“Go on,” said Peggy, and then added, “I mean, if you want to talk about it.”
“I do want to talk. I want you to know how things were. She called to thank me for voting for her, and I congratulated her on winning the beauty contest with her own merits. For a while after that, I lost contact with her. Then, she called again, saying she really wanted to leave that small town and go to the city. I guess she must have encountered some heartache.”
“That’s exactly the part I’m interested in,” Peggy said.
“Why?”
“Because I’m trying to recreate Stella’s life.”
“Actually,” Don Kimberley said, “I don’t know much about her background, Peggy. Do you believe that?”
“Of course, I believe you.”
“Some people wouldn’t,” he mused thoughtfully, “but let’s get back to the point. She fell in love with someone. I’m not sure who he was, but I know he wasn’t a good man. Stella wanted to leave town, she was heartbroken, and financially strapped. I had to lend her money to help her pay off her debts in Kofferville, found her a job, and helped her start a new life. I was kept in the dark about her new job being in my company until I ran into her there.”
“It was Mr. Halsey who arranged the job for her,” she said.
“I know. Mr. Halsey knew her father in Kofferville, who passed away about five years ago, but Mr. Halsey knew and liked him.”
“Did he know her?”
“Obviously.”
“How well?”
“I don’t know, Stella never talked about her friends. I’ve been trying to find Mr. Halsey; he’s not around.”
“I know. Did you lend her money, Don? Did she pay you back?”
“She did. What’s up?”
“She needed a large sum of money, did you give her a check?”
“Yes.”
“But when she paid you back, it must have been in bits and pieces with cash.”
“Yes.”
“So she couldn’t prove she had already paid you back?”
“Are you suggesting I want her to pay twice?”
“I’m thinking the police might think so,” she said, “Banks keep records of all checks on microfilm.”
“I know,” he said shortly, and she noticed he was somewhat worried. The doorbell rang loudly and continuously.
