And where is the husband?

Hes got a sister that lives in town. She came and took him away about the same time the body was removed. He was understandably a mess.

Any chance you think hes a suspect? Jack asked.

I never rule out a husband. He was a new husband, you know. The victim, thirty-nine-year-old Lucinda Masters, got divorced from her first husband not too long ago. She and her new husband, Kel, had only been married for four months.

Any other family been by? Rachel asked.

Lucindas sister was blowing up Kels phone earlier. She was pretty broken up, too. But no one has come by.

Thanks, Rachel said. I think well just have a look around for now.

Help yourself, Owen said, waving a gesturing hand at the house. Our initial scan of the place showed no signs of break in, no signs of a strugglenothing. We asked the husband if he could see where anything had been taken, but he was clearly not in any condition to give an accurate answer.

Rachel and Jack walked up the back deck stairs. The lighter Lucinda Masters had apparently used to light her cigarette was still on the deck rail. It was a passing thought, but Rachel wondered if she had come outside because they simply didnt smoke in the house, or if she was doing it in secrethiding it from her husband.

They stepped into the house and found exactly what Owen had insinuated. The place was very clean, the only clutter coming in the form of a few dirty dishes sitting in the sink, waiting for their place in the dishwasher. Rachel checked both living room windows, then the doors; there was no sign of forced entry. They then made their way into the bedrooms and bathrooms. There was nothing to be found there, either. Yet, as Rachel looked through the bathroom and opened up the drawers along the bottom of the double sinks, she found a bottle of One A Day prenatal vitamins.

The victim was thirty-nine, right? Rachel asked.

Right, Jack answered from outside the bathroom. Why?

She showed him the bottle of vitamins. I dont know if there are many women close to forty that regularly take prenatal vitamins.

Yeah, but its not impossible, right?

No, I guess not, she said, putting the vitamins back. You know, we can look inside all we want, but were not going to find anything. He attacked her outside. He just walked around house and waited. Thats the feeling Im getting anyway.

Waited or got there at just the right time, Jack said. Cant rule out that he knew shed be there, smoking.

Smoking and taking prenatal vitamins, Rachel said. Thats not an equation that really adds up, now is it?