Julia let the thoughts go as Erika strode across the room, her footsteps heavy, and an accusatory finger aimed at the nanny.
The young nanny’s complexion was dead white.
Erika leaned forward, closing in fast. “What did you say? You saw them doing what?”
In a voice abuzz with anxiety, Izzy repeated her confession. “I went onto the deck to get some fresh air and saw them below. Lucas was playing guitar on your patio, and Fiona came over to him… and well, yeah, they kissed. I saw it.”
Erika’s attention swiveled to David. “Did you put her up to this? Ask her to lie for you to make my son look bad?”
“Ask Izzy to lie? Are you out of your mind?” David came out from his corner like a fighter hearing the bell. The detective held up her hand, halting his advance.
“I did no such thing,” he went on, while keeping his distance. “Tell her, Izzy.” His tone was firm. “Tell her I didn’t ask you to lie for me.”
“Oh, likethat’snot intimidating,” Erika shot back.
“Whoa, whoa,” said Baker. “Let’s all take a deep breath and relax.”
David did the opposite. His shallow breaths were ragged and quick. “And why would I want Izzy to concoct some wild scenario in which I end up being painted as the jealous boyfriend?” he wanted to know. “If anything, I’d wantlesssuspicion put on me, not more.”
And here it was again, David’s temper catching like a match to a pile of dry kindling. His face flushed, his top lip curled into a snarl, his eyes narrowed to slits. This was the Jekyll and Hyde metamorphosis that had always thrown Julia for a loop. He could be like a Doberman in that way—placid one second, ferocious the next, triggered by the slightest sound. In this case, Erika was blowing the dog whistle.
To her credit, Erika held her ground. “The opposite is true as well,” she said firmly. “If you did something to Fiona, you’d want someone else to look suspicious. And who better to target than an innocent high school boy?”
“Oh, spare me, Erika,” David scoffed. “How innocent can he be after locking lips with a thirty-year-old woman who was drunk out of her mind? I have no reason to think Izzy would lie, and everyreason to think it’s true—or did you forget the lap dance Fiona gave your husband? I haven’t seen a smile on Rick’s face that wide since your wedding day.”
Julia bristled.Leave it to David to cut deep.Unfortunately for Erika, he wasn’t done.
“And thanks for basically accusing me of some kind of foul play—in front of the police, no less. Is that what you really think of me, after all these years?”
“I think we’re all jumping to conclusions,” said Baker. “I’m not suspecting anyone of anything right now. All I know is that an adult woman has been reported missing for a handful of hours. I’m just gathering basic information. We’ll have a search team head out shortly, and we’ll go from there.”
“What if she doesn’t turn up?” Julia asked. “What then?”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Most of the time, these things get resolved on their own.”
David puffed up with obnoxious vindication. “That’s exactly what I’ve been saying,” he declared, directing his retort to Julia. He hadn’t wanted the police involved, and now that they were, he made it clear where he cast the blame. “This is all going to resolve itself, and we’ll have wasted everyone’s time and resources.”
“It’s not a waste,” said Baker. “I’m just doing my job, and I’ve got one last question for Izzy. Did you happen to see Lucas acting aggressively toward Fiona? Was there any physical force? Did you hear any threats, coercion, that sort of thing?”
Izzy shook her head decisively, but her eyes drifted over to David as though afraid of his reaction.
Baker put David on the spot. “So, David, were you the last person to see Fiona? She did come back to the house with you after the fight?”
“Yeah, we went to bed together. And the ‘fight’ you keep talking about was just a little disagreement.”
“And what time did you go to bed? And when did you notice she was missing?”
David appeared to calculate in his head. “It was probably aftermidnight. And then it wasn’t until I got back from my run, maybe around eight o’clock this morning, that I realized she wasn’t here.”
“Was she in bed with you when you got up?” Baker asked.
“I thought so, but I was trying to be quiet and not wake her. I assumed she was there.”
Baker nodded, but Julia could see doubt percolating in her eyes. “And the girl who ran out of here? Who was that?”
Julia spoke up. “That was my daughter, Taylor. But I don’t know what upset her so much.”
Baker nodded again, but this time, she conveyed compassion. “Young love,” she said. “I remember it well… sort of.”
