Page 181 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass

She nodded. “One afternoon it was pouring outside and she pulled up in some fancy car.”

Nate perked up. “Do you remember the make or model—maybe the color?”

She wrinkled her nose as she shook her head. “It was dark—black or navy-blue, but otherwise it’s hard to say. I just remember thinking it was pretty fancy.”

“So he bought her calla lilies and drove her home once?”

Danielle nodded. “At one point, he took her away to some inn.”

“Do you remember where?”

“Some place in New Hampshire, or maybe it was New York.” She shrugged. “I think it was New York.”

“New York,” he repeated, already writing that off as a lost cause.

“I’m pretty sure they talked on the phone sometimes after Callie went to bed.”

“Who would call who?”

“He called Sam.”

“And Callie never met him?”

“No. Not that I’m aware of. Sam didn’t want men in and out of her daughter’s life.”

“I imagine you don’t have any idea where he lived? Maybe it came up in a conversation?”

“No.”

“Was Samantha still dating her boyfriend when she headed to Carter Island?”

“I don’t know. I think they were having some problems. The phone calls stopped rather abruptly, and she started taking her art supplies with her when she went out on Thursdays. She was sad, but she tried not to show it.”

Another thing mother and daughter had in common. “When did the calls stop?”

“May or June.” She sighed. “All I know is Sam was hell-bent on going to the island for the Fourth of July. Typically, she and Callie came with us to Maine. That had been the plan again, but Sam changed her mind a few days before we were supposed to leave—had it in her mind that she and Callie were going to Carter Island.”

“Do you think she and her boyfriend were planning to meet?”

“I can’t say for sure but it crossed my mind.”

“You said Samantha was sad?”

Danielle nodded. “She was quieter than usual; her eyes were blotchy a lot—like she’d been crying—but I know she was looking forward to getting out of the city. That was about the only time she seemed all lit up—talking about taking Callie on the boat—”

“The ferry?” Nate interrupted.

Danielle nodded. “Yes.”

“Did she say where she was going to stay?”

“No—just one of the motels I’m assuming. It didn’t really come up. I know she wanted Callie to have all kinds of experiences. She was excited about the idea of playing with Callie at the beach and eating ice cream by the water. She was fascinated by some woman whose boyfriend was lost at sea or something.”

“Mary,” Callie whispered, pressing her hand to her heart.

“Yes. Mary.”

“Do you think Samantha was depressed?”