Page 67 of Cold Threat

“We also need to follow up on the people who have died. Were they all foster parents? Were there problems?”

Tony nodded. “Anything else?”

“Those are the biggest questions. I guess if this Donnie guy can give us answers, we’ll know a lot more than we do now.”

“Okay. If we think of anything else, we can add it to our list on the way to meet with him.” He looked at the clock. “Frankly, I’m tired of thinking about this. As for our profile, I’m beginning to dream about it. If you don’t mind, I think I’ll chill out for a while. Why don’t you go downstairs and try to make a sandwich?”

“Tryto make a sandwich,” River said with a grin. “You know I’m capable of putting cheese between two slices of bread, right?”

“Yes, I’m aware, but I predict you won’t get the refrigerator door open before my mother pops up and offers to make you something.”

River laughed. “I’m not going to take that bet.”

“Smart lady. I’ll meet you downstairs by twelve thirty, then we’ll head to the agency.”

“Sounds good.”

Tony left, probably headed to his room. River was still concerned about him. Had she read him wrong, or was he really just tired? It was possible, but she wouldn’t bet on it. She knew when he was upset, and something was definitely bothering him. He wouldn’t look at her directly, and he kept working his jaw. Two signs that he was trying to keep something from her. She hated the feeling that he wasn’t being honest—and that she wasn’t either. Tony was the only person in her life she could completely trust. But if she was being truthful, she’d have to admit that they both kept things from each other from time to time. Tony looked out for her, and she did the same for him. That’s why she hadn’t told him about the nightmares at first. She didn’t want him to worry.But sharing the truth had turned out okay. He’d helped her. He probably wasn’t telling her about Aimee because he didn’t want to upset her. She thought about Beth and how she’d confronted River about Aimee. She was glad Beth had been honest. They were closer now—the air cleared between them. She and Tony needed to do the same. She decided to talk to him, but it would have to wait until after they got back from talking to Ray’s friend.

River closed her notebook, went to her room to get her purse, and headed downstairs. When she reached the kitchen, she slung her purse over the back of a chair. Sure enough, before she could open the refrigerator door, Beth came in from the living room.

“Ready for some lunch?” she asked with a smile.

“I was just going to make a sandwich. You really don’t need to bother.”

“Don’t be silly. I enjoy having people at home. Someone to take care of. It’s lonely with Ray gone so much.” She sighed. “He took the week off, and he still has to go into the station.”

River was surprised to see her blink away tears.

“Things will change when Ray retires,” River said.

“I know. It will be wonderful. I worry, though.” Beth gestured for River to sit down at the table.

“You worry about what?”

As River sat down, Beth opened the door to the refrigerator. “What will he do with his time? He’s not the kind of person who can sit around and do nothing.”

“You two can travel. Do the things you don’t have time to do now.”

“Maybe.” Beth grabbed some plates and carried them over to the table. “Ham or turkey?” she asked. “I have Swiss, cheddar, American, pepper jack, and provolone cheeses. Oh, and some Gouda.”

“How about ham and cheddar with mustard?”

“Okay, and what kind of bread? I have...”

“Sourdough is fine,” River said since she knew Beth had some.

Beth quickly put together a sandwich. Then, after putting everything away, she took out some potato salad, along with some macaroni salad. River would have been happy with chips, but she had no intention of saying anything. Was this how women without careers ended up? Worrying about what everyone wanted to eat? Using their extra time to clean the house and bake rich desserts? River was pretty sure she’d be miserable if this was all she had to do.

“Did you ever have a job outside your home?” River asked after Beth put her lunch plate in front of her. “Tony’s never mentioned anything.”

“I did.” Beth sat down next to her. “I was a schoolteacher. Sixth grade. I loved it. But then Tony and Aimee came along, and I wanted to stay home with them. I thought about going back once they were in school, but Ray and I worried about them. What if they were sick? Most of the time Ray couldn’t come home and stay with them if they needed someone. We didn’t want them to be latchkey kids. I saw too many problems with children who had too much free time before their parents got home. Of course, that was in Des Moines. By the time we moved here, Tony was gone, and Aimee was in high school. Just for two years. Then she went to college. I wanted to be here when she had breaks.” Beth sighed and stared wistfully at a place somewhere to River’s left. That meant she was probably remembering. Seeing something from the past.

“In all these years you never thought about going back?” River asked after swallowing a bite of her sandwich.

“I did. But ... I don’t know ... schools are different now. Children don’t act the same. I did some substitute teaching for a while, but even in a town like Burlington, it wasn’t enjoyable. I got tired of having kids swear at me and challenge my authority.” She waved her hand at River. “Don’t get me wrong. Most of them weregreat. Wanted to learn. I still hear from a few of them, believe it or not. It’s just not for me now.” She was silent for a moment and then smiled at River. “You must think I’m rather silly.”

River put down her sandwich. “I don’t think that at all. Tony adores you. Look at the kind of man he is. And Aimee. They’re both good Christian people. You should be proud.”

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