Absolutely. When Lucinda and Georgeher first husbandwere dating, they agreed on everything about their future: where theyd live, how many kids, pets, and all of that. But something changed after marriage and George changed his mind about having kids. He decided he did not want any, but Lucinda stood firm. They fought over it for the better part of twelve years until it sort of became a poison to their marriage. She left him and when she did, I think she originally planned to go the sperm bank route and have a child and raise it on her own. But then she met Kel, and everything worked out. From what Lucinda had been telling me, she and Kel started trying for a kid almost right away.

That explains the prenatal vitamins, then, Rachel thought.

Any idea where the first husband is these days? Jack asked.

He moved to New York almost immediately after they separated. And my mind went there, too. Did George do it? But no…despite their constant arguing, George loved Lucinda very much…even at the end, I think.

You dont think jealousy of another husband might have driven him to it?

Jessi gave another of her non-committed shrugs and said, I suppose anything is possible, but Id find it very hard to believe.

And what about Kel? Rachel asked.

I dont know him well enough to judge. But I do know that Lucinda fell for him very fast. She seemed happywhich was great because shed been so miserable once she turned thirty-nine. She felt that shed wasted so many years and that her biological clock was nearing its end. She finally found some happiness and then…

She shook her head and Rachel could tell she was struggling with more emotion.

Its okay, Rachel said. Youve actually helped quite a bit and well leave you to your grief now.

Grief, she thought. If you told your family about the tumor, this is the sort of thing youd be causing them.

She felt selfish by even making the comparison, so she got up and headed for the door. Please, Mrs. Parker, let us know if you think of anything else.

I will, she said, but she was already starting to weep.

Rachel, not wanting to leave her there alone, waited until her husband poked his head out of the kitchen down the hallway before leaving. Jack followed and they headed to their car, ushered out by Jessis wails.

CHAPTER NINE

As Rachel drove away from the Parker home, Jack looked through the case notes and located the phone number of the first victims husband. Rachel listened to Jacks end of the short conversation. She was always amazed at how he was able to shift gears, to put the light-hearted and often goofy personality behind to turn on kindness and compassion when appropriate. It was almost like working with a robot sometimes.