Casey doubted it. Mother hadn’t loved any of her conquests. Casey had told Mother that she’d hoped to find Osterman in Paris, but all Mother said was that they’d talk later.
“Did the police ask you for a list of Dad’s contacts and clients?”
“They came and took Marcus’s Rolodex and all the old ledgers we kept on TZ Inc.”
“I imagine they would.” Casey stood and retrieved her jacket. “If I learn anything useful, I’ll let you know.”
“All I really want to know is why Marcus faked his death and went underground,” Vincent said.
“You and me both.” She stopped at the door, “If Dad had come back to reclaim his old life, what would have happened?”
“I don’t know.” Vincent looked at her. “But I’m too busy and too tired to lose sleep over it.”
Maybe it was the creepy reptiles. Maybe it was the disturbing chants or simply the lighting, but she thought Vincent’s eyes had adopted a cold-blooded stare and his complexion turned a pale shade of green. Casey hurried out of the room.
Twelve
CASEY STUDIED THE half-filled suitcase on her bed. She was thinking about what else to bring when a knock on the door broke her concentration. Before she could move, Rhonda was marching toward her bedroom. Lately, she’d been entering Casey’s suite uninvited, as if Dad’s murder had somehow granted her the right. Casey wanted to remind her that, technically, she was a tenant, not family, but that line had been crossed long ago. Even family members had a right to privacy, though.
“Summer’s upset about your trip,” Rhonda said.
“Why? She knows I’ll only be gone two weeks.”
“Marcus went to Europe and didn’t come back. Summer sees it as a place where bad things can happen.”
Hard to argue the point, since Casey had her own doubts about leaving. Dad’s life had been all about secrets. If he’d died because of those secrets, her questions could cause big trouble. And as for trepidation about seeing Mother again after all these years, lord, she didn’t even know how to express it. She hadn’t told Rhonda they’d be meeting and she hadn’t discussed Rhonda with Mother; didn’t want to go there when there were more urgent questions on her mind.
“I still don’t understand why you have to trek all over Europe looking for answers,” Rhonda said.
“It’s just three or four places over a two-week period. I’ll be home before you know it.”
“Hasn’t your passport expired? You’ve had it a while, right?”
“Only three and a half years, from when I planned to join Dad in Amsterdam the Christmas before he die—disappeared, remember?”
Rhonda nodded. “What does your supervisor say about all this?”
“He’s okay with it because Marie can cover for me. Besides, I did a little investigating and figured out what high school the purse thief probably attends, so Stan’s happy.”
“Are you sure the thief’s a student?”
“Yep. I compiled a chart that showed the times he strikes, and the pattern definitely fits someone who has to be in class by eight thirty-five, takes lunch between twelve and one, and is out by three.”
The kid was becoming more predictable all the time. As much as Casey wanted to bust the kid herself, Marie hadn’t made many arrests lately and deserved a chance. Of course, if she succeeded, everyone at Mainland would hear about it for weeks. Still, it couldn’t be helped. When it came to family history research, no one was going to do this for Casey, and the sooner she pursued leads before they vanished, the sooner she’d have answers.
“Do you want me to talk to Summer?” Casey asked.
“That would be good. And have you returned Lalonde’s call yet? Does he know you’re going away?”
“No on both counts, but I’ll contact him once I’m there,” especially if Daphne Reid had useful information about the killer’s identity.
“Mom?” Summer called from the doorway. “Someone’s on the phone for you.”
“Be right there.” She turned to Casey. “Call every two or three days or I won’t be able to sleep, okay?”
“I’ll try, I promise.”
Rhonda left as Summer entered the room.
“How’s the new bicycle tire?”
“Great, Darcy and I went riding yesterday. It was fun.”
“Oh? I didn’t see you guys go out.”
“It was after supper. You and Lou had already left for the hockey game.”
In the few days he’d been living here, Darcy had hovered around Summer and Rhonda a lot. He’d also come up here uninvited to chat a few times, which had gotten irritating so she’d cut their conversations short.
Casey shoved her underwear in the suitcase. “I gather his knee’s healed?”
“Uh-huh. He’s coming to swim practice with us tonight.”
Man, didn’t this guy have a life?
“What’s wrong?” Summer asked. “You look kind of weird.”
“I’m just a bit nervous about my trip. Which reminds me, your mom says you’re upset that I’m going.”
“No, I’m not, she is. I mean, it’s not like you’ll be gone a long time.” Summer picked up a folded T-shirt. “You wanna go?”
“Yes and no. I’ll miss you guys.”
She gave Summer a hug, then fetched the blue notebook, tossing the loose slip of paper containing the doodles and Marine Drive address in a drawer. She’d already given Rhonda a copy of contact info for the few people she’d managed to get in touch with.
“Hello? Anyone home?” Darcy’s raspy voice called out.
Too bad Rhonda had become more adept at opening doors than closing them.
“We’re in here,” Summer called back.
As Darcy entered the bedroom, he winked at Summer then turned to Casey. “Sorry to interrupt, but I just wanted to say bye before you left.”
Rhonda thought his raspy voice sounded seductive. Casey couldn’t stand it. “Thanks.”
“I’ll pack some peanut-butter cookies for you,” Summer said.
“That’d be awesome. And if I don’t get a chance to say this later, look after your mom, okay? I know you’ll do a good job.”
Summer grinned. “Three more months till I get a puppy.”
When Rhonda came down with the flu last December, Summer did a lot of cooking and cleaning. Rhonda had said if she was still acting responsibly by her birthday, she could have a dog.
After Summer left, Darcy said, “Rhonda really depends on you, doesn’t she?”
“We’ve known each other a long time.”
“I think all this family stuff you’ve been going through is getting to her. She talks about your mother a lot, claims the lady came from a family of greedy criminals.”
Crap, why had Rhonda brought that up? Casey stuffed socks into corners of the suitcase.
“Glad to hear of no criminal streak in you,” he added. “Know what I’m saying?”
“Not really.” What was his point? “If you’ll excuse me, I need to finish packing.” She shoved her red pumps in a plastic bag.
“I hope you find what you’re looking for in Europe.”
Had Rhonda told him about the murder too?
“I never knew my dad,” Darcy went on. “He took off when I was little.”
Question answered. Damn.
“Casey?” Summer called from the stairwell. “Lou’s pulling up.”
“Okay, I’ll be right down.”
“But then, I guess no one really knows anybody,” Darcy went on.
“Not true.” Casey looked at him. “Some people can see right through others.”
His unblinking eyes gazed at her through blue-tinted lenses. “Yeah, sure,” he said, chuckling on his way out the door.
Five minutes later, Casey carried her luggage downstairs and heard Summer chatting in the living room. She poked her head inside to find Lou listening to Summer complain about one of her swim practices. Casey gazed at the appliquéd picture above the fire place. Dad had bought the piece for Rhonda at a craft show. The variety of stitching, thread, fabric, and wool had produced an astounding portrait of what Rhonda called her “Glamor Ladies.” In the scene, two well-dressed women stood at a bar. Both had their backs to the viewer, but one of them was looking at a man standing at the end of the bar. Casey wasn’t sure whether it was the color and texture or the image that was so provocative, but the picture always captured her attention.