“yes, that is a good point,” maria replied to geraldine. “but do you have any idea what happened to ted? whether it was connected to the murder or not?”
“well, i did wonder about it, of course. i always thought that ted had gotten in over his head with his so called investigating business. he must have gotten somebody angry, either because he was sticking his nose in their business, or because he was not delivering on his promise to find out something out for somebody. so he just decided to clear out.”
“just like that? hadn’t he set up a business? wasn’t he leaving a lot behind?”
“not really. he had rented an office, but what does that amount to? who knows if he had even paid the rent on it?” geraldine laughed. “maybe it was as simple as that. he was just skipping out on the rent . or - here’s another idea. would you like some more tea?”
“yes, thank you,” maria smiled politely.
“my other idea,” geraldine continued, after filling maria’s cup, “is that ted’s daddy told him to move along, for whatever reason. like maybe he didn’t care so much for ted being something so halfway shady as an investigator.”
“daddy? what daddy? nobody ever said anything about a daddy. you told me ted came out of nowhere.”
“ha, ha! well, no, officially he did not. but i always figured - figured out all by myself, in my own nasty little brain, was that ted didn’t really come out of nowhere at all. he got a little too connected a little too quick, he was obviously - he obviously had a good education - was that he was the son of some kansas city rich man - that he knocked up some poor farm girl or waitress - and ted was the result. but when he didn’t take up quite the right way with the right people - or maybe daddy just got sick of looking at him - he told him to hit the road.”
“well, thank you, mrs hopkins, that is very interesting. thank you.”
“you are welcome, i am sure.”
“i don’t suppose you have any idea who this father might have been?”
“oh, no, no.”
“could it have been jonah james?”
“oh! honey, you said that, i didn’t!” did geraldine wink when she said it? maria could not be sure.
“well, thank you again, mrs hopkins, you have been very helpful, and i appreciate it.” maria put her teacup down. she wondered if she should push her luck and ask any more questions.
“i have one more little thing,” geraldine announced. “that might help you, although it might be thirty years too late.”
“please, anything might be helpful.”
“there was one person - one person - who seemed to be genuinely upset that ted had disappeared.”
“and who might that have been?” maria asked.
“there was an old woman - well, she probably was not as old as all that, but she seemed real old to me then - a cleaning woman at the building ted had his office in - and i heard the poor thing was quite broken up when ted disappeared. of course, everyone put it down to ted just being such a nice fellow and a perfect gentlemen to ladies high and low - but who knows? i think you get my drift, my dear.”
maria smiled. “yes, i do.”
“of course, i couldn’t tell you her name. and the poor creature is probably long dead and gone.”
“you wouldn’t remember the building ted had his office in?” maria asked.
“i don’t remember exactly. and i would not have it written down anywhere. i just remember it was near the raphael hotel in kansas city, probably on ward parkway.”
“but that is really, really helpful, mrs hopkins.”
“i am sure. “ suddenly geraldine looked tired. she smiled . “it has been a pleasure talking to you, miss willis, but i really am expecting some friends shortly.”
with more expressions of gratitude, maria took her leave.
that went better than i expected, she thought, as she headed back to her car. i just wish there had been more of jonah james and the james family, and less of ted tenner.
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