His brow furrowed as he thought back. Nothing added, nothing subtracted.

 

Just remember, John. Just remember exactly as it was back then on that day, at

that hour. “There was a phone call,” he said, opening his eyes. “A phone call?

From whom?” “I don’t know. But Mom was finishing up making dinner. The phone

rang and she went to answer it. There were no cell phones back then. It was the

landline.” He pointed to a spot on the kitchen wall. “It was over there.” “Did

you hear her talking on it? Where was your brother?” “Bobby was outside. He

might not have even heard it ring. And no, I didn’t hear her talking on it. But

I do remember walking around that corner after she got off and seeing her face.

She was upset.” He grabbed his phone and punched in a number from memory.

 

Carol Powers answered on the second ring. “Carol, it’s John Puller. Listen, you

said when we talked before that it was lucky you were home because your

boyfriend canceled, otherwise you couldn’t have babysat us?” “That’s right.” “So

wherever my mom went that night, it probably wasn’t planned? I mean, it was

last-minute if she called the same day?” “I guess not. I mean she might have

arranged previously with someone else to babysit and that fell through, but I

sort of doubt it. I lived right there and your mom usually called me first.”

“Did you tell anyone that when they were investigating her disappearance? That

it seemed to be last-minute?” “Um, well, no, no one asked me that specifically.

They just wanted to know when I got there and if your mom had said anything to

me about where she was going. And that’s what I told them. Did I mess up, John?

Should I have told them it wasn’t planned?” “It’s not your fault, Carol. It’s