Page 28

“Like I told Geneva. I want to talk to some of the other girls’ families. If there was anything going on between that friend group that Geneva’s not telling me, I need to know.”

“Well,” Dad said. “I have a little side door into the Oleson family. Lloyd represented one of the parents in a divorce. Let me call him. He can smooth the way. Feel them out about whether they’d be opposed to talking to you.”

“That’d be a big help. Good idea.”

“As for me,” Dad said. “Mac said Sidney sat for a television interview that never aired. I still have contacts in that space who might help. I’ll see if I can get the footage if it exists somewhere. It might be worth watching.”

“Another great idea.”

“What else? What are you thinking?” he asked.

“You said Sidney had surviving family?”

“A son, I think.”

“Good. I’m going to find him.”

“He might not want to cooperate. You might get a door slammed in your face.”

I rose from my chair. “That never stopped you before, did it?”

“No, it did not.” He had a twinkle in his eye I hadn’t seen for a very long time.

“Then it’s settled,” I said. “It’s time to go hunting.”

Chapter

Thirteen

Two things happened that I didn’t expect the next morning when I knocked on Grace Oleson’s door. First, the young woman who opened it looked so much like Annabelle that I staggered backward and nearly pitched myself off the front porch. Second, she slammed the door in my face.

“Ms. Oleson,” I called out, knocking again. “I just want a few minutes of your time. Let me at least explain why I’m here. Then you can kick me out.”

No response. This went on for five minutes.

I walked back to my car, but wasn’t yet willing to concede defeat. I sent a quick text to Dad.

Stone wall here at the Oleson’s house. Can’t even get her sister to open the door. Didn’t realize they were identical twins.

I waited a full minute, staring at Dad’s three gray blinking dots. Finally, his answer came through.

Sit tight. Sending Lloyd. Says he’ll be there in twenty.

I hadn’t meant to call for backup. Just moral support. But Lloyd had told Dad my showing up would be okay. What changed in the last twenty-four hours?

True to his word, Lloyd pulled in right behind me where I’d parked on the street. He wore his signature golf shirt and khaki pants. His stomach protruded over his leather belt. He ran his hand through a few errant strands of his wispy white hair as he walked up and climbed into the passenger seat.

“Your dad filled me in on the gist,” he said. “You sure you really wanna do this?”

“How deep was the gist?”

Lloyd took a deep breath. “Tom says Geneva Bell might have been hiding something about what happened the night Annabelle and the others were killed. Do you really believe that?”

“I need to know if they believe it. Since they won’t come to the door, I’ve got a pretty good hunch Dan Holland put the word out who’s paying my fee.”

“You and your dad sure do have a knack for drama and lost causes. Give me five minutes. Grace was completely fine with talking to you when I asked her yesterday.”

“It wasn’t Grace who slammed the door in my face.”