“There’s a phone call for you. It’s important.”

“Who is it?”

“Just come in, please,” Jody ordered, then went back inside.

“Excuse me, ladies,” Edna said. “I’ll be right back.”

Regan and Nora looked at each other, then followed Edna up the steps into the house.

“Who is it?” Edna asked Jody, who was waiting in the vestibule.

“I didn’t want to shout so everyone would hear,” Jody said quietly, her hand covering the mouthpiece of the wireless phone. “It’s Cleo Paradise’s mother.”

“Oh my!” Edna exclaimed, feeling a slight pang of guilt. She thought of how Karen wanted to make sure no one went anywhere near her things with a ten-foot pole. Did Cleo Paradise’s mother get wind of the sale? She might be upset for her daughter. “Regan,” Edna whispered. “Would you be a dear and talk to her for me? If it’s really important, let me know.” She dashed back outside without waiting for a response.

Regan took the receiver from Jody, then motioned to Nora to follow her. Earlier, Regan noticed a laundry room off the kitchen where they could have privacy. “Hello.”

“Edna Frawley?” a woman asked. She sounded far away.

God no! Regan thought. “Actually, I’m a friend of Mrs. Frawley’s. She’s tied up at the moment. My name is Regan Reilly. May I help you?” She and Nora reached the laundry room and stepped inside. Regan closed the door and turned the receiver outward so Nora could lean in and listen to the conversation.

“This is Yaya Paradise. I’m Cleo’s mother. Her father and I are on holiday in Ukraine. The woman who answered the phone told me Cleo isn’t there. She was quite abrupt and said she was running an estate sale.”

“That woman is running a sale for Mrs. Frawley today,” Regan explained, remembering reading that Cleo’s parents traveled around the world. “She is busy, but I’m sorry if she seemed rude. As for your daughter, Cleo moved out of here last week.”

“Last week? I thought she was extending her stay until her friend Daisy could meet up with her,” Yaya said anxiously. “Where did she go?”

“She left a note saying she was off to do a movie.”

“Why wouldn’t she tell us in an e-mail? Or call us with that kind of news? I couldn’t reach Cleo on her cell phone. I’ll try and get in touch with Daisy. They were planning to drive back to California together …”

I have to tell her, Regan thought. If Daisy tells her that she also spoke to me, Mrs. Paradise will think I’m trying to cover up something. And I’m concerned myself. “Mrs. Paradise,” Regan said, “Daisy called a little while ago. She doesn’t know where Cleo is, either.”

“What?” Yaya asked, clearly alarmed. “Daisy doesn’t know where Cleo is?”