Rollover by Susan Slater Page B

relief when the break-in happened. I wasn’t even questioned.”
    â€œSometimes things happen for the best. Oh, I forgot to ask, did you ever check with Amber…,” he glanced at his notes, “Medger about the date that Mrs. Kennedy returned her necklace?” Now might be a good time to ask a couple other Amber questions, he reminded himself.
    A sigh and a shake of the head. “Amber’s getting married and I swear her mind’s a sieve. I even had to remind her of the dates she sat in for me.”
    â€œI’ll use the date that Mrs. Kennedy remembers.” Dan wadded his sandwich wrapper and threw it in the trash beside Stephanie’s desk. “No pressure but I’d appreciate your keeping an eye out. We both want to do right by Mrs. Kennedy. If something catches your attention…if you remember something that might have impacted the robbery, I’d appreciate a call.” He scribbled his cell number on the back of a company card and laid it on the desk.
    Then, a stroke of genius…maybe…“Could I have Amber’s number? It would look better if I had her statement about the missing signature. Company’s a stickler about details. I don’t think it means anything but it is a blank that needs explanation.”
    â€œI can but it won’t do you any good. Amber’s long gone.”
    â€œI’m not following.”
    â€œTook off over the weekend with the fiancé. I think they’re going to his home in Alabama. No, maybe it’s Georgia. I don’t remember exactly. But her mother was in this morning, fit to be tied. Amber and her got in a fight before she left. Amber said she had enough money and didn’t need any help and would marry who and when she pleased.”
    â€œWhere did Amber work?”
    â€œNo place in particular. She did odd jobs…sat in for me, baby sat…for awhile she did those 1-900 phone-sex calls. Middle of the afternoon when her mother was at work.”
    â€œWas the boyfriend from here?”
    â€œNo, a biker. They’d only met at the Bean Day Festival.”
    â€œHow old is Amber?”
    â€œNineteen, I think. This was her second year out of high school.”
    Dan couldn’t think of any more questions. He was trying to keep from dwelling on phone-sex in the middle of the afternoon and those who would be most likely to do that sort of thing. As he left, he repeated his request that Stephanie call him if she remembered anything else.

Chapter Nine
    â€œNo swelling…no lumps or bumps that shouldn’t be there.” Dr. Zimmerman was examining his head and, Dan thought, trying to make a joke. Maybe old Zimmerman was a phrenologist a couple centuries out of time. “Your X-rays look great. No trouble sleeping?” Dan shook his head. “Appetite good?” A nod. Dan followed the penlight with his eyes, tried not to flinch when the staples came out, stood on one foot, then the other, bent over, straightening quickly—all at the direction of the watchful doc. “You understand that the okay to drive is not an okay to overdo it?” Again, a nod.
    â€œLet’s get you in a soft cast for that wrist and that’ll do it for today. I’d like you back in two weeks. But, of course, if there’s anything in the meantime, any questions, changes…I’ll expect a call.” Dan was waiting for a reference to mountain climbing but it didn’t come.
    Elaine was walking Simon when Dan joined them in the parking lot.
    â€œKeys, please.”
    â€œOh my God, you passed.” With a shriek she was in his arms and he swung her around before he kissed her lightly on the mouth, then held her. The second kiss was longer, the kind that makes an embrace tough to pull away from.
    â€œThis whole thing has been a nightmare. I can’t believe it’s over.”
    â€œNot quite in the rearview, but close.” Then he realized she was crying.
    â€œHey,