Poor Pam, but I felt for her kids too. When children were unhappy, they acted out, and sometimes in big ways. “Unless Pam just drove around randomly and stopped at Jim’s office, he somehow fell onto her path. I’m trying to figure out the connection.”

She nodded, her lips pursing as she contemplated what I’d said. “Laurie is a bright girl, but also pretty and sweet. She’s not popular, but the other students like her well enough. Now that I think about it, she’s a lot like her father.”

“Is she in any sports or activities?”

She drew in a breath. “I don’t know…” She sounded frustrated, but I didn’t think her annoyance was with me. “I think she was on the yearbook staff.” Getting to her feet, she walked over to a bookcase and grabbed a hardcover book off the shelf. “This is last year’s yearbook. Laurie will be in there. You can see what she was involved in. Also, maybe check the newspaper. It lists all sorts of things from grade school game scores to dance recitals. I’m sure you’ll find both kids in there. Plenty about Jim and Melinda too.”

“Okay. I’ll get it back to you soon.”

She handed the book to me. “No hurry. I get them every year, then promptly place them on a shelf. I rarely have occasion to open them.”

I placed the yearbook on my lap, covering it with my notebook, then looked over my notes. “Back to Pam,” I said as Selena took her seat. “I know she had a daycare that she ended.”

“Yes, after Thad’s accident. It was only part time and the parents found other caretakers while she was dealing with his recovery.”

“Did she get another job?”

“No, Rob preferred she stay home, but he let her volunteer at the church.”

Rob sounded like a real prince. “And did she volunteer at the church?”

“Oh yes.” She nodded. “She’s in charge of the nursery, or I guess she was. She’s always loved babies. After she got over the disappointment of Ashlynn’s pregnancy, she started lookin’ forward to his arrival. She planned on spendin’ a lot of time with her grandbaby.”

“Is there anyone who doesn’t like her?”

She laughed. “Are you askin’ if Pam has any enemies? Heavens, no. Everyone liked her, but people did take advantage of her.”

That didn’t surprise me. I’d seen her with Diane at the ladies’ lunches. “Do you think Jim Palmer could be connected to anyone who upset her?”

Her lips pursed. “A revenge killing? Doesn’t seem like Pam.”

“But she went off her meds. I know anxiety is a side effect. I just don’t know how long it lasts.”

She shook her head. “I don’t know. That was three months ago. Pam just isn’t the vengeful type.” She frowned. “Except…”

“Yes?”

“A couple of weeks ago, I saw her snap at the store clerk in Ewing. We were at a secondhand shop, and Pam found a crib she wanted to buy for Ashlynn. But we were going to lunch, so she asked the clerk to put it on hold. When we went back to the store, another clerk had already sold it, and Pam was furious. She yelled at the clerk and called her incompetent. I had to drag her out of the store before they called the police. Once I got her back into the car, she broke down, bawling. She was horrified at what she’d done. She apologized profusely and asked me to take her home even though we’d planned to go to another store.”

“Was she under stress because of her husband?”

“I honestly don’t know. I told her I thought Rob was being ridiculous about her medication, and she kind of clammed up after that.”

“Is there anything else you can think of that might have upset her a couple of days ago?”

“And enraged her enough to kill a man?” She shook her head. “There’s a big difference between chewing someone out and murdering them.”

She was right, but I couldn’t help wondering what had driven a normally meek and mild woman to snap, not once but twice.

I couldn’t think of anything else, so I closed my notebook and put it back in my purse, along with the yearbook and my pen. “I need to head to work, but if you come up with anything you think would help, please let me know.”

“I’m still not convinced this is goin’ to help her.”

“Maybe not,” I said, “but at least we’ll know we tried.”

Selena walked me to the door, and I headed back toward Main Street, letting everything I’d learned roll around in my head. I’d learned a lot from Selena, but none of it had helped me reach any conclusions. Instead, I’d been left with more questions.

What I really needed was computer time, but there was no way that was happening at the library. I had to go to work soon anyway, and Max had no problem letting me use his computer as long as he wasn’t working on the books. I didn’t take him up on it too often—he and Ruth were far more curious than Carnita—but it might be worth the hassle tonight.

When I passed my car, still parked in front of the library, I thought about moving it but decided against it. It wouldn’t be a long walk later, and if I felt uncomfortable, I’d ask Marco or Max to walk to my car with me.

Max looked surprised when I walked through the front door, so I headed to the bar to say hello.

“I was at the library and left my car down there,” I said. “It seemed like a good day for a walk. Do you mind if I use the computer in your office?”

“Didn’t you just use one at the library?” he asked with a laugh.

“They were all tied up.”

Grinning, he shook his head. “Head on back and check your Nosy Book.”

I snorted. “Facebook. And that’s not all I do. I’ve been researching the town.” I’d admitted as much to him and Ruth a while back, in case they ever came into the office at an inopportune moment. Part of me wanted to let Max in on what I was doing, but even if he hated his father, and I thought he did, I didn’t know how he’d feel about me trying to bring him down.

“I think it’s just a cover, so you don’t look like you’re killing your brain cells tweetering.”

“Tweetering? You sound like a seventy-year-old man.”

He laughed. “It’s better than killing my brain cells.” I started to head back, and he called after me, “Hey, you need the password.”

I stopped and gave him a surprised look. “Password? You finally took my advice?” I’d been shocked to learn he left his office unlocked most of the time and didn’t have a password on his computer.

He made a face and grabbed an order pad and pulled off a sheet, scribbling something on the back. “Yeah, well, I guess it makes sense.” He handed the paper to me with a grin. “Guard it with your life.”

“You know it,” I said, taking the slip from him and heading to the back.

Ruth was sitting in a booth, reading a copy of People Magazine, a new one from the looks of it, and Tiny was scrubbing his grill. I waved hi to both of them on my way to the back. I wanted to ask Ruth about her friend—the one she was interested in hiring—but I’d ask later. I had more to research than I had time to type into the search engine.

Sure enough, when I woke up his computer, there was a password box. I entered the code—Max1$King—and laughed. He’d come up with that to irk Ruth every time she signed in to help with the books.