“Do we have any idea how much longer Avery’s team will be?” Annie asked.
Fergus checked the monitor screens for any updates. “Looks like tomorrow. Day after, the latest.”
“I’ll call my pilot and let him know we’ll be flying in a few days.” Annie added that to the list.
Maggie slumped in her chair. “You guys get to have all the fun in Annie’s private jet. I’m sure I’ll be sitting in front of some spoiled brat in economy class who likes to kick the seat.”
“Stop moaning. Instead of taking the shuttle, take the Acela to New York City from Union Station.” Annie stuck out her tongue.
“If you insist.” Maggie went to bite her nails but was stopped short by their unusually pristine condition and giggled. “Hmmm . . . This really is a good deterrent.”
Annie turned to her. “What do you have on the Thompson case?”
Maggie checked her laptop. “‘Lorraine Thompson, widow and mother, passed away at home of an apparent suicide. Family members said she had been very emotionally unstable as of late but were shocked that she had been despairing enough to have committed suicide. Her eldest daughter, Genevieve Ringwood, said her mother had been a bit manic but not necessarily depressed. “We would have done something about it if we had only known.”’” The article goes on to offer the usual bromides. ‘If you or anyone you know shows signs of depression, call the hotline.’
“I spoke to Mrs. Ringwood, who was very reluctant to talk to me on the phone, so I offered to interview her in person. She sounded a little . . . I dunno. Secretive? Like she was hiding something.”
“If anyone can get her to talk, it’s certainly you!” Annie chortled.
“I’m meeting with her day after tomorrow. She lives in Huntington, Long Island, so I’ll take a car from Penn Station. I asked her if she had any paperwork on Live-Life-Long, which seemed to spook her a bit. She stammered but said she would look through her mother’s papers and see what she could find. I thought that was very accommodating of her.”
“Very,” Myra said thoughtfully. “Perhaps she, too, has her suspicions but was afraid to voice them. Good job, Maggie. I’m sure once she meets you, she’ll spill her guts.”
“That’s what I’m hoping for.” Maggie took a little bow.
Charles and Myra could hear the dogs making a yapping sound, signaling it was getting close to dinnertime.
“I think we have plenty to work with now.” Annie looked around the room. Everyone nodded in agreement.
“Let’s eat!” On that note, Maggie, with the voracious appetite, brought the meeting to an end, and each of the sisters gave a fist bump and hooted their slogan, “Whatever it takes!”
“Which includes feeding Maggie.” Charles gave the erstwhile newspaperwoman a wink.
The group saluted Lady Justice, climbed up the steps, and entered the delicious-smelling kitchen. Charles clapped his hands once and directed, “Fall to it!” That was the signal for everyone to perform their dinner duties, as well as for the dogs to line up for their evening meal. In less than thirteen minutes, the table was set, the dogs were fed, and the scrumptious casserole and side dishes were placed on the table.
They took a moment to say grace, and Charlotte added, “Dear Lord, bless these wonderful friends. I am so fortunate to have them in my life.”
A resounding “Amen!” filled the room. Lady and her pups echoed the sentiment with their version of prayer—little yowling and a yap.
Once the table was cleared and the kitchen sparkling clean, the women headed back to the war room to see what other information might have come in.
Chapter 24
Aspen
Avery Snowden put on a pair of overalls, a flannel shirt, and a hard hat. He could easily pass for a lineman. He jumped into the cab of the utility truck and headed toward Crystal Lake Road. When he came upon the estate, he parked the truck along the side of the road and put out an orange cone and a MEN WORKING sign. He hoisted the bucket to the level of the tree line to get a good view of the property. From where he sat, he could see the front and side entries of the house, as well as the four overhead garage doors. It was eight in the morning. Should be some action soon.
Within the half hour, Steinwood exited through the side door and pushed a few buttons next to the garage doors. The closest door to Avery slid smoothly up the