he called me.” She glanced at Puller. “Why did you think about this connection?”

“The date of your husband’s suicide. Your knowledge about my mother. And I

remembered that before she left the house that night she picked up a photo off

her dresser. In that photo were my parents, and you and your husband.” Bristow

sighed and closed her eyes. “So my mother goes to meet him,” said Puller. “She

disappears.

 

And later he commits suicide?” Bristow’s eyes popped open. She seemed to sense

where he was going. “Do you…are you alleging that Earl murdered your mother?

 

He loved her.” “And love can turn to hate when it’s rebuffed,” said Puller

grimly. “As an Army investigator I’ve seen that happen more times than I can

count.” “Omigod!” Bristow said. “But what would he have done with…?” “With her

body? I don’t know. Did he call you again that night?” “No.” “Why didn’t you go

to see him?” asked Knox. “Because I had nothing to say to him. I was mentally

and emotionally exhausted. So I just told him to talk to the woman he really

loved, which wasn’t me!” “Did my father know about all this?” Bristow looked at

him contemptuously. “Do you think if he did know he would have let things stand

like that? Your father would have come over and kicked the shit out of Earl. And

Earl knew it. He feared your father, like most of the junior officers.” “But

those officers didn’t have the hots for my mom,” retorted Puller. “And if he

couldn’t control himself, and he couldn’t have my mom, then maybe he decided no

one else could either,” said Puller. “I can’t believe that Earl would have

harmed her.” “And I can’t take the chance that he didn’t without thoroughly

checking it out.” “What do you mean?” “I mean getting a search warrant for your