“We have to thank you for this lovely afternoon and delicious lunch.” Val and Gwen stood. “I hate to ask this but from what you knew of Gabrielle, could she have killed herself and her son?”

“I’m afraid I didn’t know her very well at the end. We lost contact some time ago,” Bethany said.

“Same with me,” Melinda added.

“When was the last time either of you saw Gabrielle before she died?”

“Saw her?” Bethany thought for a second. “After she met Perry the musician, but before she married him. In fact, she wasn’t even engaged then. So, I’d say at least a couple of years. We bumped into each other at Starbucks and did the obligatory two minute catch-up for the last two years of your life as each of us held a cup of to-go coffee.”

Melinda laughed. “God, it’s way longer than that for me.”

“Bethany, weren’t you Gabrielle’s emergency contact for Adam?” Val asked.

“I was, yes.” Bethany emphasized the was and offered nothing further.

“What caused the estrangement between you? I mean you were childhood friends,” Val said.

“Val, not all friendships last forever,” Bethany said plainly.

Bullshit, Val thought. These girls have been pretending to not know each other as much as they currently do. They’re also hiding the truth of something that happened fifteen years ago. Jesus, it seemed like they were hanging out together now not because they wanted to, but because they had to. Something brought them back together.

17

Val was making lasagna. Jack leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. “I wish you’d let me help you more. I know how to stay invisible and out of the radar of Detective Gavin and subsequently, Dr. Maddox.”

Val couldn’t risk having Jack do much more with this case. That was clear. Her job could be on the line if anyone found out he was involved with it, and as such Jack had to sit on the sidelines. He helped, but now as quietly as he could. “Have a seat in the living room and once I get this in the oven, Gwen and I will tell you about Gabrielle’s two best friends.”

“Deal. That lasagna looks fantastic.” Jack grabbed three glasses and a bottle of Chianti. “I’ll get this opened,” he said holding up the bottle.

Val finished alternating the wide flat pasta, a layer of ricotta cheese, mozzarella and ground beef, spooning on tomato sauce and then repeating. Once the dish was assembled, she slipped the pan into the oven and joined the group.

Jack and Gwen sat around her coffee table, the police report from the day the twins were discovered in the pool before them. Jack had opened the Chianti and poured three glasses. After clanking the glasses Val took a healthy swallow.