I ask her again where they were after the party last night, and she insists they were at home. That’s it. She’s his alibi.

Dr. Westmore clears her throat. “You must know something by now.” Her voice escalates. “Corrine’s frantic.”

“We’re doing everything we can,” Joe says, his dark eyes intently assessing her.

“Well, I can’t imagine where Molly could be.” She wrings her shaking hands. “I need to go,” she says, and stands abruptly. “I can leave, can’t I?”

“Yes. But call as soon as you hear from your husband,” I say.

She nods. From the lines on her face to her body language, she looks about a whisper from a breakdown.

“I’ll be at Molly’s house,” she says. “I told Corrine I’d meet her there.”

“She could probably use the company,” Joe says.

Dr. Westmore nods and hurries down the hall.

CHAPTER 66 - Molly

CHAPTER 66

Molly

“WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME?” I ASK IN A STRANGLED WHISPER. “Why, Cal?”

He shakes his head. “You’ll understand, Melinda, eventually.”

I clear my throat, gather my wits. “Where’s Sadie?”

“Who?”

“My dog.” My stomach is in knots. How can this be real? How can my captor be our friend? None of this makes sense.

“I have no idea.”

“If you hurt her, I’ll kill you,” I cry.

He brushes my hair away from my face, and his fingers lightly linger on my cheek. “I didn’t touch her, Melinda. I wouldn’t hurt an animal.”

I shudder and take a deep breath, trying to pull it deep into my chest, trying to clear my head of this craziness. “Did you kill Jay?” It comes out in a hoarse whisper.

Cal straightens up, lets go a deep sigh. “He gave me no choice. He found the necklace. He was going to go to the police.”

Why, Jay, didn’t you go straight there? I ask myself. As if Cal could read my thoughts he continues.

“He wasn’t sure, of course. He found the necklace on the basement floor when he went up to fix the window. It was dark when I cleaned up in July, and I missed it. Jay told me he’d found it when he came back from Mountclair. He said he wanted to talk to me, so I knew. I told him I’d meet him in his office, later, after the party.”

I clench my cold fingers into fists. “Why would you kill him, Cal?” I’m sobbing. “He was your friend. And what did that woman ever do to you?”

“It all runs much deeper than that. Everything goes way back, Melinda.”

“Stop calling me that!” My voice comes out high and childlike.

He chuckles.