“He made her turn her back on us when we needed her most.”
Another pause. “What do you mean?”
Velda brushed at the nap on her robe. “She graduated high school. Had a good job. We could have used some help.”
“Financial help?” Mattie asked.
“Help around the house, help paying the bills.”
“Were you and your husband unemployed at that time?”
A trace of belligerence came into the woman’s face. “What? You think we didn’t work hard? David hurt his back, couldn’t work for a while. But what does that have to do with anything?”
“We’re trying to get a picture of the circumstances surrounding Adrienne’s departure, see if it ties into anything involving her death,” Mattie said. “We need to know more about her.”
Velda’s lips puckered and turned downward. “She ran. She ran away when things didn’t go her way. She was a spoiled brat. That’s what she was.”
The venom behind her words shocked Mattie. She looked at Stella, turning the lead back over to her.
“We found a photo album in Adrienne’s room,” Stella said, taking it out of her briefcase. “Could you look at these pictures and see if you recognize anyone?”
Velda perked up, looking like she actually might take an interest. Stella rose from the sofa and moved over to stand beside Velda’s chair, offering her the album. Taking it readily, she flipped open the front cover. Mattie had looked through the photos several times and knew that many of them were snapshots of tourist spots and landscapes, but several of them also contained people. She watched as Velda flipped through pages, stopping here and there to search faces.
“Here’s Kevin, right here,” she said, using the pinkie on the hand that held her cigarette to tap the page. “Smug son of a bitch.”
Mattie decided to move over beside Velda’s chair where she could see which person the woman was tapping. Posing by the mound of mineral deposit beside the Pagosa Springs, Colorado, sign, Kevin grimaced, pinching his nose with thumb and index finger. Mattie had been there before, and she knew the odiferous water from the hot springs tainted the air throughout the town. He looked young, probably in his late teens at the time of the photo. Sandy hair, ruddy complexion, good-looking. He wore that devil-may-care, bad-boy persona that mothers dread.
Velda turned the page and tapped the photo that showed Adrienne posing with the mystery man. “This looks like Bubba.”
“Bubba?” Mattie asked.
Velda’s eyes turned bleary as she peered up at Mattie. “Roger.”
Adrienne’s brother? From the way the twosome cuddled together in the photo, she’d thought they were lovers. “Can you tell where that picture was taken?”
“How the hell should I know? You’ve seen one forest, you’ve seen them all.”
Pine trees surrounded the couple as they posed with arms around each other and smiles on their faces. Adrienne and the handsome man with the dark features both looked happy. She reunited with her brother. Mattie grew uneasy as she studied the photo. Had the happy reunion turned into a bad thing? Something that ended in Adrienne’s death?
“It looks like the two of them were reunited recently. Do you have any idea where Roger might be?” Mattie asked.
Velda shook her head slowly, looking down at the photos. She turned the last page and reached the end. “Like I told you, that horse done left the barn.” She handed the album to Stella, her face taking on a wistful expression. “Looks like the two of them couldn’t be more pleased with themselves.”
“They do look happy,” Mattie said, going back to sit on the couch where she could observe Velda more easily.
“They have no right.”
“No right?”
“To be happy. The two of them, leaving me here alone. Adrienne, right over there in Timber Creek, and she didn’t come check on her mama.”
Mattie wondered about that, too. “Why do you think Adrienne didn’t come see you?”
Anger flared in Velda’s bloodshot eyes. “She always blamed me.”
“For what?”
“For everything. She was a very unhappy child.”
From what Mattie knew of her, she’d turned into a happy woman. From all appearances, she seemed like a person who’d built a satisfying life and career. “Why do you say she was unhappy?”
Velda stared at Mattie for a moment, as if sensing a trap. She glanced furtively toward the front door. “Who knows? Some children are just born unhappy. I’m getting tired now. I need to ask you to leave so I can rest.”
Mattie sensed the interview was almost over.
“We appreciate your time, Mrs. Howard. I have only a couple more questions,” Stella said, settling back into the couch.
Velda heaved another sigh.
“We have evidence that Adrienne was a victim of childhood abuse.”
Velda’s eyes opened wide. “Are you accusing me of that?”
“What do you know about it?” Stella asked.
Tight lipped, Velda rubbed out the ember on her cigarette until she ground it down to the filter. “You need to leave.”
Stella remained seated. “I think you know something.”
Velda anchored her hands on the arms of her chair and tried to push herself to her feet. It took a couple tries, but she rose, swaying slightly. Mattie feared she might fall, so she stood and reached to steady her. Velda brushed her hand away. “Get out.”
“Mrs. Howard, we need to determine if Adrienne’s abuser could be the one who killed her,” Mattie said, trying to reason with the woman.
“I’ve said all I’m going to say.” Velda walked toward the door, drifting sideways like a ship with a broken sail.
Mattie hurried to assist her, relieved when the woman allowed her to take her arm. “We’ll leave here in a minute, Mrs. Howard. Let me help you back to your chair.”
Stella stood and hovered near to help if needed. “I suspect some things happened in the past that were out of your control—not your fault,” she said in a soothing voice.
“You might show some respect.” Velda settled back in her recliner, wrapping her robe tightly, gathering her dignity. “For your information, Adrienne was a difficult child. She demanded a great deal of guidance.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Mattie murmured, picking up a ragged crocheted afghan from a chair and tucking it around the woman.
Her temper appeased, Velda’s eyes drooped, looking as if a nap was imminent. “Spare the rod and spoil the child, her daddy used to say.”
A chilly finger traced down Mattie’s spine as she stepped back. “Did your husband use the rod on Adrienne?”
Velda’s eyes popped open, and she stared hard at Mattie. “None of your damn business.”
Stella came forward. “We’ll leave now, Mrs. Howard. Thank you for your time.”
Velda looked at Stella as if trying to remember who she was. “You come back and see me sometime, dear.”
“Thank you,” Stella said. “Our condolences for your loss.”
They stepped outside onto the porch. Mattie twisted the lock on the knob and tugged the door tight, despite its screech of protest.
“I don’t think she gives a rat’s ass about her daughter’s death,” Stella muttered as they walked to the SUV.
Robo’s head popped up inside the window. He looked sleepy but gave Mattie one of his toothy grins, soothing her uneasiness. She climbed inside, settled into the bucket seat, and turned to stroke Robo’s silky fur. He nosed her hand, encouraging her to stroke his face.
Stella settled into the passenger seat beside her. “If Daddy was the abuser, he’s not around to be a suspect anymore.”
“And if Mom was, she doesn’t look like she’s in any condition to be a threat to anyone but herself.”