Page 129 of Trust No One

“They went to high school together. They met again at work. I warned her to be careful.”

“When did you find out about their relationship?”

“A couple of months ago. She was upset and finally she blurted it out.”

“What was Amy upset about?”

“The wife found out about their affair.”

Maria had known for months. “Did Maria confront Amy?”

“No.”

“I saw a picture of Amy, Gabe, and his little girl.”

“Amy’s idea to take the day trip to Richmond. She thought it would be cute if she had a picture of them.”

“Did Molly tell Maria?”

“Amy never said. But Amy noticed Maria started showing up everywhere.”

“Where did Amy see Maria?”

“Around town. The grocery store. The gas station. Her favorite coffeehouse. Staring. It scared Amy.”

I struggled to reconcile memories I held of the stoic Maria with this shadowing presence. “Did your daughter ever report this to the police?”

“What was she going to say? Amy knew folks would judge her if the affair came out.”

“Did Amy want to marry Gabe?”

“It was her dream. She wanted to make a new family. With Molly. Her baby.”

“Baby?”

Fresh tears pooled in her eyes. “She thought she was pregnant.”

The medical examiner would confirm this. “Did Gabe know?”

“She told him a couple of weeks ago. She demanded he leave his wife.”

“How did he react?”

“She said he was upset. Angry. But he said he would try to figure it out.”

“What does that mean?”

Frustration furrowed her brow. She reached for a packet of cigarettes beside her chair, fished a plastic lighter from the packet, and lit one. Smoke curled around her face. “That’s what I asked her.”

“How do you think Amy’s body ended up on Hale land?”

“She loved that house. She loved working there for Raine. She was so sad when the job ended.”

“That was seventeen years ago.”

“Working in Hale House made a big impression on her.”

“Would she have broken into the house?”