Kiss the Girls and Make Them Cry(68)

“Did you get to know her?”

“I did. Lots of days we were the only ones around. She’d come over for coffee. I’d have coffee. Paula would bring her own stuff. I’m not stupid. I know she had a drinking problem. But beneath it all, she was really a sweet person.”

“I agree, and I’m surprised the police are treating her death as a suicide.”

“I heard that or read that, too. I’m really shocked.”

“Why is that?”

“I told you we talked a lot. She was really down after her and her boyfriend broke up and she lost a lot of money. I was really worried about her then. But the last time I spoke to her she sounded a lot more positive. I remember what she said. ‘I have a way to get back on track financially.’?”

“Did she tell you how she was going to do that?”

“No. She said something about getting tricked the first time, but now they were going to pay up.”

“Did she ever say who ‘they’ were?”

“No, she didn’t. Lots of times Paula just needed somebody to listen and not ask too many questions.”

“How did you find out she died?”

“I knew something wasn’t right. We would talk or see each other almost every day, and then nothing. I was pretty sure she’d have told me if she was taking a trip. Her car was in its usual parking spot. I felt funny about calling the police, so I phoned the building manager. They’re really nice. They came over and found her.”

“Besides you, was Paula friendly with anybody else in the building? Did she mention any friends?”

“None that I can recall. I’m pretty sure I was the only one she talked to here.”

The horseshoe-shaped path was now leading them back to the rear of the building.

Gina continued. “So you were really surprised when you heard Paula had taken her own life?”

“I was. Especially when I heard how she did it.”

“Why do you say that?”

“My husband’s from New Jersey. His mother freezes bagels from the store in their town and sends them to us. One day I offered one to Paula, who said no. She told me she almost choked on a bagel when she lived in New York. Somebody in the restaurant had to help her cough it up. After that she was afraid of any food that might make her choke.”

“So somebody who had a fear of choking—”

Abbey finished the sentence, “doesn’t seem like the kind of person who would hang herself.”

“After they found Paula, did the police ask the other tenants in the building any questions?”

“About what?”

“Did anybody see someone around the building who didn’t seem to belong here?”

“No, why would they?”

“It was just a thought. You’ve been very helpful. My contact information is on this card,” Gina said as she handed it to her. “If you remember anything else about Paula, please be in touch.”

“You don’t believe Paula killed herself. Am I right?”

“I’m not sure what to believe right now. I’m gathering information.”

Gina thanked her again, bent forward, and said goodbye to Scarlett.





76





Gina’s investigation into Paula Stephenson’s death had an eerily similar feel to her attempt to find out what really happened to Cathy Ryan in Aruba. She had identified anomalies—an experienced and careful Jet Skier’s panic leads to a fatal crash; a woman who is optimistic about getting her life together chooses to end it in a way that would make her experience one of her worst fears. Both had bad experiences at the same former employer who was trying to settle with them.…

“You idiot!” Gina said aloud as she stared out the window of the Uber that was taking her to the funeral home.

“Excuse me, ma’am,” the driver said, sounding somewhat annoyed.

“Sorry,” Gina apologized. “I was talking to myself.”

In her mind she had put Paula in the same boat with Cathy Ryan, former REL News employees contemplating settlements. Gina replayed in her mind what Abbey had shared with her. Paula was depressed after losing a lot of money and breaking up with her boyfriend. She saw a way to recover financially. She had been tricked, but now they were going to pay up. What if, similar to Meg, Paula had taken a settlement from REL. It made sense. Gina opened her iPhone to Zillow and put in the condominium’s address. Paula had purchased it a little over a year ago for $525,000. That’s a lot of money for a person in her early thirties, particularly for someone who’s not working.

As she had done with Meg, Gina would try to find out if there was any family money behind Paula. Cathy Ryan and Paula Stephenson may have had two things in common. Both were balking at REL News’s attempts to reach final settlements with them; both died while they were negotiating.

A soft ring announced the arrival of a text. It was from Wes Rigler. Healthy, 8-lb Ann Marie arrived at 9:00 this morning. Mom and baby doing fine. Been busy gathering info. When can we meet?

Gina texted her congratulations and that she was en route to the Smith Gardens Funeral Home for a one o’clock appointment. He responded immediately. Perfect. I’m 10 minutes away. Will meet you there.

Smith Gardens was a one-story, white-brick building with black shutters. A one-lane driveway leading to the front door cut across a well-manicured lawn. To the left of the structure was a large, mostly empty parking lot. As a result of a truck accident, what was supposed to be a ten-minute trip had taken closer to twenty. Not wanting to be late for her appointment, Gina hurried toward the door. She stopped when a white Ford Explorer pulled quickly into the parking lot.