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Danielle lived in the same complex as Chrissie. Margot passed by their house and the police tape was still up. Any hope Jennifer and Chrissie just came home was dashed by the dark house with yellow tape across the front door.
No one was parked in Danielle’s driveway, so Margot pulled in. She’d hoped to come by around dinner time since that increased the odds everyone would be home, but by the time she got Mal back to his place and made the drive across town, it was getting closer to nine o’clock.
A lady a little bit older and a lot heavier than Margot answered the door.
“Mrs. Dandridge?”
“I haven’t been a Mrs. anything for a long time. Who’s asking?”
Margot smiled and handed over her P.I. license.
The lady looked it over and then handed it back.
“The name’s Caldwell. I used to be a Dandridge, but that was a long time ago.”
“Sorry to bother you, Ms. Caldwell, is Danielle home?”
The lady shook her head. “She’s not here. What did she do?”
The lady said it like Danielle had done something to bring a detective to the door in the past.
“Nothing, I actually wanted to ask her about her friend, Chrissie.”
“Chrissie? Then it’s definitely some kind of trouble. What did she do now?”
“Nothing I know of. She and her mother are missing.”
“Yeah, I know. I also know they found a dead man in their house. I can tell you Danielle is no angel, but there’s no way she had anything to do with that mess.”
“I didn’t say she did. I just want to talk to her to see if she has any idea where Chrissie would run to.”
“You think Danielle would know?”
“I’m assuming you’re Danielle’s mom?”
“Yeah, you assume correctly.”
“You know both of them better than I do. So, let me ask you, is that something Danielle would know?”
Danielle’s mom pondered the question for a second before saying, “For better or worse, and believe me it’s mostly worse, they are best friends. They have been since Chrissie moved here like five years ago. So, while I don’t think Danielle knows anything about this, I will say if Chrissie were to confide in somebody…it would probably be Danielle.”
“Do you mind if I talk to her?”
“I don’t mind at all, but I wasn’t lying when I said she wasn’t here.”
“Is there a better time to come by?”
“No, not until next week. She’s staying with her dad up north for a while. That’s why I’m Caldwell and she isn’t. She kept the loser's name and I didn’t. She wasn’t here when all that stuff happened over at Chrissie’s house.”
“Up north like San Francisco? Or up north like L.A.?”
“Up north like Riverside.”
“Can I get an address or maybe a phone number?”
“You really just looking for Chrissie?”
“Yes.”
