lobby was a desk with a security