“I assume, but I don’t know for certain.”
“Suicide is implied, but . . .” Dora was unable to continue. She began to cry softly.
“We’ll put out a bulletin on his car,” Wise said. “He can’t have gone too far on these roads.”
Dora shook her head. “He didn’t take the car.”
“Are you saying he’s on foot?”
“He’s an avid hiker. He even hikes on Cleary Peak.”
Begley and Wise exchanged a significant look, then the senior agent addressed Marilee. “How long have you and Scott been in this relationship, Ms. Ritt?”
She appreciated him for not posing the question with censure. In fact, he seemed halfway apologetic for asking. “Since September.”
“And during that time, did Scott ever confide in you why he broke up with Millicent Gunn?”
“He never talked about his former girlfriends, and I never asked.”
“You didn’t?”
“No.”
“Never?”
“No.”
“You weren’t in the least bit curious?”
“No.”
“Then you are truly a remarkable woman.”
Or a liar. That was what Begley was implying. Oddly, it was less his hard stare than his soft voice that broke her restraint. Her shoulders slumped, and she let go a long sigh. “Last night. We talked about it last night for the first time. He told me why he and Millicent stopped seeing each other.”
They waited, but when she said nothing else, Begley prodded her. “Well?”
“I won’t tell you that, Mr. Begley. Not at the present time. I’ll tell you only if and when it becomes necessary for you to know.”
“We need to know now,” Wise said.
“I’m sorry.”
Wise was about to say more, but Begley held up his hand. Marilee listened and identified the sound at the same time Begley said, “There’s the chopper.” He headed immediately for the door.
“Wait!” Dora cried. Begley came back around. “If Scott’s up there—”
“I’ll do everything within my power to return him to you safely, Mrs. Hamer. I give you my word.”
The room felt very cold after he and Wise closed the door behind their hasty departure. Marilee went to the fireplace, rearranged the burning logs with a poker, then sat down across from Dora, who said, “They’re convinced Scott had something to do with that girl’s disappearance.”
Marilee hugged her elbows to ward off the chill. Perhaps it was also a subconscious gesture, an attempt to hold on to her flagging hope that Scott’s note didn’t imply suicide—for reasons she didn’t allow herself to contemplate.
“From Millicent to you,” Dora said scornfully. “I don’t know which of you is worse.”
“I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Well, thank you,” Dora said with a bitter laugh. “Because I don’t understand how a decent and responsible person, which you’ve always seemed to be, could seduce a boy. You’re an authority figure. He looked up to you. Admired you.”