Since She Went Away(39)

“Because . . . I don’t know. Shit. Maybe one of those guys, her lovers, was following her.”

“Unlikely as far as we can tell,” Naomi said.

“Ian told me he even gave you a name, some business associate of his.”

Naomi took a moment to answer. “We’ve looked into everyone Celia or her family ever came into contact with. We’ve looked into every possible motive.”

“You didn’t really answer my question.”

“That’s true. I didn’t.” She reached up and scratched her forehead. “Some of these leads haven’t been completely closed. We’re keeping our options open.”

“Is there any news about Benny Ludlow?” she asked.

“I can’t say much about him either.”

“Of course.”

“But he’s denying he hurt Celia. Or Holly Crenshaw. We have to figure out where he was at the times these women disappeared. That’s tough to do with a guy who mostly lives and travels alone.”

“But it’s possible,” Jenna said, sounding like a kid wishing for a miracle snow day.

“He hasn’t been cleared,” Naomi said. “Like I said, we’re keeping our options open.”

The conversation seemed to have reached its natural end. Detective Poole rose from the chair and said, “I think I need to be heading home. Rosie and I were just about to watch Sherlock.”

“Rosie?”

“My cat.”

Jenna eyed the detective’s hand. She still wore the wedding band. “And your husband?”

Naomi held her hand up, looking at the ring as though she’d forgotten it was there. “Oh. He died two years ago. I still wear the ring.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Naomi said. “I’d have all these young guys chasing me if they thought I was single.”

Jenna walked the detective to the front door and retrieved her coat. Jared was out of sight, the door to his room closed once again. The backpack was out of the kitchen, so at least he was doing homework. Once the detective was zipped up, she turned to Jenna. “I’d tell you to try not to think about this too much, but I know you will.”

“I think you’re getting to know me too well.”

“It’s kind of the job. You know, you mentioned Ian and Celia’s daughter back there, Ursula. How is she doing?”

“I haven’t seen her either.”

“Good kid?” Naomi asked.

Jenna knew Naomi knew the answer to that question. She was a cop, investigating the disappearance of Ursula’s mother. If Naomi wanted to know something about the girl, she knew it. But Naomi clearly wanted to get Jenna’s opinion. Someone who’d known Ursula since the day she was born.

“She’s a smart girl,” Jenna said. “Popular. She’s become a little brattier over the last few years.”

“Teenagers do that.”

“Sure. But she has a tougher edge than most teenagers. She runs in a prominent crowd at school. Rich kids. Why do you ask?”

“You said you were worried about her. What did Ian say about her?”

“I asked him today. He said she’s doing her best.” Jenna remembered what a willful child Ursula was. Sweet most of the time, but also endlessly stubborn. When she and Jared played together as children, there was never any doubt as to who the leader would be in any game. It was always Ursula, not easygoing Jared. In her own mind, Jenna used to think how perfectly the girl was named. Ursula. The Bear. “I’m just remembering something.”

“What?”

Jenna paused for a moment as the memory crystallized in her mind. “She shoved Jared once. They must have been three or four and were playing some game together. Jared didn’t do things the way Ursula wanted. I guess he actually stood up to her and said no for a change, and she shoved him. Hard. He hit his head against the coffee table.”

Naomi cringed. “Ouch.”

“It was scary. I thought he was going to need stitches. You know how head wounds bleed. But it stopped eventually, and Ian and Celia fell all over themselves apologizing.”

“That makes me glad I only have cats,” Naomi said, her voice deadpan.

“She got into that fight at school right after Celia disappeared.”

“I remember that,” Naomi said. “Kids fight sometimes.”

“Ursula always had Ian wrapped around her little finger. God, I hate when girls do that.”

“Do what?” Naomi asked.

“That whole ‘I’m Daddy’s little girl’ thing. You know? Climbing into her dad’s lap? Acting like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth? Ursula always did that with Ian. I guess he went along with it because he wasn’t around as much. With everyone else, Ursula could be a challenge. I guess she’s more like her dad. Tough to read.”

“It looks like her mom was tough to read too,” Jenna said.





CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE


On Friday, Jenna came into the break room where the employees drank coffee or ate their lunches or retreated when patient demands and craziness grew too intense. When she entered the room, two of her coworkers were already in there, and the moment she stepped through the door, the conversation halted. Jenna knew they were talking about her.