“Did your grandmother see Leon at the church?”
“Yeah, she said he was at the three o’clock Mass and that he must have had a lot of sins because he took forever in the confession with Father Fernando. And then she said he sat right in the front pew of the church like he was trying to get in good with God since he would probably die soon.”
“What about after Mass? Did she see him leave the church?”
“She didn’t say, but when Father Fernando discovered Leon’s body and called out for help she went to the courtyard with most of the other parishioners who were still there.”
“What about Leon’s wife?” I asked. “Where was she during all this?”
“Maria has become somewhat of a recluse over the past several months,” Joe said. “She had pneumonia about a year ago and never quite bounced back from it. She only goes to Sunday Mass now. Leon or her children do her errands for her.”
Will had set up the box fans and plugged them in, and the breeze felt like heaven against my overheated skin. Joe handed me the box of supplies and I took them into the cell. I’d already set up a tray next to the body so I could work more efficiently.
“Thanks for your help, Will,” Joe said, dismissing the younger man. He took some money out of his wallet and passed it over. “Tell your dad thanks. And you and your friends try to stay out of trouble tonight. You put me in an awkward situation having to answer why I’ve never ticketed you for a drunk and disorderly.”
Will’s face flushed red and his fists bunched at his sides. “If it puts you in that awkward of a position just give me a ticket next time.” He didn’t look at any of us as he left the police station and slammed the door behind him.
“Poor Will,” Camille said, clicking her tongue. “You embarrassed him. We’ve all been that age. If you don’t get a little drunk and disorderly from time to time you’re not living life.”
“He’s young and stupid with it. Hopefully he’ll grow out of it and settle down.
“Oh, lighten up, Joe. As I recall, you were once young and stupid with it too. There’s something to be said about being young though, wouldn’t you say?” She looked up and winked. “The young always have a lot of energy and…enthusiasm. Remember?”
It was Joe’s turn to flush red with embarrassment, and I felt a little like a voyeur. But then Camille smiled and I suddenly felt sorry for any man who happened to cross paths with her.
“Enough, Camille. No one likes visiting memory lane.”
She propped a hand on her hip, deliberately provoking, and Joe’s gaze dropped slowly down her body.
I elbowed Jack and whispered, “It’s like we’re in our very own soap opera. A dead body and lots of drama.”
“Ssh,” Jack said. “I want to hear.”
“Really?” Camille asked. “Memory lane is one of my favorite places. Don’t you wish you could recreate those frantic and sweaty nights? Of course, there’s something to be said for maturity. Experience always trumps enthusiasm. Wouldn’t you say, Joe?”
Joe cleared his throat and was starting to look a little overheated, so I thought it might be a good time to remind them they had an audience and a dead body, neither of which was conducive to successful seduction.
“Did your grandmother get a good look at Leon in the courtyard?”
Camille smirked and dropped her hand to her side, and then she went back to the desk and opened the laptop, making sure everything was up and running.
“Oh, she saw him all right.” She gave the sign of the cross again. “She said he was dead as a doornail and God probably delivered the final blow himself. And that it was no less than he deserved.”
Joe winced. “Don’t speak ill of the dead, Camille.”
“I didn’t say it,” she said. “You know how grandmother is. She speaks her mind. I’m all finished up here.” She turned to Jack and me. “The internet connection isn’t great, but it’s as good as you’re going to get. Unless a storm rolls in. Then you’re shit out of luck, as my grandmother likes to say. Now if you all will excuse me, it’s long past the end of the work day and I can catch a couple of hours of beach time if I’m lucky.”
“Thanks for getting us set up,” Jack said. “You’ve saved us a lot of time and hassle.”
“Tell me that when you’re waiting for dial up. I went to college in the states and got my degree in computer science. I was used to the best of the best when it came to technology. Then I moved back here when my mama got sick, and it was like being thrown into the stone ages. I thought I’d die from the boredom of how long it took to get connected to the outside world. Fortunately, I’ve found other things to keep my interest. At least until I can get back to the states.”