clear Molly’s name?”
“No, of course not. But Rick needs my help. I don’t see anyone else rushing to his aid.”
“He has a lawyer, hasn’t he?”
“Yes, but lawyers are interested in proving their clients’ innocence, not tracking down the real murderer.”
“Isn’t that what the police department is supposed to do?”
Clara sighed. “Yes, they are. Dan is a good cop, and I know he’s doing his best to find out the truth. But it’s like we said when Molly was a suspect. People don’t like talking to the cops. They’ll talk to us. Someone out there knows what really happened. All we have to do is find him.”
Stephanie’s eyes gleamed. “And there’s always the Quinn Sense.”
“You know how erratic that can be.”
“It’s helped before.”
“Maybe. But I’m not going to rely on it. I’m just going to ask questions and hope someone comes up with the right answer.”
“But if the Sense can help?”
Clara paused a long moment before answering. “Much as I hate to admit it, it could come in handy.”
Stephanie sat up. “All right! Since you’re determined to do this, I’m going to help you.”
Clara smiled. “I thought you might.”
“As long as you bear in mind that I’m the ideas person. You’re the one who does the legwork.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“And we don’t tell George what we’re doing. He’d kill me if he knew we were chasing after another murderer.”
“I wouldn’t dream of telling him.” Clara hesitated. “Unless it’s a dire emergency.”
Stephanie frowned again. “Promise me you won’t do anything rash. We must never forget that this could be dangerous.”
“Absolutely.” Clara leaned forward. “Thanks, Steffie. It’ll be easier if there’s two of us.”
“What about Molly?”
“What about her?”
“You know she’d want in on this. After all, we helpedfind the real killer when she was a suspect. I know she’ll want to do what she can to clear Rick’s name.”
Clara thought about it for a moment before nodding. “If we need her, we’ll ask for her help. For now, though, I’d like to keep this just between us.”
Stephanie raised her coffee mug. “To the Quinn cousins, and our quest.”
Clara picked up her own mug and tapped it against her cousin’s. “To success.” She was about to drink when the familiar sensation washed over her. The voice spoke so loudly in her ear she thought Stephanie might have heard it.
Beware of the blind alley. Danger lies in the gutter.
Her expression must have given her thoughts away, as her cousin stared at her. “What? What is it? Have you thought of something?”
Clara sighed. “More like heard something.” She repeated the words.
Stephanie leaned forward, eyes gleaming with excitement. “The Sense told you that? What does it mean?”
“I wish I knew.” Clara took a sip of her coffee and put down her mug, the strange message still buzzing in her head. “Wait.” She met Stephanie’s gaze. “I think I know what the voices are telling me. What are you doing tonight?”
Stephanie waited until George had changed into shorts and a T-shirt and was settled in his favorite chair before delivering her announcement. “I need you to babysit tonight.”
George sipped his beer and regarded her over the rim of his glass. “Going somewhere?”
“Clara and I are going bowling.”
George choked, spilling beer down the side of his glass. “
Bowling?
You haven’t been bowling since we got married.”
Stephanie shrugged. “Clara wanted to go and asked me if I’d go with her.”
George’s thick red eyebrows drew together across his nose. “Does this have anything to do with Rick Sanders being arrested?”
Stephanie opened her eyes wide. “What? Rick has been arrested? I thought he was just being held for questioning.”
George put down his glass and crossed his arms. “Whatever. You know what I mean.”
“I have no idea what you mean.” Stephanie
Landon Dixon, Giselle Renarde, Beverly Langland