sorry, Angela. It’s just—I used to think this would be us. It could have been us, you know.”
“Everyone grows up, Ben.”
“Angela, you once said…when we were younger…when you first met Tommy…I called you, I remember, and you told me it was all over between us. Do you remember that?”
“Yes, Ben. I do.”
“You shouldn’t have ended it on the telephone. Not after what we’d been to each other.”
“I’m sorry. I suppose…I just wanted it to be clean, Ben. Over with. Done. I didn’t want one of those long, drawn-out—”
“I know, I know. And okay, I don’t mind. But…when I was talking to you on the phone, I said if…if anything ever went wrong between you and Tommy, I’d be waiting. Remember that?”
“Yes. I remember.”
“And you said, ‘All right, Ben. I’ll keep that in mind.’ Do you remember saying that?”
“It was such a long time ago, Ben. I really don’t—”
“I’m still waiting, Angela.”
“What?”
“If anything should go wrong, if anything at all should happen between you, I’ll be here. You can count on me. I’ll take you in a minute, Angela. I loved you once, Angela, and I still—”
“Ben, please stop it. Please.”
“Just remember. I’ll be waiting for you. I’ll be waiting, Angela.”
The Green Corner was a tree-shaded house with a winding walk lined with azalea bushes in full bloom. Meyer and O’Brien walked leisurely to the front door and rang the bell.
“Coming,” a voice said, and they waited as footsteps approached the door. The door opened. A wispy little woman in a dark-blue dress stood there, smiling. From somewhere in the house, a dog began barking.
“Hello,” she said.
“Hello,” Meyer answered. “Are you the lady of the house?”
“My, do they send salesmen around on Sundays, too?” the little woman asked.
“No, we’re from the police,” Meyer said. The smile dropped from the little woman’s mouth. “Now, don’t be alarmed,” he added hastily. “We only wanted to—”
“I’m only the dog sitter,” the little woman said. “I don’t even live here. I don’t know anything about any lawbreaking that’s been going on. I come to sit with the dog, that’s all.”
“No one’s broken any law,” O’Brien said. “We only wanted to ask some questions, lady.”
“Well, I don’t know anything about anyone who lives here. I only sit with the dog. His name is Butch, and he tears up the furniture if they leave him alone, he gets so lonely and miserable. So I sit with him. Butch is the only one I know here.”
“Do you know the owners of the house?”
“Mr. and Mrs. Travers, yes, but not so good as I know Butch. Butch is a Golden Retriever, but he chews up the furniture. Which is why—”
“Know any of the roomers?”
“Yes, there’s old Mr. Van Ness on the top floor, but he’s out right now. And there’s Mrs. Wittley, but she’s out, too. And then there’s the new girl, Oona Blake, but she’s out, too. And I don’t know any of them real good except Butch. He’s the only reason I come over here. I’m one of the best dog sitters in the neighborhood.”
“This Oona Blake,” O’Brien said. “Is it Miss or Mrs.?”
“Miss, of course. Why, she’s just a young girl.”
“How old?”
“Not thirty yet, I would say.”
“You said she’s out right now. Do you know what time she left?”
“Yes. Early this morning. I know because the Traverses are away for the weekend, which is why I’m sitting with Butch. I got here yesterday. And I was here this morning when Miss Blake left.”
“What time would you say that was?”
“Right after breakfast. I also make the meals when the Traverses are gone.”
“Did anyone call for her?”
“Who? Mrs. Travers?”
“No. Miss Blake.”
“Oh. Oh, yes. As a matter of fact, someone did.”
“Who?”
“Don’t know him. I told you, I don’t know much of the goingson here. You ask me, the Traverses run this place too loose. Too loose.”
“Was the man carrying anything?”
“What man?”
“The man who picked up Miss Blake.”
“Oh. Him. Yes, he was. A trombone case.”
“A trombone case? Not a trumpet? Or a saxophone?”
“No, a trombone. Don’t I know a trombone when I see one? A long black case. Oh, it was a trombone, all right.”
“What did he look like?”
“I didn’t get a good look. He was sitting in the parlor waiting for her, and the shades were drawn. But I saw the trombone case leaning against the armchair.” The little woman paused. “She won’t be here long, anyway. That Oona Blake.”
“What makes you say that?”
“I was dog-sitting last week. She got three calls in the same day. All from the