“Oh no. It’s fine.” She couldn’t very well voice to this woman, this stranger, her greatest fear. That this career switch was a symptom of a bigger thing. That Gabe would suddenly decide he was in a marriage he didn’t hate, but why not shake it up for the hell of it? She couldn’t tell this woman that she was a little freaked out because he was growing his hair long and he’d started reading dystopian fiction. She’d sound like a nut. She pulled the door open. “I intend to visit with your sister, Maggie. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell her about our conversation.” She wanted Maggie’s own recollection of the evening and all conversations, not one that had been influenced by Patrice saying, here’s what I told her.

“Maggie is out of the country. Three weeks in France.”

Rena wanted to be Maggie. “When is she expected back?”

“Monday of next week.”

If they hadn’t found Emma Whitman by then, it was going to be pretty grim. “Thank you,” she said.

Rena walked to her car, started it and called A.L. She got his voice mail. She waited for the beep. “I have confirmation that there was conversation about Corrine Antler at the cookout that Alice Quest attended in July. Call me.” She hung up.

Sixteen

A.L. saw Rena’s call come in but let it go to voice mail.

He was in the process of dialing Devin Raine, Leah’s boss at the law firm who had failed to call him back after he’d left a second message late last night. If the guy didn’t answer this time, A.L. was going to be pissed.

It was answered on the second ring. Lucky for Mr. Raine.

“This is Devin,” he said.

“Mr. Raine, this is Detective McKittridge with the Baywood Police Department. I’ve left a couple messages.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry about that.”

“I’d like to have a minute of your time so that I could ask you some questions.”

“About?”

Mr. Raine was definitely an attorney. He wasn’t going to agree to anything until he had more information. “About Leah Whitman. I understand that you’re her supervising attorney at Bailey Shepherd.”

“I am. I would...uh...be happy to chat with you, Detective. I’d prefer to do it in person and I have to admit that I’m a bit rank right now. I’ve been part of the search team and it’s been a hot few hours. If you can give me time for a quick shower, I’d be happy to meet you at the coffee shop on the corner of White Avenue and Mercy Street.”

A.L. knew the place. A lot of cops stopped there for a cup of joe. “Fine. Shall we say forty-five minutes?”

“I’ll wear a blue shirt,” Devin said.