Page 102 of Blood Moon

John looked around the waiting room. Several people were watching them, one a young mother trying to pacify a squalling infant who was making a hell of a racket. “Is there an empty room where we can talk?”

“I’mbusy.”

A coworker, who’d had her back to them when they came in, was now looking curiously over her shoulder. “I’ll cover for you, Carla.”

John smiled and thanked her, then said to Crissy’s mother, “She’ll cover for you, Carla.”

She growled with aggravation. “Go through that door.” It opened off the lobby into a hallway. She led them into an empty examination room where she assumed a hostile stance and crossed her arms over her chest. “All right, you’ve got me for one minute.”

Beth said, “We thought you’d like to hear what Isabel Sanchez told us about the night Billy hanged himself.”

Between the two of them they summarized what the former deputy had told them. Beth said, “She was never convinced that Billy had written that note after he was returned to his cell. She’s almost certain, as we are, that it had already been planted on him. She’s been too afraid of reprisal to point fingers at the men responsible.”

“With reason,” John said. “Yesterday one of Tom Barker’s heavies showed up at her house and subtly threatened her children if she talked to me.”

“Well, that’s something, I guess,” Carla said. “Her story helps exonerate Billy, but only helps. It doesn’t change anything.”

“It changes the content of theCrisis Pointepisode. A large portion of it is patently untrue.” Beth explained to her the consequences that would result from the broadcast being moved up by a week. “I haven’t made any headway toward getting it cancelled.”

“I’m not the least bit concerned about the ruination of your TV show,” Carla said. “Wasn’t it that Max Longren’s idea to do the story on Crissy in the first place?” Ruefully Beth admitted that it was. “Then why should I care if his legacy is blackened?”

John said, “You should care because this information from Deputy Sanchez not only helps to exonerate Billy, but it also shines a spotlight on Tom Barker’s corruption. His ambition undermined the investigation and got in the way of our catching whoever took Crissy. That’s why we’re here, Carla. The guy is still out there, and tomorrow night there’s another blood moon.”

“Not that nonsense again.”

John didn’t acknowledge her eye roll. “Might be nonsense to you and me, but he takes it seriously. Ever heard of Luna?”

For a moment, she gave him a blank stare, then said, “Of course.”

“Really?” Beth said. “In what context?”

“Luna, as inluna-tic.”

John and Beth exchanged a look, but he was undaunted by the woman’s sarcasm. “Good one, Carla.”

“I thought so. Y’all have a nice day.” She made to go past him, but he sidestepped to block her path.

“You’ve had more than your minute, Mr. Bowie.”

“Was Crissy into numerology?”

“What the hell?” She looked at Beth with scorn before coming back to him. “She read her horoscope. Big deal.”

“Did she ever refer to the double letters in both her first and last names? Did Billy? He also had double letters.”

“Why are you wasting my time with this crap?”

John took off the white gloves. “Because, Carla, it might help find the person who took Crissy and in all probability killed her.” She flinched as though he’d slapped her, but he pressed on. “Isn’t getting justice for your daughter worth a few minutes of your precious time?”

She backed away from him. “That was unnecessary and cruel.”

He stepped forward and got right into her face. “What was done to Crissy was cruel. It was cruel to you, too, and the culprit got away with it. Now, talk to me, damn it.”

She pursed her lips into a stubborn moue.

In an attempt to defuse the animosity on both sides, Beth said, “Please, Carla. Answer our questions.”

She didn’t respond, but she didn’t walk out. John backed down. With exaggerated patience and politeness, he asked again, “Did Crissy have any interest in numerology, or any acquaintances who did?”