“That’s because he had an alibi,” said Ryan.
“People do lie,” Jack said, sending a look that barely concealed his exasperation.
Grace resumed playback.
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” Penny said in the recording. “Nothing.”
“Maybe you’re right,” Jack said, sounding breathless. “Penny could have been an unwitting accomplice … or somehow she’s innocent.”
“Oh for Chrissake,” Ryan groaned loudly before downing the final swig of his beer. He pushed his chair back with an audible scrape and rose quickly. “I’m getting another.” He hefted his empty beer mug in his hand. “Anybody else want anything?”
Nobody answered, and Ryan was off.
“He’s so angry,” Annie whispered when he was out of earshot.
“I don’t know what to do to help him,” Grace said.
“He’s a big boy,” Jack answered assuredly. “He can take care of himself. Penny can’t. I get that Vincent should get a second look, but what about Maria? Penny said she wasn’t alone. Who else would she be with that is violent and disturbed? I’ve hung out with those two together … Maria had a lot more issues than her pyromania, I can tell you that. Maybe it was Maria who wanted to bring fantasy into reality.”
“She was at home at the time of the murder,” Grace said. “That’s what Maria’s mother told the police, and that’s what Maria will tell the jury at the trial.”
“But did Maria’s mother actually check on her?” Jack probed.
“I made the same point to the lawyer,” said Grace.
“It’s a good one,” said Jack. “And faking an illness is an easy way to get someone to leave you alone. If her mother did do a room check, a wig and some pillows would do the trick. If you’re planning a murder, you’re going to plan for that contingency.”
Ryan returned to the table with a mug of ice-cold pilsner.
“Talking about Maria, are we?” he said with a smirk. “Real sweet gal. Penny sure could pick quality friends.”
Grace eyed him but didn’t take his bait. She had already spoken her mind.
“You think Maria did it?” Ryan looked dubious. “Come on. Why wouldn’t Penny turn on Maria to save herself?”
“Eve’s the protector,” Grace said. “She’d sacrifice herself for her friend … or family. Her nature is to protect.”
“For the sake of argument,” Jack said, “let’s assume she wasn’t alone. It’s either Vince or Maria. Nobody else has come up, right?”
“That’s right,” said Grace. “We focus on those two.”
“So Perfect Murder Maria left a witness whose head she threatened to stuff into a bucket full of ammonia?” Ryan asked. “Hmmm … call me doubtful.”
“Was there a bucket found at the crime scene?” asked Annie.
“No, but Maria or Vince could have taken it with them when they left,” said Grace.
“What was up with Penny tapping the table?” Annie asked. “That was strange.”
“It was in the nine-one-one transcript,” Jack said. “Rachel couldn’t talk, so the operator told her to tap the phone.” He re-created Penny’s rhythmic taps against the table. “She was back in the apartment in her mind. She’s remembering.”
“And then listing off a bunch of cities and states like she was in some kind of trance. I’d call that strange, too,” said Annie.
“Yeah, I’ve no idea there,” Jack admitted. “The book, the taps, those locations, the bucket of ammonia—I don’t know how it fits together.”
“I do,” said Ryan. “One of the kooky voices inside your sister’s kooky head told her to kill Rachel and she did it. You’re trying to fit pieces together from a mind that’s broken apart. Good luck with that. According to Penny, a voice told her Rachel had to be gone and gone for good. Who do you know that hears voices, Jack?”
“Boys, boys, please.” Grace held up her hands like a pair of stop signs. “We need to support each other, not argue. There’s a lot of work to do to figure this out. It’s going to be all-consuming.”
“You know you can count on me to help,” Annie said.
“Me too,” said Jack.
“As long as you keep your grades up,” Grace insisted. “Here’s the thing: we are running out of time, the trial isn’t far off, and Edgewater is a dangerous place. I almost got attacked today.”