“Mistakes are part of what makes us human.” Matthew kept his voice low. “Everyone makes mistakes.”
“I need to report the truth.”
“You once told me that the truth depends on whose shoes you’re wearing.” He watched her face, hoping she remembered the words she’d said so many times. But unlike three years ago, Ashley was pinning her entire career on this story. Any false reporting could ruin the reputation she was determined to earn.
Bonnie handed him a glass of juice. “Tomorrow we’re wearing Stephanie Welsh’s shoes.”
Matthew sipped the juice. “How are we going to do that?”
“I don’t know. Do you have any ideas?”
“My sister Sally can be the most secretive person I know. If I want to know what’s happening in her life, I ask her husband. Does Stephanie have a sister or friend that she spends a lot of time with?”
Ashley left her takeout on the table. “I think her sister lives close to Stephanie’s apartment.” She opened one of the folders that he recognized from the ranch. “Here it is…her sister’s name is Ann-Marie Dimitri. She lives a couple of blocks away from Stephanie.”
“If Ann-Marie cares about her sister, she won’t tell anyone what she knows,” Harry said.
Bonnie grinned. “True, but sometimes the most innocent question can spark an interesting answer. I wonder if Ann-Marie goes anywhere for coffee in the morning.”
“Maybe we could find out,” Ashley said slowly.
Harry rolled his eyes. “Not another stake-out. Last time I did one of those I was stuck with Bonnie for three hours.”
“Hey!” Bonnie said. “Who bought you jelly donuts?”
“You watch too many police shows on TV.”
“It didn’t stop you from eating them.”
Harry crossed his arms. “I was hungry.”
Matthew pulled out his cell phone. “I’ll call Jason. He might be able to find out if Ann-Marie has a car registered in her name.”
“Or her husband’s.” Ashley turned the folder around. “This is his name.”
Bonnie rubbed her hands together. “I’ll go on the Internet and find a map of the streets around her home. There must be somewhere we could sit to watch her apartment building. If she leaves, Harry could follow her in his SUV.”
“I can only help you until nine-thirty.”
Bonnie patted his arm. “That should be more than enough time.”
Matthew held his phone to his ear and waited for Jason to answer. If Stephanie’s sister was difficult to find he had another idea that might work.
The hardest part would be getting Ashley to agree.
