“Yeah, I guess, but I wonder how many actually do.”
“It’s easier than ever to stay in touch with each other now,” he said.
“But it’s also easier to hide. People’s lives are crazy busy in some cases. Thus it’s much easier to just, you know, pretend to be too busy to have anything to do with people.”
“You’re right there too, but, considering that we have all these things—like, cell phones that are basically hand-held computers in our pockets, plus FaceTime and social media groups and other apps to stay in touch—I think that most people would say that they’re more connected now than they ever were.”
“I wonder,” she said.
“Aren’t you?” he asked.
“I don’t have anybody to connect with.” She looked at Rodney. “My mother is in a home, and she’s not quite all there, and, when she sees me, she goes into a screaming fit anyway.”
He winced. “Still because of your brother?”
“Absolutely. She was married to that huckster who took all her money, and I think, in her mind, I’m probably to blame for that too.”
“Wow, you’re really a terrible human being, aren’t you?”
“In a way I am. At least for thinking that losing her mind was the easiest answer for her because that way she didn’t have to own up to her own behavior. But it left another bad memory for me.”
“Your stepfather, where is he?”
“He died in a car accident,” she said absentmindedly. “And, yeah, more proof that I’m a horrible person when I say,Good riddance.” He stared at her in surprise, and she shrugged. “He was not a good man. He beat the crap out of her, stole all her money, and left her behind, broke and devastated, for someone else to take care of.”
“Wow, nice family.”
“Yeah. The best part of the family disappeared when I was seven, and it was all downhill from there.”
“Sorry, I know all that is hard for you.”
“I don’t talk about it much. But you asked, so it’s fine.” With a shrug and a smile, she said, “Now we need to talk to the rest of that uni gang.”
“That should be fun.”
“Yeah, Paula’s mom says arrogant Brandon’s responsible for her daughter’s death.”
“It’s not as if we’re against the idea.”
“He’s a jerk, so, if it is him, I would be delighted. However, despite my glee, we can’t project it.”
“Right, but we’re sure not getting any further on whoever killed our cyclist,” he said.
“No, which is another odd thing.”
Rodney nodded.
“And, if it’s once a year, and there’s a pattern, then, in theory, there won’t be another killing for another year. Yet we have Paula Mallow’s dead body. And potentially Candy’s, still to be found.”
“Are you saying there’s no connection?”
“No, not necessarily. We can’t assume that. It would just mean that something triggered a change in the pattern.”
“Right.” Rodney’s smile was grim. “So let’s hope we don’t get another one.”
Just then both their phones went off. They shared a look, and both groaned.
“I think you spoke too soon.” Kate grimaced.