Constable Molly Smith 01 - In the Shadow of the Glacier

married to Eliza Winters, the model!
    Ruth showed her visitors into the living room. Winters was accompanied by the Smith girl, Moonlight. Such a ridiculous hippie name. But then Lucky Smith had always been a dreamer. And middle age didn’t seem to be mellowing her one bit. Lucky’s daughter was a pretty thing; Ruth would give her that, although the uniform didn’t suit her. Well, it wouldn’t, would it—it had been designed for a male body, and quite right too. Ruth insisted that Sergeant Winters take a seat beside the patio doors, in the best leather chair, with a view over the river.
    She’d offered tea, which he politely refused. Moonlight pulled a notebook and pen out of her pockets. The girl’s boots were enormous; Ruth had wanted to ask her to remove them at the door, but somehow that didn’t seem a proper thing to say to the police.
    Investigating the death of Mr. Montgomery, John Winters explained. Had she heard about it?
    “Of course; it’s all the talk in town. I’d love to help you with your inquiries, but I’ve never met Mr. or Mrs. Montgomery.”
    “Sometimes the smallest of details can help us, Mrs. Tyler,” he said. “Were you home last night, say from seven o’clock on?”
    “Thursday’s the regular meeting of the Kootenay Kwilters Klub.” Ruth spelled out the unusual spelling precisely for Moonlight to write in her notebook. “The meeting finished at seven. I stopped to rent a video, and came straight home.”
    “Was your husband here?”
    “Louis is rarely home for dinner Thursdays. It’s the Dentists Association meeting night.”
    “They meet once a week? Seems a lot for a professional group.”
    Ruth shrugged. She didn’t care what Louis got up to on Thursdays. It was the one night of the week she looked forward to, when she could toss together a casual dinner, serve herself a glass of wine, or three, and settle in front of the TV to enjoy a movie he scorned as a chick flick. Louis found his Thursday meetings exhausting, and always went straight to bed once he got home.
    She looked at Winters. He was a most attractive man. She smiled at him, and he smiled back. “The association does charity work, as well as discussing how to best serve the dental needs of the community.”
    “Highly commendable. What time did your husband get home last night?”
    Ruth scrunched up her forehead and thought. Something about last night had been different. “That’s odd,” she said.
    “Odd? How so?”
    “I put on
Pride and Prejudice
while having my dinner, and, do you know, the movie was almost over before Louis came in.”
    “What time would that be, Mrs. Tyler?” he said. Moonlight’s pen scratched against paper.
    “Ten? Louis is normally quite punctual, and gets home on Thursday nights around nine. Yes, I’m sure it was ten. I didn’t have to pause the movie to greet Louis and ask him how his day had been. It had just ended when I heard his key in the door. Perhaps it was an exceptionally short movie, although I don’t remember it being so when I saw it in the theatre.”
    Ruth looked at her guests. John Winters was sitting straight in his chair, and Moonlight had stopped that annoying scribbling. “What could my movie viewing possibly have to do with Mr. Montgomery’s death? I rented the video from Mike’s Movie Mansion, where I always go.” She stuck the index finger of her right hand into her mouth. “Oh, my god,” she whispered.
    Moonlight stepped toward her. “Don’t be too concerned, Mrs. Tyler. We’re only just beginning our inquiries. Isn’t that right, Sergeant Winters?”
    “Thank you for your professional opinion, Constable,” he said. “Now, if you’ll return to your corner and continue taking notes.”
    “I don’t believe it,” Ruth said. “You think Mike killed Mr. Montgomery. He couldn’t have. I rent movies from Mike at least once a week, sometimes more. He was in his shop when I arrived, and he’s always open until ten. So there. You’ll have to look elsewhere for your killer, Mr. Winters.”
    “I’m sorry to have disturbed you.” Winters got to his feet. Moonlight stuffed her notebook and pen into a pocket in the leg of her baggy pants with the blue stripe running down the leg. Winters headed toward the door, but stopped in the entranceway. “One thing more, Mrs. Tyler. I’d appreciate it if you could keep our conversation to yourself.” He smiled at her while Moonlight fumbled at the doorknob. “It is highly sensitive police