“The thing is,” Reyes said, going in for the kill, “your E-ZPass has no record of you entering or leaving New York City in the past sixty days. You can’t get into the city on the west side without passing under a scanner.”

Shit.

If she was lying about this, what else was she lying about?

“Well, maybe I was wrong. Maybe I went on the east side. Maybe that other bridge without a toll. On Willis Avenue.”

Reyes let this bone go. But he moved on quickly to other parts of her story. And her life. She was a nurse practitioner in Schenectady. Lived with her boyfriend. No kids. She had three cats. No, she was not in any financial trouble, and why are you asking me that? The reward money, of course. That wasn’t why I came forward.

Where did she go when she left the scene, left Molly Clarke to disappear on Hastings Pass? Did anyone see her when she got home? Did she stop along the way? What time did she go to work the next morning? And, the last question—are you sure you weren’t with someone in Hastings and not New York City?

What was he saying? That she was conspiring with someone in the town to fabricate a story about her mother?

“No!” she said defensively. “Why would you ask me that?”

Reyes backed off then.

“Just dotting my i’s and crossing my t’s.”

They drove back to the Gas n’ Go, got out of the car and stood in an awkward silence. But Reyes wasn’t through.

“Do you have time to come to the station—maybe look at models of trucks? It would help to narrow things down. You’d be surprised how different they can be,” he asked.

Edith was flustered. “I don’t really have time for all that—I have to make my shift at the hospital.”

“Then we can send you photos. Do we have your email address?”

She handed Reyes a business card. “You can use the one on here,” she said.

Reyes paused, let the discomfort ease in. “I think that’s everything.”

Nic touched her arm softly. “Thank you for coming all this way.”

“Well, you know how to reach me—if you have any questions. Or if this helps you find your mother. I didn’t come forward because of the money, but I’m sure you’ll let me know if this information turns out to be useful.”

Of course, Nic thought. There was nothing pure in this world.

Reyes answered. “We’ll let you know.”

They started to turn away from one another, but then Nic remembered the question her father had asked her.

“Hey—one last thing.”

Edith smiled, but she seemed nervous as she glanced between Nic and Reyes.

“How did you get my number?”