Page 58 of Shadow Sabotage
We weren’t the only ones wearing masks.
“What was your impression of Katelyn?”
Her expression soured. “Personally, I didn’t care for her. I know that sounds terrible to say, considering, and of course I feel sorry for whatever happened to her. But I couldn’t help but feel she was trying to manipulate Tony into something much more serious than what he wanted.”
Vance cocked his head. “Oh really? What exactly did he want?”
Leslie blinked twice, like she realized she’d said something wrong. “Friendship, of course. He’s very focused on his studies right now, but he enjoys … friendship. As most college guys do.”
Right.I worked hard to keep my face blank as I stared at Leslie, trying to figure out if she was lying or genuinely clueless. She was clearly using the word friendship to mean casual sex. But that wasn’t at all what her son had wanted from Katelyn—or Elsa. He’d been focused on marriage.
Vance kept digging. “But you felt like she was pressuring him into more?”
“Yes, frankly.” She smoothed her skirt, then twisted the gold watch on her wrist. “I understand she didn’t come from much. A foster child, I believe. She was beautiful, and Tony enjoyed her friendship, but I think when she saw our home and our lifestyle, she thought she’d landed something big.”
“I see,” Vance said, nodding along as if we didn’t know she was spinning a story that was the opposite of what everyone else had said.
“I didn’t trust her,” Leslie stated, her voice flat. “And Tony didn’t, either. That’s why, as I said, things were never serious and why he ended the friendship long before her disappearance.”
She smiled and lifted her hands as if that were that. I wondered how many times she had practiced that speech before we came.
“I understand,” Vance said, giving her a warm smile. He seemed to have changed tack, moving from neutral to friendly. Odd, since she was lying to us. But maybe that’s how he worked. A “keep your enemies close” kind of thing.
Vance studied his notes, then looked back up at her. “Just a few more things. What can you tell me about the fight they had the night she was last seen?”
“Well, nothing, of course. I wasn’t there, obviously.”
“Obviously,” he agreed. “But you’re a good mother. You have a close relationship with your son. He listens to you. Respects you. I’m sure he confided in you.” He gave her a look of empathy.
I squeezed my toes in my boots to stop from rolling my eyes.
“I’m afraid not.” Her smile faltered. “But, if you’ll forgive me, I don’t understand why it even matters. She left on her own. Stormed off, being overly dramatic asalways.He had nothing to do with it.”
“Oh, absolutely,” Vance agreed. “We’re just trying to figure out why she camehere.Wait a second. You said she liked to be dramatic. Did she come to your house, trying to make trouble for you guys?” He said it as if the idea had just occurred to him and he was truly worried for any trouble they might have gone through.
I knew he’d already planned the question ahead of time.
She shook her head. “No, thankfully. I don’t know why she came to Wildwood and I don’t care. She was trouble, and while I’m sorry for whatever happened to her, I just hope my son won’t be dragged into any of this. As I said, he wasn’t involved in her leaving, and all of his roommates will back him up on that.”
“Yes, I’m aware. We’re just trying to get a better picture of her mental state that night. You never know what detail might be the key to breaking things open. The argument may have been almost meaningless to your son, but she might have said something in it that could give us a lead.”
“Hmmm. I see what you mean. So you’re saying he’snota suspect?” Her eyes narrowed.
“As you said, she left on her own and he has a solid alibi for the night she was last seen. We also have evidence that she was alone when she was driving this way.” He gave her an encouraging smile.
He hadn’t directly answered her question about Tony being a suspect. Leslie didn’t seem to notice though. Her body sagged with relief before she pulled herself straight again.
“I wish I could help you more. He really didn’t tell me about the fight.” The look in her eyes made me believe her.
“That’s okay. Thank you for your time.” Vance stood, pulling a card out of his wallet and giving it to her. “If you think of anything else, call me. Day or night.”
“Of course,” she said, staring at the phone number like it was a prize. She looked up at him with a smile that was practically feline.
“By the way, you have a lovely home,” he commented, mirroring her smile.
“Oh, thank you.” She beamed, tucking her chic platinum bob behind one ear. Then she slipped her arm into his as she began walking him out. “You’re welcome anytime, of course. It must be awful being stuck so far away from home, living in a hotel room and investigating such terrible things. If you need a home-cooked meal or a place to decompress, you just stop on by.”
“I appreciate it.” He stopped to admire the view from a picture window. “You’re lucky to have such a great view of the Bighorns.”
