“Walmart.” He smiles. “But they didn’t have what I was looking for, so I went to Lowe’s.”

“What were you looking for?” I tap my pencil against my notebook. This guy is lying through his teeth.

“Tools.” His gaze shifts to his wife.

“Okay. What time did you get home?”

He rubs his hand over his mouth. “I don’t know, Detective.”

“You buy anything?” Joe asks.

“They didn’t have what I wanted.”

“So you don’t have a receipt?”

“ No.”

“Which stores did you go to, Mr. Pearson?” I ask. “We’ll take a look at their security footage.”

He slams his chair back and jumps up. “I don’t give a good goddamn if you believe me or not. If Molly’s missing, I didn’t have anything to do with it. She’s probably just out of town again. Jesus.” He stomps out of the room. Mrs. Pearson’s little girl has buried her face against her mother’s stomach.

* * *

No one is home at the Westmores’ place, so I call Dr. Westmore as we sit in her driveway, looking up at her grand house.

“Detective? What can I do for you?”

“We’re looking into a new development here. Where were you and your husband yesterday?”

“Yesterday? We were at Kim Pearson’s house in the afternoon. Then home. Why?”

“You go straight home after the party? Stay in all night?”

“Yes, Detective. What’s this about?”

“Mrs. Bradley is missing.” I hear her breath catch.

“Her sister doesn’t know where she is?”

“ No.”

Dr. Westmore’s voice wavers. “Oh my God.”

“Do you know something that might help us locate her?”

“No. No, I don’t. Do you think something’s happened to her?”

“We don’t know. Can you and your husband meet us at the police station? We’d like to talk to you.”

“Yes. Of course, but I’m a couple hours away at my sister’s house. And Scott, he was called out on a job. One of his client’s had an emergency. A retaining wall collapsed or something. I’ll call him and let him know.”

“This is urgent, Doctor.”

“I’m on my way.”

I end the call, and Joe backs down the long driveway.

That just leaves Hayes Branch on our list of suspects in the Robb murder. Maybe Mrs. Bradley’s disappearance is unrelated, but we need to make sure. Something tells me, though, that all of this mess is connected.

Joe and I drive out of Graybridge and take the highway two exits west of town. The Branches own multiple properties in the Boston metro area, but Hayes and his daughter live in the old family estate. His illustrious mother prefers a Manhattan apartment most of the year.