“You don’t trust him?”

“It’s not that. I’m worried he’s conflating two separate events. I believe he saw two fellows digging a hole. What I question is the connection to Mary Claire’s disappearance. He says the dates line up, but that doesn’t count for much.”

“I guess time will tell. So what’s the other one?”

“The other what?”

“You said there was another issue up for grabs.”

“Oh, that.”

I leaned toward the empty chair where I’d placed my shoulder bag. I retrieved the still-sealed envelope and passed it across the table. “I don’t have the nerve to open it. I thought you could peek and tell me what it is.”

He put on his reading glasses and studied the front and back of the envelope in the same way I had. He slid a finger under the flap and lifted it, then removed a card with an overleaf of tissue. Inside, there was a smaller card with a matching envelope, so the recipient could RSVP. “Says, ‘The Parsonage. Groundbreaking and Dedication Ceremony, celebrating the removal of the Kinsey Family Homestead to its new location at . . .’ blah, blah, blah. May 28, 1988. I believe that’s the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Four P.M. Cocktails and dinner to follow at the country club. Very nice.”

He turned the invitation so it faced me and I could read it for myself. “Big family do,” he said. “Doesn’t say black tie optional, so that’s good news.” He picked up the smaller card with its stamped envelope. “They’d appreciate a reply by May 1. Couldn’t be easier. The envelope’s already stamped so that will save you return postage. Well, now, what do you think of that?”

“This is just not going to go away, is it?” I said. “Why do they keep harassing me? It’s like being nibbled to death by ducklings.”

He pulled his reading glasses down low on his nose and looked at me over the rims. “Two contacts a year isn’t ‘harassment.’ This is an invitation to a party. It’s not like someone put dog turds on the front seat of your car.”

“I barely know these people.”

“And you won’t if you keep avoiding them.”

Reluctantly, I said, “I’ve dealt with Tasha and she’s not so bad. And I’m fond of Aunt Susanna. She’s the one who gave me the photograph of my mother and then sent me the family album. I’ll admit I was touched by that. So here’s what worries me. Am I just being stubborn for the sake of it? What do they call that, ‘cutting off your nose to spite your face’? I mean, most families want to be close. I don’t. Does that make me wrong?”

“Not at all. You’re independent. You prefer being alone.”

“True, and I’m pretty sure that’s considered the opposite of mental health.”

“Why don’t you sleep on it and see how it looks in the morning.”

3

DEBORAH UNRUH

April 1963

Deborah Unruh hated the girl on sight. Her son Greg had dropped out of Berkeley in his sophomore year, claiming his academic courses were irrelevant. Since then, he’d hitchhiked across the country, calling home when his funds were low and he needed money wired to the nearest Western Union office. Deborah and Patrick had last seen him the previous fall, and now, without warning, he’d reappeared, driving a big yellow school bus with a girl named Shelly in tow.