“Give me a break,” Kate said. “He’s never even been inside the house. What about Dan Bruebaker?” She repeated what Alastair had told her, that Dan had been obsessed with Cheryl.
“I hope you two realize that we are completely ignoring Verna,” Jack said.
“Arthur Niederman,” Sara said. “I meant to look him up.”
“I did.” Kate looked at Jack. “While you were trying to hurt poor Gil, I found him and pinned his address on the bulletin board in the kitchen.”
“That was fast work,” Sara said.
“I did have some help.”
“My mom?” Jack asked.
“Yes.” Kate was smiling.
“Isn’t there a song about wanting a gal like the one who married dear ol’ dad?” Jack said.
“Eww,” Kate and Sara said together.
He laughed. “So what’s our next move?”
“You shower, dinner, then we’ll make plans,” Sara said. “Bruebaker and Niederman, for sure. Maybe we can find the landlord of their house. I’m with Jack and want to know who robbed the place.”
“How do you shower with that cast on?” Kate asked.
Jack got off the stool. “Come on and I’ll show you.”
“You wish,” Kate said. “Go on. You’re beginning to stink.”
Acting like he was hurt at her comment, he went down the hall to his bedroom.
“Tub,” Sara said.
“What?”
“He gets in the tub with his leg over the side. He’ll stay in there for at least an hour. What do you want for dinner?”
“Answers,” Kate said and Sara agreed.
They had a much-needed quiet night. The repercussions of Gena’s lies went through their minds. Like dominoes, one lie built on top of another one until they all fell down. Or in this case, two people ended up under a tree, their disappearance not even noticed.
The question they didn’t speak aloud was “Did Roy kill the two women?”
* * *
The next morning, Kate and Sara were in the kitchen making breakfast. High-fiber cereal and skim milk for Kate; bacon and eggs for Sara.
A sleepy-eyed Jack, wearing only pajamas bottoms, came in on his crutches and wanted some of all the food.
He’d barely taken a bite when the doorbell rang. Then rang again and again as someone began pounding on the door.
“Stay here until I see who it is,” Jack said over his shoulder as he went to the door.
Ignoring his order, the women were close behind him.
Jack seemed ready to do battle, but when he looked through the glass panel beside the door, he said, “Oh, hell,” turned away and went back to the kitchen.
Sara looked out. “Make that double hell.” She followed Jack.