I’d gone to the link first, of course, who doesn’t go right to the website first these days? “The page had an error.”

She mutters and sighs and grumbles. “I’ll mail it to you. What’s the name and address?”

I give it to her and wait for a gasp of recognition. We’ve been all over the news for the past week. She simply repeats the number and street name. Asks me if there’s anything else she can do for me in a tone that indicates she hopes I say no. She disconnects the call almost before I’m finished answering.

The floor creaks overhead. Eli’s been doing school from home, taking advantage of protocols that were put in place during the pandemic, so at least he’s not going to fall behind in class.

Through the window over my sink, I see a bunch of people in coveralls mingling around the dug-up portion of my lawn. Some have shovels. One has a clipboard. Before I have the chance to go out and ask them what the hell they’re doing now, my front doorbell rings.

“Can I come in?” Detective Anderson doesn’t try to push or look past me this time. She looks me in the face, her expression solemn.

I let her in and take her to the kitchen. “Coffee?”

“Sure. The men in the backyard are there to begin an investigative excavation. I have the paperwork.”

I pour us both mugs of coffee. I spot Detective Phipps in the back, overseeing the people using stakes and rope to mark off sections of the yard. I give Anderson her mug and take a seat at the table.

“You think you’re going to find other bodies.”

She sits, too. “We have to check. Do you have someplace you can go while this is going on? It could be unpleasant. At the very least, it’s going to affect your septic tank. You won’t be able to use the plumbing at all.”

“Fuck.”

She looks startled for a second, then grins. “Ah, there it is. I was hoping I’d get to see the real Jewelann Jordan.”

“Whatever that means.” I wrap my hands around the mug. “How long will we need to be gone?”

“I don’t know. It depends on what they find, if anything. And how long it takes to get the city in here to hook you up to the main line. You are going to have that done, aren’t you?”

“Apparently, there’s a hardship grant I can apply for. I definitely think we qualify, don’t we? I don’t know how I’ll pay for a hotel room for more than a few nights, though.”

“Do you have anyone you can stay with?”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Jonathan and Eve might take us in. Maybe Lisa.

She studies me. “I have other news.”

“You’ve found him.” I wait to feel something. Fear. Anger. Anxiety. Sorrow. I’m a blank slate. Numb.

“He was arrested in a town outside of Chicago yesterday afternoon. We got a tip from someone who says he was caught trying to talk to her son outside of the library, where he was waiting to get picked up. Fortunately, the kid ran inside and was able to give the police there a good description of the car. They found Ken in a motel a few miles away.”