“Eavesdropping?” he asked.
“No. I just caught that last part as I came through. Your new assignment? When do you leave.”
“I don’t. I was asking for some time off so I can stay here with you if that’s okay?”
A big smile spread across her face. “I say that is more than okay. Maybe I can take some real vacation time from the paper.”
“Do you really think that Sheraton can spare his star reporter?” he teased.
“He better. Or I’ll tell him I’m moving to Bethesda with you,” she said.
“Now that’s an idea. The paper there is bigger, and with your credentials, I bet you could land a job there easily.”
There was a knock at the door and Grimm went to answer it. A man and woman stood there. The woman had been crying.
“Is Quinn here?” the woman asked.
“Trish?” Quinn said, coming to the door. “I’m so sorry I didn’t call last night before you had to see the headlines this morning.”
“Is it true? Did she really do it?” Trenton asked.
Quinn nodded. “Won’t you both come in? We’re still trying to get all the details from the police, but Grimm and I were in the observation room when FBI Agent Street was interrogating the Beamers, and it all came out.”
“Would you like some coffee?” Grimm asked. “I can go put a pot on.”
“Sure,” Trenton said.
“Do you know why?” Trish asked.
“No. Her attorney made her stop talking, but Street had the evidence of the jewelry. Which I told you I had already seen photos of when we last spoke because Everette Wills had sent me those. I believe Candace found out and that is why she killed him. Of course, I couldn’t say that in my article because the police are still investigating. And she hadn’t admitted to doing it even though they were charging her with his death because of the knife they’d found having his DNA on it.”
“Barbie is dead?” Trish said. “I can finally say it and know for certain that my sister is dead after two years of wondering.”
“It looks that way.”
Trish began to tremble and cry, but it didn’t last long. Quinn handed her a tissue box. And Trish dried what tears were there. “I’ve cried so much this morning since seeing the paper. I have no more I guess. Frankly, I’m relieved it’s finally over. Now I’m angry. Angry that woman has been parading herself around town in her Gucci sunglasses and driving her SUV with that personalized license plate taking up two parking spots wherever she parks like she owns this town.”
“I’m sure she felt entitled by her family status,” Trenton said. “Has there been any word on whether they’ve found Barbie or Sandy Cranston? I heard they discovered the body of Heather Randall.”
“Not that I’ve heard,” Quinn said. “And yes, they did find her remains.”
Grimm returned with a tray containing coffee mugs, cream, sugar, and a fresh pot of coffee. He set it on the coffee table and then poured coffee for everyone, handing their guests each a cup before Quinn. He sat in the vacant chair.
“Her poor parents. At least they didn’t have to wait in agony as long as we or the Cranston’s did,” Trish said. “Have you been in touch with them? Do they know yet?”
“I haven’t. I need to reach out to Anna and Lee,” Quinn said.
“Do it. Don’t let us keep you from it,” Trish urged.
Quinn got up, walked out of the living room for privacy, and scrolled through the numbers on her phone to find the Cranston’s before she pressed send. The call was picked up almost immediately.
“Anna, it’s Quinn.”
“Quinn! Have you heard? They found her. They found my daughter’s remains this morning. Her wallet was buried with her as if the person who did it wanted her to be identified easily.”
Was she hearing right? The news was almost unreal.
Two found. One to go.
