“I—I don’t . . .” Her mind spun and her fingers went to her throat. The clammy hand squeezing, the bruises, the blood.

And no one willing to believe her.

Justin—Justin Roby, she now read on his silver name tag—scribbled something on his pad. “Do you think she could have tried to take matters into her own hands?”

“Wh—what are you talking about?”

He held his hand up. “I’m just trying to get to the bottom of what might have happened.”

“Is it even possible . . . ? I mean, after all these years, is there anything that can be done? Even if you did find out new information? It was forty years ago. You said so yourself.”

“Well, it depends on what we find. New evidence could open the case back up again. A new witness account or new information that was previously withheld or unknown.”

Blood roared in her ears, and Violet gripped the edge of the display table to keep herself grounded in the here and now. “It was a long time ago.”

“You’re right.”

“My memory isn’t the best.” It was a lie—her memory was impeccable, especially when it came to the events surrounding Jay Malone.

“I understand,” Justin said. “And I’m sorry to trouble you with what is I’m sure a difficult memory for both you and your sister. Just one more question for now and I’ll be out of your hair.” One more glance at the notepad. “Your sister came to live with you after Mr. Malone went missing.”

“Is that your question?”

“I guess not. I just wonder. A grieved wife, her husband gone missing.” He paused, a finger on his chin. “If there had been anything to—well, to confess, for lack of a better word. I wonder if she would have talked to you about it.”

Violet’s jaw went hard. “I assure you, Mr. Roby, my sister had nothing to confess, and anything she might have said to me about the state of her heart remains between Trudy and me.”

“Of course. I’m sorry to even have to ask.”

The strange thing was, he actually did look remorseful, as if his duty to ask the questions had somehow taken something out of him. He clicked his pen one last time and slid it back in his chest pocket. “If I have any other questions for you, may I contact you again?”

“It’s a free country, but I can tell you, I won’t have any more answers.”

He nodded. “I’ll be on my way then.” He walked out, crossed in front of the large windows, then disappeared. It wasn’t any time at all before Trudy and Maya walked in, all smiles and laughter. If they’d been just a few seconds quicker, they would have met Justin in the doorway. Violet forced herself to breathe normally.

“Violet, we had the best idea for our booth at the festival.” Maya set her bag behind the counter. “We’re going to wrap twinkle lights around tennis balls and hang them from the top of the tent like stars. Don’t you think that’ll look cool?”