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“He was handsome,” Catherine says, expelling a purely feminine sigh. “A woman could get lost in those deep, brown eyes.”
“Don’t talk to him,” Toni cuts in. “Any of you. If he or any other detectives call, don’t talk to them. Don’t give out information. Call me or Joan. Tell him you’ll meet him at the station with your attorney.”
“You don’t think that’ll look suspicious?” Juliette asks. “Like we have something to hide?”
“No; it’ll look like we have brains and means.”
“Butwhy?” Catherine pushes. “If we truly have nothing to hide…”
“We have an illegal business that grosses almost two million dollars a year,” I answer for Toni, cutting to the point. “I’d consider that something to hide.”
“Catherine.” Toni is staring at Cat, her dark eyes boring into her face. “Do not talk to the police if they approach you. Do you hear me?”
Catherine shrugs, but I see the glint of defiance before she answers with a surly, “Okay. Fine.”
Chapter 7
Catherine
June 16, 2008
“This next formis just to ensure that you, as the property owner, agree to let us search Elizabeth’s space and remove any evidence from amongst her belongings.”
Toni takes the form from the detective—Sanchez—and quickly scans it before scrawling her looping signature at the bottom.
Sanchez takes the papers and passes them to the pretty, dark-haired detective, Sade, behind him. She tucks them into a folder and leaves the room to go and wait outside with the rest of the LAPD team who will be going through Lizzie’s crap.
“We understand that this is difficult for you,” Sanchez says. “But we prefer if a resident is in the room with us as we go. That way, if we find something or have questions, there’s someone to verify information…”
Toni looks up at him bewilderedly, her expression filled with dread. I go to her, putting my hand on her shoulder in a casual show of support. “I’ll do it. You shouldn’t have to go in there.”
She doesn’t fight me, which is surprising considering she didn’t want me to talk to the police in the first place. She exhales, her body relaxing under my hand. “That would be very helpful. Thank you, Catherine. I’ll waitdown here.” She looks at Sanchez. “If that’s okay? In case there’s anything you need me for.”
“Of course.” The detective stands and makes for the front door. “All right, boys. Let’s go.”
I stand, mute, as four uniformed officers file into the house behind Detective Sade.
“Upstairs and to the left,” he directs them. “Miss Beauchamp, after you.”
Leaving my place at Toni’s side, I walk up the stairs with Detective Sanchez. He’s quiet, and I find that I prefer it that way. No small talk. No false politeness as they prepare to turn Lizzie’s room upside down, searching for any information that could help them find out what happened to her.
I tried to stay far away from Lizzie’s room in general. So, when we enter, I take in the space for the first time in months. Lizzie’s scarf collection wraps around each post of her bed, making it an unlikely art piece and the focal point of the room. The bed is made, the linen comforter neatly folded back from the pillows. Her pill bottles are organized by height—tallest at the back, shortest at the front—on her dresser. There are no clothes strewn about.
Everything is neat and tidy.
Wrong.
“Are you okay?”
“What?” With a small shake to clear my head, I meet Detective Sanchez’s eyes. He is watching me closely. Behind him, Detective Sade is studying my face, gauging my reply. “Uh,” I laugh, but the sound is tight. Forced. “Sorry, I didn’t…This is the first time I’ve been in here since…”
“I’m sorry,” he offers. “We’ll be as quick as possible.”
Detective Sade doesn’t react. Her eyes never leave my face.
“I’m fine,” I say, assuring myself as much as them. “I’ll just…” I look around the room, trying to find somewhere to stand where I’ll be out of the way, “stand over there.” I move to the window overlooking Clementine Lane and look down on the street below.
The sound of them opening and closing drawers and cupboards filters to me. It is soothing in its own way, those little familiar noises of home. With my back to them, I let my mind wander.
