“The casino always ultimately wins,” she said. “Everybody knows that. But there have been times that I’ve done okay. I just enjoy it. Maybe that’s what makes Leah angry. But, quite frankly, it’s not really Leah’s or anybody else’s business how I choose to spend my time or my money. I choose what makes me happy and I don’t need anybody’s approval.”

Elaine was now even more pissed off. They must have been some words.

Rena leaned forward, put her notebook and pen on the table. “You were arrested for child endangerment and illegal narcotics,” she said.

Elaine didn’t flinch. “Yes. I had a bad habit and I paid a price for my stupidity. Marijuana. Cocaine. Pills. I was a regular user. I was collateral damage, got caught up in a sweep that was focused on somebody else. But there were witnesses who testified that I’d done the drugs in my home, in front of my child. It was true. I never let her touch them but...that hardly matters, right?”

“No,” Rena said, her voice hard.

“I did my time,” Elaine said. “And it was the best thing that could have happened to me. I kicked the habit.”

“Leah knows?” A.L. asked.

“Of course. During my jail time, she was in the foster care system. Had to change schools. It was hard on her. Hard on both of us. But we made it through. Got past it. It was just Leah and me for a lot of years. She was in high school when I married Bert Broadstreet. He was a good man. Unfortunately, he died eight years later. Heart attack. This,” she said, waving her hand around her house, “is because of Bert. He had always been a good saver and quite frankly, I’m benefiting from that today.”

“Would you say that there’s lots of friction between you and your daughter?” A.L. asked.

Elaine shrugged. “I don’t know if it’s friction. It’s just lately she seems determined to find fault with me, to find fault with the things I do. To have others find fault with me.” She stopped. “Never mind. Now is certainly not the time to be dwelling on that.”

“Is your daughter’s marriage in good shape?” A.L. asked.

“Why would you ask me that?” Elaine responded, her tone sharp.

“Because I thought I detected a hint of...something,” A.L. said. “Something that told me that everything wasn’t exactly right.”

Elaine scratched her ear with her right index finger. “I’ve noticed that lately, too,” she said. “I haven’t asked. And Leah hasn’t volunteered any information.”

“You don’t have any reason to believe that either one of them is in any way responsible for Emma’s disappearance?” A.L. asked.

“Absolutely not,” she said. “They both love that little girl. With all their hearts.”