But her eyes had changed. The warm ease was gone, replaced by the shadow of the dragon. Standing on the green lawn, the hot Ohio sun shining down, Kelly was struck by how all four of them had been stained by Gene Banks. Even the little boy looked troubled, holding his mother’s hand tightly, and staring at Kelly as if she had killed a family member. Kelly wondered what he had been told. Julie whispered in his ear and the boy ran inside the house.

“I didn’t know you were coming,” Julie said as she approached. She did not offer her hand and Kelly did not make the effort.

“I should have called,” Kelly admitted.

“But you were afraid I wouldn’t see you,” Julie said.

Kelly nodded. “Can we walk a few minutes?”

Julie glanced at Michael. “It’s all right,” he said.

Julie nodded. “Very well. But I have nothing to add beyond what I told that last agent who was here.”

They strolled away from the house in the direction of a large pond that separated the house from an enchanted forest. The air buzzed with insects and the smell of daisies, and moist grass saturated the air. It was difficult for Kelly to envision Banks living in such a serene environment. Julie seemed to read her mind.

“He had it all,” she said.

Kelly eyed her. “Are you serious?”

“You refer to my infidelity? My marriage was over long before I met Michael. Gene and I were together for Robert, no other reason.”

“That’s not the impression he gave me.”

“Then he lied to you. He’s a skillful liar, isn’t he?”

“I don’t know what he is. That’s the reason I’m here. I have to be blunt with you, Julie. You were married to a monster and yet you say you had no idea there was anything wrong. A lot of people would find that hard to believe.”

“Why? If I had caught him brewing acid in our basement, of course that would have set off warning bells. But I’m being honest when I say he showed no outward signs of instability.”

“Michael disagrees.”

“Michael knew him in a different context. Gene and I were like any other married couple that had left the good times behind. He was often distant but he continued to act as if he cared for me.”

“Did you have a sexual relationship during the last two years?”

“Why is that any business of yours?”

“It’s FBI business. We still don’t know what he did with the bodies.”

“If I was having sex with him in the last two years, will it help you find them? Yes, we had a sexual relationship after I started sleeping with Michael. I know that’s what you are asking.”

“Was it a normal relationship?”

Julie hesitated. “Yes.”

“You don’t sound certain.”