When Ray nervously phoned Loraine Dellin the next day, he was surprised she didn't hang up. In fact, she agreed to meet with him provided it was at some public place. He wanted some answers about how she had trapped him. He didn't know why she agreed.
They met in the parking lot of the public library. She backed into a parking space but didn't get out. She sat there with the window down and the engine running. Ray leaned over at her window. "There's a bench over there, we could sit and talk."
She didn't budge. "This is fine, under the circumstances."
"Yes, the circumstances being you're ready to speed out of here as soon as I try to reach in there and grab you by the throat."
"Is that what we're going to talk about, retaliation? Just don't make any sudden moves. I'm not joking about that."
"What, you have that little Smithy Wesson next to you there in the car? Little risky carrying around the murder weapon, isn't it?"
"I didn't murder anyone, but I know who did. That's why I agreed to meet you. I wanted to tell you. I figure I owe you that much."
"You owe me plenty. You came here as part of some scheme and helping me isn't part of it. Okay, let's have it, if you didn't do it, who did?"
"Norma Martin. Did you know Martin is a Hispanic name? She's actually Cuban."
"Cuban-American, and runs a Cuban café. She's not hiding it," he said.
"Don't you get it? Everyone knew Al was having an affair. Well, she's the one. He thought he could handle being involved with her. She had him all sexed up, so the whole tribe could rob him blind. You sleep with one of them and the entire family climbs into bed with you. That's the way they operate."
"Where are you getting this nonsense?"
"Al was into some Tampa real estate deal with her not knowing her family was setting him up. The deal went bad and he broke off with her. The family was afraid he'd reveal their secrets, so she killed him. Those people have all kinds of secrets. She was actually seen leaving his apartment the day of the murder."
"Loraine, you're mixing up pieces of several different rumors. Who's your source on all this?"
"Someone in the police department. I can't tell you who. You might be wearing a recorder."
"Me? No, are you? Don't forget which of us is the suspect. You're the one flitting around uncharged. You're the one causing all the trouble. For some reason the police are afraid to come after you."