Cry for the Strangers Page 0,63
saying. He decided to try one more time. “Look, Harney doesn’t like strangers—he doesn’t like to talk to them, he doesn’t like to deal with them, he doesn’t even want to be around them. So he sent me. All he wants to know is why you were at the Shellings’ funeral. Is it really so much to ask?” He held up his hand against Glen’s imminent protest and kept talking. “And don’t start in about what right I have to ask you the questions. I’m sure I don’t have a legal leg to stand on. But please, try to remember where you are and who I am. I’m just the deputy in a small town, and I really don’t want to make any trouble for you or anybody else. Is it such a big secret, anyway?”
Glen Palmer was quiet for a minute. Finally, he decided that Chip Connor was right. He didn’t have anything to hide, and he was beginning to sound paranoid. He grinned sheepishly.
“Well, if you really want to know, it wasn’t even my idea. It was my wife’s—Rebecca’s. Ever since she saw Mrs. Shelling—you know—”
“I know,” Chip said. “I took her home, remember?”
“Yes, of course.” Glen threw him a small smile, then went on. “Well, anyway, Rebecca was very upset. She couldn’t seem to get it out of her mind. And she thought if we went to the funeral it might put an end to the whole thing for her, if you know what I mean.”
“I think so,” Chip said, nodding. “That’s it?”
“That’s it,” Glen said. He chuckled softly. “I sure kicked up a hell of a fuss over nothing, didn’t I?”
“Seems like it,” Chip agreed. The two men remained silent for a while, then Chip spoke again. “Mind if I ask a question?”
“Do I have to answer it?”
“Not if you don’t want to.”
“Shoot.”
“Would you mind telling me why you kicked up such a fuss? Why don’t you try giving us a chance?”
“It seems to me the town could give us a chance too.”
“I think we are,” Connor said. “We aren’t the friendliest people in the world, but we’re not so bad either. It’s sort of a trade-off. We get used to you and you get used to us.” He turned to go. “I’d better get on down and report to Harn. But he’s never going to believe that I spent nearly an hour here and all I have to report is that you went to the service because your wife wanted to.”
“Tell him you beat the information out of me with a rubber hose,” Glen said. “Or wouldn’t he believe that either?”
“Not a chance. He always says that when they passed out the meanness in the family I was standing behind the door.”
“The family?” Glen asked. “Are you and Whalen related?”
“Sure. He’s sort of an uncle. His mother was my grandmother’s sister on my father’s side. That’s where we get our Indian blood. The sisters were half-breeds. Of course nobody would call them that now, but that’s what they were always called around here.”
“They must have had it rough,” Glen commented.
“I imagine they did,” Chip mused. “For that matter, I guess it wasn’t always easy for Harney, either. You see? You and your family aren’t the only ones who have it rough around here.”
They walked to the front of the gallery together. Outside, Chip paused once more to look at the painting.
“I like the picture, but I sure wouldn’t want to live in that house,” he said.
“Don’t tell me it’s haunted,” Glen laughed.
“No, it’s broken-down,” Chip replied. “Are those people really going to live out there?”
“The Randalls? They sure are. He’s going to write a book, and we’re looking forward to having some neighbors. We won’t be the only strangers in town for a change.”
Chip got into his car, slammed the door, and rolled the window down. He stack his hand out the open window.
“Well, good luck. Frankly, I don’t think you’re ever going to make a nickel on your gallery, but I hope I’m wrong. I think you made a big mistake in choosing Clark’s Harbor to try something like this.”
“Well, we didn’t really have much choice in the matter,” Glen said, taking Chip’s hand and shaking it firmly. “Sorry I gave you such a rough time.”
“If it’s the worst time we ever have we’re both in good shape,” Chip replied. Then he started the engine and a moment later pulled onto the highway, made a neat U-turn, and headed for town. Glen watched until