marriage and having kids? What about the impending adoption?

Finally, I heard Bruce’s footsteps on the staircase. He was carrying a mixed drink in one hand and a beer in the other. He resumed his seat across from me and set both drinks in front of himself.

“Bruce, are you planning any construction projects?”

He sighed. “Yeah. Helene and I wanted to put an extension on the condo. Because of the baby.”

“Did you decide to cancel the project?”

He shook his head. “Well, I’m not sure yet what I’m going to do.”

“Do you know if Helene canceled the project?”

“No. She wouldn’t have canceled the project. Why would she cancel? No.”

So maybe Sara was right and Helene hadn’t canceled the construction, but why would Evelyn lie?

Bruce took a sip of the mixed drink. “I’d love to have children. But hell, I’m not around much. How am I going to raise a kid all by myself?”

I watched as his face contorted. Anger flashed across his eyes and was replaced by a distant look. He gripped the mixed drink, then made a satisfied sound as he drained the glass. “I work all the time. I have very demanding clients. Even this.” He waved his hand around. “My being out this week. Sure the firm will send out a letter to my clients, but it’s very hard to be away.”

He pushed the empty glass away from himself and grabbed the beer.

“I know you spoke with the ME. Can you share anything with me that might help me figure out what happened that night?”

He fingered the beer and sat in silence. “He didn’t tell me much. Just asked if Helene used drugs. I told him she didn’t. He kind of kept questioning me along those lines. Asked about drinking and smoking and stuff. Helene drank that night, sure.” He took a swig of beer. “We all did. But I don’t think she drank enough to have alcohol poisoning or anything. And she was using these nicotine patches to try and get off the cancer sticks. We both wanted the house to be smoke free for when the baby came. But that’s it. That’s pretty much all I could tell him.”

“Bruce, early in the evening, do you remember being at the bar with Helene, Margaret, and her husband? Margaret told me you all were at the bar and then Sara and her husband came over. Apparently you men were discussing investments—”

“Oh! Yeah, sure. Howard was grilling me on the market. It’s not a surprise we’re all very concerned about it tanking.”

“Do you think maybe Helene and Margaret got their drinks mixed up?” I asked.

Bruce looked curiously blank. “I don’t know. Where are you going with this?”

It didn’t feel right to share Margaret’s fears with him. How could I tell him his wife may have accidentally been murdered?

No. I didn’t know that for sure anyway. I shouldn’t get him upset about something I couldn’t yet prove.

Instead I said, “Can you think of anyone that would want to hurt Helene?”

“I really don’t know, Kate. As far as I know, she was pretty well liked. I mean in the mommy group and everything . . . even though, you know, she wasn’t one of them yet.”

“What about her relationship with Evelyn?”

Bruce looked blank.

“Evelyn was in the mommy group. There was an incident with her kid biting Sara’s baby . . .”

Bruce finished the beer. “I didn’t keep track of the ins and outs of the group. You should ask Margaret.”

I nodded.

He hung his head. “You know, Kate, my grandma died a few weeks ago. She had terminal cancer. And she was old and all, and we expected it . . . but Helene . . .”

He covered his face with his hands.

I sat in silence while he collected himself. “I’m going to do all I can to try and figure out what happened to Helene.”

He stood. “Thank you, Kate. Margaret said you’re great. I’m sure SF’s finest can use all the help they can get, and if Margaret says that’s you, then that’s enough for me.”

Margaret had said I was great?

Nothing like a little peer pressure.

I packed my notebook into my backpack. Bruce wrapped his hands around Laurie’s bucket handle. “Do you want me to carry her down?”

“Please.”

We walked down the staircase. Bruce settled Laurie at my feet and headed straight to the bar. He poured himself another whiskey.

“Were you going to drive Celia home?” I asked.

Bruce glanced at his watch. “Oh, geez. I forgot about Celia. She’s been out a long time.