Page 60 of Luck of the Devil

“I didn’t say I did,” I countered. “I was merely asking.”

“Do not mistake me for a fool, Harper Adams.” She enunciated each word, each one icier then the last. “Either be honest with me or end this call now.”

Lisa Murphy lived for gossip. But the last time we’d spoken, she’d told me she was capable of keeping secrets, especially important ones. Still, I suspected she used most of what she learned as currency—which meant she couldn’t be relied upon.

I hesitated to tell her about the woman who had been dropped off at my mother’s house, but there was a chance she might know something about her. And that was why I’d called. “I would like to ask you to keep this information to yourself.”

“I believe I previously told you I’m capable of keeping secrets.”

“You did,” I conceded, “but you never specified which secrets you keep and which ones you share.”

“If you want me to keep a secret, Detective, quit dilly-dallying and ask me.”

“And what will it cost me for you to keep this secret? Because I get the impression that anything you know can be gained by someone else for a price.”

She released a chuckle. “Well, you have me there, but I’ll insist on quite a high one for what you’re about to tell me. One most people wouldn’t be willing to pay.”

I considered pushing her, but if she could keep the information to herself until I solved this, then it wouldn’t really matter. “All I ask is that you don’t sell it for a week. Then it’s fair game.”

Malcolm shot me a long look, but I ignored him.

“Confident you’ll have this all wrapped up in a week, huh?” she asked with a laugh.

“It sounds like you think there’s something to investigate.”

“I never pretended otherwise.”

“What do you think happened to my mother?” I asked.

She was silent for a moment. “I’m not sure,” she finally said, not sounding as haughty as before. “My best guess is she was leaving town, and in her haste, she drove off the bridge in the rain. Everyone knew she hated driving in any kind of bad weather. But when you get down to it, the real question is why she was leaving.”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.” If I could discover what had driven her to pack a suitcase for multiple days, I suspected it would either point me toward the killer or at least in their direction. “I had no idea she was going anywhere. She didn’t tell me, and she wasn’t answering her cell phone when I tried to call her last week.”

“She didn’t have one of those apps that tell you where somebody is? Like Life 360?”

“My mother barely used her cell phone.” Although if she’d known about that app, she might have used it to track my father. “One of the neighbors said a woman showed up at my mother’s house last Tuesday and then she and my mother got into my mother’s car a few minutes later and drove off.”

“And you’re trying to find out who this woman was?”

“Yes. I don’t recognize her, but then again, I don’t know everyone in town.”

“Let me guess who told you about her,” Lisa said slyly. “Becky Comstock.”

I saw no reason to hide it. “Yes.”

“Well, if she didn’t know who she was, I likely won’t either. Becky’s a snoop and a gossip.”

A surge of disappointment washed through me. “And a spy. She has multiple video cameras pointed at my mother’s house.”

She released a short laugh. “Don’t go feeling all that special. I suspect she has cameras pointed at all her neighbors. I wouldn’t be surprised if she has game cameras set up all over town.”

“If I send you a photo of the woman, would you take a look and tell me if you’ve seen her or not?”

“Of course, but don’t get your hopes up.”

“Thank you.”

“Of course. If something untoward happened to Sarah Jane, then of course I’ll help however I can.”