A Humbug Holiday by London Lovett

Author:London Lovett [Lovett, London]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wild Fox Press

Chapter 21

My article about the play had taken an unexpected turn. I'd settled on writing a pedestrian piece about how the business community came together in the holiday season to delight us with their thespian talents. The article would include the obligatory contact information and pleasant write-up about their respective businesses and that would be the end of it. My job for the week would be fulfilled, and Parker would be pleased, all with very little brain energy wasted. But now there was no play to write about. Murder and intrigue were much more interesting to write about, but I had little to go on.

I decided to start with the person who seemed to have the most to gain from Evan's death. With Weezer out of the way, Danny Danforth was sure to have a nice boost in business.

Danforth Realty was a small office just before the Smoky Highway in the town of Hickory Flats. I'd called ahead, and his assistant, Roger, had answered. He told me he expected Danny in any time because he had a meeting with new clients. I let him know I only needed a few minutes of Danny's time and that it was for the newspaper. Which it was, technically. If I happened to gather some helpful information about the murder at the same time, then that would be the cherry on top.

Hickory Flats was a quiet, almost rural kind of town with far less traffic and activity than Firefly Junction. It was also at a lower elevation so the flakes of snow that had fallen the night before had already melted to puddles on the sidewalk.

A mid thirties man with a stylish gray business suit and clean shaven face peered up over the top of his monitor as I walked into the office. The nameplate on his desk said Roger Urban.

"How can I help you?" he asked.

I pulled out my press pass. "I'm Sunni Taylor from the Junction Times. I spoke to you this morning about an interview with Mr. Danforth."

"Right. I'm afraid Danny got called away to show some houses. With Evan Weezer—gone," he said politely. "We've been swamped with calls. Even in realty, the show must go on," he quipped and then turned red with embarrassment. His lips pulled in for a second. "I guess that was not the best phrase to use in this situation."

"Probably not. But I suppose it makes sense that Danny will gain a lot of business with his main competitor—gone." I knew it was a leading statement, but I'd lost the morning's interview. I hoped to save it by prying some information out of Danny's assistant. I'd always found assistants to have far more valuable information than anyone else.

"It's terrible what happened, but yes, it will most definitely mean an uptick of business for Danforth Realty. Evan Weezer always worked as a one man show. He never trained anyone else to take over in case something happened to him. It leaves his business without an experienced salesperson."

It seemed I had a willing interviewee.

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