She managed a smile. “Thanks. You could sleep in Roberta’s room,” she offered.

“Only if there’s someone else in the house, too.” He pursed his lips. “I have an idea.” He pulled out his cell phone.

Carlie Blair walked in the door with her overnight bag and hugged Michelle close. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I know you and your stepmother didn’t get along, but it’s got to be a shock, to have it happen like that.”

“It was.” Michelle dashed away tears. “She apologized when she was dying. She said one other thing,” she added, frowning, as she turned to Gabriel. “She said don’t let Bert get away with it. You never told me what you thought that meant.”

Gabriel’s liquid black eyes narrowed. “Did she say anything else?”

She nodded slowly, recalling the odd statement. “She said he told her it wasn’t pure and he lied. What in the world did that mean?”

Gabriel was solemn. “That white powder in the vial was cocaine,” he explained. “Dealers usually cut it with something else, dilute it. But if it’s pure and a user doesn’t know, it can be lethal if they don’t adjust the dose.” He searched Michelle’s eyes. “I’m betting that Bert gave her pure cocaine and she didn’t know.”

Carlie was surprised. “Your stepmother was using drugs?” she asked her friend.

“That’s what they think,” Michelle replied. She turned back to Gabriel. “Did he know it was pure? Was he trying to kill her?”

“That’s something Zack will have to find out.”

“I thought he cared about her. In his way,” she faltered.

“He might have, even if it was only because she was a customer.”

Michelle bit her lower lip. “That would explain why she was so desperate for money. I did wonder, you know, because she didn’t buy new clothes or expensive cosmetics or things like she used to when Daddy was alive.” She frowned. “She never bought anything, but she never had any money and she was always desperate for more. Like when she tried to sell my father’s stamp collection.”

“It’s a very expensive habit,” Gabriel said quietly.

“But... Bert might have meant to kill her...?”

“It’s possible. Maybe she made threats, maybe she tried to quit or argued over the price. But, whether he meant to kill her or not, he’s going to find himself in a lot of hot water pretty soon.”

“Why?” Michelle asked curiously.

He grimaced. “I’m sorry. That’s all I can say. This is more complicated than it seems.”

She sighed. “Okay. I won’t pry. Keep your secrets.” She managed a smile. “But don’t you forget that I’m a reporter in training,” she added. “One day, I’ll have learned how to find out anything I want to know.” She grinned.

“Now you’re scaring me,” he teased.

“Good.”