Talking about Rosalyn’s brother reminded Alyssa of the mystery man they’d seen on the video at the Ranch Steakhouse. ‘Do you know if Elizabeth was dating anyone?’

Rosalyn didn’t miss a beat. ‘If she was, she didn’t mention it to me. But we don’t really have that kind of friendship. If it weren’t for the mini-Hayden known as Brandon, I doubt we’d be in contact at all.’

‘We’re almost finished here, but before we go, could you tell us a little about Hayden’s friends? Elizabeth said she didn’t know them well.’

‘She didn’t. She was always so paranoid her parents would discover she was dating Hayden that she even hated hanging out here with us. When they did, they rarely left his room. And friends is a loose interpretation for the few people Hayden associated with. For as popular and athletic as he was, he didn’t particularly gel with the arrogant attitudes of the other guys. His best friend was Marcel Gutierrez, and he died just over three years ago from cancer. Aside from that, it was a few stragglers here and there.’

‘What about girlfriends?’ Cord asked.

Rosalyn shook her head. ‘He dated, but until Beck, never anyone even remotely serious. It was more about having a fun time with someone he also happened to kiss – or more. His “relationships” generally lasted about a couple weeks, and after the inevitable break-up, he always managed to stay friends with the girls. It was the wildest thing.’

She knocked on the window behind her. When her son’s head popped up, she waved him outside. He was still wearing the same scowl when he poked his head out the door, waiting.

‘Would you grab the picture I put on the coffee table a while ago and bring it to me, please?’

‘Why?’

Rosalyn narrowed her eyes. ‘Because I want it, and you’re right next to it.’

‘Fine.’ He disappeared, reappearing again a few seconds later when he cracked the screen open and stretched his arm as far as it would go so he wouldn’t have to actually step foot outside.

‘Thank you.’ She rolled her eyes and snapped the picture out of his small hand and offered it to Alyssa.

The youngster retreated back inside the house without a word, and Alyssa decided that must’ve been his way of saying, ‘You’re welcome.’

Rosalyn pointed at the picture. ‘I had a brief stint where I was digging photography as a career choice, and that was one of my favorite pics. I have another copy, so you can have that one, if you’d like.’