Page 78

CHAPTER 76

CINDY CALLED ME again when I was driving to the Hall. I told her, “You’re on speaker. I’m driving in the car.”

Cindy said, “Fine,” over the staticky crackle. “You haven’t heard from Joe? Is everything okay?”

“I can’t talk about it, Cindy, even off the record. Talk to me about Brett Palmer.”

Cindy said, “He’s here. In town. Brett Palmer is in San Francisco . I’m having breakfast with him and I want you to join us.”

“Cin, you’ve got this. You don’t need me.”

“And if Palmer tells me that he killed either of his ex-wives, then what? I can’t arrest him. I can’t even bring him in for questioning. All I can do is back out of the restaurant and hope he doesn’t follow me into an alley, strangle me, and write on my shoes.”

I said, loudly, “Cin. Record your conversation with Palmer and call me later.”

“Okay. I’ll let you out of a free meal with a possible killer and won’t guilt-trip you if you tell me why you’re waiting on a call from Joe.”

“He was supposed to be home last night. He didn’t come home, and he didn’t call.”

“You called Steinmetz?”

“Of course. But I can’t talk about that. Will you stop asking me?”

“Lindsay, no. You’re saying, ‘Off the record’? About Joe?”

“I can’t talk about it because I’m scared out of my mind and talking about this will only make me feel worse.”

“It sounds like you’re saying that Steinmetz hasn’t heard from him, either.”

God, Cindy was incorrigible. I pulled up to a yellow light and braked. I said to Cindy, “He offered some innocent explanations. He told me that he’d find Joe. Cindy, this whole conversation is off the record. Don’t make me have to kill you.”

“I hear you, Lindsay. I’m sorry, you know. For being obnoxious.”

“Yes, you are, but you know I love you.”

“I know. I love you, too.”

“I’ll call you later. And good luck with Palmer.”

The light turned green. A car horn blared behind me. I said, “Gotta go. Talk later, okay?”

Cindy said, “For sure,” and I clicked off.

I knew Cindy had never seen this side of me. Closed off. Terrified. And I really hadn’t meant to scare and hurt my friend. But I had done it.