To Love and to Perish - By Lisa Bork Page 0,41

got power.”

“Mind if we take a look?” Cory headed for the garage without waiting for a response. Matthew didn’t seem to mind, tagging right along behind him. I brought up the rear.

Cory admired the car and asked questions. Matthew opened the hood. Cory stuck his head under it.

Matthew smiled at me, happy to show off his wheels.

I returned his smile. “I own an import auto dealership in Wachobe. Cory is my mechanic. We’re big car people. Is your whole family into cars?”

The light in Matthew’s eyes faded. “Just me really. My dad’s sister was killed in a car crash. He didn’t even want to go to the festival. I talked him into meeting us there.”

“You and your mom?”

“Yeah, and my girlfriend. We were all going to have dinner and see the fireworks in the Glen after the race. But then my dad ran into Brennan, and they fought. My mom took off to find me. We decided to head home. We didn’t know about my dad until the sheriff notified us.”

I noticed he referred to Brennan by his first name, as though he knew him. “Were you and your dad close?”

Matthew shrugged. “I’m closer to my mom. She and my dad fought a lot. We fought a lot, too. He liked to tell everyone what to do. We moved out when I started high school. It made things easier.”

It didn’t sound like they were going to miss him much. “Do you know Brennan?”

Matthew hesitated. “I met him once. He seemed like a nice guy.”

His words caught me off guard. What boy thinks the man accused of killing his father was a “nice guy”? I glanced at Cory, who was studying Matthew again like a sports car he couldn’t decide whether to buy. “Brennan’s accused of killing your dad.”

“Yeah, I know. Believe me, Dad and I got into it a few times. I could understand if Brennan got pissed and gave him a shove, but I don’t think he killed him on purpose.”

Matthew backed away toward his front door. “Truthfully, my dad had a way of pushing people’s buttons. I loved him, but he’s not going to be missed.”

_____

On the drive over to Elizabeth Potter’s townhouse, I considered Matthew’s words. How sad that James Gleason would not be missed. Had he always been an unpleasant fellow or had his sister’s death taken a toll on him? I know my mother’s death changed our family forever in some very obvious and many other subtle ways, including the loss of Erica’s and my carefree childhood. Had James become angry and demanding after his sister’s death? What a price to pay to lose his son’s love and respect.

Cory interrupted my thoughts. “What do you make of Wayne Engle being Matthew’s godfather?

“I don’t know what to make of it. I wish you still had Brennan’s yearbook. Maybe Suzanne Gleason was another one of the four Musketeers’ friends that we overlooked. Do you remember any Suzannes in the book?”

“I’m sure there were some. I don’t remember any specifically.”

“Or maybe she’s Wayne’s sister.”

Cory slowed for the stoplight. “Didn’t you see the picture of his mom in the living room? She doesn’t look anything like Wayne Engle.”

“I saw it, but you know Erica doesn’t look anything like me, either. Siblings can take after one or the other parent or be a mix of both. Or look like Aunt Fanny or Grandpa Mortimer. She looked familiar. She could be his sister.”

The light changed to green and Cory hit the gas. “Well, I thought Matthew resembled someone we’ve seen, but I can’t remember who. Everyone’s starting to blend together.”

I had to agree. Too many faces and too few answers. Maybe our next stop, Elizabeth Potter, would finally bring some closure.

Unfortunately, her townhouse appeared as uninhabited as the last time we visited. Cory accompanied me up the sparkling white gravel path and surveyed the lawn while I rang the doorbell. No one responded.

Cory checked his watch. “It’s five thirty. Should we wait a half hour or so?”

“We could, but I’m hungry. We could go eat and then come back around again. Problem is, if she comes home to change and head out for the night, we’ll miss her.”

“There was a convenience store two blocks back. I could walk down and get subs while you wait here in the car.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

I climbed into the BMW and watched as Cory sauntered away, hands in his pockets, head bowed. Normally, his head would be held high, giving him the illusion of height