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The door opened wider, and Jen was in.
Kerri wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or further on edge.
“What a lovely cross,” Jen said as she moved into the house. “You have a lot of beautiful crosses. How nice.”
In the background the lady thanked her. Her voice was small. She was nervous.
“Now. As I said, my name is Wanda, and I have a few questions for you. May I call you Cora?”
“Yes, of ... of course.”
“How is Alice doing? I know this whole thing at the school has been just awful for all of you. The school counselors are working hard to help all the children, especially those closest to what happened.”
Kerri was impressed. Jen should be an actress. So far she hadn’t missed a single point Kerri had laid out.
“She isn’t sleeping.” The other woman hesitated. “I wake up and she is walking the floor. Talking to herself. It’s so sad.”
“Oh my,” Jen said, “have you spoken to her counselor about this?”
Pause.
“Why haven’t you?” Jen asked.
Kerri presumed the woman, Cora Cortez, had shaken her head in a no.
“My husband doesn’t want to get involved. We keep to ourselves. It’s easier that way.”
Interesting.
“Your husband works with Iris Cosmetics?”
Another long pause.
“I’m not sure. He does not discuss his work with me. I wouldn’t know.”
“Alice’s father was his brother?” Jen asked without hesitation.
“No. He is—was a friend. Longtime friend. They grew up together like brothers.”
The abrupt silence told Kerri the woman realized she’d said too much.
“That’s good,” Jen said. “Friends are so important. It’s good when we’re there to help one another.”
The woman made a soft sound of agreement. “Adopted,” she added quickly. “He was José’s adopted brother.”
“Oh,” Jen said, “I see.”
Good comeback, Mrs.Cortez,Kerri granted.
“No other problems with Alice?” Jen asked.
Pause.
“Great.”
Another unspoken answer apparently.
“How long have you lived in this country, Cora?”
