Marge nodded, thinking how blatantly self-centered the old lady was. Conversation revolved around me, me, me. She probably was a shitty mother. No wonder Marie was reading a book about parent-child role reversals.

But what, if anything, did that have to do with Marie taking a baby? Perhaps Marie was capable of feeling a loss and guilt. Perhaps she felt her abortions were past sins, and even Jesus’ forgiveness wasn’t enough. Maybe she decided to atone in a very harmful way. From what Lita had described, Marie had been self-destructive before. Why not now?

But why now? What exploded this potential time bomb?

“Do you know if Marie was seeing a gynecologist lately?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

Marge asked, “Had Marie been feeling well lately?”

Lita shrugged. “She seemed fine to me.”

As if the old woman would notice. “Do you know if she’d been seeing any doctors lately?”

“Nope.”

As long as they were on the subject of doctors, Marge had found herself a perfect opportunity to slip the question in. “Do you know the name of Marie’s dentist?”

“Her dentist? Why would I know Marie’s dentist?”

“Maybe she took you to him.”

“I don’t have any teeth.”

“For dentures.”

Lita furrowed her brow. “She did take me to a dentist once. ’Bout five years ago.”

“Do you remember his name?”

“Nope. Just remember his breath smelling like coffee. I think he worked in Glendale.”

“You’re sure?”

“Nope. Not sure of anything.”

“Lita, would you know any of Marie’s friends?”

“Not a one.”

“She never mentioned any friends to you?”

“I said no.”

“How about Paula Delfern?”

“Never heard of the girl.”

“How about Sondra Roberts?”

“Sondra?”

Marge said, “You know her?”

“She’s a friend of Marie’s?”

“I don’t know, I’m asking you,” Marge said.

“Well, if she is, that’s news to me.”

“How do you know Sondra?”

“She used to work here. I think she quit a while back in a huff. Some sort of problem about her license…that was the rumor.”

“What kind of problem?”

“I don’t know. Then she quit, and that was the end of her.”

Until now, Marge thought. If the employee quit under clouded circumstances, the home would want to keep good records to protect itself legally. Disgruntled employees are often suit-happy. The records would probably be old, but it would be a start. Not that Marge would know exactly what to do with Sondra, even if she found her. There was no indication that she was relevant to this case.

“So you didn’t know that Marie and Sondra were friends?”

“News to me. I know that girl had the hots for Leek.”

“She was Leek’s girlfriend?”

“Unrequited love, Detective. Girl was nice enough, pretty face, too. But downright fat.”