Page 70 of Half Baked

He nodded, looking grim. “I did.”

I pushed past my horror and latched onto something my aunt had mentioned. “Aunt Deidre said Mom’s boyfriend came back.” I stared up at him. “What do you think that means?”

“I don’t know, but we’ll see if Mrs. Lebowski remembers more about him.” Worry filled his eyes. “I know this is all coming as a shock. Are you okay with hearing more?”

“I need to know the truth, Noah,” I said, my voice hardening.

“I know, but I told you that if parts were too hard to handle, I could step in, ask the questions, and fill you in later.”

“I want to know all of it. No matter how hard it is.”

He nodded, dropped his hands, and reached for mine, lacing our fingers. “You’re not doing this alone. We’re in it together.”

I smiled through my tears, surprised by how much I needed him by my side. I’d lived on my own since Mom’s death. Sure, I’d had boyfriends, and Mallory was a great best friend, but I’d still felt unanchored. For the first time since Mom had died, I didn’t feel like I had to do it all alone.

ChapterNineteen

Maddie

Iwent back inside to find a contrite Mrs. Lebowski popping the cookie sheet back in the oven.

“I’m so sorry,” she said. “I never should have told youanyof that.”

“No,” I said, standing next to the peninsula. “I need to know anything and everything you remember about my mother.”

“But why hear the things that make you uncomfortable?” she asked, closing the oven door and turning to face me. “You should remember the good and leave the rest in the past.”

“I’m trying to find out who killed her,” I said more bluntly than I’d intended. “And you’ve already given me more information than anyone else has. Please, I need to know everything.”

Horror filled her eyes and her face paled. “Oh, Maddie. No. It’s too dangerous.”

“I wasn’t totally forthcoming when I introduced myself,” Noah said. He’d been standing behind me, but he stepped up next to me now. “I’m not just Maddie’s boyfriend. I’m also a detective in the Cockamamie Police Force. This isn’t an official investigation, but I’m supporting Maddie as she talks to people from her past. I’m hoping to get enough information to reopen the case.”

Anger darted from her eyes, and for a moment I didn’t recognize the mild-mannered woman who had been a surrogate grandmother to me years ago. “Where the hell were you years ago when I tried to get you all to listen to me? I told all y’all I had information to help solve her murder, and none of you would give me the time of day. That Detective Burger told me I was a crazy old lady, and I needed to leave the detective work to the professionals,” she spat in disgust.

Noah leaned forward. “Mrs. Lebowski, with all due respect, I was in college when Andrea was killed. After I graduated, I became a police officer and then a detective in Memphis before I moved to Cockamamie last summer. I’m here to clean up the shitshow Bergan and his cronies created, and solving Andrea Baker’s murder is one of the things I want to work on. I know you probably don’t trust me, but Maddie does. I’m trying to help her get closure, and I’m certain you have valuable information that can help us.”

Her eyes turned glassy. “She was brutally murdered, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it had something to do withhim. What if they find out Maddie’s looking into it and kill her too?”

“What in the world was my mother mixed up in?” I asked, feeling light-headed.

“Not what.Who.I’m sure it had something to do with Gordy.”

“Gordy?” Noah asked, barely containing his excitement. “That was Andrea’s boyfriend’s name?”

“Yes, but I don’t know a last name. I don’t even know what he did for a job. He drove a motorcycle, and I know he hung out at that bar.”

“He was a biker?” Noah asked for confirmation.

She nodded.

“I don’t remember him at all,” I said, still baffled by the whole thing.

“Like I said earlier, your mother was careful. The first time, when you were little, he’d come over late at night. He wasn’t around for several long years. When he turned back up when you were in about sixth or seventh grade, he usually came over when you were sleeping at a friend’s house or staying with your aunt and uncle. Only on rare occasions would he come over when you were home, but it was always late at night, and he rarely stayed for long. He usually left early in the morning.”

“You were paying attention?” Noah asked without a hint of criticism.

“It’s not like I was spying,” she said in disgust. “Like I said, he drove a motorcycle, and it was loud. My husband called it a hog.”

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