That’s either a little boy or a little girl in there. If we know the sex we can bond even more before he or she is born. Besides, it would make shopping for baby things infinitely easier.”
“Sorry, Mom, you’re just going to have to wait a few more months. We’re supposed to be looking at car seats anyway. I’d say they are unisex so we’ll be just fine.”
“Okay, the car seats are in the back.” Susan led the way through the high chairs, beyond the cribs, and to the car seat aisle.
“You know, when you were little we didn’t have all this selection. Not everyone even used a car seat.” They inspected the array of choices.
“How are we supposed to choose?” said Lynette. “If you read the boxes, they all have similar features.”
As they were looking at the different models, Susan heard Lynette’s ring tone.
“Sorry, Mom. Let me take this. Jackson was going to call me with some information this morning.”
“Yes, she did say a dark sedan. The plates don’t match Mr. Bernstein’s? A rental? Okay, thanks, Jackson.” Lynette put the phone back into her pocket.
“Was that about Tank’s case?” asked Susan.
“You know I’m not supposed to discuss work with you, Mom.”
“But this is different. You’re not discussing work; you’re sharing information with me because I asked you to help out our family friend. You know you won’t win this one.”
Lynette hesitated before relaying the events of the previous night. Susan’s observation about Tank and Julie being romantically involved was now confirmed. Susan immediately suspected Amber’s father of being the driver.
“I’ll bet it was Amber’s father. Am I right? He drives a dark sedan and he’s been spouting his mouth off about getting revenge on Amber’s killer. I know he thinks Tank killed her.”
“We thought it might have been his car, but the plates didn’t check out,” said Lynette. “It turns out that the car was a rental.”
“Well, can’t you find out who rented it?” said Susan.
“Unfortunately, whoever rented it gave a fictitious license. We’re all pretty trusting in this town. The rental agent didn’t inspect the identification. In fact, he didn’t even notice that the person had signed the paperwork ‘John Doe.’ How brazen is that?”
“Well, if it wasn’t Amber’s father, who could it have been? Do you think it was a random person who thought Tank was guilty?” asked Susan.
“I doubt it. The only person who’s threatened Tank at all is Amber’s father. If someone else was after Tank, I imagine he would have sent threats first. Usually these things escalate. Trying to run someone off the road would probably not have been the first course of action.”
“What now?”
“The crime lab guys are going over the car. We have to wait and see if anything turns up. Meanwhile, I’ll go by Julie’s and see if she has anything to add.”
“She’ll be at work right now.”
“That’s right. I can wait until school lets out.”
“Can we still get lunch then?”
“Sure. I’m starving. Burger Shack? Wait, you and Dad are still on your diets.”
“Well, I’m sure they have salads. Burger Shack sounds good to me.” Experience should have told her that she was not going to order the salad…or just the salad. One little cheeseburger couldn’t hurt, she thought. It takes 3500 calories to add a pound of fat. Surely one cheeseburger would barely make a dent in her progress. She was salivating already. No sooner had they made it into the parking lot when they were accosted by Amber’s parents.
“ Babies and Such , huh? Out on a nice little shopping spree with your mom, while my daughter’s killer is roaming the streets. My wife won’t ever be able to go shopping with Amber again. Not for a prom dress, not for a bridal gown, and never for baby clothes. There will be no grandchildren for us.” Mr. Bernstein reeked of smoke. His voice was gruff and authoritative. Once again, Susan noticed the
“Sorry, Mom, you’re just going to have to wait a few more months. We’re supposed to be looking at car seats anyway. I’d say they are unisex so we’ll be just fine.”
“Okay, the car seats are in the back.” Susan led the way through the high chairs, beyond the cribs, and to the car seat aisle.
“You know, when you were little we didn’t have all this selection. Not everyone even used a car seat.” They inspected the array of choices.
“How are we supposed to choose?” said Lynette. “If you read the boxes, they all have similar features.”
As they were looking at the different models, Susan heard Lynette’s ring tone.
“Sorry, Mom. Let me take this. Jackson was going to call me with some information this morning.”
“Yes, she did say a dark sedan. The plates don’t match Mr. Bernstein’s? A rental? Okay, thanks, Jackson.” Lynette put the phone back into her pocket.
“Was that about Tank’s case?” asked Susan.
“You know I’m not supposed to discuss work with you, Mom.”
“But this is different. You’re not discussing work; you’re sharing information with me because I asked you to help out our family friend. You know you won’t win this one.”
Lynette hesitated before relaying the events of the previous night. Susan’s observation about Tank and Julie being romantically involved was now confirmed. Susan immediately suspected Amber’s father of being the driver.
“I’ll bet it was Amber’s father. Am I right? He drives a dark sedan and he’s been spouting his mouth off about getting revenge on Amber’s killer. I know he thinks Tank killed her.”
“We thought it might have been his car, but the plates didn’t check out,” said Lynette. “It turns out that the car was a rental.”
“Well, can’t you find out who rented it?” said Susan.
“Unfortunately, whoever rented it gave a fictitious license. We’re all pretty trusting in this town. The rental agent didn’t inspect the identification. In fact, he didn’t even notice that the person had signed the paperwork ‘John Doe.’ How brazen is that?”
“Well, if it wasn’t Amber’s father, who could it have been? Do you think it was a random person who thought Tank was guilty?” asked Susan.
“I doubt it. The only person who’s threatened Tank at all is Amber’s father. If someone else was after Tank, I imagine he would have sent threats first. Usually these things escalate. Trying to run someone off the road would probably not have been the first course of action.”
“What now?”
“The crime lab guys are going over the car. We have to wait and see if anything turns up. Meanwhile, I’ll go by Julie’s and see if she has anything to add.”
“She’ll be at work right now.”
“That’s right. I can wait until school lets out.”
“Can we still get lunch then?”
“Sure. I’m starving. Burger Shack? Wait, you and Dad are still on your diets.”
“Well, I’m sure they have salads. Burger Shack sounds good to me.” Experience should have told her that she was not going to order the salad…or just the salad. One little cheeseburger couldn’t hurt, she thought. It takes 3500 calories to add a pound of fat. Surely one cheeseburger would barely make a dent in her progress. She was salivating already. No sooner had they made it into the parking lot when they were accosted by Amber’s parents.
“ Babies and Such , huh? Out on a nice little shopping spree with your mom, while my daughter’s killer is roaming the streets. My wife won’t ever be able to go shopping with Amber again. Not for a prom dress, not for a bridal gown, and never for baby clothes. There will be no grandchildren for us.” Mr. Bernstein reeked of smoke. His voice was gruff and authoritative. Once again, Susan noticed the
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