Page 106 of Three Steps Behind

Serendipity.

“That’s nice you live across the street,” Harper said.

“I moved here to be closer to Sophie and Jason, but they’re both gone now.” Her voice quavered.

Harper shielded her eyes from the sun breaking through the clouds in powerful rays. “Could we talk to you about it?”

“I suppose that’s okay. Let’s go in my house. I don’t like those cameras watching me.”

Deck scanned Randolph’s residence. A doorbell camera and two exterior ones. “Your son-in-law must be super cautious.”

“Paranoid, if you ask me. Well, come on.” She gestured to what must be her house and led them inside. “Go ahead and take a seat.”

“Thank you, Ms. . . . ?” Harper began.

“Call me Ida.”

“Thanks for speaking with us, Ida.” Deck took a seat, and Harper sat beside him.

“Always happy to talk about my Sophie. I’ve been trying to get the record straight for six years, but no one listens. Randolph said he’d kill me if I kept at it, but it’s his word against mine anyway. Brilliant professor of chemistry at Northwestern versus me—an old lady ‘bitter’ about the loss of her daughter.”

“I’m sorry. Did you say he threatened to kill you?” Harper darted a glance at Deck.

“Yes, ma’am, he did.”

“Why?”

“Because I know her accident was no accident.”

“Not to doubt you,” Harper began, “more to understand, but could you explain what you mean?”

“Of course. Those surveillance cameras they have on highways?”

“Yes.” Harper nodded.

“Well, she went under one, and when she did, she was unconscious.”

“She didn’t just have her eyes closed?”

“No. She was flailed all out. A witness saw her unconscious before the wreck. He killed her.”

“Who?” Deck shifted to the edge of his seat.

“Randolph.”

“You’re saying Randolph killed his wife?” Harper scooted forward to even up with Deckard.

“Yes.” Ida nodded.

“Why would he kill her? Hadn’t he already lost a child?” Deck recalled the notes Riley had given them, along with Harper’s research during what remained of the drive.

“That’s why he killed her.” Ida shook her head, tears springing to her eyes.

Harper shifted. “I don’t understand.”

“Sophie was watching Jason at the playground near here. She turned her back for just a moment, and he’d climbed up on top of the jungle gym. He fell and hit his little head on a rock. What a rock was doing there, no one knew, but poor little Jason didn’t survive.”

Tears misted in Harper’s eyes. “That’s terrible.”