Kate’s ankle was still swollen despite lots of icing and ibuprofen, and her arm was black and blue. Her head throbbed from the deep cut in the back, which surprisingly hadn’t needed stiches. She’d been sure that her ankle wasn’t broken, but to be safe her father had taken her to the hospital for a once-over and an X-ray. But besides the physical effects, she still felt shaken. Had it really been an accident, or had Simon had a hand in her horse being spooked? She was being overly paranoid, she told herself. Things like this happened all the time. Even if he had released the plastic bag, it could have easily fallen right to the ground or even spooked Simon’s horse. She needed to get ahold of herself.

“Dr. English?”

Kate looked up at Detective Anderson, who was sitting across from her in the living room, a pen poised over the pocket-size notebook in which he always seemed to be scribbling.

“I’m sorry. What did you say?” She was having difficulty concentrating.

Anderson looked hard at her. “How did you get that bruise?” He pointed to her cheek.

Her hand went reflexively to it. “I fell from my horse yesterday. I’m fine.”

He wrote something down and then asked, “Is your husband at home?”

“No. Simon had a business dinner tonight and said he wouldn’t be home until later.”

“I wanted to speak to you because some new information has come to light.” He paused, and Kate waited for him to continue.

“Tell me. Did your parents argue a lot?”

That was the last thing she’d expected him to ask. “No. Occasionally, but I wouldn’t say a lot.”

“Were the fights heated?” he asked in a dispassionate tone.

“I don’t understand what you’re getting at. Certainly, they had minor disagreements now and then. But they didn’t have shouting matches, if that’s what you’re implying.” She was starting to get annoyed. Didn’t he say he had information, not more questions for her?

He looked up from what he was writing. “I’m not implying anything, Dr. English. I’m just asking.”

It didn’t feel to her like he was just asking, but she took a deep breath and reined in her frustration. “Okay, fair enough.”

“Did you know that your mother and father did, in fact, have a very serious argument a few days before she died?”

“No.” She was a little surprised, but this didn’t seem like earth-shattering news. People had conflicts when they shared their lives. “What does this have to do with the information that you have for me?”

“Your parents’ cleaning lady called us. Apparently, she’s been conflicted about whether to come forward or not.”