“True, but let’s consider alternatives. Was your mom dating anyone?”

Both girls shook their heads.

“No one?”

Ashley said, “The business kept her busy, she was always traveling.”

“So no steady boyfriend.”

“Uh-uh.”

“Did she ever speak of anyone hassling her?”

“Like a stalker?” said Ashley. “No.”

“What about a problem with someone related to business?”

Blank looks. Then Marissa shot a glance at her sister. Whatever message she was trying to convey didn’t get through. Ashley continued to look glazed. She slumped low and knuckled her eyes.

I said, “Something came to mind, Marissa?”

“No,” she said. In a soft voice, to Ashley: “Not even Phyllis, right?”

Ashley stared at her. “Phyllis? That’s crazy.”

The obvious next step was to ask who Phyllis was. Milo said, “Tell us about the hassle with Laura.”

“Stupid bitch Laura,” said Marissa. “We’re all going to the city, House of Blues, Chainsaw Waltz is playing, Laura’s like ‘I’ll drive.’ She’s a sucky driver, we should’ve known, but she had her father’s car finally and wanted to show it off.”

I said, “Nice wheels?”

“Bentley Speed? You think?”

Ashley said, “She hit a pole in her Audi the week before so it was in the shop and her dad finally let her use the Bentley. She’s like, ‘C’mon, they’ll valet us in front, we’ll get vipped all night, maybe get into those hidden private rooms they have there.’ So we’re like, ‘okay.’ Then instead of getting onto the 101 she takes some side streets because she wants to show off without highway patrol up her butt. So now she’s up to ninety and we’re like, ‘Stop, Bitch, this is stupid.’ And then a sheriff blue-lights her and we all have to do the Dewey test.”

“The Dewey test?” said Milo.

“Dewey,” said Marissa. “D-U-I? Walking like straight, touching our noses?”

Ashley said, “We passed but Laura didn’t, we didn’t know she had some beers before. So the sheriff fails her and then he says I’m gonna look inside the car and Laura’s like ‘Fine,’ doesn’t even ask for a warrant. Then he searches and finds a Baggie of weed in the glove compartment and Laura claims it’s her dad’s. Which could be possible, he’s like a music executive, got a ponytail. Then another sheriff car comes and we all get taken to the station and we call Mommy but she’s not answering her phone and Laura’s dad finally answers and he comes over and gets totally pissed when he finds out Laura tried to rat him out, tells the cops feel free to teach my daughter a lesson.”

“Cold,” said Marissa. “Usually, he’s mellow. Like friend-type dad.”

I said, “Doesn’t sound as if you guys had anything to worry about.”