terms.’’ And here I threw in what
must have been the clincher: ‘‘I’m sure your husband’s
primary concern right now is to find out what hap
pened to his sister.’’
Allison didn’t say anything immediately, probably
because she was still wrestling with herself about how
much she should say. But at last she murmured, ‘‘I may as well start with Lorraine. You remember, she’s
the very tall woman with the big hat.’’
Yeah. The one who was so taken with me, I thought sarcastically. But I merely nodded.
‘‘Bobbie Jean made a play—a successful play—for
52
Selma Eichler
Lorraine’s fiance´. Actually, the two of them even
moved in together for a while.’’
‘‘I gather that ended the engagement.’’
‘‘It did,’’ Allison said flatly.
‘‘What happened with Robin Fremont?’’
‘‘Bobbie Jean set her sights on Carla’s husband.
And before long Roy became Bobbie Jean’s husband
number two.’’
‘‘I suppose that’s also the reason Carla felt as she did about Bobbie Jean.’’
‘‘Can you blame her?’’
‘‘Of course not. Bobbie Jean and Roy eventually
divorced, though.’’
‘‘No, he was killed in a car crash less than a year into the marriage.’’
‘‘Umm, Mike mentioned that there was something
else Robin held against your sister-in-law, apart from Bobbie Jean’s wrecking her daughter’s marriage.’’
‘‘Oh, that . In light of all of Bobbie Jean’s other transgressions, it’s really pretty minor.’’ Allison hesi
tated for a moment before adding resignedly, ‘‘I imag
ine you want to hear about it anyway, though.’’
‘‘Please.’’
‘‘Well, when Bobbie Jean was in her twenties, she
claimed that she caught Robin in a me´nage a` trois with the Fremonts’ gardener and pool boy. Robin,
however, insisted that it was Bobbie Jean who was
part of that precious trio.’’
‘‘I assume you believed Robin’s version.’’
‘‘Considering my sister-in-law’s past, it was no
contest.’’
Naturally, I could see where Robin would have been
furious at Bobbie Jean for fabricating a tale like that. But angry enough to commit murder? And over some
thing that took place so long ago? Uh-uh. I moved
on. ‘‘Incidentally, whatever happened to Bobbie
Jean’s first husband?’’
‘‘Lyle Polansky? The marriage lasted less than three
months. That was twenty-five years ago, and she
hadn’t seen or heard from him since. Bobbie Jean
MURDER CAN RAIN ON YOUR SHOWER
53
used to say that she realized it had been a big mistake
from the instant they said their I-do’s.’’ Allison peered
at her watch again. ‘‘I really must be going.’’
‘‘I understand. But I’d appreciate it if you could
spare just a minute or two to tell me about Grace
Banner.’’
She heaved a deep sigh. ‘‘All right. But I definitely have to be on my way after that.’’
‘‘Thank you,’’ I murmured.
‘‘For a short time Bobbie Jean and the Banners—
Grace and her husband—co-owned a restaurant. After
about a year Bobbie Jean got this notion that the
other two had been engaging in some financial hanky
panky. And she took them to court. She lost, but
Grace and Karl felt that the action against them had caused irreparable damage to their reputations, so
they sued Bobbie Jean for slander. They also lost.’’
‘‘Is there a chance your sister-in-law was right, that there was something fishy going on?’’
‘‘None. She was mistaken. Grace and Karl Banner
are good people, honest people. Anything question
able that was going on at that restaurant was strictly in Bobbie Jean’s head.’’
And with this, Allison reached for the handbag on
the seat cushion alongside her, obviously preparing
to rise.
Now, I hated to detain her any further, but I felt I had no choice. ‘‘Just one more question,’’ I put in hurriedly, experiencing, even as I said this, what must have been guilt pangs.
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