“I know why Tandy might have taken the baby…if she did take the baby. I mean, I don’t know that she took the baby. But I have a motive if she did.”

“She lost a baby when she was fifteen,” Marge said.

Cindy stared at her, disappointment clouding the sunshine of her eyes. “How did you know?”

“Because I interviewed her, Cindy. That’s what the police do. And they don’t even have to pose as bodybuilders to do it. I don’t have to tell you how dangerous and stupid your little stunt was. Your dad and I aren’t TV detectives with cute little mannerisms who wrap things up in an hour minus twenty minutes for commercials. We get things done by putting in long hours and trying out different tactics that often lead nowhere. It’s hard, it’s tiring, and it’s frustrating! What we don’t need is someone blowing all of our careful planning by being stupid!”

The girl looked as if she was going to cry. Marge softened her tone. “Did you have a good workout at least?”

Cindy didn’t answer.

“Look,” Marge said, “no harm done.” She hoped. “What’d you two talk about in the juice bar? You were in there for almost an hour.”

“Nothing much.” Cindy sighed. “What are you doing here?”

“What do you think? I’m keeping an eye on Tandy.”

“You’re watching her car?”

“Yes. Promise me you’ll back off for good, okay?”

“I was supposed to return to the gym tomorrow—”

“Cindy!”

“They have this whole routine worked out for me. They say I have lots of talent.”

Marge stared at her. “Cynthia Decker, if I find you within a mile of this place, I’ll arrest you and throw you in the clink with all sorts of unsavory women.”

Cindy smiled. “I’ll stay out of your face, Marge.”

“You’ll stay out of our business!” Marge took a deep breath. “Now…what did you two talk about?”

“Just talked—about school, about guys, about our families. Don’t worry, I didn’t tell her my father’s a cop. I’m not stupid, only adventurous.”

“No, Cynthia, it’s stupidity!”

Cindy smiled sadly. “And here I thought I discovered something really important. I was going to lay a real insight on you.”

“So I beat you to the punch. How did losing the baby come up in conversation?”

“She talked about her modeling career. How one of the directors made her pregnant.”

“How long was she a model?”