“If you’d spent as much time on Marie as you did on me, you’d know that Marie’s going through menopause. She’s only forty years old. The whole thing was a real shock to her system. She probably flipped out.”

Decker said, “Marie began treatment for menopause less than a year ago. If you haven’t seen Marie in a couple of years, how’d you know about her condition?”

Again the twitch.

“I never said Marie didn’t call me. But we weren’t close anymore. Not like we used to be.” Tandy smiled. “My choice. Marie turned out to be overbearing, just like…”

She stopped talking. Decker filled in the blanks. “Overbearing like your mother?”

“You said it.”

“Marie looks like your mom,” Decker said.

Tandy twitched. “So what?”

“Ever met Marie before you worked at Golden Valley Home?” Marge asked.

Kill her!

Shut up!

Kill her!

Marge repeated the question.

Kill her!

Shut up! Shut up, shut up—

“Tandy?” Decker asked.

“If you’re asking do I know that Marie had an affair with my father twenty years ago, the answer is yes.” Her eyes were moist and shiny—like newly lacquered ebony. “So what? My father had affairs with lots of women. He’s a jerk…an evil jerk!”

“He had affairs with lots of women, but he fell in love with Marie,” Decker said. “In fact, I do believe Marie was the reason your parents got divorced.”

Tandy twitched. “I don’t remember much. I was five years old.”

“What do you remember?”

“Only that my life was falling apart…my mother’s anger.” She stared at the wall, then refocused on Decker. “It’s history. And it has nothing to do with this baby. Either charge me or let me be.” Her eyes glazed over. “Let me be in peace…please.”

Once again Decker and Marge exchanged glances.

“How’d you find out about your father and Marie?” Marge asked.

Tandy blinked rapidly. “I just did.”

“You just did?” Decker said.

Tandy bolted up from her seat and began to pace. “Look, I spoke to you guys without a lawyer because I didn’t do anything wrong. But if you keep hammering away at my past, I’m going to walk out this door—”

“Why were you using Lawrence McKay’s nursing license, Tandy?” Marge asked.

Kill her!

The high one.

She hated the high one!

The high one was malevolent. Malevolence. The wicked queen in Snow White. Mirror, mirror on the wall—

“Tandy, why were—”

“Stop!” Tandy whirled around and glared at Marge. “Just…oh, now I get it! It’s dig-up-dirt-on-Tandy time. Maybe I should get a lawyer.”

Decker pushed the phone across the table until it rested in front of Tandy’s nose. “Be my guest.”

Tandy stared at the machine. The room fell silent.

Decker said, “Your dad was evil, Tandy?”

Tandy looked at him blankly. “They both were.”