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Nancy let out a gust of breath and laid a hand on her chest. “Thank God for that, but what’s the situation?” Her brow creased, and her eyes narrowed.
“It pertains to an active investigation, so we’re not at liberty to disclose much at this time. You might be able to help us though. Help Katherine.” Amanda was quick to add that last bit as Nancy’s body language had closed off with crossed arms and a hardened facial expression. At Amanda’s appeal, the woman’s posture relaxed.
“If I can. Though without knowing what’s going on that might be tough.”
“We appreciate your cooperation. Have you lived next door for long?” Amanda asked this to lay the groundwork for her next question.
“Twenty years. Gerry and I bought intending to stay here until the day we died. He beat me to it.”
It turned out Amanda’s question had teed things up beautifully. As a long-time resident in the neighborhood, Nancy would know if any new people had been loitering around. It was logical the shooter and his accomplice would have done some recon before that morning. “Have you seen anyone you didn’t know near Katherine’s house? Possibly lingering or watching her?”
Nancy’s eyes widened and glazed over. “Don’t think so.”
Amanda didn’t take that to be an absolute, but if they knew where Katherine lived, why had they picked the gas station as ground zero? Did they want her abduction to be public, or did it somehow feel less risky than striking in a residential neighborhood?
“Do you know any of Katherine’s friends?” Trent asked.
The older woman shook her head. “I don’t think she got out much. Or brought anyone around. I’d bug her about getting herself a boyfriend. I told her that she’s too young and pretty to be alone. I’ve had my romance. Lost my Gerry ten years ago and don’t expect to find another catch like ’im again. But Kat has her entire life ahead of her.” Nancy’s eyes watered.
Amanda wished she could disclose more to the woman, to ease her anxiety, but it couldn’t be helped.
“No one at all came by?” Trent asked, skeptical.
“Nope, well, just her aunt. Love that lady. Oh, and Dee, nice lady too.”
Amanda smiled at mention of May’s best friend but said, “It’s quite easy to love May.” It seemed pointless that Katherine had such a huge and beautiful house but didn’t share it with anyone. Did it have anything to do with the hidden cache? “When did you last see Katherine?”
“Last night. We had some wine on my back deck.”
Trent had his tablet out and was pecking away adding Nancy’s comments. “What time was this?”
“Around seven. We bundled up, and I have a heater that knocks off some of the chill. I just love being outside.”
That didn’t sound like Amanda’s idea of a relaxing evening. “When you saw her last night, how did Katherine seem to you?”
“Like her normal self.”
Hearing this took Amanda’s thoughts back to the video from the gas station. Katherine didn’t strike her as being cautious or paranoid. She didn’t peek over her shoulder while pumping gas or walking into the store. She’d only glanced at the door when the man in the balaclava entered. And yet she had threats against her squirreled away in a drawer. Surely, she gave them some credit regardless of when she’d received them.
“You said ‘normal,’ does that mean anxious or withdrawn in any way?” Trent must be drawing from what May told them, that she had the impression her niece was hiding something from her.
“Kat has always been a private person, but she opened up to me about her mother and aunt’s estrangement and then her reuniting with May. Such a heart-touching story. Tragic she lost her mother, of course, but at least she’s home now.”
Amanda stood, convinced they’d gotten all they could out of Nancy. “Thank you for talking with us, Ms.Orr,” she said and handed her a business card. “Call me if you remember anything or anyone hanging around. Whatever might help our investigation.”
Nancy took the card without looking at it. She kept eye contact with Amanda. “You never told me what the situation was, so how will I know what might help or not?”
Amanda considered, longing to give the woman something while not upsetting her too much. “Katherine Graves is currently missing, and we’re trying to find her.”
The woman tapped Amanda’s card against the palm of her other hand and worried her bottom lip. She sniffled and nodded. “Thank you for telling me that much.”
Amanda simply dipped her head in response, and Nancy saw herself out. Trent shut the door and secured it behind her.
“She seems to really care about Katherine,” he stated.
“She does. Unlikely friends, the two of them.” She’d responded to Trent, keeping the narrative thread, but her mind was wandering. It was revisiting her thoughts about Katherine. Did she know her fate or not? Surely if she was involved with something shady, she had to expect it could catch up with her. “I think Katherine’s habit of keeping people at a distance was to protect them.”
“I think it’s entirely possible, especially considering those threats we found. Regardless of when she received them, she saw fit to hold on to them.”
