“Not a damn thing. Actually, it’s slower than slow. Spring is usually a busy time with divorces, according to my colleagues, but since I don’t handle divorce cases anymore, that’s it on news from the legal front. You know, on to bigger and better things, but this year it’s been quiet. I think Andy and Jill are going to patch it up. I have a dog bite case pending and one with Harriet Barclay, who says she got poisoned by some green beans she bought at the Giant. I could write a book in my spare time.”

“Larry Denville went up to Vermont yesterday to see Cady’s parents,” Boomer said quietly.

“No shit! Why?”

“He said you have to start at the beginning. I guess he thinks Cady’s parents are the beginning. In my opinion, the four of us are the beginning. But then, he doesn’t know that. At least I don’t think he does. He might suspect it, but he isn’t sure,” Boomer said.

“He’s an honest reporter. I like him,” Pete said. “I just can’t imagine what he thinks they can tell him that wasn’t in the papers. Hell, they took off like scalded cats right after the accident. They both gave statements and had witnesses verify they were where they said they were. That kind of thing. If they have any secrets, they sure as hell aren’t going to part with them to some reporter. They were both pretty tight-lipped as I recall. The only time the father opened his mouth was to spout that fire and brimstone stuff. The mother was afraid of her own shadow and never opened her mouth at all.”

“Here’s Andy,” Boomer said. “Coffee’s hot. Help yourself. Is Amy coming?”

“Yeah. She was parking her car as I was getting out of mine.”

It was obvious to the others that Amy had taken some pains with her makeup and hair. She looked like most of the other women in the restaurant, chubby and matronly. Until you looked into her eyes. Boomer felt a prickle of apprehension. She slid into the booth next to him. She smelled powdery and sweet. He watched out of the corner of his eye as she leaned back in the booth and folded her hands.

Pete poured her a cup of coffee. She nodded her thanks.

“Now that we’re all here, let’s get to it,” Boomer said. He looked around as though he expected either a dissenting remark or someone was going to get up and leave. No one said a word.

Boomer took a deep breath. “Yesterday, a call came into my office from one of my men. He said he saw Cady Jordan up in the tree at the pond. The one where you guys built the tree house. I’m sure you all know someone cut down all the weeds and took away the No Trespassing signs. They’re back up now, however.”

“Was she issued a ticket for trespassing?” Amy snapped.

“As a matter of fact, yes. I went to the pond myself, and there she was up in the tree. She remembered parts of that day. She knows you were all there. She even remembers what you were wearing and what she was wearing. She can remember all of you pitching the rocks and yelling and screaming.”