It would have been amazing if it were true. Will Alec was husband number one. David Anthony’s grandfather was husband number two, Philip Nachman. Oh, well. They were both nice men.

On the way home, after we had spoken to Debbie and told her how wonderful the baby was, I tried to figure out what kin David Anthony would be to Haley’s and Philip’s baby when (cross your fingers) they had one. Debbie and Haley were first cousins on our side; Debbie and Philip were first cousins on their fathers’ side. Third cousins once removed? Double third cousins? Jet lag kicked in and I was sound asleep and drooling when Fred pulled into our driveway.

“Let’s call Haley,” he said as we walked into the house.

I glanced at the wall clock. “It’s five or six o’clock in the morning over there.”

“Wake her up with the good news.”

But she was awake.

“We already know,” she exclaimed. “Aunt Sister’s already called. Tell Debbie and Henry that we’re toasting the baby with mimosas. More champagne than orange juice. Does he look like the twins?”

“He has a lot of black hair and he’s not smushed like some babies.”

We talked for a half hour. Thank God for Alexander Graham Bell and satellites. And credit cards.

Chapter Nine

Chapter
Nine

“Mrs. Hollowell?”

“Yes?” I didn’t recognize the woman’s voice.

“Is this the Mrs. Hollowell who was at Chandler Mountain yesterday?”

I set my coffee cup down so suddenly that coffee sloshed into the saucer and Muffin jumped off the kitchen table. Someone had found Virginia’s body.

“Yes.” I held my breath.

“Mrs. Hollowell, this is Betsy Mahall. We met yesterday at the Jesus Is Our Life and Heaven Hereafter church.”

The girl with the flowers. The murdered girl’s sister.

“Betsy, don’t tell me something else has happened.”

“Oh, no ma’am. Did I scare you? I’m sorry.”

“I just thought for a minute that you might be calling about my cousin’s wife. She’s still missing.”

“That’s what I heard.” There was a pause. I could hear children arguing in the background. “Just a minute, Mrs. Hollowell. Jamie, give Ethan back his Cookie Monster. Go get one of your own toys.” A pause. “Right now, Jamie. I mean it.” And then, “I’m sorry, Mrs. Hollowell. They know something is wrong, and all they’re doing is squabbling.

“No, nothing else has happened, thank God. What I called about was to see if we could meet somewhere today. There were some things I didn’t get to ask you yesterday about my sister. Some important things. And, also, I’ve got information that might help with your cousin.”

“Information about Virginia? You can’t tell me on the phone?”