A few seconds later Archer said slowly, “So your father never showed up the night he was murdered to meet at your house as was arranged?”
She glanced up at him and held his gaze. “Not while I was there, no.”
“That makes sense, since he later ended up dead at his place. But you did go out that night, didn’t you? When he didn’t show up?”
“How do—”
“It was the mud on your Nash. That meant it was driven during that hard rain.” Archer glanced at the judge. “Mr. Shaw took photos of it and wrote notes about it, so it’s included in the record.” He turned back to Jackie. “You went over to the Pittlemans’, didn’t you? Around eleven or so?”
Jackie looked hesitant and glanced around the room. “I—” Here, she faltered.
But right away Archer said, “You went over there to have it out with Mrs. Pittleman, about her husband, about a lot of things. Only you couldn’t see her. Isn’t that right? You two didn’t meet?” When she didn’t answer, he leaned in closer, held her gaze. “Isn’t that right? You two didn’t meet? All you need to tell us is the truth about that, Jackie. Just that.”
One of her hands was clenched on the box’s rail. Archer put his hand over hers and gently squeezed it. Her guarded and suspicious look fell away as their gazes comingled. “Yes, that’s right. I went over there, it’s true. But I didn’t see her that night. And that is the truth.”
He removed his hand and looked at Richmond. “No more questions, Judge. And I’d like to thank Miss Tuttle for coming back here and telling us the real deal.”
With a questioning look, Jackie got up from the witness stand. Archer put out a hand to assist her. As their flesh touched, more was communicated between them than a physical helping hand.
Jackie walked down the aisle with her head held high, and perhaps a lightness in her heart that had not been there for a long time.
Chapter 50
BROOKS PRESENTED PHYSICAL EVIDENCE of the two men’s deaths, elicited the testimony of some police officials, and methodically questioned several other witnesses with knowledge of the affairs.
Then he called Marjorie Pittleman to the stand.
She took her time getting there and then settled in, her gloved hands placed primly on her broad lap and her wide-brimmed, old-fashioned hat with a bird attached set at an angle on her head.
“Mrs. Pittleman, you are the deceased’s widow?”
“I am.”
“And you are aware that your husband hired the defendant to collect a debt from Mr. Lucas Tuttle?”
“I am.”
“Was your husband happy about the defendant’s work?”
“Not at all. He was most displeased. I could see that Mr. Archer was very worried that Hank would do something to him if he couldn’t get that car from Lucas Tuttle.”
“Did Mr. Archer visit you on other occasions?”
“Yes, once with Miss Tuttle and twice with that detective fellow, Shaw.”
“Do you think Mr. Archer had a problem with your husband and Miss Tuttle’s relationship?”
Archer stood. “Objection, that calls for speculation.”
The judge looked at him severely. “Considering you been up here basically testifying without once putting your hand on the Bible, you can just sit down and keep quiet.” He smacked his gavel and nodded at the witness. “You go right ahead, Marjorie.”
The woman smiled and said, “I think Mr. Archer was very fond of Jackie Tuttle. I mean, what young man wouldn’t be? You heard that they were fooling around in his hotel room right before my poor Hank was murdered. We all know what that means. And I’ve heard tell he’s been to her house early in the morning and maybe sleeping over there for all I know.” She shook her head and looked repulsed by the thought.
“Perhaps the only thing that stood in the way of Mr. Archer being with Miss Tuttle was your husband?”
Marjorie took out a hanky and blew her nose. “So I believe.” She glared at Archer. “But if I were her, I would watch myself. He was flirting with my maid right in front of me.”
“My, my,” said Brooks, looking appalled. “Anything else?”
“I can tell you that Hank came into my room one night and told me that if anything happened to him, to tell the police to look at Mr. Archer. He said he was one dangerous man. He took a gun out when Mr. Archer came over by himself the first time because he told me he was afraid for his life. You all heard that Mr. Archer had