Betsy turned to me. "You didn't tell the detective what you suspected about the man who tried to kill you?" The oven dinged and Betsy moved to the kitchen. I could smell fresh muffins.
"No. I didn't see him so I didn't have to lie. I played dumb but I don't think he's satisfied with all my answers. He's really puzzled why the lights were turned off. That happened after Howie left town." I told her about the food in the refrigerator not being spoiled.
I could see my wife's nervousness; picking at her fingers, chewing her lip, twirling her hair. She was bordering on panic. The events of the last few days coupled with the dread of the unknown future were taking their toll. I moved to the kitchen doorway while she removed the muffins. "Does the detective think you committed a crime or you're involved in some way?" she asked. "No one's going to storm in here and arrest you are they?"
I smiled in an attempt to calm her down. "No way! Jackson believes my story. He's just suspicious about the motives of the intruder. He doesn't believe it was a robbery." Then I asked, "Have you brought the others up to speed on what's been happening?"
"I called Martha. I don't know which of us was the more upset. We were a pair of sobbing women trying to console each other. After I found out you weren't critical, I tried to call Quinn and Howie but I didn't get through." She glanced at antique school house clock on the kitchen wall, a recent purchase. "Martha and Claire have already left for Santa Barbara and the funeral so she'll fill Howie and Julie when she gets to California." She moved past me to the living room with a plate of muffins and coffee. I followed.
"I guess Howie has to buy a suit," I said. "I never got the chance to pick up his." My attempt at lightening the situation fell on deaf ears.
"Ben, this entire business has gotten out of hand. Our operation is unraveling in front of us. You were nearly killed. When Jude Bryce hears how his brother died, presumably avenging their arrest, he's going to announce it was the psychic tipster who killed him! Whatever he says, there's a direct tie back to us! Lord knows how many crazies that will send after us! We've got to stop what we're doing. We're putting innocent people at risk and not just ourselves. If Howie wants to continue, let him do it under the some government program. At least then we'd all be safe and out of the picture." My wife's pronouncement wasn't unexpected. I could see it building. What's more, I knew she was right. The time had come and I reluctantly agreed.