Knox glanced nervously at him and said to Bristow, “Was that the problem in your

marriage? Is that why you separated?” Bristow nodded. “That along with the fact

that Earl drank too much.” Puller said, “Are you saying they were having an

affair?” Bristow shook her head. “Earl clearly wanted to. He would have married

Jackie if he could have.” Puller exclaimed, “She was already married. To his

commanding officer! And my father.” Bristow looked at him from under hooded,

reddened eyes. “Do you think someone in love gives a damn about that?” “And my

mother?” “Your mother had no interest in anything like that. She was a devout

Catholic. When I told you earlier that she floated above the rest of us, I meant

that in a divinely spiritual way.” “You seemed to know a lot about Mrs. Puller,”

said Knox. “More than you would get simply from conversation with her.” “When it

was clear my husband was in love with her I did some research. I don’t know why.

I just did. I wanted to hate her, I guess.

 

Find some flaw to make myself feel better. But when I realized that Jackie had

no interest in breaking her marriage vows I actually became closer to her. She

knew what was going on. She knew how Earl felt. And she gently but firmly made

it very clear to him that it was never going to happen.” “So when you declined

to go over there that night, you told him to call her?” “Yes. And if she got a

call that night I’m sure it was from Earl. But I had no idea she had gotten a

call that night, so I never thought that Earl had contacted her.” “She didn’t go

right away. She made us dinner, my brother and me, so I doubt he told her he was

thinking of killing himself. She would have called the police immediately.” “Do

you remember what time the call was?” “Around six, I think.” “Then it was after