Oliver finished up with his client, then walked outside to wait with Juliet for Captain Marshall to arrive. He found her sitting on a bench. When he dropped down, she said, “I hate this.”
“I do too. I don’t get it. All we do is good here.”
“I know. Life doesn’t make sense sometimes.”
“You’ve felt that way since Michael died.” He picked up her hand. “I’m sorry.”
An unmarked sedan drove into the lot. Captain Marshall got out. “Hello again.”
“Hi.” Oliver stood.
Juliet looked at him. “Do you want to go inside?”
“Eventually. So you found a snake in your yoga room?”
“I know it sounds silly.”
“I asked you to call about anything that was unusual.”
“Are you still investigating everything?”
“Yes. I’m hoping the person picked up the bolster and left some fingerprints.”
“I picked it up, too.”
“That’s okay. We have all of your prints on file.”
Another officer came up to them.
“This is Officer Alberts. He’s got the kit. Shall we go check?”
Oliver went inside with her. This latest thing made him realize if he was to keep seeing Anabelle, he had to come clean about the incidents at the collective.
Later, after he left Juliet, he went to his office and picked up the phone. He let it ring several times. Finally, “Hello.”
“Anabelle. It’s Oliver.”
“Sorry it took so long to get to the phone.”
“I know to let it ring. What were you doing?"
“I just picked the girls up from my Mom’s.”
“Does she babysit every day?”
“No, I have a nanny. Mom and Dad take them overnight once during the week and every other weekend.”
“I need to talk to you about something important. Can you get away for dinner?”
“The two teenagers next door babysit sometimes. I can call them.”
“Would you do that?”
“Yes. I’ll phone you right back.”
When they disconnected Oliver sighed. He hoped Anabelle didn’t stop seeing him because of this. Boy, they really had to get this mystery solved. For a lot of reasons.
An hour later, Oliver drove up to the park, got out, removed the picnic basket full of food from the backseat and headed toward the picnic table by the carousel. Anabelle sat staring at it. A slight breeze ruffled her beautiful blond hair. He reached her and kissed her cheek. “Hi.”