“Who is it?”
“The name won’t mean anything to you. It’s Valerie Long. She’s the one I told you about. She played on the lacrosse team with Kerry. From what I understand Kerry had taken her under her wing, and she’s heartbroken about Kerry’s death. Judging from the time element, Kerry sent me that text very shortly after the breakfast ended.”
“Do you have any idea what they spoke about?”
“No, but I’m going to find a reason to get Valerie into my office on Monday and see if she’ll talk about it.”
“Aline, if that girl said anything to Kerry that might have revealed something tied into her death, it could be very dangerous for you. My suggestion is that you call the girl into your office, tell her that you know that she had breakfast that morning with Kerry and try to make her understand that Kerry was going to tell you whatever it was that she and Valerie discussed. Tell her that Kerry intended to tell you about the conversation and that Kerry would want her to share it with you at your meeting. We can talk about whether it makes sense for me to interview this girl.”
“That’s what I want to do,” Aline said. “Thank you, Mike.”
“Aline, I’ve enjoyed the times we’ve had dinner together. When this case is over—”
“Yes,” Aline interrupted, “I want you to ask me out.”
72
On Sunday morning, after the ten o’clock Mass, Aline had made breakfast and was enjoying the peace and quiet as she read the papers. She found herself putting off the work she had brought home from school. One more cup of coffee, she thought, and then an hour at the gym, and then I’ll plow through it.
As she was getting up from the table, the home phone rang. The caller ID showed “Private.” She picked it up.
“Aline Dowling, is that you?”
“Yes, it is. Who’s calling?”
“Aline, this is Marina Long. I’m so sorry to call you at home, and I don’t have your cell number.”
“Absolutely no problem, Marina. I was thinking about you and Valerie the other day. She wasn’t in school on Friday. Is everything okay?”
There was a pause before Marina answered. “No, well yes, things are better now.”
“Marina, I can tell you’re upset. What happened?”
“Valerie tried to take her life on Friday—”
“Oh, my God, is she all right?”
“Yes, I was in the hospital with her all day Friday. They kept her overnight. A hospital psychiatrist came and spoke to her the next morning. He said it was okay for us to bring her home. She slept most of yesterday and seems to be doing better today. I’m so worried about her. I think she might need to stay home and rest a few more days.”
“Marina, don’t worry about that. I’ll work things out with her teachers. Do you mind if I come to visit her? I can do it right now. I promise I’ll only stay a few minutes.”
“I know how concerned you are. Of course, stop over.”
? ? ?
A ghostly pale Valerie was propped up on the couch in the den with pillows behind her, a blanket covering her. Aline went over, hugged her and pulled up a chair.
“Valerie, we’re all so worried about you. If anything had happened to you, our hearts would have been broken. I just want you to know that we love you dearly and want to help you in any way we can. If you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here for you.”
Valerie looked at her. “Don’t you understand? I can’t talk to you,” she cried fiercely as she looked away.
Aline went back home. As soon as she was in the door, she called Mike. Unable to reach him, she left a message about visiting Valerie after her suicide attempt.
After returning from a jog around Schlegel Lake, Mike listened to his messages. He immediately tried to call Aline, who didn’t pick up. He wasn’t sure why, but every instinct told him that Kerry’s breakfast meeting with Valerie was somehow linked to what would happen to Kerry that night.
Time is of the essence, he thought. Two suspects are twisting in the wind waiting for this case to be resolved. He searched online and found a listing, including the street address, for a Long in Saddle River. There was only one.
He called the colleague he wanted to come with him. Yes, she could meet him there later if he was able to set it up.
Twenty minutes later Mike’s cell phone rang. It was Aline. “Sorry I missed your call. I left my phone at home when I went to the gym.”
“Aline, I’m getting very worried that Kerry’s death may have had something to do with that breakfast meeting with Valerie at the diner. Especially since this kid has now tried to kill herself. I don’t want to wait another minute. A female detective can meet me there. She is very sensitive and experienced. I’m asking you to call Valerie’s parents and see if I can go to their home later today. They trust you. I think it would be better if you make the phone call.”
“I’ll call right now and get right back to you.”
Ten minutes later Aline called back. “Mike, it took a little persuading because they feel Valerie is so fragile. They agreed that you could come at six tonight as long as you stop right away if she gets too upset.”
“Aline, thanks so much. I owe you a dinner. How about tonight, seven-thirty, eight o’clock? I’ll come straight from Valerie’s.”
“We’re on.”
73
Looking forward to seeing Mike, Aline showered and went to her closet. She chose a navy-blue silk blouse over fitted jeans. She had just finished her makeup when her phone rang. The name on the screen surprised her. “Hello, Mrs. Chapman.”
“Is this Aline Dowling?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Aline, my name is Brenda Niemeier. I’m a close friend of Marge’s. This is her phone. She asked me to call you.”
“Is Mrs. Chapman okay?”
Aline heard the woman fighting off tears as she spoke. “I’m over at Pascack Valley Hospital. It looks like Marge had a heart attack. She had instructions in her pocketbook that I should be called in an emergency and help make decisions if she can’t.”
“Oh my God,” Aline said. Part of her was not surprised. She could only imagine the strain Marge must have been under these past weeks. “Brenda, what can I do to help?”
“When I saw Marge before they took her in for surgery, she was so worried about Jamie. She asked if you could go over and be with him for a little while. Tell him everything will be all right. Maybe help him fix something for dinner. Marge is so worried that if anything happens to her now, who will be there for Jamie?”
“Tell Marge of course I will. Please call me as soon as you get any updates on her condition.”
“I will, honey. Marge always told me how nice your family is, and how lucky she is to have you as neighbors.”
Aline said goodbye, disconnected and immediately called Mike. She told him about Marge being in the hospital. “I’m going over to spend some time with Jamie. Meet me later at the Chapman house.”
“Okay, but meet me outside. Remember, I’m not allowed to talk to Jamie anymore.”
74
While driving to Valerie’s home, Mike called Detective Angela Walker, who was also en route. He explained the sequence of events that began with finding Kerry in her family pool. Mike told her that he strongly believed something had happened at the breakfast the morning of Kerry’s death that resulted in her sending Aline the very important text immediately afterward.
There was a specific reason Mike had reached out to Angela. An African American woman who had just turned forty, she had an extraordinary ability to push the right buttons to get young people to talk. He had personally observed her toughness in staring down an eighteen-year-old drug dealer during an interrogation and her incredible compassion when talking to a ten-year-old boy who had witnessed his parents’ murder. If there was a way to get Valerie to open up, she would find it.