Free A Blossom of Bright Light by Suzanne Chazin Page B

never looked back. I don’t understand how she could just abandon them like that.”
    â€œI was under the impression you let her go.”
    â€œWe did. But not because we didn’t love her. We have a tiny au-pair suite downstairs. A room just big enough for one person. Look at this place,” Karen unfolded her hands, more prayer for divine guidance than any invitation to poke around. “We can’t manage with three children underfoot. How could we add Dominga’s baby to the mix? Where would we keep the child? How would we cope? I’m a third-grade teacher, Detective. My husband travels around the country selling data-processing equipment. We chose a live-in nanny because it was cheaper and afforded more flexibility than putting three kids in day care. We’re not rich. We’re at our breaking point already. As much as I love Dominga, we simply couldn’t do it.”
    â€œSo you fired her.”
    â€œ Fired her? We gave her a month’s severance and great recommendations. Plus I was the one who found her another job. At a beautiful estate in Wickford caring for an elderly woman who was absolutely delighted at the prospect that she’d have a little baby in her great big house.”
    â€œIs that where she is now?”
    Karen opened her dishwasher and began stacking plates inside. “I assume so. She left here about six weeks ago and promised she’d keep in touch. She promised Kayla . And then—nothing. She even disconnected her cell phone. I have a ton of stuff here that she was helping me sell on eBay. And she hasn’t even called me about that.”
    â€œDo you know if she’s all right?”
    â€œI called her employer’s house after she disconnected her cell phone. She was very cold on the line. Just ‘yeses’ and ‘nos.’ I called back and got her employer’s son, who was visiting. He told me Dominga didn’t want to speak to us anymore and hung up. I cried after that call, Detective. Dominga was with us for five years. She was like family. She raised Kayla. I’m starting to wonder if it was all an act, you know? Like maybe she never cared about my kids at all.”
    â€œSo you never found out if she had the baby?”
    â€œAt that point, she hadn’t. That much I know.”
    â€œAnd how long ago was that?”
    â€œMaybe—four weeks ago?”
    â€œYou said you got her the job. Was this a family friend?”
    â€œAt an estate in Wickford?” Karen Reilly laughed. Lake Holly had a wide range of income levels. Neighboring Wickford had just two: rich and richer.
    â€œI found the job for her through Craigslist,” said Karen.
    â€œDo you still have the address and phone number?”
    â€œI have everything.”
    â€œCan you show me?”
    Karen hesitated. “I’m sad that she didn’t stay in touch, Detective. But that doesn’t mean I want to cost her her job.”
    â€œI have no intention of making trouble for her outside of confirming whether or not she had her baby.”
    â€œWhy do you need to know?”
    Vega put on his best cop voice. “I’m afraid I can’t divulge the specifics of an ongoing police investigation.”
    Karen sighed. “Okay. Come with me.”
    The Reilly house was a split-level with gates on both the upper and lower portions of the stairs. Karen unlatched the lower gate now and led Vega down a short flight of stairs into a room with boxes of clothes and children’s toys, all neatly arranged next to a desk with a computer and a printer.
    â€œMy sideline business,” Karen explained. “I sell stuff for people on eBay. Clothes. Toys. Bric-a-brac. You’d be surprised how much money you can make on commission doing this.”
    â€œYou mentioned that Dominga helped you?”
    â€œShe was terrific. She couldn’t open an eBay account herself because of her, uh, immigration status. But she was great at