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Chapter 19
I made theshort trip from Bowie to Springdale, Maryland, again on the John Hanson Highway, back to the I-495 interchange. Emily’s sister Laura, whose married name was Nardo, was two years younger, a fourth-grade teacher who lived with her husband and baby in a development that looked almost exactly like her mother’s. Even the house was a similar three-bedroom, two-bath one-story. With a single tree in the middle of the trimmed front yard.
When I knocked on her door, I did not hear the sound of dogs.
I should have told myself to beware of memories. The woman standing inside the open door looked exactly like Emily. Laura had the same slender frame and pretty face. Her hair was a little lighter, cut in a similar style as Emily’s so that it fell playfully across her face. My heart hurt looking at her.
Laura gave me a weak smile. The first words out of her mouth were “I can see why Emily always talks about you.”
She was a little like her mom: direct and to the point. In no time, I found myself on a comfortable sofa in a living room littered with baby toys. A mesh playpen stood in the corner.
Laura noticed me looking around the room and said, “You have good timing. The baby’s been down about fifteen minutes and usually sleeps for a good two hours.”
It was my hope to get background, so I kept the interview more casual than official. If it felt like we were just chatting, Laura might come up with some morsel of information that would put everything into perspective. Maybe an old cabin the family used to visit. Or an old lover Emily might flee to if she was having problems.
I said, “Your home has a different atmosphere than your mom’s.”
“You mean the dogs? I had to stop her from calling them my brothers and sisters.”
Laura was all movement and nervous drumming of her fingers, more animated and fidgety than Emily.
When I felt like I was starting to gain her confidence, I asked, “Are you and Emily close?”
“You have any brothers or sisters, Michael?”
“Nope, I’m an only child.”
Her eyes opened in surprise. “Really? Considering you have ten children, I would’ve thought you came from a big family.”
She read the confusion on my face.
Laura smiled and said, “Relax, I’m not stalking you. Emily really likes you. She respects you. I don’t think I’ve ever heard her talk as well about anyone as she does about you. She even likes your fiancée.”
“Wife.”
“Really? When did that happen?”
“About two weeks ago.”
“I guess I haven’t talked to her much in the last few weeks. She’s been so busy.” Laura took a moment to wipe her red-rimmed eyes with a tissue. And she blew her nose. “Sorry, this has been hard. I took some time off work when Emily went missing. Mom is in denial, and my younger sister, Liza, calls every ten minutes. We told her to stay at Northwestern until we learned more. She’s in the audiology program.”
“She’s in what?”
“Good dad joke,” Laura said.
I looked Laura in the eyes and said, “Can I ask some personal questions about Emily? Embarrassingly personal.”
That made Laura smile. “Anything you want.”
“I didn’t see Emily judge people and I’m not going to do it to her. I just want to find my friend. And I don’t know what will help me.”
Laura solemnly nodded her assent.
“I’m hearing rumors that she’s dated powerful people. Like it’s a regular occurrence. Does she talk to you about that kind of stuff?”
Laura nodded again. “Emily was very quiet growing up. I’m sure my mom told you my dad could be tough. It wasn’t till Emily enrolled at the University of Virginia that she came out of her shell. She told me about dating a philosophy professor. She said knowing influential people made her feel like a star. She was giddy telling me about it.
“In the last year, since she’s been in DC quite a bit, she’s started to see a few different people. She’s told me about some, and others she says she can’t talk about.”
