“Jennifer. Please call me Jennifer.” She smiled too and opened the door wide. “Come in.” Jennifer stepped aside, pulling the boy with her as Jack and Val entered. “Just leave your coats on the coat rack.” She pointed to the wooden structure already holding one too many parkas, and closed the door. “I still can’t believe what happened. It’s such a tragedy,” Jennifer said. The boy wiggled, trying to get free of his mother’s grasp. She held hard, smiling. “This little kiddo is my son, Toby.” She tousled the boy’s hair. “My husband, Ron, is still at work, he got held up, but should be home soon. I know you wanted to talk with him too.”

With her coat off, boots on a mat by the door, Val rubbed her hands together, warming them from the cold outside. “We can chat with you for now, if that’s okay.”

Jennifer nodded and led them all into the kitchen. Each took a seat around the table. Toby stuck to his mother’s side, trying to get on her lap. “Why don’t you go watch a cartoon, Toby. Mommy needs to talk with these people.” Toby finally did what his mother said and as soon as he was out of the room, Jack began.

“How long had Gabrielle lived next door?”

“She was here when we moved in, so at least a year.”

“Did you know her well?” Jack asked.

“Not as well as most next-door neighbors would know each other. She was pleasant but not outwardly friendly. We waved and said hello but that was about it. I invited her in for coffee once but she refused.” Jennifer shrugged. “I’ve never set foot in her house or she in mine. It’s a shame because I thought our kids could play together. Toby’s a little younger than Adam was but at this age range it doesn’t matter. It’s not until they get into their tweens that they care.” She let out a sigh. “Gabrielle tended to not let Adam out of her sight. It’s not healthy for a child to have such an overprotective parent.”

“Did you ever get a chance to talk to Adam without his mother around?” Val asked.

Jennifer shook her head. “Never.”

“What about Toby?” The little boy was in the next room, sitting on the couch, remote control in hand. Cartoon character voices, totally unfamiliar to Val, were singing in the background. “Did he ever talk to Adam?”

“A couple of times, when Gabrielle and I bumped into each other and chatted in the driveway.”

“How did she appear the morning she disappeared?” Jack asked.

“She seemed to be in a hurry, but she could have been moving fast because it was pretty cold that day. Adam had his head down and got into the passenger side. He didn’t look up when I yelled hello and waved.”