Page 114 of Everything She Feared

“Yes, it’s relaxing. I enjoy it. That day, I was looking for western meadowlarks and western bluebirds. They’re so pretty. I’m not an expert, but it’s been a hobby for years.” She indicated the wall maps next to her desk. “Sometimes I go with nature groups.”

“Are those bird maps?” Pierce asked.

“Yes, the birding groups know the best bird trails in the state.”

“You were alone on that day, though?”

“Yes.”

“What trail were you on?” Benton cued up a map of the park on his tablet and handed it back to Hamilton. “Tap your route.”

“Mmm.” Hamilton studied the map, then touched her finger to the screen. “Here, and went along here.”

“Did you take binoculars?” Pierce asked.

“Oh, yes, tool of the trade.”

“And you listen to the birdsong?”

“Yes, I have an app on my phone that can identify the bird according to its song.”

“Did you see anyone else that day?”

“No, I was there fairly early because that’s when the birds are most active. By late morning they settle down.”

“Did you hear anything out of the ordinary?”

Hamilton shook her head, returning Benton’s tablet.

“No. I’m sorry. I don’t think I’m being very helpful.”

“You’re doing fine,” Benton said.

“I was shattered when I learned about the girl’s death on the news when I got home. When I realized I was there when it happened, it just broke my heart.”

The detectives waited for her to collect herself.

Benton surveyed the framed family photos on the bookshelf: a little boy at an ice rink in hockey gear, a little girl on a pony, a little girl with an umbrella wearing a bright raincoat and splashing in puddles. A boy and a white-haired man fishing, several wedding and graduation photos.

Benton nodded to the array. “Your family, I take it?”

“Yes.”

Glancing briefly at the pictures, Pierce said: “You have a nice family. Are you married?”

“Widowed. My husband, Frank, died about ten years ago. He was a mortgage broker. Had a heart attack at his desk.”

“I’m sorry,” Pierce said.

“Do you work outside the home?” Benton asked.

“I did. I was a legal transcriptionist, but I’m semi-retired. I do some contract work at home.”

For the next several minutes, Pierce went over aspects of Hamilton’s account of her time at the park. When they’d finished, Benton passed his tablet to Pierce, who slipped it into her bag. They thanked Hamilton and she walked them to her door.

“It’s awful, just so sad,” Hamilton said. “The news said she fell taking a selfie. Is that what happened?”

“We’re still investigating,” Benton said.

---