Chapters (97)
- Cover
- Back Cover Text
- Praise
- Booklist
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Sixty-Five
- Sixty-Six
- Sixty-Seven
- Sixty-Eight
- Sixty-Nine
- Seventy
- Seventy-One
- Seventy-Two
- Seventy-Three
- Seventy-Four
- Seventy-Five
- Seventy-Six
- Seventy-Seven
- Seventy-Eight
- Seventy-Nine
- Eighty
- Eighty-One
- Eighty-Two
- Eighty-Three
- Eighty-Four
- Eighty-Five
- Eighty-Six
- Eighty-Seven
- Eighty-Eight
- Eighty-Nine
- Acknowledgments & A Personal Note
- Excerpt
When they reached the Klassyns’ duplex, Sloan’s phone rang as she parked out front. She answered. It was Frank Cullen, sounding like he was in a moving car. Sloan put the call on speaker for Jurek’s benefit.
“Frank, I’m here on speaker with Bill.”
“Yeah, Lou, we spoke with Torrie Tullock and we’re on our way back.”
“Did she tell you anything?”
“Nothing, but it was weird,” Cullen said. “She gave us this sketch, maybe a self-portrait, maybe not. It was strange. The only thing she asked is if we knew who killed her family.”
“Did you confirm her whereabouts at the time it happened?” Sloan asked.
“We did. The director said Torrie hasn’t left the facility in the last two weeks, and can’t leave without an escort. I think we can cross her off.”
Sloan turned to Jurek for any other questions and he shook his head.
“Okay, Frank,” Sloan said. “Thanks for the update.”
Sloan made note of the call and got her bag. Jurek collected his zippered notebook, then they walked past Marlene’s parked car and knocked on the Klassyns’ front door.
Marlene Klassyn’s face was creased with worry. Her hair, tied back into a neat ponytail, exposed the anguish she carried.
“I’m sorry. I’m a wreck. This is so horrible for both of us,” she said after letting the investigators in. “I’ve got coffee, if you’d like some.”
“Thank you for agreeing to see us,” Sloan said. “Coffee would be fine.”
Noticing shoes on a mat by the door, the officers began removing theirs.
“Please don’t worry about your shoes,” Marlene said.
Sloan glanced at Oxfords and sneakers there, before Marlene led them into the kitchen. Taking seats at the table, they saw Janie in the living room, on the couch, hugging a pillow, her chin buried in it as she consoled herself.
“Do you have any idea who would do this and why?” Marlene asked after setting mugs of coffee on the table then milk, sugar and spoons as if they were customers.
“We’re working on it.” Jurek fixed his coffee.
“We should get started,” Sloan said, opening her notebook.
“I understand.” Marlene sat at the table with them.
“How many people reside here?”
“Just me and Janie live here.”
“And you’re a server at the restaurant in the Eternity Country Club?”
“Assistant manager is my title, yes.”
Sloan turned to Janie. “And you babysat for the Tullock family?”
Janie nodded into the pillow.
“Marlene, can you think of anyone who would want to harm any member of the Tullock family?”