“We’ll begin by trying to find out how she escaped from the hospital,” Eve said. “And if someone helped her. That could be a lead for us to locate her.”
Kendra nodded. “But you don’t have to waste a lot of time on that. You have Sam.”
“She does?” Sam put down his fork. “More work?”
“You’re the expert. It won’t take you any time. Your pancakes won’t even get cold. Boot up your computer and tap into the list of people who surrounded Beth Avery during the last few weeks.”
He shrugged and slipped his computer from its case. A few moments later, he turned the laptop around so that it faced Kendra and Eve. “There’s the list. About twenty people.”
“But only one of any importance,” Kendra said softly, her gaze focused on the list. “Bingo. I thought it would be there, but I had to be sure I was right about how Beth got away that night.”
Eve’s gaze flew to Kendra’s face. “You knew?”
“I told you, I didn’t have all the pieces of the puzzle. I needed confirmation. We were too busy today to get it earlier.”
Eve’s gaze shifted back to the computer list. “Who?”
Kendra pointed to the twelfth name on the list.
Jessie William Newell.
Eve frowned. “Who is—” Then the memory came back to her. “The orderly?”
Kendra nodded. “That nice young man who was conveniently on the same floor as we were while Piltot was showing us around.”
“That doesn’t have to mean anything.”
“No, but your sister had to have help from someone. You’ve seen the security measures there.”
“It would be hard even with help.”
“Yes, I saw only two outdoor areas that weren’t covered by security cameras, both out back. It would take someone who could have scouted the entire facility—as we did—to know that. Both of these areas have long drops to the hillside below, which is probably why cameras aren’t covering them.”
“You think Beth jumped from one of them?”
“She was lowered from the north side of the rear walkway. There are tiny pieces of white stucco on the hillside below that spot. Nowhere else. The pieces probably came off when she braced her feet against the wall as she was lowered.”
“Lowered? You believe someone lowered her down?”
“Not someone. Jessie William Newell. He had light abrasions on his knuckles and upper arms, all of the size and character consistent with the sharp stucco on that wall. They’re especially apparent on his left hand.”
Eve had a sudden memory of the orderly reaching out to shake Kendra’s hand. “You used your left hand. I thought it was awkward at the time.”
“It was awkward, but I had to get a better look. I’m sure he leaned over the walkway with a rope and helped lower her. If you’d bothered to look up there, you would have seen places where the stucco wall was obviously marked from a rope with a weight on it.”
“I did glance up there,” Eve said dryly. “But I obviously wasn’t seeing.”
“Concentration.” Kendra was smiling. “It has many applications. Some less pleasant than others.”
“Are you through with me?” Sam asked. “Are you satisfied that Kendra is right about this dude, Eve?”
Eve looked at the list of names again.
Jessie William Newell.
Billy had given her the security code for the house.
William. Billy?
“Yes, I’m satisfied,” she said slowly. “But I’m not through with you. I need everything you can pull up on this orderly. Will you send it to my phone?”
* * *
THE SUN WAS BEGINNING to come up over the dark sea when they left the IHOP forty minutes later.
Eve stopped as they reached Sam’s car. “I’m not going to say thank you again. But I owe you, Sam.”
“That’s always a plus.” Sam shook her hand. “I’ll remember and use that IOU if I need it.” He turned to Kendra. “How about you?”
“Am I grateful?” Kendra thought about it. “No, I gave you an entertaining experience. If anything, you owe me.” She turned back to Eve. “I’ll get my bag from your car. Sam can take me to the airport and drop me off.” She checked her watch. “I should get back in plenty of time for my appointment with Justin.”
“Just as you planned,” Eve said as she unlocked her car and took Kendra’s case from the trunk. “I’m glad you were able to fit me into your schedule.” Such polite, almost stilted words, and yet they meant so much. Kendra would resent thanks, but she had opened new doors for Eve in so many ways. She handed the