Page 45 of The Note

He wondered how it came to pass that three besties all happened to have individual scandals attached to their names, but he couldn’t ask without making it clear that he was far more interested in them than he wanted to appear.

He was about to explain that their names had come up in the course of his investigation, but the woman named Lauren surprised him by speaking up.

“It’s funny that you asked how we know each other. When you called May, we were actually talking about the weirdest thing I just learned. That man who’s missing? We were apparently one degree of separation from him back when he was in college—and it was through the camp.”

Carter nodded slowly, his expression neutral. “Is that so?”

“That’s what I’m told, at least. So the camp May mentioned is called Wildwood. It’s an arts camp. I was its music director when May and Kelsey were students and later counselors.”

“And David Smith went there as well?” Carter asked. He wouldn’t normally interrupt an interviewee who was being so forthcoming, but it was a way to mislead them into thinking he knew less than he really did.

She shook her head. “No, his mother was close friends with one of the owners of Wildwood, so she was a very generous donor and supporter.”

“But that’s the mother, not the son. Did any of you ever meet David Smith—either back then or on this trip?”

“Certainly not on this trip,” Lauren said. “Well, unless he was the guy May thought she may have seen in Sag Harbor.” She looked to May with a quizzical expression. “Does he know about that yet?”

“I think so,” May said. “I told the guy in the city.”

“We’ll get to that again later,” Carter said. “But back at the camp?”

“Yes, that’s what we were all just talking about. I learned today that the David Smith who’s been reported missing here was the college boyfriend of one of the regular campers.”

“And how did you learn of that connection?”

“One of the camp’s owners told me. His name’s Thomas Welliver. His wife is the one who’s friendswith David’s mother. Thomas and I have stayed in touch even after I left the camp.”

She had surprised him again by being so open about her current connection to the married oilman. He’d read about the affair and the brouhaha that had followed at the Houston Symphony.

May crossed her arms and shook her head. “It’s eerie,” she said. “I couldn’t drop this nagging sense after he was reported missing that he might have been that guy I saw bickering with his girlfriend on the street, but then it turns out he’s someone we all sort of knew fifteen years ago. I never would have made the connection until Lauren told us.”

“That’s another detail I’ll add to the big picture we’re fleshing out. Is there anything else related to the camp you think I should know?” he asked. He gazed directly at Kelsey, who had been letting her friends do most of the talking, but she remained silent.

“I have no idea whether you need to know it or not,” May said, “but the girl he was dating? She drowned the summer after her college graduation—when she, Kelsey, and I were all counselors at the camp. Her name was Marnie Mann.”

He pulled a notebook from his back pocket and jotted down the name even though he already had it.

“Now, I know you’re eager to enjoy your vacation,” he said, his tone empathetic, “but your names have come up in our investigation. I’msure it’s something we can clear up with just a few questions, all on a voluntary basis, of course.”

They all immediately agreed.Absolutely—May.No problem—Lauren.Anything you need—Kelsey. First the smile, then the cutesy “bestie” comment, now anything he needed? Was this woman trying to work him? Was she … flirting? Or was he the one reading something into the situation, given what he’d learned about her husband’s murder?

“And if it’s okay with you, I’d like to talk to each of you individually. It’s fairly routine. May, you were a prosecutor. You’re welcome to explain all that if you want.”

“Thank you, but I don’t think it’s necessary. I’m sure we’re all fine with that. I’ll go first? Kelsey and Lauren, do you want to wait in your bedrooms until we’re done—just to assure Detective Decker we’re not sharing information?”

Her sarcasm was apparent, but the friends shrugged and began heading up the stairs. May led the way to the back deck and closed the sliding door behind them. The view of Gardiners Bay from this angle reminded him of barbecue parties at Sharon’s old house. As he watched the sunlight flicker against the water, he thought about the twenty-two-year-old concert pianist who had drowned in that lake in Maine. He had no idea what Marnie Mann’s death had to do with David Smith, but he was certain these three women did.

28

May wasn’t generally a sweaty person, but she had an undeniable tendency to pit up under pressure. At the DA’s Office, she had always worn black suit jackets over her silk blouses during trial, no matter how high the temperature soared in a courtroom. It had been only twenty minutes, but a constant stream of lies, straight to a detective’s face, had left a beaded ring of perspiration around the base of her neck. She felt chills as she stepped from the pool deck into the air-conditioned house.

She walked up the stairs to the bedroom that was now Kelsey’s and reached out to knock, butDetective Decker appeared beside her and called out instead. “Ms. Ellis? I’m ready to speak to you when you’re all set.”

He flashed a smile that was probably polite but felt a little condescending. He kept his eyes on her as Kelsey stepped past them and began heading down the stairs. “Thanks again for your time,” he said, before leaving her alone on the landing.

May had been hoping to have a one-second face-to-face with Kelsey. Time to mouth just two words.The note.

He had known about the note.

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