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“Maybe. I can’t remember. I’ll have to give it some thought.” Karen’s focus was waning, Tanner could tell. Her eyes were straying toward the photos on the table. “What have you found here?”
Carly nudged yet again. “If you think of anything else about Justine, would you let us know, Momma? It’s important.”
“Oh, sure. She might have come home after she started college. I’ll think about it. It’s been a long time.” Karen had picked up a small stack of photos and started looking through them. “Oh, Momma, remember this?” She held out an old photo to show Nana Elise.
Carly gave up then and shot Tanner a look, as if to say,We’re done here.
Tanner shrugged his shoulders in understanding. Karen was somewhat flighty. They were lucky to have gotten the information today to kick-start their case. The name of Lisa’s grandmother would hopefully be useful in helping find the first clues to Justine’s disappearance.
Carly set to clearing the table of everything, and Leah helped their grandmother get the bowls down from the cupboards and the food ready to serve. How big did a pot of chili need to be to serve that many people? A Nana-sized pot, apparently. There were also bowls of shredded cheddar cheese, finely chopped onions, sour cream, and large squares of crumbly corn bread piled high on a platter. Tanner hoped his stomach hadn’t growled loudly enough for anyone else to hear.
Tanner was satisfied here for the moment eating well with this loud, odd, and weirdly close family that was so different from his own. He thought about his and Jake’s own mother and missed her then, but he was pleased for Jake. That he’d finally married Leah and found happiness and family.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Carly
“Ifound her.I found Marie Trichel!” I was searching Google first thing Monday morning. I’d wanted to get to it over the weekend, but Momma had us busy helping her plan the vow renewal. By planning, I meant choosing our matching dresses and flowers. Andthathad been a nightmare.
Tanner was in his office but came to where I worked in the conference room as soon as he heard me. “You found her?”
“I think so. At least I found where shewas. I’m assuming it’s the same woman. She and her husband were living outside Alexandria in Leesfield.”
“That’s a small town. The one with the lake, right?” Tanner snapped his fingers as if trying to place it. “Jake and I went fishing there once a few years ago.”
“Yes. But it appears that her husband, Jay Trichel, passed away a couple years ago from a heart attack. The home was sold by the bank. No mention of what became of Marie.” I read from a short newspaper article if one could call it that.
“Hmm. That’s odd.”
“Here’s the obituary for Marie’s husband, Jay Trichel. It states he left behind his loving wife, Marie, was a veteran who’d done a couple tours in Iraq during the Gulf War, had no children, and attended church regularly. No mention of which church. Cut and dried.”
Tanner was perched behind me looking over my shoulder, staring at the screen. I could feel his breath on my hair. “Not much to go on. Certainly doesn’t say anything more about Marie.”
“Do you think it’s time to give Lisa a call?” I dared not move a muscle, or I’d be pretty much face-to-face with him. Being this near to Tanner, I was close enough to feel the heat emanating off him. The former crush kicked up at the least convenient times. My heart rate increased, and I felt a little breathy.
“I believe it might be.”
“I’m keeping a dated and timed log of my hours dedicated to Lisa’s case.”
“I assumed you were. We can tally those weekly.”
“Okay.”
I could tell the second he backed away. His heat left and I was able to breathe normally again. “I’ll give Lisa a call. It might be worth a visit to Leesfield to do some asking around about Marie.”
I exhaled. “Let me know what Lisa says and I’ll keep digging into the court records.” Some of the death records might be parish or church ones. In Louisiana, we had parishes instead of counties, unlike every other state in the union. Part of the Napoleonic Code thing. Lawyers here really did have a different bar exam to pass. Like a different country almost.
“I’ll call Lisa now.”
But before he could make the call, the bells on the office door jingled, so Tanner went to check it out.
I could hear male voices. Not friendly ones.
The bells sounded again, and the door shut.
I stood to go see what was happening.
Tanner showed up at the conference room door before I made it outside. His expression was thunderous. He held a packet in his hand. “I’ve been served.”
