Got Your Number

She pushed herself up and stared out the window at clumps of Homecoming visitors, most of them probably oblivious to last night's murder, or immune because they hadn't known Carl personally. "A couple of years before my mother was killed in a car accident, she left me and my father for another man. Deep down, I've always known, but I've never admitted it to anyone. He drove a blue car."
    He looked at her, his gaze straight and void of pity. It gave her the courage to forge ahead.
    "And on some level, I guess I sensed my mother didn't want me after the divorce, but it was easier to believe that Dad was keeping me away from her."
    "He never told you?"
    "No."
    "To protect you."
    She nodded slowly. "Yes." For years her father had silently borne the brunt of her resentment, all the while knowing that her mother hadn't cared enough to stay. Or visit. Or even call. She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and sniffed mightily. How she'd underestimated her father. And how she'd overestimated Carl. Who else? She glanced sideways at Capistrano. He hadn't mentioned Melissa Cape recently...was it possible that he was sticking around out of the goodness of his heart?
    Nah. He'd said so himself—no one had ever accused him of being a nice guy.
    He slowed to pull into Nell's narrow driveway. "Where's your van?"
    "Around back."
    "Well, I guess we know why Cape thought you were here."
    She frowned. "Why didn't you put him out of everyone's misery back in Little Rock?"
    "Nothing I would've liked better, except he wasn't doing anything."
    "He was harassing me."
    He brought the truck to a stop. "You said I was harassing you."
    She unhooked her seat belt. "Well, next time, shoot him in the foot or something."
    "I wouldn't waste a bullet there," he said, then turned off the ignition.
    A locksmith was installing a new dead bolt on the door. Nell didn't answer their call right away, but when she did, her red eyes belied her welcoming smile.
    "I'm so sorry," Roxann said, squeezing Nell's hands. "It's my fault that Frank Cape was here—did he hurt you?"
    "No," she said, then motioned for them to sit in the living room. "Forgive me, it's just...everything. Carl's d-death, you girls being questioned, then that awful man showing up."
    "How did he get in?" Capistrano asked.
    "I don't know," she said. "The doors were locked. I was in the kitchen and he was suddenly standing there."
    "What did he say?"
    Nell's tongue darted in and out, and she scooped Chester from the floor to hold in her lap. She stroked his coat in a manner that was, hopefully, as soothing to her as to the purring animal. "He said he was looking for Roxann, said she could lead him to his wife and daughter. Said that no cop was going to scare him off."
    Capistrano shifted in his chair. "Did he say anything that might make you think he was involved in Dr. Seger's murder?"
    Her eyes widened. "Do you think he could have killed Carl? I thought Angora—"
    "The police aren't sure," he cut in. "Cape did make threats on people who were close to Roxann. Please try to remember."
    Her brow furrowed. "He just said to tell Roxann that he'd show up when she least expected it. Then he took a knife out of my butcher block and plunged it into a cutting board." She shivered. "Roxann, I know it goes against Rescue program policy, but maybe you could contact his wife and see if a reconciliation is possible. Or see if she would at least talk to the man."
    Roxann gaped. "Nell, it required every ounce of strength that poor woman had to take her daughter away and start a new life. I can't just call her up now and encourage her to contact him." She looked at Capistrano. "You did not hear that."
    He averted his eyes.
    But her mentor was undaunted. "It was never the intent of the program to put the lives of the facilitators at risk. Frank Cape is a dangerous man, and there's been enough bloodshed around here. Perhaps I can intervene and get you out of the middle?"
    "Maybe that's not a bad idea," Capistrano said.
    Roxann glared at him. "It's a terrible idea."
    "Dr. Oney," he said, "were you aware that if Cape's ex-wife comes forward to testify in a crime that Frank committed, we could put him away and she wouldn't have to worry?"
    Nell glanced at Roxann. "Is this true?"
    Roxann stuck her tongue in her cheek, still glaring at Capistrano. "Everything except the 'she wouldn't have to worry' part. You know how often these thugs get off on a technicality or are granted early release from prison."
    Nell