One Foot in the Grave - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,38
him let her go. Greta’s abusive ex was one of Bingham’s men, and Bingham had convinced him to go along with the lie. And he’d given him a well-deserved beating to go with it.
But I was betting Abby Atwood Donahey knew none of that. “Greta’s kidnapping had nothing to do with Lula. Her ex-boyfriend got tired of her refusing him and tried to force the issue.”
She shrugged.
Something told me honesty would go a lot further with her, so I said, “Look, you’re half right. I would like to ask you some questions about Heather, but I’m also interested in a kitten. I’m working far too many doubles, and my landlord’s usually alone for hours. He might like a pet to keep him company. From what I understand, kittens litter box train themselves, and I’ll only have to change the litter box every few days.”
She studied me as though trying to discern my truthfulness. “It does sound like a kitten would suit your home life better than a puppy. Especially if Hank’s havin’ trouble gettin’ around with one leg.”
So she knew I was living with Hank. I wasn’t exactly surprised considering everything else she knew. Although we’d never met, the town gossip mill was strong. “He’s getting around better than you might expect, but that’s not to say he’s fit to chase down a puppy.”
“How does Hank feel about gettin’ a cat?”
I gave her a half smile. “He doesn’t know yet.”
Fighting a smile of her own, she said, “Well, maybe you should make sure he’s okay with a new addition to the family before you commit.” She tilted her head. “You know, most people were surprised when they found out you were living with him.”
“So I heard.” Some had claimed I was there to cheat Hank out of his money, although the man lived frugally in a house in major need of updating. But Hank had been the top marijuana dealer in Eastern Tennessee, and rumor had it he’d acquired a fortune. I’d seen no evidence of it, nor was I interested in his money other than to make sure he had all he needed to live comfortably. Truth be told, I was the one supporting him. I paid for groceries, took him to his doctor’s appointments in Greeneville, and had started slowly replacing some of his threadbare clothes—not that I minded one bit. Hank and I were a family—the way family was intended to be. But men were proud in these parts and I would never admit to any of it. “He needed help when he came home from the hospital, and I needed a place to stay. It worked out for both of us.”
“Carnita says you’re always looking for diabetic recipes for him. And Ellie Smith says she sees you checkin’ out with fresh fruits and vegetables at the Dollar General. She said you were even asking about a farmers market.”
I made a face, glancing down at the cute kitten cuddled in my hands. “He had the diet of a teenager, and I want him to keep his remaining leg, as well as live a long, healthy life.”
“She also says you buy his food with your own money.”
How would she know that? Max only paid me in cash, so I wasn’t using my card. “He doesn’t charge me rent.”
“Ruth says you bought Jerry a coat.”
My eyes narrowed in exasperation. I didn’t like that the town was gossiping about me, even though it wasn’t exactly malicious gossip. Where was she going with all of this?
“Sounds like you’re a good person, Carly Moore,” she finished, tilting her head as if to study me.
I wasn’t so sure about that, but I wasn’t about to protest. If she thought that, she’d be more inclined to help me.
A playful look filled her eyes. “I’ll tell you what you want to know on one condition.”
I cocked my head. “And what’s that?”
“If you decide to take a kitten, you have to choose two. It’s gonna take me forever to find homes for them, and I know you’ll give ’em a good one.”
I shrugged. What was one more? Besides, maybe they’d be happier if I kept two of them together. “Deal.”
She opened the baby gate and walked in, sitting on the floor across from me. Picking up a kitten, she said, “So what do you want to know?”
“How long did you know Heather?”
“Most of us were born here, but occasionally we got a newcomer. Most of them were treated as outsiders, interlopers, but Heather was pretty and