“There is no problem,” said Jerram trying again for the refrigerator door. He yanked out a can of juice. But Mom wasn’t paying attention. She was nervously folding and unfolding a dish towel, and it was obvious that she was not so much angry as just plain upset.

“Both of you can stop treating me like a baby,” she said. “Why can’t you tell your own mother what you tell the police?”

“We have,” Rose said.

“Don’t lie, Rose.”

“I’m not lying.”

“Then why did Silver Henning phone to tell me that they have a lead on that blue Dodge? What blue Dodge? What do you think you’re playing at?”

“What did the police find out?” Jerram and Rose blurted out together.

“You answer my question first, please.”

“Rose just saw some car that looked suspicious,” Jerram said offhandedly.

“The car she saw when we bought the tree? The man she said knew your father? Don’t treat me like an idiot. Somehow Rose has come into contact with this maniac killer, and you’re both acting as if this were some TV show. Well, let me tell you this is not television, you two are not detectives, and this man is dangerous.”

“We know he’s dangerous, Mom,” Jerram said.

“Do you?” She looked at Rose. “You especially are behaving like a silly little girl. You think you have some kind of power that’s going to make you immune?” Rose had never seen her mother so coldly and intently furious.

“You’re just as vulnerable as Nancy and Cynthia and the rest. You’re nothing special, Rose,” Mom screamed. “You’re just an ordinary human being!”

She stopped and took a breath, then got herself a glass of water at the sink.

“But Rose isn’t ordinary — ” Jerram began to say.

“She isl Both of you are ordinary. You’re just kids, naive kids who — ” There was a rapping at the kitchen door. “God, who’s that?” Mom said more quietly.

Jerram took a look. “It’s Barney. Should I let her in?”

“Tell her to go to hell,” Mom said. She slammed the glass of water down on the counter and stomped out of the kitchen. Jerram and Rose just stared at her back, stunned. The rapping continued.

“We’d better do something,” Rose said.

“Hi, there,” Barney said when Jerram opened the door. Her nose was twitching with the scent of gossip. “Just thought I’d say hello, see how you all are doing.”

She tried to take a step inside but he blocked her way. “We’re fine.”

“Oh? That’s good, then. Having a nice vacation?”

“It just started, Mrs. Barnes.”

“Yes, that’s right.” Her eyes darted around the kitchen. “Your mother home?”

“She’s busy right now.”