“I’m thinking just the opposite. If Baer stabbed her at Elsie’s, why isn’t there more blood?” Decker said. “Maybe he stabbed her on the way back. Somehow she made it to Elsie’s and she bled out.”

“Or maybe they took the argument back to Elsie’s house and that’s where he did it. Or maybe he had nothing to do with it.”

“You’re absolutely right.” Decker finished his bagel in five bites. “Any of those things might have happened. But we’ve established a link between Pauline and Baer. Let’s just hunt around a little more.”

Sandra was back. “Another bagel?”

“Yeah, actually, that would be great.”

“And you, sir?” Looking at McAdams.

“I’m fine, thanks.”

She left, and Decker said, “Never made sense to me, that whatever happened in Elsie’s house was an accident. There was no attempt to take Pauline to a hospital.”

McAdams said, “If we’re thinking about Brock Baer as the bad guy, then why would we think Bertram was involved at all?”

Decker said, “Maybe he wasn’t involved in the murder. But maybe after Pauline was killed, Elsie panicked and enlisted Bertram’s help to escape to Germany.”

“If Baer killed Pauline,” McAdams said, “why didn’t he kill Elsie also?”

“Maybe she got away before he could do it. She fled, and when she thought she was safe, she called Bertram and asked him for help.”

“How would this go down?” McAdams asked. “Baer comes to Elsie’s house with Pauline, whom he just stabbed. Elsie panics and jumps in her car and flees? And he doesn’t go after her?”

“Maybe Baer didn’t have a car.”

McAdams said, “Why would Baer go back to Elsie’s house with Pauline if he had just stabbed her?”

Decker thought a moment. “Maybe he dumped her outside, and Elsie found her and took her into the house. What if Pauline died a few minutes later, and Elsie panicked and fled?”

“Instead of calling 911?” McAdams made a face. “The only reason Elsie wouldn’t call 911 was if she was involved.”

“Or if Baer scared her,” Decker said. “Maybe he kidnapped her and forced her to help him bury her.”

“If Baer forced Elsie to help him bury Pauline, they’d need a car. Elsie’s car has been gone over forensically. No blood was found.”

“Then we’re back to Pauline’s car,” Decker said. “We know from witnesses that they were arguing in the bars. What if they continued the argument while they were driving back to Elsie’s house?”

“Who was driving?”