DECKER GOT THE feeling that Mack Blanc’s language was an embarrassment to Kathy, but she was just too numb to stop him.

What the fuck happened!

That’s what we’re investigating, Mr. Blanc. I’m so sorry.

I don’t want your fucking apologies, I want some fucking answers!

Over and over and over and over and over.

The three of them were in Decker’s office. Kathy remained silent and seated as her husband paced and swore. Finally, Mack attempted a new line of attack.

“Well, if you don’t know what fucking happened, what do you fucking know?”

Decker pointed to the chair. Reluctantly, Mack sat down. As soon as he was quiet, his eyes overflowed. Wordlessly, Decker handed him a tissue.

“Her car is still in St. Tim’s parking lot. We’re going over it right now.”

“Was she…” Kathy choked back sobs. “Did it happen in the car?”

“I don’t know, Mrs. Blanc. I sure don’t want to tell you wrong information.”

Mack took her hand and she leaned against his chest, weeping. The hapless man couldn’t offer her any words of comfort.

Decker said, “We’re also interviewing people at the hospital to get a time frame. Your wife was kind enough to give us Adrianna’s cell number and we discovered she made a couple of calls around the time she got off shift.”

“She called Sela Graydon,” Kathy explained to her husband.

“She and Adrianna have known each other since junior high,” Mack answered. “What about the other number?”

“When we called it, no one answered. The voice-mail box is full, so we don’t know who it belongs to. We can find out who owns the number and how long the conversation lasted, but that will take a little maneuvering. Also, there’s no guarantee that the person who owns the number is the one who answered the call.”

“It’s not a familiar number to me,” Kathy told her husband.

“What about Garth?” Mack said.

“It isn’t Garth’s number.”

“I don’t trust that guy,” Mack said. “He’s cocky. Lord only knows why.”

Kathy said, “He’s good-looking.”

“How could you say that?” Mack said. “Guy had about twenty pierces in his ears and that crazy soul patch. His hair looked like he stuck his hand in a light socket.”

“That’s the fashion, Mack. All the rock stars have hair like that.”

“He wasn’t particularly smart. He was always going to Vegas and never invited Adrianna. Lord only knows where he got the money for his excursions.”

Decker noticed Kathy’s cheeks reddening. He said, “What do you know about the money, Mrs. Blanc?”

Kathy looked up. “Pardon?”

“Had Adrianna ever loaned Garth any money?”

“What?” Mack stared at his wife. “Did she give that loser money?”

“She didn’t give it to him, she loaned it to him.”