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Chapter Twenty-Four

We had a leisurely lunch, and Clare seemed to relax while she ate her sandwich and sipped her beer. I gave credit to Alan for calmly explaining our initial steps to identify Liz’s typical patterns and speak to the people with whom she usually interacted.

“Finding her car in the woods rattled me,” she stated. “Liz wouldn’t have gone there alone, and she surely wouldn’t frequent lovers’ lane.”

“Probably not,” Alan agreed, “although the location makes a good hiding place for a vehicle, at least temporarily.”

“You think my sister hid her car there?”

“It’s a possibility. We have no reason to suspect foul play, and I’ve checked reservations at local motels and B though sometimes the chief assigns me elsewhere. I just go where I’m told.”

“Me, too, Officer.”

Alan nodded. “Can I turn around at the end of the lane?”

“Guess that’d be okay. Be careful of my mother’s roses.”

I made sure to pretend to be looking for something on the floor when we passed by him again. With the tinted windows, I didn’t think he recognized me, which was just as well.

Back on the main road, Alan suggested I call in our order to Franco’s and he’d run in to get the pizzas. After doing that, I texted Jessica and Judy, reminding them of family night. They had probably remembered, but I wanted to mention that we’d have a guest.