Alex Harris 00 - Poisoned

face. “Not likely. He’s been a member of the Highlane forever.”
    I shrugged. “I guess I got it wrong. You have a lovely home here.”
    “You like it?” Trish smiled again showing off her lovely teeth. When she dressed up and fixed her hair, she looked quite adorable. “I had my own place for a while, but after the divorce, I moved back here. It works out fine. Daddy’s not home a lot so we don’t get in each other’s way. And as I’m an only child, he’s always been a bit doting.”
    “I’m sorry your marriage didn’t work out,” I said sincerely. I began to feel differently about Trish.
    “Oh, well. Just one of those things. We were much too young. It happens.” She shrugged.
    “Were you close to Bradley?” I asked, catching Trish a bit off guard with the change of subjects.
    “Oh, not really. After my parents divorced, I went to live with my mother in Massachusetts for a while, but it didn’t work out so I came back here. I didn’t see Bradley very often growing up. We’d see each other at family gatherings, but Aunt Roberta and my grandmother aren’t very close, as you’ve probably noticed. And Bradley and I never had anything in common. Though I really like Kendra. I feel so bad for her. I think they planned on marrying soon.” Trish paused to take a sip of her coffee. “I actually got along better with Stuart. He’s older than Bradley so he and I have an even bigger age gap, but he seemed to like me. He always acted like an older brother.”
    “Did Kendra and Bradley get along well?” I asked remembering what Sam had suggested yesterday.
    “Yes. As far as I could tell. They seemed to be absolutely in love with each other. I wish I could find that kind of relationship,” Trish said wistfully.
    “Did they ever argue?”
    “I suppose so. Just like everyone else. But if you’re asking if I ever saw them argue, no. I never did. They seemed very much the happy couple whenever I saw them. What’s this all about?” Trish asked, but without any suspicion in her voice.
    “Nothing really. Just trying to get a clear picture of your whole family. What they’re like, that sort of thing,” I said. “Did you ever help Bradley with the family history?”
    “Family what?” Trish asked.
    “Family history. The one Bradley worked on.”
    “That’s news to me,” Trish said, with what I could only decide was total honesty.
    I thought for a moment about the fact Trish was closer to Stuart. Sure, Steven and Stuart are gambling buddies. Stuart probably hangs out here a lot. Maybe I could find something out about Steven this way. “Do your dad and Stuart spend a lot of time together?”
    “Daddy and Stuart? Not that I know of. Stuart’s been over here a few times lately, but I think it might be business. My dad is looking for another partner for his finance company. The man he works with, well actually, they started the business together, is retiring. I think my dad might be considering Stuart as his next partner.”
    “Really? I thought Stuart worked in the legal profession. Does he also have a background in finance?”
    “I don’t think so. I’ve overheard them a few times and they always seem to be talking about money.”
    But not necessarily high finance, I thought. Despite the way Trish dressed the other day, she seemed very naive. I had a feeling she didn’t have many friends and spent a lot of time in this house.
    I took another look around the room, so tastefully done and nothing like the garish horror of June Doliveck’s. “I went to your great aunt June’s the other day. Her house is so different.”
    Trish started to laugh. “Is it ever! Terrible, isn’t it?”
    “Well, now that you mention it, it wasn’t to my taste.”
    “I don’t think Auntie June likes it much either. But she pretends to.” Trish laughed.
    “She doesn’t? Then why doesn’t she change it?”
    Trish took another moment to stop laughing. “Before her husband died, he really ran the show, if you know what I mean. Everything in the house was exactly the way he wanted it. He bought some lovely things. But things he wanted. As soon as he died, Auntie June went a bit nuts. Had walls torn down, sold all his stuff, gave some away, and remodeled the house”
    “If she’s tired of it, why doesn’t she redo it again?”
    “It cost a fortune, from what I’ve heard. The gold in the mirrors is real gold and she knocked down so many walls. I know to look at it, that sofa looks cheap and tacky,