Chapter Three
Rufus’s eyes grew huge and he glanced quickly around the coffeehouse to ensure no one else was overhearing the conversation. I had the feeling he was starting to regret telling Burton to sit at the table with us.
“What?” he said. “I don’t even know who Esther even is.”
Burton’s voice sounded a bit stern now. “She’s the older woman who spent a good deal of time in the square.”
“But I don’t know her! Of course I’ve seen her around. Why on earth would I want to go around bullying old ladies?”
Burton said, “I was informed it was a shove.”
“A shove?” Rufus gave a short, humorless laugh. “Whoever that witness is must be trying to set me up.”
“That witness is dead now,” said Burton in a somber voice.
Rufus turned white. “Am I being arrested?”
“Not currently. We’re just hav
