“You made sure it wasn’t still someone’s home, right?” she asked on a laugh.
“Yes,” she said, turning the camera back around as she rolled her eyes. But then she grinned. “I miss you, Mommy.”
“I miss you, too, baby girl. But I’ll be home soon.” She turned the corner, heading to where she’d parked her car. She didn’t mention possibly coming home early, because she hadn’t even checked to make sure there was a flight just yet. She’d do that tonight, after dinner.
“Paula wants to talk to you, Mommy.”
“Okay. I love you, Callie. I’ll talk to you in the morning, okay?”
“Okay, Mommy. I love you too.”
Callie handed the phone to a smiling Paula, who was obviously making food at the counter as she spoke on the phone.
“How’s it going there?” Noelle asked.
“Great! Callie and I have been all over town. She’s showing me the best bike trails and candy shops.”
Noelle laughed, clicking her key fob and then opening the door of her rental car and tossing the duffel bag onto the passenger seat before getting in. “I bet. Watch that one. She has her mother’s sweet tooth.”
“Oh, I’m aware.” Paula smiled, but then her face went serious. She glanced over her shoulder and then moved to the other side of the kitchen. “How are . . . things?”
Noelle put the key in the ignition and turned the AC on but then sat back in her seat without buckling yet. “Hard,” she admitted. “Complicated.” She squinted out the window for a moment and then looked back at Paula’s concerned face. “We’ve discovered a few things that are odd, but nothing that leads anywhere specific.”
Paula gave her a sympathetic look. “You’d have regretted it if you didn’t try at all, though.”
“I know. You’re right. Anyway,” she said, pulling her buckle across her body. “I might be coming home a little earlier than scheduled. I’ll let you know.”
“Take as long as you need. This is a vacation for me. Your daughter is a joy.”
“Thanks, Paula. I owe you.”
“You never owe me.” She blew Noelle a kiss, and Noelle blew one back, and then they said goodbye, and Noelle disconnected the call before pulling out into traffic.
It took less than ten minutes to make the drive to Louise’s apartment. Noelle smelled rain in the air as she got out of her car and looked up at the sky. It was pewter and deep gray, with beams of silvery light shining through the clouds. She never missed an opportunity to take in something beautiful, and she did that now, staring at that heavenly sky for a moment before putting the strap of the duffel bag over her shoulder and walking to Louise’s door.
When the older woman answered her knock, her face registered surprise. “Oh. Hi. Did you forget to ask me a question?”
“No. We found something in your brother’s things, and I wanted to return it to you.”
“Something?”
“Money,” she said, thrusting the bag toward her.
Louise frowned, blinking in confusion before she unzipped the bag and peeked inside. She sucked in a small breath. “This is—”
“Over ten thousand dollars. My dad apparently paid Dow for a job in cash, so, um, it’s yours.” Noelle gave her a smile. “I wish you the best, Louise.”
She started to head back to her car when Louise called her name. Noelle turned, tilting her head to the side in question.
“Hold on one sec,” the woman said, pulling at the scarf on her head the way she’d done before and then turning and disappearing for a minute. Noelle took the few steps back to her door, and Louise reappeared, holding something out to her. An iPad. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I wasn’t totally honest. This was in Dow’s things. It was near the top of the box, and I found it when I moved. I even charged it a week and a half ago so I could wipe it and then sell it. I just hadn’t gotten around to it yet.” She looked momentarily embarrassed. Noelle pulled in a breath, reaching for the electronic device. “Sorry,” Louise said. “I really needed the money.”
Noelle shook her head. “Don’t be. I understand. I’ll . . . I’ll look at this, and then I’ll return it. You can still sell it if you want to.”
Louise shook her head and nodded to the duffel bag she’d placed on the floor near the door. Tears filled her eyes, and she tugged on her scarf again. “No. Keep it. Do whatever you want. His code was our dog Scout’s birthday, oh four eleven. Stupid man loved the hell out of that dog. Still cried when he talked about him until . . . well, until the last time I saw him. For someone so technical, he sure did pick an easy password, but that was Dow for you. Brilliant and stupid as hell. Anyway, I hope there’s something on it that will help. Thank you for that.” Again, she nodded toward the duffel bag. “You have no idea how much it will help.”