I lift a sheet of paper from a file folder. “It says here in her obit that she died of natural causes.” My eyes meet his.

He glances away. “Yes. She had a heart condition. I found her at home on the bathroom floor.”

“That must’ve been traumatic.”

He nods.

“There wasn’t an autopsy?” I ask.

“ No.”

“Huh.” I make a note.

“Her cardiologist verified her cause of death,” he adds, his jaw muscles tense. Beads of perspiration gather at his temples.

“Okay. An autopsy is usually standard procedure in one so young.”

“Well, it wasn’t necessary—everyone agreed at the time.” He glances at Joe, then back to me. “Why is this important?”

“Didn’t say it was,” I reply.

“Look, I don’t have anything to add to your investigation. I don’t know anything about that Mountclair woman, and I have no idea what happened to Jay.” He runs a hand through his hair, setting his curls at odd angles. “This has all been really upsetting for my daughter and Molly.”

“That’s why we’re trying to get it all sorted out, Mr. Branch,” Joe says, leaning back in his chair.

He nods, bites his lips. “Well, I’m glad to help if I can, but I’ve told you everything I know, which is next to nothing.”

“So you didn’t leave the mountain house that night?” I ask.

“No, of course not.”

“Maybe you didn’t feel sleepy and decided to go for a drive?”

“ No.”

“How about giving us a DNA sample, Mr. Branch?” I ask.

His mouth hangs open. “Yes. Of course.”

“We can do it right now.” Joe starts to stand, but Branch looks suddenly panicky.

“My daughter’s here. Right outside. I don’t want her upset. Can I come back alone another time?”

“Why is this such a big deal?” I ask, leaning toward him. “Your daughter’s a bright girl. She surely would understand that this is just routine.”

He shakes his head. “No. I’ll come back another time. I don’t want Alice involved.”

Now I’m worried he won’t let us talk to her, so I back off. “Okay. That’s fine.” I go out and bring Alice in. Since she’s a minor, her father gets to stay while we question her.

Her long blond hair is neatly combed and held back with a black headband. She’s wearing a white blouse with a navy cardigan and looks like a teenager from the fifties on her way to boarding school.

“Hello, Alice,” I say.

She smiles slightly and nods.

“You know why we’re here?”

“Yes. You’re trying to find out what happened to the lady in the riverbank.” She glances at her dad.

“Yes. And we know you were the one who found her.”

Alice’s cheeks flush.

“That must’ve been upsetting.”