Page 71 of The Dysfunctional Family's Guide to Murder

“Anything else?”

“That’s a pretty broad question.”

“Did she ever talk about her health?”

“Not really.”

“What about her family?”

There’s a pause before Laura answers. “Sure. Like I said, she told me all about you and your grandad.”

“Did she talk about her son?”

“She talked about him a bit.”

“What did she tell you?”

“You know he died?”

“That’s what Gertie said.”

Laura gives me an impatient look. “Why don’t you tell me what you want to know?” she asks.

“Did she tell you her son is still alive?”

“You found out about that, huh?” Dylan and I just nod. “I never really got whether she was ashamed because he was in prison or ashamed because she’d told everyone he was dead. Either way, it just seems so ridiculous, right?” We make noncommittal noises. “I guess it’s a generational thing because, like, who around here doesn’t have a relative who’s been done for dealing?”

I ignore the part of me that wants to ask about Laura’s relative who has presumably been done for dealing. “Was Gertie’s son in jail for drugs?”

“I don’t know. But he was in there for a while.”

“What’s his name?”

“I don’t think Gertie ever said. Or, if she did, I forgot.”

“Do you know what he looks like?”

Laura frowns. “No.”

“Did you know he was out of prison?”

The surprise on Laura’s face looks genuine. “No. Is he?”

“Yeah. We think so.”

“Did Gertie know?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m surprised she didn’t tell me. Although I have just got back from Bali.” (I noticed the tan but entirely missed the opportunity to do a Sherlock Holmes bit where I inferred the location of her recent vacation because of it, combined with the fact that her Pokémon T-shirt is a cheap Balinese knockoff, not legitimate merch, which is a bummer, just quietly.)

“I told Nicola this, by the way.”

“Who’s Nicola?”

“Detective Peterson.”

“The police know Gertie’s son is still alive?”