Down Home and Deadly

unhappiness because of unresolved problems,” I answered soberly. “Dear Pru sees a lot of sorrow. I’ve learned plenty from my readers.”
    “I’ll think about it.” She stood abruptly , and I followed her down the hall past the restrooms and break room. Tiffany pointed to a room near the door. “Do you realize that every newspaper Uncle Hank put out is in that room? If we were as up - to - date as most cities, it would all be on computer by now.” She sighed. “But we’re not.”
    I knew she was just trying to dispel the awkwardness my unwelcome advice had left between us, but I was curious. I pushed the door open and glanced inside at the rows of newspapers. “Wow. That’s a lot of information.”
    “Yeah, probably forty years ’ worth at least. And all filed by date.”
    Wouldn’t it be easy to solve a murder if I could organize my mind like this room ?
    While I was still daydreaming about that, Tiffany cleared her throat. “I’ve got to run.”
    As we exited the building, I thought about what I’d learned. Amelia’s whole theory about her daughter not being able to attract men was skewed by her faulty perception of Tiffany. Sometimes I felt the same way about solving J.D.’s murder. Like there was a piece of the puzzle in plain sight that we just weren’t seeing.
    *****
    Dear Pru ,
    I am nearing thirty , and not to be cliché or anything, but my biological clock is ticking. I have met a man I really care for and am considering marrying him. He loves me, but I’m not sure if what I feel for him is love or if I am just settling so that I can have a family.
    Not Sure
    *****
    Not S ure,
    If you aren’t sure, there’s a good chance you aren’t in love. Only you can decide if marrying a man you “like” in order to have a family is worth giving up on the real thing.
    *****
    “Is this my favorite attorney?” I grinned as I imagined Alex on the other end of the phone line.
    “It depends. Who’s this?” he asked playfully.
    “Your favorite waitress.”
    “Debbie?”
    “Very funny.”
    “Oh wait! I recognize that sarcasm. This is Jenna, isn’t it? Then, yes, this is your favorite attorney.”
    “Good, because I’m about to do something I’ve never done before and ask a man out on a date.”
    “Anyone I know?”
    I snickered. “You’re in rare form today, Counselor. Carly called , and she and Elliott want us to ride to Jonesboro with them to get some restaurant supplies.” Before he could make a smart remark about how exciting that would be, I rushed on, “And eat at El Acapulco while we’re there.”
    “That sounds good , ” Alex said.
    An hour later, the four of us were on the road in Elliott’s SUV and deep in discussion. With Elliott and Carly in the front seat and Alex and me in the middle seat, we covered everything from religion to politics, all those subjects you were supposed to avoid. How cool that we shared similar points of view on most things.
    Halfway to Jonesboro , we started dissecting a Will Smith movie we had rented and watched together . Elliott glanced at Carly. “ Keeping his identity a secret was what got him in trouble.”
    Carly jerked her head around to look at him. “He didn’t do it on purpose at the beginning. And if she had known, she never would have gone out with him.”
    Elliott shrugged. “Still, keeping secrets like that keeps relationships from growing.”
    “H u mph.” Carly crossed her arms. “Shows how much you know. They ended up together, didn’t they?”
    Elliott kept his eyes on the road, but his knuckles were white on the steering wheel. Carly turned and looked out the passenger window.
    Alex and I stared at each other in bewilderment. I shrugged. Elliott was just the brother-in-law I wanted. And I was pretty sure he was the husband Carly wanted. So what was the problem with these two lately? Sometimes they seemed thrilled to be together ; other times they got upset with each other at the drop of a hat.
    “So who do you think killed J.D. Finley?” I asked , more to break the silence than any real hope that my three traveling companions would know.
    Nobody spoke for at least thirty seconds , then Elliott’s death grip on the steering wheel slowly relaxed. “Well, I don’t really know any of these folks very well. Lisa took a few lessons at the country club , and she struck me as a lady who knew what she wanted and how to get it.” He kept his eyes on the road.
    Carly glanced toward him. “That doesn’t mean she’d