It was Matt’s custom to go for a walk with his son along the beach after lunch. While he was gone, she was in and out of his place in fifteen minutes. Charlie had gotten her the good stuff. When Matt returned home, she listened with 100 percent clarity as he watched two Star Trek reruns and the news.

Amy arrived at four in the afternoon. What timing.

They immediately began to plan David’s murder.

“Fuck me, O.J.,” Kelly whispered as she listened.

“You said the two best ways to kill someone are to either push them off a cliff or drown them in the ocean,” Amy said. “David’s father is coming out in a couple of days and staying two weeks. Carl and David will be taking the boat out plenty. Can we get David then?”

“How large is the boat and where will they take it?”

“It’s huge, an eighty footer. Fast too. That sucker can get to Catalina in an hour.”

“Can you all go over to Catalina for the night? Then change your plans at the last minute and come back late?”

“Sure,” Amy said. “Why do we need the change of plans?”

“We need to strike late at night. We need David drunk. It’s better to keep the plan simple. When the boat’s coming back in the middle of the night, lure him onto the deck and push him overboard.”

“You’ll have to push him overboard,” Amy said quickly.

“I understand. But you’ll have to get him drunk first, stoned if possible. Does David do drugs?”

“Pot occasionally. But he takes Valium and Xanax. He’s been taking a lot since Jimmy disappeared.”

“Good. He’ll have a residue in his system. But while you’re on Catalina, it will help if you can spike his drinks with more of the drugs.”

“Why are the drugs so important?”

“You’re trying to build up the case that he simply fell overboard in the middle of the night without your knowledge. His body could be found.”

“Do bodies sink or float?”

“They can do either. A lot depends on how much water goes into the lungs. That’s something out of our control. Besides, the more intoxicated David is, the easier he will be to push overboard.”

“You’ll have to be aboard to do that.”

“Obviously. But I don’t want to come aboard here. I’ll board on Catalina while you guys are off drinking and dancing.”

“There’s this club on Catalina that David and I both love—Rosie’s. Carl will probably have one of his underaged bimbos with him. The four of us can go there and get wasted.”

“No. Not the four of you. All of you must leave the boat. How much crew does David usually take with him when he goes out?”