Elizabeth had told her. “Well, I’m sure she’s perfectly all right.”
“Didn’t she get to the Nortons’?” Elizabeth asked.
“No,” said Marilyn Burton. “She didn’t. But don’t worry. I’m sure she’s somewhere.” She dropped the receiver back in its cradle, then called Norma Norton back.
“Norma?” she said. “It’s Marilyn. I think you’d better call Ray.”
Rose saw the apprehension in her daughter’s face as Elizabeth hung up the phone.
“What is it?” she asked. “Has something happened to Kathy?”
Elizabeth shrugged and shook her head slowly. “I don’t know. She never got to the Nortons’.”
“Where did she leave you?” Jack asked.
“At the edge of the woods,” Elizabeth replied. “We were talking about the Stevenses, and Kathy was hoping if we walked by, maybe she’d get a glimpse of Jeff.”
“And did you?” Rose asked archly.
Elizabeth shook her head. “I don’t think anybody was home,” she said. “At least, we didn’t see anybody. So when we got to the woods Kathy said she had to be getting back to the Nortons’.”
There was an uncomfortable silence, and Rose was sure that all three of them were thinking about Anne Forager. “Well,” she said finally, breaking the silence. “You’d better get back upstairs before Sarah misses you.”
“Yeah,” Elizabeth said blankly. “I hope nothing’s happened to Kathy.” She searched her parents’ faces, as if looking for reassurance that her friend was all right. Rose did her best to smile brightly.
“I’m sure it’s nothing serious,” she said, with a confidence she didn’t feel. Then she decided to voice what they were all thinking. “After all, nothing happened to Anne Forager, did it?”
“No,” Elizabeth agreed. “But she’s a little liar anyway. Kathy isn’t like that” She left the room, and Jack and Rose listened to her steps echoing up the stairs.
“We ought to get a carpet for that staircase,” Jack said absently.
“That’s a stupid thing to say,” Rose snapped. She stopped, surprised at what she’d said. Jack stared at her.
“What did you expect me to say?” he said coldly. “Are we supposed to sit here speculating on what might have happened to Kathy Burton?” He saw the anger flare in his wife’s eyes, and wished he’d kept his mouth shut. He picked up his glass and headed for the bar in the corner of the study.
“I wish you wouldn’t do that,” Rose said.
“Do you? Well, I’m sorry,” Jack said irritably, and poured twice as much liquor into the glass as he had intended to. He was preparing for the battle he could see brewing when the phone rang again. This time it was Ray Norton.
“That you, Jack?” he said when Jack picked up the receiver.
“Hello, Ray,” Jack replied. “Shall I guess what you’re calling about?”
“I was wondering if it would be all right with you if I dropped over for a couple of minutes.”
“Here?” Jack said. “Why here?”
“Well,” Ray answered. “It seems like Elizabeth was the last person to see Kathy—”
“You’re talking like she’s dead,” Jack interrupted.
“I didn’t mean to.” Ray Norton was apologetic but firm. “But she does seem to be missing, and I’d like to hear Elizabeth’s story straight from her.”
“What do you mean?” Jack said defensively.
Ray Norton heard the tone of his voice, and hurried to dispel Jack’s thoughts.
“Stop jumping to conclusions,” Ray said. “I just don’t like getting information secondhand, even from a mother. In fact, especially from a mother. I’d rather get it directly from the source, and from what I know of Elizabeth, she’s a pretty reliable source. Can I drop over for a few minutes?”
“Officially or unofficially?” Jack asked.
“Oh, come on, Jack,” Ray replied. “If you’re wondering if you need a lawyer—”
“No,” Jack interrupted, “I was wondering if I should have a drink waiting for you. See you when you get here.” He dropped the phone back on the hook, cutting off Ray Norton’s relieved laughter, and turned to his wife.
“We’re having company,” he said.
“So I gathered,” Rose said drily. “I take it he wants to talk to Elizabeth?”
“That’s it” Jack nodded. “I guess Marilyn Burton’s pretty upset, and gave him a garbled version of what Elizabeth told her.”
“Well, she has a right to be,” Rose said. “Upset, I mean.” She looked at the drink in Jack’s hand and was suddenly sorry she’d criticized him.
“If I apologize for snapping at you, would you mix me one of those?” She smiled.
Jack mixed the drink, and they sat in front of the fireplace, waiting for Ray Norton’s arrival. “I wonder what really happened,” Jack said finally.
Rose glanced up at her husband, and saw that he wasn’t looking