Cindy was quick on the uptake. “Are you invalidating Heidi’s experience?”
“Not at all,” said Barbara emphatically, “I’m just trying to be clear. I’m not saying it’s not her experience, but I never heard anyone say anything at all like that about Shelly. Not once.”
“Well, let’s hear what others have to tell us now,” said Cindy. Obviously Barbara had an image of Shelly that she didn’t want interfered with. It wouldn’t look good for the Shelter either if it came out that one of their counselors had been disturbed.
One woman after another came to Cindy’s table and told her tidbits about Shelly. Most said she was kind and thoughtful, that she went out of her way to do whatever she could. Some said they could call her whenever they needed to, no matter what time of day or night. When Cindy asked if they thought that Shelly had a wall up, no one else said they did.
Rheba, a tall, overweight woman, with a pretty face and frizzy hair, came running up to Cindy’s table when it was her turn. She was convinced that someone from Anthony’s fan club killed Shelly off.
“It’s pretty obvious to me,” said Rheba. “I don’t know why it isn’t obvious to everyone else. Anthony’s fan club was growing and the fans were crazy about him. He’s a gorgeous guy who makes hot, sexy music. Shelly didn’t like these fans one bit. You can’t blame her for that, can you? They call at all hours, send emails and texts – love, love, love him! And, he’s her man!”
“That can’t be easy,” said Cindy.
“One of them had to have gotten pissed off, – jealous that Shelly had Anthony all to herself. I even mentioned that to her once. You know what she did?”
“What?” asked Cindy, entranced.
“She threw back her head and laughed. Too hard, if you asked me.”
“You hit the spot?” asked Cindy.
“Sure did,”Rheba insisted. “You know, Shelly showed up at all Anthony’s concerts, sat in the front row, and pulled him away the minute it was over. It didn’t leave much over for the fans.”
“How do you know that?” asked Cindy, fascinated.
“Common knowledge,” said Rheba, “the gals at this place talked about it all the time. They felt badly for her when another concert was coming.”
“And Anthony would just get up and leave when the concert was done?”
“Yup,” said Rheba, “that guy really loved her. She wrapped him around her finger with a string. You should have seen him sitting here waiting for her to get off work, like a lonely puppy dog.”
This was good information. It gripped Cindy.
“Do you happen know any of his fans?” she asked immediately. “Was there one in particular? Did Shelly ever mention anyone’s name?”
“No, nothing like that,” said Rheba. “But it shouldn’t be too hard to check it out.”
“Absolutely. I’m going to look right into this.”
“Great,” said Rheba, smiling a huge, toothy smile. “Let me know what you find out. You know, maybe someday I’ll be a detective, too.”
After she left Cindy took a moment alone with Barbara.
“I’ve heard that theory before,” said Barbara. “It’s plausible, not completely off the wall.”
“No, it isn’t,” said Cindy.
“Fans become crazy and obsessed,” Barbara continued.
“But I heard the story slightly differently,” said Cindy. “I heard that Anthony and Shelly had started fighting at the concerts, that he wanted to stay longer and she wouldn’t have it.”
“Yeah,” said Barbara, “I heard that, too. In fact, I asked her about it. She just laughed and said, that Anthony loved it that she wouldn’t let him stay. It made him feel great that Shelly wanted him all for herself.”
“Then why were they fighting about it?” asked Cindy.
“That’s for you to find out,” said Barbara, “you’re the detective, not me.”
The next woman on line, Frieda, got up and came over before they even motioned to her. She was very tall, thin and angular with slightly sunken eyes.
“This is Frieda,” Barbara introduced her immediately as soon as she came to the table.
“I’m so glad you’re here, said Frieda to Cindy, confidentially. There’s no one with any clout with the law that I’ve been able to talk to about this.”
“I’m glad to be here too,” said Cindy.
“I’ve had a theory all along,” Frieda plunged in then without a moment’s hesitation. “There’s someone else in the picture. Shelly had another boyfriend besides Anthony. “
“Oh brother,” said Barbara under her breath.
“Why did you think that?” asked Cindy, ruffled. She’d actually had the same feeling herself.
“Just something about the way she was with Anthony. Let him wait here for her too long, just took him for granted. I never once saw her excited to see him, either. He was much more excited to see her.”
“Was Shelly your counselor?” asked Cindy.
“In the beginning,” said Frieda. “Then I switched to Angie.”
Again? Cindy took note. “Why?”