Bitter Sweets

while he was conducting the interview.

    And, having recently pointed a gun at Warner’s head, she would be hard put to convince him she was a public defender.

    So, she headed home, to talk to Tammy and regroup. Maybe grab a bite to eat and see Gran. The poor oP dear was probably bored to death, sitting at home, waiting for her to show.

    “Your grandmother caught a cab and took off to the beach in her red swimsuit,” Tammy told her when she walked through the door. “Don’t worry, I loaned her one of your coverups, so she’s decent. Then she said she was going to check out the mall and some of the local Mexican food. Said she likes it spicy.”

    Savannah laughed. “I’m sure she does. Don’t be surprised if she comes back plowed. She likes margueritas, too.”

    “She’s so neat. I wish I had a grandmother like that,” Tammy said wistfully as she led Savannah into the office.

    “I just hope I’ll be a grandmother like that.”

    “Oh, you will be. You two are a lot alike.”

    “I’ll take that as a compliment. What have you got for me?"

    Savannah could tell Tammy was proud of herself as she presented her with a sheet of paper.

    “Another lead. Alan Logan’s ex-wife. I called and asked her if she would be willing to talk to you. She was thrilled at the thought. I think she wants to dump on you about Alan. She sounds like she’s still bitter.”

    “All right!” Savannah grabbed the paper. The address was nearby, only a few blocks away. “The more bitter the better, I always say.”

    “Do you always say that?”

    Tammy was so gullible, and Savannah loved her for it.

    “Naw. This was the first time. But I think it’s going to be my new motto.”

    At first glance, it wasn’t apparent that Jillian Logan had anything to be so bitter about. Alan hadn’t been kidding when he had said that his ex-wife had taken him for everything. With a Lexus and a Mercedes in the driveway of a rambling new ranchstyle home, she didn’t appear to be hurting too badly. At least, not financially.

    But then, money wasn’t everything, Savannah told herself as she walked up the brick driveway to the stained glass French doors.

    “Hello, Ms. Reid, I’ve been expecting you,” said the perfectly tanned, perfectly manicured, perfectly frosted blond woman who ushered her into the spacious foyer.

    They passed the atrium full of expensive silk plants, and into a professionally decorated, chic, and overfurnished living room. Savannah was reminded of the covers of home decor magazines, where there was so much artistic clutter in the room that you couldn’t see a thing.

    But, beneath the jungle of knickknacks, Savannah saw a number of exquisite antiques ... probably the fruits of Alan’s labors in his business.

    “Do have a seat. May I serve you a glass of sparkling water?” Jillian asked with a wave of red-white-and-blue-striped acrylic nails.

    A rather patriotic gesture, Savannah thought. Worth remembering for the Fourth of July.

    “Sparkling water...that would be very nice,” Savannah replied. “If you don’t have anything better,” she whispered as Jillian wriggled her teeny-tiny butt out of the living room and into the kitchen.

    “A private detective. How fascinating,” she cooed when she returned, carrying a wineglass filled with water, ice, and a slice of lemon.

    “Not really, but it pays the bills...sometimes. What do you do, Mrs. Logan?”

    “At the moment I’m taking some classes at the community college. Home decorating, sculpture, flower arranging, and wok cooking. I’m still devastated over my divorce, you see, and I’m trying to find myself. I don’t know how I’m going to live on the piddly amount my ex-husband left to me. He really is a horrible man. What do you want to know about him?”

    Boy, howdy...she is eager. Too eager. Savannah hauled out the mental bullshit shovel and slipped on her fantasy hip boots.

    “Whatever you would like to tell me, Mrs. Logan,” she replied, playing it safe.

    “Well... I understand you’re investigating the murder of my ex’s business partner and his wife.”

    Savannah wondered who had told her. But she would get to that later. “That’s right; I am,” she said. “Is there anything you can tell me that might have to do with their deaths?”

    “You mean like...that Alan wanted to have an affair with Lisa, and she turned him down and Alan was furious, and he never really got over it, and that he hated Earl because Alan