Love for Sale

isn’t, in theory, relevant to me. Unless, of course, it is something illegal or immoral. Rudeness isn’t quite in that category.“
    “Are you the least alarmed that she seems to have gone missing?“ Walker asked.
    “A little bit,“ Mrs. Tarkington said. “She told me she had an appendix that flared up a bit from time to time. And that her lifelong doctor was moving away from her hometown and wanted to get it out while she was well. It’s possible something bad happened to her. I’d be more alarmed if Miss and Mr. Brewster hadn’t been willing to step in and help out. They’re delightful young people and well educated. I suspect, however, that they might not want to take up their jobs here forever though.”
    It was interesting to Howard to see how well focused Mrs. Tarkington was. It seemed the whole rest of the population was fascinated with and somewhat horrified by Brother Goodheart’s murder. She was probably the only citizen he’d run into lately who didn’t ask how the investigation was going. There wasn’t any way she couldn’t know about it. But she stuck to what she did well.
    “Do you know anything about her previous life or outside interests?“ he asked, getting back to Miss Langston.
    “All I know is that it seems she eats her dinner often at Mabel’s Cafe. I go there from time to time myself. Since I was widowed, I have very little interest in cooking for myself, you see. I think every time I’ve gone there, Miss Langston was in the far corner reading a book while she ate. The first time I ran into her there, I asked if she’d like me to join her and she said, ‘No, thank you.’ So I never tried again.“
    “Did you ever see her eating with anyone else?“
    “Never. I’m sorry I can’t be more help. If Miss Jurgen is worried about staying alone in her house, I could offer to let her have my back room. Should I ask?“
    “I think Miss Brewster will probably beat you to it. Grace and Favor has more rooms than anybody else. Miss Twinkle boards there, you know.”
    A light came into Mrs. Tarkington’s eyes. “She does? How interesting. I thought she still lived over her millinery shop. I might talk to the Brewsters about myself. It’s a bit lonely living alone. I didn’t know they took boarders. It’s an enormous house. It shouldn’t surprise me.“
    “Isn’t it though,“ Walker agreed. “I have to admit that’s why I live at the boardinghouse and have my office there now—I hated living alone and cooking for myself. Besides, it was right next to the river and the trains.”
    He stood. “I appreciate your observations, Mrs. Tarkington. I won’t take up any more of your time. I might just eat at Mabel’s tonight though. I understand it’s Irish stew night. Would you care to join me?”
    She sparkled like the pretty girl she must have once been. “I’d be delighted! What time?”

Chapter 23

    Howard went back to the boardinghouse after dinner, wondering what had inspired him to have the meal with Mrs. Tarkington. He guessed it was because she was not only straightforward and in control, but lonely as well. She’d be a lot happier living at Grace and Favor than living by herself. And the residents would probably like having her there. If Mrs. Tarkington didn’t contact them soon, he’d probably mention the conversation to Lily and Robert.
    Or maybe he shouldn’t. He had no justification for butting in. Mrs. Tarkington wasn’t shy. She’d obviously liked the concept of living with congenial people and not having to cook for herself.
    He’d wasted his time trying to learn anything he didn’t already know about Miss Langston at Mabel’s. The waitress cringed when he mentioned her name. “That awful woman! She insists on always seeing if the kitchen is clean enough to satisfy her. I’ve never waited on her that she didn’t complain about something. Soup too salty.
    Bread too cold. Roast beef too tough. I don’t know why she comes here.“
    “Has she been lately?“ Walker asked.
    The waitress tilted her head a little and thought. “I hadn’t really noticed, but no. Not for a couple of weeks, come to think of it.”
    He decided when he returned home that he really didn’t care what had become of Miss Langston. Apparently she wouldn’t be missed by anyone. And since nobody had filed a missing person report, he wasn’t responsible for finding her.
    Meanwhile, the fact that he’d been considering a different case had cleared his mind of Brother