Page 71 of Half Baked

“A Harley-Davidson,” Noah said. “Was she still seeing him right before she died?”

“He was at her house the night before. It was the only time he spent the entire night when Maddie was home, although he was gone around the time the sun rose. But Idoknow they had an argument before he left. They were in the front yard—not shouting but talking loudly for five-thirty in the morning.”

“Did you hear what they were arguing about?”

“No.” She shook her head, looking sad. “I was about to cook Bill breakfast and was going out to get the paper. I stayed at the door so as not to disturb them but went out as he pulled away. Andrea saw me when she turned to go back in the house, and the look in her eyes was fierce.”

“Like she was pissed?” Noah asked. “Like she’d kicked him out or sent him away?”

“Maybe?” She shook her head again. “I don’t recall, and neither of us said anything. She just went inside and got ready for work, I guess.”

Noah glanced at me to ensure I was okay before he pressed on. “And you’re sure you don’t remember his last name or what he did for a living?”

“No. Andrea was very secretive about him, but I did know his name was Gordy. She did love him, I’m sure of that.”

“But she didn’t intend to introduce him to Maddie,” Noah said.

She shook her head. “No. She said maybe when Maddie was grown and off to college, but not before.”

“Why?” I asked. “If she was in love with him, why not tell me?”

Mrs. Lebowski held my gaze. “Because he was a thug, Maddie. She knew he wasn’t respectable, so she had to protect you.”

Her words sunk in my gut like a rock.

My mother had dated a criminal.

“Do you know if Gordy wore a necklace?” Noah asked. “And if it had a pendant?”

Mrs. Lebowski frowned, looking deep in thought before she said, “I think hedidwear a gold chain from time to time, lots of men did back then, but honestly, I never got close enough to see if it had a pendant.”

Noah nodded. “Is there anything else you can remember? Anything that might help me find her killer?”

She shook her head, looking dazed. “No.”

Noah reached into his back pocket, pulled out his wallet, then retrieved his business card and set it on the counter. He grabbed a pen from the counter and wrote something on the back before handing it to her.

“This is my business card, but I also wrote Maddie’s number on the back. If you think of anything, anything at all that you think might help, please feel free to reach out to either one of us.”

“I’m sorry I upset you,” she said to me, looking close to tears.

“No. Iwantto know these things,” I said, walking around the counter and pulling her into a hug. She felt smaller than my memories of hugging her. “I’m sorry I stayed away, but I want to keep in touch. I’m living in Cockamamie for the foreseeable future. So I’ll be around. If you’re willing, that is.”

She looked up at me with tear-filled eyes. “I’d like that.”

We started to leave, but Noah turned back. “One more thing, Mrs. Lebowski. Did you happen to give Andrea a key to your house?”

She frowned as though trying to remember. “No. Bill didn’t like handing out keys like candy, he said. No one had keys to our house except for us.”

“What about the neighbor on the other side of Andrea and Maddie’s house?”

“Oh, no,” she said with a short laugh. “Rita never would have given her a key either.”

Noah nodded. “Do you know if the people who bought Andrea and Maddie’s house changed the locks after they moved in?”

She laughed. “Oh, good heavens no. Even though Andrea didn’t have one of our keys, she still gave us one of hers because we watched Maddie and all. In any case, I go over and water the new neighbors’ plants when they’re gone. All these years, I still use the same key.”

Noah’s eyes lit up. “Is it easy for you to get to? Could I see it?”

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