A moment later, Donna McKlintock rushed inside the interview room. She had been with the department for twenty years, the last ten serving as the on-site consultant in psychology, having earned an MFC in night schools. Over the years, she had counseled many victims of crime—both civilians and cops. Decker hoped she knew her stuff. Solidly built, she took her strong arms and peeled Tandy off Decker’s body. The girl immediately leeched onto Donna.

“Make them stop!” Tandy begged the psychologist.

Donna took a firm grip on the girl and began to walk her around the table. “You’re safe here, Tandy. You’re safe!”

“But they’re here!”

“You’re safe now, Tandy!” Donna reiterated. “While you’re with me, I won’t let anyone hurt you. And I won’t let you hurt anyone, okay?”

“Then promise me you’ll make them stop!”

Donna began to lead her out of the room. “We’ll talk. While you’re with me, I won’t let anyone hurt you. And I won’t let you hurt anyone!”

“Promise?”

“Promise.” Donna led her out of the room. Decker looked at Marge, then ran his hand over his face. At times like these, practicing estate law looked downright tempting.

35

Inside the interview room, Decker paced. “I can’t believe I was that stupid!”

“Stop flogging yourself.” Marge took a deep breath. “Need I remind you that someone was murdered?”

Decker stopped trampling the ground. “The body in the Honda was Lily Booker. Hennon made the I.D. this morning.”

“So stop thinking about Tandy and start concentrating on the real victim!”

Decker said, “We still don’t know that Tandy did it.”

“We don’t know she didn’t do it. She certainly is crazy enough to do it!”

“What freaked me out was how fast she turned!” Decker exclaimed. “I thought she was being sly…clever.” He blew out air. “Then all of a sudden…” He rubbed his hands together. His heart was still trotting.

Marge said, “For what it’s worth, you put a whole new slant on the case with that lockbox thing. I’d forgotten all about it.”

“So that’s how Tandy found out about her father’s affair. She was snooping in Marie’s apartment and came across some pictures or letters. So what? We’ve got nothing substantial to tie her to the kidnapping and murder.”

Marge said, “I think we got enough to book her. She has no real alibi as to where she was at the time of the kidnapping. And the baby was found in her parents’ place.”

“It’s all circumstantial. They’ve stated that Marie, not Tandy, gave them the baby.”

Marge rested her chin in her palm. “Want to hear my personal theory of what happened…for what it’s worth?”

“Shoot.”

“Last Tuesday, around midnight, Tandy goes to visit Marie at Sun Valley Pres.”

“Why?”