Kenny grabbed the chess pieces and threw them into the box. My work here is done, he said proudly. He popped up and joined me on the walk home.
We said good-bye to each other as we approached our houses. I let myself inside and found Jim in his underwear watching the morning news with Laurie secured in the crook of his arm. I took Laurie from him and nuzzled her. She fixed her blue eyes on me and cooed.
Did you get me anything? Jim asked hopefully.
Uh . . . yeah, I did.
Jim smiled.
But I ate it.
He laughed. Look. He indicated the television. Theres a huge protest downtown, he said. Tons of arrests.
Since youre not dressed, does that mean youre staying home today? No meetings?
Jim nodded. Yeah. Its crazy out there. Im staying here with my little sasquatch and her mommy.
I need to run an errand. I want to follow up with Miss No-Nonsense, see where she was on the fifteenth.
Jims brows furrowed. All right, but be careful.
Should I stop on the way and order the turkey?
Jim smiled. Im a step ahead of you. I already preordered it online.
I sat outside Saras house and contemplated my strategy.
Could I come right out and ask her about Howard?
How sure was I that Celia and he were having an affair? If they werent and Sara was completely innocent, Id be sticking my nose where it didnt belong. On the other hand, Celia was still alive. If Sara was plotting something, better to be safe than sorry.
I rang Saras doorbell. She opened the door and squinted at me.
Oh, I wasnt expecting you. She had on a bright orange T-shirt and jeans with paint splotches across the front. She stood in the doorway and kept me on the stoop.
Sorry I didnt call first. Do you have a minute?
She glanced behind her, into what I knew was the living room. Just one. Go ahead.
I imagined baby Amanda at her huge play station, flailing around.
Uh. Yeah. Okay.
Why wasnt she letting me inside the house?
Why was Miss No-Nonsense dressed in a dirty old T-shirt?
Sara, can you tell me where you were on November fifteenth? Did you happen to see Celia Martin that day?
I waited for her reaction to Celias name, but she simply scratched at her chin. Was that last week? What day? Whos Celia?
It was a Tuesday. Celia is a midwife. She did Margarets birth and now shes helping Evelyn . . .
Sara scrunched her nose in distaste at the mention of Evelyns name. Oh. Yeah. The midwife.
I understand Howard was the general contractor that remodeled the birthing center.
She frowned and blinked rapidly a few times. Oh . . . uh . . . uh-huh.
She hadnt known.
Her husband had taken the job on the side and hadnt told her. Even Margaret knew about the job. I guess the mommy group wasnt as close as they had pretended. Venom, lies, and betrayal all around.
Sara composed herself and asked, How can I help you?
Where were you on the fifteenth, Sara? Did you see Celia?
No. Why are you asking?
Someone poisoned her with the same drug that killed Helene.
Sara swallowed and appeared frozen. Is she all right?
She didnt seem to know anything.
I nodded. Can you tell me where you were on Tuesday morning?
Tuesdays are Amandas swim class. We were at La Petite Grenouille.
That would be easy to check.
I rapped on the doorframe. Okay. Thank you for your time.
I proceed down the walkway toward my car. As I got in, I noticed she was watching me from the window.
Strange, but was she guilty?
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Swimming?
I stood at the front desk with Laurie in my arms and looked at the pools through the glass doors. There was a small wading pool and another larger pool complete with a covered yellow slide.
In the larger pool there seemed to be a toddler class going on. Only three children and one teenager with a bright pink swim cap on. The teenage instructor was assisting the kids to alternately swim through a tunnel. The children were swimming remarkably well given their age and looked adorable with tiny flippers on their feet.
In the wading pool were several moms holding their infants in their arms. They were following the instructions of another teenager, this one with auburn-colored hair. All the moms would hold the infants up in the air and duck them in the water at the same time.
I couldnt hear anything through the glass doors, but every time the babies resurfaced, their mouths were shaped into giant Os and Im fairly certain they were screaming their little hearts out.
What about this was supposed to be good for them?
I turned Laurie toward the baby pool. Does that look fun to you? Do you want to do that?
Laurie pedaled her little feet.
Is that a yes?
From the changing area a slim instructor with wet hair that was pulled back in a ponytail approached us.