Chapter 19 #2
“Yes, frankly.” She smoothed her skirt, then twisted the gold watch on her wrist. “I understand she didn’t come from much. A foster child, I believe. She was beautiful, and Tony enjoyed her friendship, but I think when she saw our home and our lifestyle, she thought she’d landed something big.”
“I see,” Vance said, nodding along as if we didn’t know she was spinning a story that was the opposite of what everyone else had said.
“I didn’t trust her,” Leslie stated, her voice flat. “And Tony didn’t, either. That’s why, as I said, things were never serious and why he ended the friendship long before her disappearance.”
She smiled and lifted her hands as if that were that. I wondered how many times she had practiced that speech before we came.
“I understand,” Vance said, giving her a warm smile. He seemed to have changed tack, moving from neutral to friendly. Odd, since she was lying to us. But maybe that’s how he worked. A “keep your enemies close” kind of thing.
Vance studied his notes, then looked back up at her. “Just a few more things. What can you tell me about the fight they had the night she was last seen?”
“Well, nothing, of course. I wasn’t there, obviously.”
“Obviously,” he agreed. “But you’re a good mother. You have a close relationship with your son. He listens to you. Respects you. I’m sure he confided in you.” He gave her a look of empathy.
I squeezed my toes in my boots to stop from rolling my eyes.
“I’m afraid not.” Her smile faltered. “But, if you’ll forgive me, I don’t understand why it even matters. She left on her own. Stormed off, being overly dramatic as always. He had nothing to do with it.”
“Oh, absolutely,” Vance agreed. “We’re just trying to figure out why she came here.
Wait a second. You said she liked to be dramatic.
Did she come to your house, trying to make trouble for you guys?
” He said it as if the idea had just occurred to him and he was truly worried for any trouble they might have gone through.
I knew he’d already planned the question ahead of time.
She shook her head. “No, thankfully. I don’t know why she came to Wildwood and I don’t care.
She was trouble, and while I’m sorry for whatever happened to her, I just hope my son won’t be dragged into any of this.
As I said, he wasn’t involved in her leaving, and all of his roommates will back him up on that. ”
“Yes, I’m aware. We’re just trying to get a better picture of her mental state that night. You never know what detail might be the key to breaking things open. The argument may have been almost meaningless to your son, but she might have said something in it that could give us a lead.”
“Hmmm. I see what you mean. So you’re saying he’s not a suspect?” Her eyes narrowed.
“As you said, she left on her own and he has a solid alibi for the night she was last seen. We also have evidence that she was alone when she was driving this way.” He gave her an encouraging smile.
He hadn’t directly answered her question about Tony being a suspect. Leslie didn’t seem to notice though. Her body sagged with relief before she pulled herself straight again.
“I wish I could help you more. He really didn’t tell me about the fight.” The look in her eyes made me believe her.
“That’s okay. Thank you for your time.” Vance stood, pulling a card out of his wallet and giving it to her. “If you think of anything else, call me. Day or night.”
“Of course,” she said, staring at the phone number like it was a prize. She looked up at him with a smile that was practically feline.
“By the way, you have a lovely home,” he commented, mirroring her smile.
“Oh, thank you.” She beamed, tucking her chic platinum bob behind one ear.
Then she slipped her arm into his as she began walking him out.
“You’re welcome anytime, of course. It must be awful being stuck so far away from home, living in a hotel room and investigating such terrible things.
If you need a home-cooked meal or a place to decompress, you just stop on by. ”
“I appreciate it.” He stopped to admire the view from a picture window. “You’re lucky to have such a great view of the Bighorns.”
“Oh, yes,” she agreed, nodding.
“This is my first time in the area,” he continued, his tone casual. “Makes me want to come back in the winter. I bet this is a fabulous place for winter sports. Skiing, snowmobiling…”
He trailed off, giving her a warm smile.
I bit my lip to hide my grin. I knew exactly what he was doing.
But Leslie was only focused on him. “You absolutely should come back in the winter,” she agreed, her eyes lighting up.
“If I do, will you take me snowmobiling? I’ve always wanted to try it.” He winked at her.
She laughed and trailed a finger up his bicep. “I’m afraid you’ll have to find someone else for that. I prefer indoor sports.” The look she gave him was full of meaning.
Gag me.
He chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
She kept her arm in his, brushing her body against him as they walked toward the front door together. Both of them seemed to forget I even existed.
Jealousy, fierce and furious, flared inside me. I was grateful their backs were to me so that I didn’t have to maintain my poker face for one more second.