Wednesday,’ he added. ‘The boys can’t play good football in this damned heat!’
‘Speaking of football…’ Aiden was already typing away on his computer, writing up his conclusions from his encounter with Clyde. ‘You follow the Dallas Cowboys?’
‘Sure do, son. Think everyone around here does. Why do you ask?’
‘I went to see Clyde White before and he mentioned it. Figured Avalon was pretty big on sport, what with all the support the Angels get and that.’
‘You went to see Clyde?’ Edmond asked curiously.
‘Yeah, I’m trying to piece together an idea of what Brandon White was like. No one says a bad word against him.’
‘Well, people aren’t going to speak ill of the dead.’
Aiden looked over at Edmond in surprise. ‘So, you think if he weren’t dead people’s opinion of him would be different?’
‘No, no.’ Edmond was sweating even more; was it the heat or was he feeling suddenly under pressure? ‘It is just an expression. Folks around here have always loved Brandon.’
‘Oh, I get that. The sheriff, Buck Fern wasn’t it? He seems…’ Aiden struggled to find the right word. ‘Protective of Brandon.’
‘Old Buck can be like that. I’m sorry if he came across as rude yesterday. He just isn’t the sociable type, never has been. I’m sure that once he gets to know you he will be as nice as pie.’ Aiden doubted that somehow.
‘So how was Clyde holding up? I keep meaning to go over and see him but I’ve been bogged down with work lately. Once the Brandy White case is all sorted I’m afraid I’ve got a nice pile of divorce proceedings I could really use your help with.’
‘Can’t wait,’ Aiden laughed sarcastically. ‘Clyde White seems like a genuine guy. Got a nice setup with his company. Losing his son must have hit him real hard.’
‘He’s not been the same since,’ Edmond offered. ‘Always been such a composed man though. Takes himself very seriously as a businessman. I don’t think he is all that comfortable with the scandal of it all. He hasn’t been to church in a long while, probably isn’t up to facing the whole town yet, but you would think he would want to find some solace in God. Who knows?’
‘Mr. Cope.’ Betty’s voice was disjointed through the intercom.
‘Yes, Betty?’
‘I really cannot stand this heat any longer. I’m afraid I’ve got to clock off. I’ll be in all the earlier tomorrow to make up for lost time.’
‘Don’t be silly, Betty, my love. Go home and have some iced tea and come in usual time tomorrow.’
‘Thank you, Mr. Cope. Goodnight, and goodnight to Mr. Connelly, too.’ A few moments later the two men heard the soft whisper of chimes as Betty left for a cooler climate.
‘This heat is utterly ridiculous, poor old girl. I think it is worse for her, because, you know, she is going through that phase.’
‘Phase?’ Aiden was confused.
‘You know.’ Edmond seemed embarrassed by what he was trying to convey to his younger colleague. ‘They call it “the change”.’
‘Oh.’ Aiden felt his face flush. Why do men always fall apart at the mere mention of female problems? Every time Isla was on her period Aiden felt like an awkward twelve-year-old all over again. He hated it when she used to ask him to pick up tampons at the store, and he always got the wrong ones as in his haste he never read the labels properly. When she said words to him like ‘heavy flow’, he would just shut down and try to blank it all out. You would think he would have the maturity to deal with it all, but as Edmond had proved, men fail to grow out of their awkwardness with the female anatomy.
‘I suppose we should head home too,’ Edmond sighed, succumbing to the intensifying heat. ‘I think I am beginning to melt into this chair.’ He peeled himself up from the leather seat which was now soaked in his sweat.
‘I’m going to battle it out a bit longer. I need to get some paperwork sorted, I’m heading to Eastham again
‘Speaking of football…’ Aiden was already typing away on his computer, writing up his conclusions from his encounter with Clyde. ‘You follow the Dallas Cowboys?’
‘Sure do, son. Think everyone around here does. Why do you ask?’
‘I went to see Clyde White before and he mentioned it. Figured Avalon was pretty big on sport, what with all the support the Angels get and that.’
‘You went to see Clyde?’ Edmond asked curiously.
‘Yeah, I’m trying to piece together an idea of what Brandon White was like. No one says a bad word against him.’
‘Well, people aren’t going to speak ill of the dead.’
Aiden looked over at Edmond in surprise. ‘So, you think if he weren’t dead people’s opinion of him would be different?’
‘No, no.’ Edmond was sweating even more; was it the heat or was he feeling suddenly under pressure? ‘It is just an expression. Folks around here have always loved Brandon.’
‘Oh, I get that. The sheriff, Buck Fern wasn’t it? He seems…’ Aiden struggled to find the right word. ‘Protective of Brandon.’
‘Old Buck can be like that. I’m sorry if he came across as rude yesterday. He just isn’t the sociable type, never has been. I’m sure that once he gets to know you he will be as nice as pie.’ Aiden doubted that somehow.
‘So how was Clyde holding up? I keep meaning to go over and see him but I’ve been bogged down with work lately. Once the Brandy White case is all sorted I’m afraid I’ve got a nice pile of divorce proceedings I could really use your help with.’
‘Can’t wait,’ Aiden laughed sarcastically. ‘Clyde White seems like a genuine guy. Got a nice setup with his company. Losing his son must have hit him real hard.’
‘He’s not been the same since,’ Edmond offered. ‘Always been such a composed man though. Takes himself very seriously as a businessman. I don’t think he is all that comfortable with the scandal of it all. He hasn’t been to church in a long while, probably isn’t up to facing the whole town yet, but you would think he would want to find some solace in God. Who knows?’
‘Mr. Cope.’ Betty’s voice was disjointed through the intercom.
‘Yes, Betty?’
‘I really cannot stand this heat any longer. I’m afraid I’ve got to clock off. I’ll be in all the earlier tomorrow to make up for lost time.’
‘Don’t be silly, Betty, my love. Go home and have some iced tea and come in usual time tomorrow.’
‘Thank you, Mr. Cope. Goodnight, and goodnight to Mr. Connelly, too.’ A few moments later the two men heard the soft whisper of chimes as Betty left for a cooler climate.
‘This heat is utterly ridiculous, poor old girl. I think it is worse for her, because, you know, she is going through that phase.’
‘Phase?’ Aiden was confused.
‘You know.’ Edmond seemed embarrassed by what he was trying to convey to his younger colleague. ‘They call it “the change”.’
‘Oh.’ Aiden felt his face flush. Why do men always fall apart at the mere mention of female problems? Every time Isla was on her period Aiden felt like an awkward twelve-year-old all over again. He hated it when she used to ask him to pick up tampons at the store, and he always got the wrong ones as in his haste he never read the labels properly. When she said words to him like ‘heavy flow’, he would just shut down and try to blank it all out. You would think he would have the maturity to deal with it all, but as Edmond had proved, men fail to grow out of their awkwardness with the female anatomy.
‘I suppose we should head home too,’ Edmond sighed, succumbing to the intensifying heat. ‘I think I am beginning to melt into this chair.’ He peeled himself up from the leather seat which was now soaked in his sweat.
‘I’m going to battle it out a bit longer. I need to get some paperwork sorted, I’m heading to Eastham again
Similar Books
