Page 93 of Death on Riddle Road

“Thinking he might have done it isn’t proof, either.”

“I know that.And I wouldn’t go as far as saying Ithinkit.I am considering the possibility.We need to consider all the possibilities.That’s the only way we stay open to gathering all the evidence that can lead us to the truth and to proof of the truth.”

“Why?Why on earth would he do it?”

I didn’t answer directly.“Where is this cliffs park Mamie talked about?”

Clara didn’t insist I answer her defense of Robbie.So maybe her certainty wasn’t so certain.Instead, she answered, “Idlewild Cliffs is what it’s called.It’s in the northwestern part of the county, close to the river.”

The western-flowing Ohio River scallops the northern border of North Bend County before it wiggles south along its western edge, forming an irregular knob.That knob was the least populated part of our county, with its highest elevations and deepest chasms.

“They’re rock outcroppings from when the glaciers moved through,” Clara added.

I turned toward her.“Whoareyou?”

She emitted a quasi-chuckle, but her frown remained.“Project for school.”

“How do we get there?”

****

The isolated entryroad, flanked by erratic drifts of bare tree trunks, wound up and up, but when we arrived at the parking area, it was clear we’d have a lot more climbing to do without the benefit of engine, tires, and comfy seats.

Something else was clear.

There was not another vehicle in sight in the small parking area.Had there been any indication of another vehicle passing this way lately on the way in?

Nothing surfaced in my memory.Still, I wished we’d brought the dogs instead of dropping all three off at my house and swapping Clara’s van for my sedan.Furry alarm systems might have come in handy.

During the drive here, I’d held off Clara’s questions, but I didn’t know how much longer I could.Unless I came up with some distraction.

“I still don’t—Why are you looking around like that?”she asked.

“Like what?”I twisted my neck to look in the other direction.

“Likethat.Were you expecting someone up here, in the winter?”

“Not expecting anyone.Though I suppose you get better views this time of year than when all the vegetation’s out.”

“Uh-huh.Okay, Sheila, spill.You are creeping me out, like you’re telling the truth but there’s something worse that you’re not saying.”

“You aren’t going to want to hear this.”

“Tell me.”

“When I lived in New York—”

Which was true — I had lived in New York.Only I’d lived in the city, while Clara and Teague and anyone else who’d cared enough to ask, thought I lived in upstate New York and taught high school English.They thought that because that’s what I’d told them.

But only when I had to saysomething.My first choice was to say nothing.

Especially after learning Teague was a high school substitute teacher, which meant he knew a universe’s worth more about teaching than I did.

See why I needed to talk to him?

See why I was worried about talking to him?

“—sometimes I went along with Kit when she interviewed people for her murder mysteries.”Clarauh-huhedimpatiently.“A couple law enforcement people got talking about spots where you’re vulnerable where you might not think you’re vulnerable.