“It’s hard to understand family dynamics,” said River.
“The bottom line is even if they were chilly toward me, they were always good to Elsie. I wasn’t about to cut them out just because of Sloane’s problems. I wanted her to have family in her life.”
“Sloane was pretty angry about you getting full custody?”
“Yes, he was furious.” She nodded. “She could have died that night in the car with him. He just didn’t want to take responsibility. This latest rehab was court ordered.”
“The first thing we need to do is check out their alibi. We don’t want to talk to the daughter they went to visit, she might clue them in that we are looking into their whereabouts when Elsie was taken. There are other ways to verify an alibi. I’ll give Eva a call when we get back to my house.”
While River drove across town, conflicting thoughts tumbled through Lydia’s head as she considered the revelation about the hat from every angle. Maybe it was just a generic white hat that Miles had seen? The man who had attacked her was strong. Norm was in decent shape, but he was in his late sixties. She couldn’t get past what good grandparents Norm and Sheryl were. The more she thought about it, the less it seemed like a possibility. She just couldn’t imagine them wanting her dead.
River’s voice broke through her racing thoughts. “We can swing by your house and pick up some clothes if you like.”
She nodded. “Let’s do that.”
River pulled up to her house, which looked dark and silent. “I wonder if a gas leak is something you could make happen on purpose?” The accident occurred right after Norm had been in the house alone.
“The timing is suspicious. I agree.” Trying to find Elsie had been so all-consuming, she hadn’t even called the insurance company to get the ball rolling on repairs. “I imagine there will be some kind of inspection so we will know for sure.”
She pushed opened the car door.
While she waited for him on the sidewalk, River let Frankie out of the car.
Frankie followed them up the walk and waited while Lydia unlocked the door. She stepped aside so River and Frankie could go in first. While River and his partner made sure no one was lurking in the house, she studied the damage to her kitchen. The stove, which had been blown away from the wall, was in pieces all over the kitchen floor. Part of the counter had been blackened by the blast and everywhere there were broken dishes. Other than a bad smell the rest of the house seemed undamaged.
River stepped into the living room. “All clear.”
Lydia hurried into her bedroom, pulled a bag from underneath the bed and tossed some clothes into it. She could hear River in the next room talking to Eva about checking into Norm and Sheryl’s alibi.
Lydia stepped into the hallway and stared at Elsie’s slightly ajar door. She hadn’t looked into the room since the kidnapping. She pushed the door open. The room was done in Elsie’s favorite colors, pink and green. Books about animals stood on her nightstand. Even though her marriage had already been in turmoil, the day Elsie was born had been the happiest of her life.
Come back to me, baby girl.
River stood on the threshold of the bedroom. “Do you need a minute more?”
She appreciated his consideration. “No, thank you, I’m good.” She grabbed Elsie’s favorite stuffed animal, a bear named Mr. Binkins, and a book she loved, placing them in the bag and zipping it up. She had to think positive. When, not if, they found Elsie, she would be afraid, and familiar things would be a comfort.
River reached his hand out to carry the bag for her. Once they were in the patrol car, he headed back toward his place. “I looked at where the explosion happened. Some of the wires were stripped. I’m not an expert, but that might have caused a spark that ignited the gas when it was turned on.”
A knot formed in her stomach. “Norm makes his living as a general contractor. I’m sure he knows something about that sort of thing.”
They had only gone a few blocks and made one turn when he slowed down.
“Something wrong?”
“I think we’re being followed. Don’t look behind you.”
Her heart beat a little faster. They were on a busy street with lots of box stores that had large parking lots. “Is it the tan SUV?”
“No. A white car, lower to the ground.”
Norm and Sheryl owned a dark gray newer SUV and a red compact car, but they could have borrowed a car from somewhere.
“I’m not going directly back to my house. Just in case. I don’t want to lead them right to the place that so far has been safe for you.”
She wondered if someone had been parked by her house and watching to see if she came back.
River did several quick turns then pulled into a furniture store parking lot that was filled with cars.
