He ignored that. “Here it is. I have some new clients coming in a week, and they’ll be staying at their nephew’s place in town. Ted Lewis—remember him? You met at Country Classics Night. He’s the bassist in Aaron’s band.”

She nodded. “Yeah, he’s a nice guy.”

“Well, the elder Lewises are newly retired and are interested in learning more about horses, maybe getting involved in therapy. I was hoping you could hang around for another week or two after this, free of charge, help me work with them. I figured your background with your friend’s business makes you a natural.”

Shallie smiled at him, a full, happy smile. “I’d love to!”

He grinned back. “Okay, then, we’ll see how it goes. I could pay you,” he added.

“No need. Besides, I’m getting room and board.”

“What about your flight? Can you change it?”

“Should be fine,” she said.

“And your rental car?”

“I’ll return it. Just have to work out the logistics.”

“Now, about our meeting tonight. I’d suggest you make a list of whatever you know. Whatever info you can give Eli and the investigator.”

“I’ll do it right now.” She’d been thinking about exactly that. She’d put together the little she could remember.

It occurred to her to call Russ. Because no one knew more about Christine Fletcher than he did. Even if that wasn’t much…

In her room, Shallie began making notes about her mother. After almost an hour, she’d filled half a page on her iPad. Once more, she thought about getting in touch with Russ—and decided to try.

To her considerable surprise, he answered. To her even greater surprise, he was friendly. Shallie gave him a succinct version of what she needed and why. “I have to get this sorted out, Russ. I need to know. It’s like…a hole in my life.”

“Yeah, I can understand how you’d feel that way.” He recalled that Christine had disappeared during the night, taken off in her car and was never heard from again. These were the few facts Shallie already knew. But he told her something she hadn’t heard before. “I’m pretty sure,” he said, “that it had to do with a call she got on the office phone that evening. From a Chicago area code.” He chuckled. “I’m embarrassed to admit I eavesdropped from the hallway.”

Shallie didn’t think he sounded embarrassed at all. “Why didn’t you ever tell me this?”

“For a long time you were too young and then… I kind of forgot.”

Not great as excuses went, but Shallie realized there was no point in belaboring it.