We all stared into the box for a moment until I broke the silence. “I asked my friend Randy to see if he could find anyone with a criminal record listed at the house next door. I haven’t heard from him yet.”

“So if we find out his identity, then we could find the daughter,” Jed said.

“Daughters,” Neely Kate said. “Plural.”

“Since Randy hasn’t gotten back to you, I’ll look into it,” Jed said. “Now, about Darlene Smith.” He hesitated, then held Neely Kate’s gaze. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”

She propped a hand on her hip and shot him a glare. “Why the heck not?”

“What if Harvey Smith’s murderer is watchin’ his sister? Do you really want to be seen with her?”

“What if we meet her in public?” I suggested. “We met her by chance at the bakery. Maybe we could not-so-accidentally run into her somewhere else.”

Jed crossed his arms over his chest. “Like where?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “Maybe we could arrange to meet her at the grocery store. I usually do my shopping on Saturday, but I didn’t get a chance to go today.”

“I don’t like it,” Jed said. “And I know Joe wouldn’t.”

“Joe wouldn’t like me grocery shoppin’?” I asked in mock disbelief.

“You know damn good and well why he wouldn’t like it.”

I pushed out a heavy sigh. “You know I need to do this, Jed. You’re just being stubborn.”

“You call wantin’ to protect you stubborn?”

“If she didn’t call Joe, then she’s not gonna talk to the police,” I countered. “And you darn well know it. If we can find out something to help catch the killers…”

“It’s not your job, Rose,” Jed countered. “Not anymore.”

“I know. But I’ve seen that woman in my vison murdered twice now. Three times if you take into account my first dream. It might not have anything to do with the murders, but it seems far too coincidental. Not to mention, I feel something deep inside…” I placed my palm over my chest. “There’s this urgency to save the woman in my vision. I can’t explain it, but it’s like I know her, even if I don’t.” I took a breath. “On the off chance my vision is related—and even if it isn’t—Darlene might be able to help us figure out what ties Harvey and Noah together. And if we can figure that out, then maybe we can identify the third murder victim.” I paused. “Surely his family has filed a missing person’s report.”

Dermot snorted. “Not necessarily. If he was a hardcore drug addict, there’s a chance his family wrote him off years ago. And his friends wouldn’t report it.”

All the more reason for me to help if I could.

“How about I bring someone with me when I meet her?” I asked. “You could come with me, Jed.”

He didn’t say no, which I took as a good sign.

“You’re presuming she’s gonna agree to talk to you,” Dermot said.

“True,” Neely Kate said. “She might not, especially if you’re super weird about it.”

“All I can do is try,” I said, then turned to Dermot. “What do you think? You’ve been suspiciously quiet about my plan to talk to Darlene.”

He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his chin before shifting his gaze to Jed. “I’m gonna have to agree with Rose on this one. The risk is minimal if Darlene agrees to meet her in public, and we could learn some valuable information. Perhaps keep anyone else from gettin’ murdered.”

Jed grumbled under his breath, then said, “Fine. But Neely Kate’s not goin’.”

“Why not?” she protested.

“Someone has to watch the kids,” he grunted, then turned his attention back to me. “When’s Joe gonna be home tonight?”

“I have no idea. I haven’t talked to him all day.”

“Well, it might not work out today anyway,” Jed said. “It’s nearly six. Unless she doesn’t have a social life and likes to grocery shop on Saturday night.”