Page 142 of The Advocate’s Ultimatum

“Did you ever consider it?”

A long pause. “Yes. When I thought Yvonne would lose both kids because of one more bad man, yes.” She sighed. “But thinking something in anger and doing it are different species. Now, I wish I had.”

Honest answer.

“Did you ever know where Hannah was after she disappeared?”

“No.”

“Do you know now?”

“If I did, I’d be on a plane before we finished speaking.”

JP believed her.

“Do you still talk with August?”

“I haven’t known how to reach him in years, but I think about him all the time.”

“He’s doing well.”

“Thank God,” she said. “So, you’ve seen him?”

“I’ve spoken with him.” JP glanced at his notes. “I can’t give you his contact information, but if you’d like, I can pass along yours.”

“Yes,” she said immediately. Then steadier: “I’d love to hear from him, if he wants that.”

“I’ll let him decide.”

“Okay.”

“One last question.”

“Go ahead.”

“Did anyone around that case ever strike you as… too interested?”

Rochelle was silent long enough that JP almost thought the line had dropped.

Finally, she said, “There was always somebody who liked tragedy more than they liked people.”

“Do you think it was Hayes?”

“Not really. They offered him so many chances to save himself if he would just produce Hannah, but he didn’t. Hayes was a coward and an idiot, but he wasn’t clever enough to hide her where she wouldn’t be found. And he is the kind of guy who would’ve given in to save himself, but he didn’t.”

“Who do you think did it?”

“It depends which year you ask me. But there were many possibilities. Most of which were cleared.”

“I know he’s your brother, but do you think Marcus could’ve done it?”

“He was in jail.”

“But he could’ve paid someone do it for him. So, I guess I’m asking if you think it’s something he would do.”

“He didn’t care enough about Hannah to take her. And he wasn’t fighting with Yvonne at the time, so he wasn’t looking for revenge, so no. I don’t think so.”

“Do you know where Marcus is now?”