“Did she mention anyone she might be having problems with? Someone following her? Calling too often?”
“No,” said Selena. “Nothing like that.”
But would she have? Beth and some of Selena’s other friends were so close with their childcare employees that they seemed more like part of the family. But she didn’t have that with Geneva, even—before. Again, an ugly flash on Geneva and Graham. Selena’s cheeks went hot, and she wondered if anyone noticed.
“Who employed her before you?”
“The Tuckers,” said Selena. “They live a few streets over.”
Crowe flipped back through his notebook. “Her sister said that there were some problems there, that she left abruptly.”
Selena shook her head. “I don’t think so. I think Mrs. Tucker—Eliza—just wanted to stay home with the kids.”
But she didn’t really know. She didn’t know the Tuckers per se, though they were Facebook friends, the kids all went to the same school. They’d provided a reference via email. Maybe it had seemed a bit terse?
“Something to do with the husband, she thought,” said Crowe. “Unwelcome advances.”
Was the room spinning? She heard the boys turn on the television in the playroom.
“Geneva never said anything about that,” said Selena.
But she wouldn’t, would she? She swallowed hard and it seemed like Detective West noticed. She consciously kept her eyes from drifting to Graham.
“What can we do?” asked Graham, the very image of sincere worry. “For you guys? For Geneva?”
Crowe slid a card across the coffee table. “Let us know if you hear from her. Maybe keep trying to call her. It’s possible that she doesn’t want to talk to her sister, but she’ll answer a call from her employer, you know. Call your bank, see if they have any further information on that check.”
“Of course,” said Graham. “Absolutely.”
There was a moment, just a breath, where silence fell between all of them and Selena saw the eyes of both detectives set on Graham.
“Quite the handyman, huh?” said Detective West to Graham.
“How’s that?” asked Graham.
“Working on that wall Friday,” said West. “Then over to your brother’s place for a home repair project.”
“Oh,” said Graham, with a laugh. He folded his arms across his chest. “I guess? Neither project went very well. But I do try.”
“What were you working on with your brother?”
“Cabinets,” Graham said, clearing his throat. “A cabinet door falling off its hinges.”
“Two-man job, is it?”
“For us, I guess,” said Graham with a grin. “Or maybe just an excuse to spend a little time catching up.”
Again, manly nodding all around. “What time did you get back?”
“On the later side. What would you say, honey?”
“Nine or ten?” she answered. For a second, she wished she was dreaming, that she’d wake up.
The detective asked for Graham’s brother’s name, address, and phone number. Graham provided it without hesitation. For all she knew, he had helped with the cabinet. She hoped for his sake that he had. Or that Joe would know to lie, which he might. Bro code, Graham liked to call it.
“Where’s Geneva?” asked Oliver, slim and small in the doorway, leaning against the wood frame. “What’s wrong?”
The detectives both moved toward the door, and Selena, whose whole body had grown tense, jumped liked a spring to tend to Oliver.
“We’re not sure, honey,” she said, her voice high and way too bright. “Everything’s okay.”
Oliver didn’t look convinced, serious eyes on Selena. She shook her head, just ever so slightly—no one would have noticed but him. And her child knew to be quiet, whatever he was thinking, wanted to ask or say. He knew what his mother wanted him to do, the way all children do without words.
“Go take care of your brother,” said Selena. Oliver disappeared down the hallway.
Graham ushered the detectives into the foyer and out the front door.
“I noticed that you have one of those camera doorbells,” said West on the porch. “Does it turn on with motion? Is it set to record?”
“No. It’s an older one,” said Graham with a regretful wince. “It’s a bit glitchy because our WiFi needs an upgrade. Doesn’t always even work.”
“Technology.”
Was West going to ask to see the app? Would Graham show it to him? Was it set to record? She didn’t even know. What about the other cameras? Were they set to record? They were all visible on the same app.
She knew that they should say no, if they asked to see it. That was their right. She braced herself. What would she say? If they really wanted to help, had nothing to hide, they’d show them the app without question.