“Gabrielle did wave back?” Val remembered what the missing person’s report documented.

“Well, as good as she could.” Jennifer laughed. “It was pretty blustery. She raised one hand up but she grabbed her hood with the other to hold it in place. I even yelled a joke about the crappy weather. I only remember because my own hood blew off right after that.”

“She wore a hood?” Val asked.

The door opened and a sandy-haired man entered. He stopped in the doorway, staring at the people sitting around his kitchen table. This must be Ron.

“Daddy!” Toby came running and jumped into the man’s arms.

“Hey, buddy,” the man said as he picked up his son.

“Ron.” Jennifer stood up. “This is Valentina Knight and Jack Styles. The ones I told you were coming tonight. They’re investigating what happened to Gabrielle, from next door.”

“What can we help you with?” Ron set Toby down and took off his coat. He wore a V-neck gray sweater with a work logo over a white button-down shirt, and navy slacks. He must have been around five foot eight or nine. He was the same height as his wife, but was spread out around the middle. Honestly, Val didn’t see Jennifer and Ron as a couple. She was attractive and he was… well, he was rather plain and stocky. Val immediately hated herself for having such a superficial, judgmental response to this poor man. Toby clung to his father’s side.

“We’re looking for any information that can help in determining the circumstances surrounding Gabrielle Morgan’s death,” Jack said. “So really, anything you tell us might be useful.”

“Toby, why don’t you go back to the living room, honey,” Jennifer said. He looked at his mother, hesitating, and then glanced at his father.

“Do what your mother says.” This time Toby obeyed, running off to watch his cartoons again.

Ron pulled out a chair and sat at the table, shrugging. “There’s nothing to tell. She was quiet and didn’t socialize much. We invited her over a few times but she never accepted the invitation. Finally, you get the hint and stop asking.”

“Did you have any idea she was a Morgan?” Jack asked.

“Oh God no!” Jennifer jumped forward, giddy by the fact. “Morgan is such a common name, but in Buffalo with that kind of Morgan… It was a shocker when we found out on the news that someone that rich was living right next door, wasn’t it, Ron?” Jennifer opened her eyes up wide. “You really don’t know who your neighbors are, do you?”

Val glanced over to get Ron’s reaction, he crossed his arms, frowning slightly. Val couldn’t help but feel that the news reports weren’t the first time he learned who his neighbor really was. Suddenly he changed his expression. Val sensed that he had caught her watching him.