The three girls were in several other shots. They appeared younger in these, and this time they were standing around a boy. Val guessed the girls were about ten and the boy about seven or eight. She put the picture with the inscription to the side and was just about to pull this other one out of the album when she heard a noise coming from outside. She looked out of the window to check the whereabouts of Eddie.

Val saw the truck only.

A second later she heard the front door to the apartment slam and her pulse exploded.

As quickly as she could, she placed the picture back in the album, pulling the cellophane cover over it. Then she hesitated, taking the picture back out, holding it firmly in her hand. She needed this.

“Are you finding what you need?” Eddie called to her.

“Yes. I’m just finishing up,” she yelled as she put the album back in the drawer, her fingers fumbling nervously as she heard him coming towards her, not sure what to do with the picture. Not to mention how to explain why she was in his bedroom. Val no sooner had the dresser drawer closed and the picture hidden in her pocket when Eddie appeared in the doorway.

“What are you doing in here?” he asked.

Val couldn’t read the tone. It wasn’t accusatory or angry. It simply asked the question.

“I didn’t find anything in the bathroom. A lot of women keep medicine in the bedroom. It’s pretty common. I do it myself,” she said, hoping that he believed her. “I thought maybe she had something in the dresser.” Val’s heart was beating hard enough to leap out of her chest.

“Did you find anything to help with what happened to Samantha?”

“No, not really. But I’ll keep looking into it.” She got up off the bed and walked out of the room and headed to the front door. All she wanted was to get out of the apartment now. Eddie followed close behind.

“You know, Samantha was cremated and I spread her ashes in a place that was special to her. She told me it was special to Francine too and I know Samantha would want her sister to be with her. Do you know what happened to Francine’s remains? Could I get them? I know I’m not family, but I could spread her ashes with Samantha’s,” he said.

“That’s really nice of you to do that for her.” Val wondered if she’d misjudged Eddie. He seemed to really care about Samantha. “I’ll check to see what’s going on and let you know.”

“Thanks. I’d appreciate it.”

Val paused, her hand on the doorknob. “By the way, where was this special place?”