“It never occurs to her that other people have opinions different from her own,” Foster said. “She’s got all her people in her circle and she wants them to do what she wants them to do. Marissa was the exact opposite. She would go along with the program most of the time, but she’d put her foot down and say no every once in a while just to let Milo know she could.”

“Can you give us a ‘for instance’?” Hicks asked.

“Sure. For instance, Milo is very politically inclined. She and Bruce are big contributors to their party. She wanted Marissa to appear and participate in a fund-raiser for a candidate. She had Marissa’s dress chosen, the appointments made for the hairdresser, the whole thing. But Marissa didn’t share the same political views as the Bordains, and she refused to do it. Milo didn’t speak to her for two weeks.”

“Was that a difficult spot for Marissa to be in? Having to please her sponsor?” Mendez asked.

“Not within the bounds of reason. But Milo isn’t always reasonable. She’s spoiled. She wants things her way or she’ll pick up her Barbie dolls and go home.”

“What about Darren Bordain?” Hicks asked.

“What about him?”

“You’re friends.”

“Yes.”

“How did he feel toward Marissa?”

“They were pals. They liked to trade Milo war stories.”

“Did they ever seem like more than friends?” Mendez asked.

“No.”

“Did they ever seem like less than friends?”

Foster’s brow furrowed in confusion. “They were friends. I’m not sure what you’re fishing for.”

“Mrs. Bordain’s attachment to Marissa and Haley seemed almost familial,” Mendez said. “Maybe that made for an odd family dynamic. Maybe there was some jealousy.”

“Oh God, no.” Foster shook his head. “If anything, that made Marissa and Darren allies.”

“Is there any chance Darren could be Haley’s father?” Mendez asked bluntly.

Foster’s brows popped upward. “I don’t think so. I mean, you’d have to ask him, but I don’t think so.”

“Is there any chance you could be Haley’s father?” Hicks asked.

“No,” without emotion. “I don’t know who Haley’s father is. Marissa never brought it up. No one else saw a need to. It wasn’t important.”

“It might have been important to someone,” Mendez said. “It might have been important enough to kill for.”

The door opened and Dixon stuck his head in and crooked a finger at Mendez.

“What’s up?” Mendez asked, stepping into the hall and pulling the door closed behind him.

“I want you and Hicks at Mercy General. Search and Rescue found a woman out in the hills. It could be Gina Kemmer. It doesn’t look good.”

“Where did you find her?” Mendez asked.