Chapter Forty-Six
Present Day
Pulling up in front of the Greene house, Midge finds a second car parked in the driveway. It’s too soon for Andrew Greene to have driven all the way back from Georgia. It must be one of the friends Renee mentioned, here to support Sarah’s mom.
A tall, thin brunette with a tired-looking face opens the door almost immediately. Midge recognizes her from their school days—she used to be Virginia Shade, now Ginny Livingston.
“Midge!” She steps outside and pulls the door nearly closed behind her, keeping her hand on the knob as she asks in a low voice, “Did something happen? Did you find Sarah?”
“Not yet. Is her mom here?”
“She’s upstairs sleeping. Poor thing. We were up all night, and I want her to get some rest. I’m afraid she’s going to need her strength, because this whole thing is reminding me of when Caroline went missing.
I’m sure it must bring back difficult memories for you too. I remember how close you were to her.”
Midge nods.
“I was behind you at school, but I got to know her through church. I always looked up to her. She was the sweetest girl, and so cute, the way she was with Gordy. I thought they were the perfect couple.” Ginny sighs.
“And now he’s gone too. But you know that.
I remember seeing you at the house that day.
What a terrible thing that must have been for you, since you knew him. ”
“It was.”
“And then there’s Caroline. Even after all these years, I’ve never stopped wondering what happened to her. I just pray things will end differently now, for Sarah. I mean, with Caroline, it never ended at all. She just vanished into thin air, you know?”
“I know.”
“Sometimes I see her parents at church. I just can’t fathom their pain. It’s a blessing that they’ve been away all summer on a mission, what with Mary Beth being arrested for assaulting a police officer.”
Midge says nothing. She remembers, now, that Ginny is one of those people who has a lot to say about everything. Kelly used to call her Patty Simcox, after the busybody character in Grease.
It may be childish and unprofessional, but Midge feels a prickle of resentment toward Ginny for even bringing Caroline into this conversation, as if they’re bound by grief and loss.
“Right now, Ginny, we need to focus on Sarah. I know you and your daughter were at the church yesterday, before you found out Bible study was canceled. Did you happen to see anyone around when you were there?”
“Do you mean, did we see Sarah?”
“Sarah, other students, the pastor? Anyone at all?”
“No. We were the only ones there. We were early. We saw the sign about the cancellation, and we went right back home.”
“You didn’t open the door and go inside, then?”
“Go inside? No.”
“But you do have the keypad code?”
“Of course. Why would we go in, though, with the meeting canceled and no air-conditioning?”
“Were there any other cars in the parking lot?”
Ginny considers that, head tilted. “I think there might have been one. Yes, there was. Parked way back in the corner. I remember thinking that’s because it was the only spot of shade. The car was dark blue, or maybe black.”
“Did you notice the make or model? The plate?”
“It was a Ford Focus. Why? Do you think that was a kidnapper’s car?”
“I’d just like to track down anyone who was in the area and might have seen anything,” Midge says. “Do you happen to have a list of Bible study group members who aren’t away at the retreat and were planning to be there yesterday?”
“I don’t, but my daughter probably knows.”
“All right, if you can get that information for me, I’d appreciate it. And I would like to speak with Sadie.”
“Do you want me to go get her?”
“No, just have her give me a call when she wakes up.”
Midge is expected to use her discretion on how much to share with the family about the progress in the case. There’s no urgency in getting a positive ID on the necklace to confirm its evidentiary value.
And Ginny is right. Midge, too, suspects that Sarah’s mother is going to need her strength in the days ahead.
“Are you sure? You’re welcome to come in and wait if you like. I was just about to make some tea.”
“Thanks, but I can’t.” Midge starts to turn away, then pivots. “Oh, there is something . . . Do you remember Reverend Bauer? He was the pastor at Congregational years ago.”
“I remember him. Reverend B., everyone called him. What about him?”
“What ever happened to him? Do you know?”
“He moved to another congregation after ours.”
“Do you know where?”
“Not far away. Teddy would know. He was friendly with one of his sons. The family used to come on the retreat.”
“In the Adirondacks?”
“Back then it was the Catskills. But there was a fire, and the camp burned down, so now it’s way up north.”
“Is your husband still in touch with the son?”
“No. I think they eventually ended up moving back down south. That’s where Reverend B. was from. He said his wife didn’t like the weather up here. Why do you ask?”
“Just curious. When you mentioned Caroline, I thought about him.”
“He was such a rock for everyone during that awful time, wasn’t he? What a wonderful man.”
Hmm. Not only is Ginny unaware of his recent troubles with the law, but she seems oblivious to the man’s predatory nature.
Midge would like to believe that her hunch about what might have happened between him and Caroline is wrong, just as she was mistaken about that CD title.
But something tells her it isn’t. She’s seen it countless times. People don’t just turn a blind eye when it comes to a man in a respectable career, a position of power. Sometimes they’re truly blind.