Page 23 of Criminology of a Character

“That’s all right,” Olivia said. “Anything you remember will be helpful.”

“What would you like to know?” Kelsey asked, and Olivia gestured for Bel to take control.

“You were friends with Mrs. Blaubart in college, correct?” Bel asked, and the woman voiced her confirmation. “Can you describe her to us?”

“Anne was a smart girl who came from an extremely wealthy family, and she thrived on being the life of the party,” Kelsey began. “My god, she was fun. She wasn’t a troublemaker or a wild party girl. She was just an absolute blast.” Kelsey sighed into the phone as if she longed to return to those days. “She made everyone laugh, and she never took anything too seriously. Maybe it had to do with her parent’s deaths. They died in a car accident, and I guess she realized how short life was, so she didn’t sweat the small stuff.”

Bel’s face involuntarily scowled at the phone as Kelsey reminisced, but when she noticed Olivia staring at her, she shook her head as she sipped her wine. The Anne Kelsey remembered wasn’t the woman she’d met, but she didn’t want to influence the discussion with her memories.

“For instance, we all got obnoxiously drunk one night,” Kelsey continued, and Bel tuned back into the conversation. “There was an out-of-service bridge by campus, and when we were too wasted to be reasonable, someone dared Anne to walk the railing. The bridge wasn’t that high off the ground, so she accepted the dare. She almostmade it across, but she tripped and fell onto the creek bed. Unfortunately, she landed on the rocks, so we had to rush her to the hospital. We were so worried about her, but she was fine. She needed stitches on her ribs, and when they healed, we realized the scar looked like…” she paused as if suddenly embarrassed.

“Well, it was shaped like a pair of boobs,” Kelsey giggled. “I never meant to laugh at her. It just looked so ridiculous. I expected Anne to be mortified, but she was cool with the teasing. She was a total riot with the scar. Sometimes, she would even dress it up with makeup for laughs. She was such a good sport, and we loved her to death. I’ve had very few friends as special as Anne, which is why my heart broke when we lost touch. She dropped off the face of the planet after college, then a few yearslater I saw her on the news. She was at a charity event with her new husband,and thatwas painful. My best friend had gotten married, and she hadn’t even invited me. I suppose when you think about it, it makes sense. She married this famous doctor. She was probably afraid wild Anne would return to embarrass her.”

“She didn’t invite you to her wedding?” Bel asked.

“She didn’t invite any of her college friends,” Kelsey answered. “She cut ties with all of us after school. It was like she didn’t want any reminders that we existed.”

“Did something happen?” Bel asked, trying to keep the eagerness from her voice. Was this what they were looking for? Wasthe reason Anne abandonedher old life the same reason she’d ended up in that illegal clinic?

“Not that I’m aware of,” Kelsey said. “We graduated, promising to stay friends, but she never looked back. Shegot married, and honestly, I haven’t thought about her for years. I couldn’t tell you what happened to her. Maybe she had a falling out with another friend, or maybe shesimplywanted to leave the life where her parents died behind. I wish I knew. I missed her at first.”

“I’m sorry,” Bel said. “Losing someone you care for is difficult.”

“Thank you,” Kelsey said. “Is there anything else you’d like to know?”

“Her scar?” Bel asked. “Where was it exactly?”

“On her right ribcage, below her breast. That’s why the shape was funny.”

“So it would be visible if she wore a bathing suit?”

“Oh absolutely. It was impossible to miss, and she never cared to hide it. I think she enjoyed watching people try not to laugh.”

“One last question,” Bel said. “Did Anne chew gum?”

“Doesn’t everyone?”

“I meant, was she an obsessive gum chewer?”

“No, definitely not,” Kelsey answered. “The only times I saw her chew a stick was after we’d eaten something garlicky.”

“Hmmm,” Bel grunted. “Did she prefer a particular flavor?”

“I don’t think so. She never carried any with her, so sheonlychewed what others offered her. She wasn’t picky.”

“So she didn’t chew a specific flavor from a specific brand after every meal?” Bel asked.

“Anne?” Kelsey laughed. “Definitelynot. She was not the habit type.”

“I believe that’s all the questions we have for now.” Bel met Olivia’s gaze with meaning. “Thank you for your time.”

“Yes, thank you,” Olivia said. “Have a good night.” She hung up the phone and fixed Bel with an expectant expression. “What was that face?”

“The Anne I met is not the same person Kelsey described,” Bel said. “Anne Blaubart is shallow and borderline hostile. She wasn’t welcoming, and there was nothing carefree about her. Now I know that means little since people change drastically between college and their late thirties, but Kelsey remembers a woman I didn’t meet. What’s more, Anne Blaubart is an obsessive gum chewer. Every meal,thesame brand and flavor, followed by the same butterfly origami.I realizepeople can pick up nervous ticks over time, but Anne Chambers and Anne Blaubart sound like two completely different women.”

“Marrying a wealthy surgeon probably changed her,” Olivia offered.

“That’s entirely possible,” Bel said. “Personality and habits can change, especially after a tragedy or stress, but people can’t erase the scars on their bodies. I saw Anne in a bikini, so I got a decent look at her ribs. Anne Blaubart does not have a scar.”

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