Daisy Rittenberg moistens her lips and says, very slowly, “My husband, Jon, and I were invited to dinner at our friends’ place.”
“Who are your friends?”
She breaks eye contact, smooths her pants. “Vanessa North—she’s a pregnant friend of mine. And her husband, Haruto.”
“Are they good friends?”
She hesitates. “I...met Vanessa in August at a prenatal yoga class.” Her eyes begin to water. “Like I said, she was also pregnant.”
“Was? As in past tense? Did something happen?”
“I—no, I mean, sheispregnant. I’d only met Haruto once before. Jon had yet to meet either of them. We picked up the flowers and the pie on the way over.”
“Can you explain why you dropped the flowers and pie outside the front door?”
Without hesitation she says, “I got a bad cramp. I thought I was going into labor or something. It spooked me. I dropped what I was holding to grab hold of my belly.”
Mal inhales slowly. “And how was dinner with your friends?”
“We didn’t actually stay. Because of my cramps we went straight home. Jon was worried I might need to see my doctor.”
“And how did the Norths seem last night?”
“Fine.”
“Have you spoken to them since?”
“No.”
“So your friends didn’t call to find out how you are after the cramps?”
She says nothing.
“Mrs.Rittenberg, was anyone else apart from Vanessa and Haruto North at the Glass House that evening?”
“I didn’t see anyone else.”
“Did you see any other car parked outside?”
She pales. Her breathing quickens. She glances again at the french doors.
Mal shifts tack. “Your home—it’s named Rose Cottage, right?”
“What does my house have to do with this?”
“Who cleans Rose Cottage, Mrs.Rittenberg?” Mal asks.
“I don’t see what relevance th—”
“We can do this at the station, ma’am,” Benoit says. “Or you can help us here.”
Daisy Rittenberg’s mouth flattens. When she speaks again, her voice is tight and thin. “We have a cleaning service. Holly’s Help. The service started three days after we moved into the house in July.”
“Do you know the name of the specific individual who cleans your home?”
“No.” Her answer is quick. Firm. Too quick.
Mal nods slowly. “Did you notice a yellow Subaru with the Holly’s Help logo parked outside the Norths’ residence when you and your husband arrived in the Audi?”
