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“Understand what, Doctor?”
Greg Blanding’s soft brown eyes rose to the ceiling. His lower teeth gnawed at his mustache. “Animals in the wild try not to show they’re suffering. It makes them more vulnerable to attack. But when it comes to humans, whenever there’s pain, there are mood issues. Renni tends to get angry rather than depressed. Which I think is a good thing—direct it outward, not inward. When she called me to tell me about Cordi she sounded angry so I’m assuming that’s what you saw. I don’t want you to think she’s uncaring. Anything but. She raised Cordi all by herself and did a darn good job. She loved Cordi.”
“Got it,” said Milo.
“I hope so, Lieutenant. Renni was diagnosed with R.A. in herteens. Right after having Cordi. Like I said, it’s well controlled but there have been some bone and lung issues. Fortunately, it hasn’t affected her skin. That would be especially rough for her. When a woman gets used to hearing she’s beautiful, she becomes invested in her looks.”
I said, “Was that also true of Cordi?”
“From what Renni told me, Cordi had long banked on her appearance.”
“The time she spent modeling.”
“Modeling as well as hanging around the periphery of the movie business. When coke was big I repaired a lot of coke noses so I’m familiar with that world.”
“Did you ever hear of specific issues related to that?”
“Meaning?”
“Did Cordi ever have a drug problem.”
“Not to my knowledge,” said Blanding. “She certainly never exhibited symptoms. I’ve always thought her big issue was self-esteem. She underrated her own intelligence. That’s why I was glad to hear she’d switched gears to doing something with her brain rather than her looks. But then that went south. I know my wife told you about it.”
I said, “Pretending to be a psychologist.”
Heavy shoulders dropped. “How she could’ve imagined getting away with it is beyond me.”
“Your wife also told us she tried to involve you.”
“She wondered if I could refer patients to her,” said Blanding. “No big deal, I was never at any sort of risk.”
“Because you checked out Cordi’s story.”
“I’d do that with anyone approaching me to network. But yes, I was doubtful of Cordi’s story. She was a high school dropout. Going from that to a doctorate made no sense.”
I said, “You turned her down.”
Blanding looked at the floor. “This is going to sound terrible but I simply didn’t call her back. My default approach. I’d like to tell you it’s rooted in the Hippocratic oath. Above all, do no harm. But I’ve always avoided confrontation.”
Milo said, “Sounds pretty smart to me, Doctor.”
“You’re kind to say so, but now I wonder if I could’ve handled it better. Like having a sit-down and telling her she was capable of doing it properly. Buckling down and getting a real degree. Maybe not something as time consuming and daunting as a doctorate. But training to become a psychiatric aide or some sort of rehab counselor? Why not?”
I said, “How’d she react to your not reacting?”
Blanding smiled. “She didn’t. Like father, like stepdaughter, I guess. Maybe that’s why we got along. May I ask you guys a question?”
“Sure.”
“After Cordi got caught, I know she rebranded herself as a relationship expert, which apparently doesn’t require certification. I also know she was into the whole internet thing. Do you suspect any of that that led to…this?”
Milo said, “How so, Doctor?”
“Exposing herself to the world, as it were. I mean, what are the safeguards?”
“Are you aware of any specific problems she had because of her postings?”
“No, but I wouldn’t be,” said Blanding. “She’d really moved away from us. Psychologically as well as physically. I can’t even tell you who her friends were. But there is something I thought you should know. It’s probably nothing, but…”
