Shaking her head, Susanna disputes Patsy’s theory. “No. She was really happy. She said she had a lot going on and that she had big plans. I figured she meant going to the University of Iowa or something, but our pizza was ready then, so I didn’t get a chance to ask her.”
I look up after writing my notes. “Did she say anything else?”
The two women look at each other, then back at me. “I don’t remember,” Patsy answers.
With a nod, Susanna has something, “She said she’d see us around.”
“Did you think she meant she’d see you in Ames?” I ask.
Shrugging, Susanna shakes her head. “No. I thought she meant around town, you know, in Stuart.”
I turn to Kat and Lindsay. “Neither of you saw Kara in Ames prior to her death?”
Both women shake their heads.
I expected that response. Scanning the group again, I hope to get a little more. “Can you all think of people Kara spent time with when she was in Ames prior to or around the time she had issues with Quinn?”
The room is quiet until Kat raises her hand like we’re in class.
“Yes?” I acknowledge her.
“She hung out with that guy Quinn liked.” Leaning forward, she looks at the rest of the women in the room. “Right?”
“Yeah,” Lindsay responds. “Quinn was sort of upset about that.”
Kat nods. “She was.”
“What was his name?” I ask.
Kat throws out, “It was something like Bradley.” She turns to the group. “Right, guys?”
“I thought it was something like Braxton,” Robbi adds.
I sigh inwardly. “Well, do you think you could find out for sure and call me?”
They all nod in unison. Well, not Bull. He’s sitting next to Robbi as stiff as a board.
“Can you think of anyone else?”
Again, in unison, they all shake their heads. Even Bull joins in this time.
Shutting my notebook, I stand. “Robbi and Bull, you two may need to come down to the station to talk to the rest of the team.”
“Sure.” It’s Bull who speaks for the pair.
Reaching into my breast pocket, I retrieve several of my cards. Placing them on the coffee table, I ask them to call me if they think of anything.
“We will.” Patsy says, smiling. “We want to help Tayler any way we can.”
“Thanks.” I make my way to the front door. Reaching for the knob, I turn and repeat, “Seriously.Anyinformation you think of, let me know. You’d be surprised what can help.”
“We will,” Patsy responds like she’s the spokesperson for the group.
I suppose she is.
Chapter Three
Gage
