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didn t say anything. She just listened. Her former boss at
World Accord International always said the ability to listen
is one of the most powerful tools one can have.
After a moment s silence, Diane spoke.  Why do you
think Marsha has not healed?
 I don t know. At first, Wendy and I tried to help Marsha
cope. But after a while, Wendy just went along with her,
and I stayed across the street with my husband more and
more. We quit having the neighborhood barbecues we used
to have when the children were small. I have a son, Colton.
He s in California now at Berkeley studying political sci-
ence. He s getting a master s.
 Do you see him much? asked Diane.
 Not a lot. I go out there some. I m thinking about mov-
ing, she said.
Diane smiled.
 My son doesn t like to come here anymore. I don t
186 Beverly Connor
blame him. Bad memories. Wendy s son, Tyler, is in law
school at UGA now. He doesn t come home much either.
So much has changed. I sometimes resent Marsha and her
family. I think Wendy does too. I know that s unfair and
cruel.
 But understandable, said Diane. Kathy obviously
wanted to talk. Diane wondered whether she had been
frank with anyone about this.
 Colton was a year younger than Ellie Rose. He and
Tyler are the same age. We were so happy then. There were
lots of kids in the neighborhood. Several people moved
away after Ellie Rose s death. Even though Colton was
a boy, I was afraid after El s death. You never know why
someone kills children, or if yours might be next. All of us
parents were afraid. Many distanced themselves from the
Carruthers. Others, like Wendy and me, tried to help. But as
I said, there was no helping her. I don t know what it would
have been like if it had been my child. Wendy said your
child was murdered, she said.
 Yes, said Diane.  I don t talk about it much.
Kathy nodded as if she understood.  What did you think
of us? she asked, suddenly.
 The three of you are very sad, especially Wendy and
Marsha. They have turned very much inward. The whole
time the three of you were here, you were the only one who
seemed to be aware of your surroundings.
 Yes, we are different, she said.  You noticed that?
 Yes, I noticed it. What I don t understand is why the
three of you came here today. Did Marsha actually expect
to have me say that what I found really wasn t true? Does
she honestly think there is a chance Ryan Dance could get
out of jail based on my findings about his sister s death?
 Yes. Both of them think that. Marsha got some pretty
mean calls that upset her after the article came out. And
her daughter Samantha moved out. She is beside herself
about that. But she never paid any attention to the poor
girl. What did she expect? She wanted her family nearby,
but out of her way. She never used to be so self-absorbed.
Honestly, that s true. She was just the nicest person. Ellie
Rose was a nice girl too. Always cheerful, always had some-
DUST TO DUST 187
thing sweet to say. Her death tried my faith. It did. I think it
tried Marsha s and Wendy s too.
 Samantha moved out? said Diane.  I m sorry to hear
that.
 She is eighteen. And, frankly, I think it s a good thing.
She was being smothered in that house. You were there.
Could you live there?
No, Diane couldn t have, but she didn t say it. Instead
she gave Kathy a prod.  Is there something you wanted to
say to me?
 I wanted to ask you: Are you sure, are you really sure,
that Stacy Dance was murdered?
 The Gainesville police will be receiving all the new evi-
dence soon and they will decide how to proceed and what
to divulge. So I can t go into any specifics. However, I can
tell you I have no doubts whatsoever, and neither does our
medical examiner, that Stacy was murdered. And we both
have had a lot of experience in what we do.
Kathy Nicholson s eyes teared up. Diane reached for a
tissue and handed it to her.
 Are you afraid Marsha Carruthers or her husband
might have done something to Stacy? asked Diane.
Kathy was quiet for several moments.  I would never say
that. Never, she said at last.
 But you might worry about it? said Diane.
Kathy said nothing.
 Is there anything you know that bothers you? Anything
you ve seen? asked Diane.
 It s just the anger. We drove up here together. It was just
terrible. Wendy drove and Marsha sat in the front seat. I sat [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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