Carnal Innocence

curly as a little lamb.” A ghost of a smile brightened her eyes. She figured— accurately—that the only reason Junior hadn’t tossed her out of the house was his attachment to his son. “He’s quick, too. He’s like greased lightning on his hands and knees. I don’t know how I’ll keep up with him once he starts toddling.”
    “I’m sure he keeps you on your toes.”
    More relaxed, Darleen set the cup aside. Why, the FBI man wasn’t so bad, she decided. People just didn’t know him. “Do you have young ‘uns?”
    “No, I don’t.” Nor did the fastidious Burns intend to. Ever. “I’m afraid my work keeps me away from home quite a bit.”
    “Looking for criminals.”
    “Exactly.” He beamed at her, as if she’d just answered a very complex question. “And it’s concerned, responsible citizens like yourself who make my job easier.” Still smiling, he took out his mini recorder. “This helps me remember accurately.”
    Darleen eyed the recorder with distrust. She began to twist her hands in her lap. “Shouldn’t I have a lawyer or something?”
    “Why, certainly, if you wish.” Burns sat down behind Burke’s cluttered desk. “But I assure you it isn’t necessary for this kind of informal chat. I just need a little background information from you, on your friendEdda Lou Hatinger.” He stretched out an avuncular hand to hers. “I know this is difficult for you, Darleen. May I call you Darleen?”
    Why, he was just as polite as a waiter in a fancy restaurant. Though the comparison would have caused Burns to cringe, it made Darleen respond favorably. “That’ll be just fine.”
    “Losing a friend is always painful, but in such a tragic way …” He trailed off, letting his silence offer comfort. “I’ll try not to upset you.”
    It wasn’t difficult or even painful so much as terribly exciting, but she pulled out a ragged tissue and dabbed her eyes. “Talking about it just tears me in two. But I want to help,” she added bravely. “She was my dearest friend.”
    “I know.” Pleased, Burns switched on the recorder. “Special Agent Matthew Burns, interview with Darleen Talbot re Edda Lou Hatinger. June twenty-five. Now then, Darleen, why don’t you tell me something about Edda Lou?”
    Darleen blew her nose loudly enough to make Burns wince. “She was my dearest friend,” she repeated. “We went to school together, and she was my maid of honor. I guess she was like a sister to me.”
    “And like sisters, I suppose the two of you exchanged confidences.”
    “We never had secrets from each other. My own blood sisters, Belle and Starita? Why, I could never talk to them the way I could to Edda Lou.” Another tear squeezed out, and she caught it with her knuckle.
    “And I’m sure she felt equally sympatico with you.”
    Darleen frowned over the word. “I expect.”
    “I can see that you’re an understanding, open-hearted woman. No doubt Edda Lou depended on you.”
    The image had her preening a bit. “She did tend to lean on me. I never minded.”
    “With you being a married woman, I’m sure Edda Lou came to you for advice—advice about the men in her life.”
    Advice hell, Darleen thought. Edda Lou had liked to brag. But Darleen didn’t think she should say so. “Wetalked a lot. I guess we talked on the phone every single day.”
    “And at the time of her death, was Edda Lou involved with anyone in particular?”
    “Well, sure. Everybody knew she was all wrapped up in Tucker Longstreet. She could’ve had lots of other boyfriends. Edda Lou kept herself up real nice, you know. She studied pictures in magazines for hairdos and makeup tricks and all, and she wouldn’t step out of her room without doing her face up just so. But she’d set her sights on Tucker. Once she hooked him, I was going to … I mean to say, once they’d set a date, I was going to be her matron of honor. We went to Greenville and picked out dresses and everything.” And wasn’t it a shame she’d never have a chance to wear that pretty pink organdy gown with the puffy sleeves and the big bow?
    With encouraging nods Burns made neat notations on a legal pad. “Mr. Longstreet and Edda Lou were to be married?”
    Darleen licked her lips and stared at the recorder. She was torn between loyalty and truth—with truth standing in for self-preservation. Her episode with Junior had her inching back. “Edda Lou had her mind set on it.”
    “And Mr. Longstreet?”
    “Well … she’d’ve