“Maybe it’s time to let it go,” she said finally. “You’re not getting anywhere with it. There’s no indication that there was foul play involved. So why not let it go? Tell them you’ve looked into everything you can, and everything seems to be kosher. No need to pursue it any further.”
“Not now, when I finally have some actual evidence that there might have been foul play!”
“You haven’t found anything new. Nothing that the police haven’t already investigated.”
“It might not be enough to make any arrests, but I think it’s enough for them to investigate it further. The boy was afraid of water. He wouldn’t have walked into the pond to drown. He had cough medicine in his system when his parents deny having given him any. He has a previous history of being knocked out by a single dose of cold medicine. Don’t you think those things add up to suspicion of foul play?”
“It’s nothing new. The police knew all that and closed their file. They believe that he did walk or fall into the pond. They already know there was cough medicine in his system. It’s in the medical examiner’s report.”
“You don’t think I should bring my suspicions to anybody. I should just tell the family that I agree it was an accident and let it go.”
She looked at him steadily. “Yes, because that’s what happened. Look, Zachary… you’re going to have unanswered questions in any case, right? There are always going to be a few things that just don’t fit. That’s what happens when we try to reconstruct every detail of a person’s life. People are variable creatures, and we can never predict everything. If you look at any death, trying to pull apart every single detail, you can convince yourself that there was foul play, or a conspiracy, or something malevolent. Just because you’re looking for it. There will always be clues that don’t fit anywhere because they’re not really clues. They’re just random bits of information. It’s never going to fit like a lock and key. Real life isn’t Murder She Wrote.”
Zachary listened to her as he poured some munchie mix out of a box into a bowl and placed it on the coffee table between them. They each had a cold can of beer, but Kenzie hadn’t yet touched hers. He shook his head.
“Why don’t you want me to continue with the case?”
“Me? I don’t care. You can waste your time if that’s what you want to do. I thought you wanted my advice as to what to do next.” She sat back, moving a couple of inches farther from him and keeping her back straight instead of relaxing into the couch. “And that’s my advice. Wrap it up and tell them you’re done.”
“Is Dr. Wiltshire upset that I’m reviewing the case? Is that what this is about?”
“Dr. Wiltshire couldn’t care less if you’re looking over his report. It’s not like he has anything to hide. He’s always very conscientious in his investigations and reports.”
“And you just think I should give up and let it go.”
She gave a little shrug. “Yes.”
He wasn’t sure she was telling him the full truth, but he wasn’t going to get it out of her with direct questioning. Maybe they’d get around to it from another direction. Zachary picked a pretzel out of the mix and popped it into his mouth.
“So how was your doctor appointment the other day?”
Her eyes widened a little bit. “My doctor…? How did you know about that?”
“You mentioned it to me when we set up lunch. You said you had a medical appointment to get to in the afternoon. I just wondered how it went.”
“It isn’t any of your business, is it?” She bristled at his intrusion. “That’s private.”
“Okay…” Zachary held up his hands defensively. “I didn’t mean to overstep my bounds. I’m sorry. It’s just that with my wife’s history—my ex-wife’s history—I get worried. Things can come out of the blue… serious things.”
Kenzie popped the top of her beer and took a little sip, looking at him. “What happened between the two of you?”
He shifted uncomfortably, not so happy with having personal questions thrown back his way. He tried to avoid it.
“You know how it is between married couples.”
“I know something happened that left the two of you pretty bitter.”
Zachary nodded.
“Mario Bowman, he said that the two of you were lovebirds, very close, like you had the best relationship in the world. Then everything fell apart. He wouldn’t give me any details. Or maybe he didn’t know them. Either way, he protected your privacy. I just can’t help wondering… what it was that left the two of you both so hurt and bitter.”
Zachary swallowed. “It’s private,” he said. “It’s not just my privacy… it’s more about Bridget’s. She’s the one… with the most to lose.”
As if on cue, Zachary’s phone started to ring. They both looked down at the display on the coffee table between them and saw her name. Bridget.
“How did she know we were talking about her?” Kenzie said in a stage whisper. She covered her mouth, giggling, while Zachary picked up the phone. He didn’t laugh. If Bridget was calling him, it was serious. Despite his efforts to move on, he wanted to be there for Bridget if she needed him. He answered the call.
“Bridget? What is it?”
“You just shut up,” she snapped. “I didn’t call to hear your excuses.”
Zachary closed his mouth. He looked over at Kenzie, who could obviously hear Bridget’s strident voice, in spite of his
