Page 52 of Little Last Words

“If there was nothing going on between Penelope and Zachary, why was he texting her? Didn’t he know she was married?”

“Why is it still taboo for a man and a woman to be friends just because they’re in a relationship with someone else? Utter nonsense if you ask me. I have male friends. What of it?”

I had male friends too.

But no ex-boyfriends texting out of the blue.

Most couples weren’t fond of the idea of the person they were in a relationship with being close with someone of the opposite sex, let alone someone their mate had dated.

“Had Penelope and Zachary always stayed in touch?” I asked.

“No, they hadn’t.”

“Who reached out first?”

“I’m not sure. All I know is my daughter was thinking about leaving Dean, and she decided to confide in Zachary for advice.”

“Why Zachary and not Kate or Jolie? Or you or your husband?”

“Zachary is level-headed and can be relied on for sound advice. I believe she wanted to talk to someone who wasn’t biased against Dean like the rest of us were.” She pointed at my bottle of water. “Are you going to drink that? If not, I will.”

I slid it over to her.

“Zachary’s advice must have been in support of her leaving Dean,” I said. “Is it fair to say he could have given her that advice in the hopes she’d move home, and they’d rekindle something they once had?”

“Heavens, no. He's married and has children of his own. He’s always seemed happy with his wife … when I’ve seen him, at least. He was a friend my daughter could rely on when she needed one most, nothing more.”

I crossed one leg over the other, thinking about what other questions I had.

All the doors I was trying to open between Penelope and other possible suspects to her murder were being closed by Angelica, one by one.

Not everyone in Penelope’s life was innocent.

Someone wanted her dead.

Someone who may have been close, a whole lot closer than Angelica realized.

Every one of them needed to be questioned.

“Did Zachary’s wife know they were communicating?” I asked.

“Vanessa? Yes, I believe she did. She went to high school with my daughter too. They were good friends.”

“Let me get this straight. Are you saying Vanessa, who was friends with Penelope, ended up marrying Penelope’s ex-boyfriend, Zachary?”

“I am. They talked it out, and everything was fine. It’s no big deal. It was years ago.”

She was fine, eh? Fine with Zachary and Penelope communicating after all these years? Fine with Penelope confiding in Zachary?

I doubted it.

I made a mental note to speak to them tomorrow and find out.

“Can you think of anyone in Penelope’s life who disliked her in any way?” I asked.

“No one that comes to mind, which is why I believed Dean was responsible. My daughter was a sweet, kind woman. She had such a light about her. Everyone she met was fond of her, and I’m not just saying that because I’m her mother. It’s the truth. Ask anyone in town who knew her. They’ll tell you the same thing.”

“What about Penelope’s childhood? Did she ever have problems with anyone growing up? She must have had times in her life that were harder on her than others. We all do. None of us is perfect.”