effectively, a shelter for women …’
‘Shelter?’ said Ingrid, ‘but Laura would have no reason to go to a shelter.’ She paused. ‘We … we were her shelter … Robert and I.’
The hurt in her voice was heart-wrenching. ‘I understand,’ said Ren. ‘Do you think Laura might have had a friend who went there? Did she mention anyone who was in trouble or worried about something or trying to get away from a bad situation? Could she have been going there to visit someone?’
‘Not that I know of,’ said Ingrid. ‘She talked a little about her friends, but she was quite private. I knew about the Chicago girl only recently. It was like Laura mentioned friends when it was a big event, an engagement, a wedding, a baby, a funeral. But, you know, if a friend was in trouble and was running away from something, I don’t think Laura was the type to betray a confidence. I can’t see her telling me that.’
‘Mrs Prince,’ said Janine, ‘it looks like Laura may have had some information on a cold case from here in Jefferson County. Bearing in mind she is from Ireland, she lives in New York, she is young, she has a small circle of friends, it is quite extraordinary that she could have information. Is this something she was interested in? Cold cases? Websleuthing?’
‘Not that I’m aware of,’ said Ingrid. ‘She read crime novels, but so do I. Websleuthing – she had access to our computer – I’m sure you can find that out.’
‘Can we take a look at the computer?’ said Ren.
‘Of course,’ said Ingrid. ‘You can take that away with you.’ She reached over to a side table and handed a laptop to Ren.
‘Did Laura ever mention a place called The Flying G Ranch?’ said Janine.
‘No,’ said Ingrid. ‘Where is that?’
‘It adjoins Evergreen Abbey,’ said Janine. ‘Although The Flying G is now The Darned Heart Ranch for troubled teens.’
Ingrid shook her head.
‘Has Laura ever mentioned the name Margaret or Peggy Beck?’ said Janine.
‘No. Who are they?’ said Ingrid.
‘She’s a young girl who was murdered there in the early Sixties. Peggy was her nickname.’
‘What has that got to do with Laura?’ said Ingrid.
‘We’re just trying to connect some dots,’ said Ren.
As opposed to showing our hand.
‘Well, she hasn’t mentioned either of those places to me.’
‘OK,’ said Ren. She stood up. ‘Well that’s all for now, Mrs Prince. We are so sorry for your loss. If there’s anything else you can think of, please call either myself or Detective Hooks.’
They handed her their cards.
‘The more information we have the better, obviously,’ said Janine.
‘Of course,’ said Ingrid.
‘How can we reach your husband?’ said Ren.
‘I know he has meetings in New York all day today,’ said Ingrid. ‘I’m sure he’ll fly here as soon as I can get hold of him. I’ll get him to call you right away.’
Janine’s cell phone buzzed, and the doorbell rang within seconds. ‘That’s the victim advocate,’ she said, ‘let me go get her.’
Ingrid started weeping. ‘Victim advocate …’ she said. ‘I can’t believe I need a victim advocate …’
Janine and Ren drove toward Denver.
‘Thank you for ferrying me home,’ said Ren.
‘Pleasure.’
‘That woman is a wreck.’
‘I know,’ said Janine. ‘Poor thing. They were definitely close.’
‘She’s pregnant and her housekeeper’s pregnant, though …’ said Ren.
‘Just a little bit coincidental,’ said Janine.
‘Hmm,’ said Ren.
‘We need to meet this Robert Prince guy,’ said Janine.
‘See if he impregnates us … just with a stare,’ said Ren.
‘I’ll say one thing,’ said Janine, ‘that Flynn family …’
‘Just a tiiiny bit jinxed,’ said Ren.
‘I mean, it’s been one death after another,’ said Janine.
‘Maybe they’re like The Incredibles, a big spy family … that has to be taken down …’ said Ren.
‘You’re terrible, Muriel … Oh my God, why are we laughing?’
‘Because we have to,’ said Ren. ‘Because it’s what we do. Because, why oh why oh why does a pregnant lady get to die today?’
‘I know,’ said Janine. ‘Now, explain this to me: the Princes rent a house in November in Golden. They want to ski, I get that. But why are they still here? They’ve rented it all the way through to the end of May. Wouldn’t you cancel that if you found out you were pregnant, so you weren’t going to be skiing, plus you have the option of a second home in the Hamptons if it’s a change of scenery you’re looking for …’
‘I know,’ said Ren. ‘It doesn’t make a lot of sense. But, then, it’s not like I’m thinking we’ve just walked away from a murderer … a liar, maybe.’
‘I was just about to say the same thing,’ said Janine. ‘Something was a little off.’ She paused. ‘Hey – it’s nine o’clock – news.’
‘Already?’ said Ren. ‘This day has flown.’
The report of Laura Flynn’s death was the top story.
‘The pressure is on,’ said Ren. ‘On you.’
‘Thanks for that,’ said Janine.
‘But we will do everything we can …’ said Ren.
They talked over the next story, until they were drawn into the mad ramblings of an evangelist.
‘Is this still the news?’ said Ren.
‘We might learn something …’ said Janine.
‘And in so doing, the devil visited upon the Earth a faithful following of fornicators, a plague of pornographers, a harem of homosexuals—’
‘A
