The trio arrived at the Goldman home which was only four blocks away from the City Hall. Steve remembered riding past the old yellow Victorian home on his bike during his childhood. At the time, the house belonged to an elderly couple with a small yapping dog. The dog yapped every time he passed by the home. The exterior of the home had changed very little; just the addition of more flowering plants and the removal of an old bush that provide a barricade to a side bedroom appeared to be the only changes.

Pete Miller tapped lightly on the screen door as Mike and Steve looked around, taking in the environment. A woman answering the door, smiled slightly to let Pete and the two visitors in. Recognizing that this was not Mrs. Goldman from the missing person picture, both detectives nodded as they made their way into the living room.

""My name is Beth. I'm Julie's cousin," the fortyish redhead volunteered as she extended her hand. "I'll get Julie" she added with a degree of sadness. "We've been expecting you. Please have a seat."

The men opted to stand until the grieving widow entered the room.

Shortly later, Julie Goldman, flanked by Beth and another woman entered the room. Julie's eyes were red from crying and the sadness of her friends' faces told the detectives that the educator's loss was profound to Mr. Goldman's immediate friends and family.

"Julie, this is Lieutenant Stone and his partner Inspector Keller from San Francisco. They are with the Homicide unit," Pete said by way of introduction. "And let me add that I am so sorry for your loss."

With the condolence, Julie whimpered and brought her handkerchief closer to her face. "Thank you. I am still in a state of shock. These last few days have been a nightmare. I can't imagine this has happened. If I could only turn back time just one week…"

"We understand, Mrs. Goldman," Mike answered. "We'll try to not keep you as I know you are still getting your mind around what has happened."

Beth guided everyone to the sitting area and offered tea or coffee to the group to provide something calming to all present. Julie nodded her head quickly and Beth briefly smiled with approval, thinking a cup of hot tea would at least allow Julie stay hydrated and give her something to hold onto.

"The Inspector and I also wish to convey our condolences, Mrs. Goldman. The Inspector and I are leading the investigation into your husband's murder and I would ask if you can give us details around what happened the day of your husband's disappearance."

"Certainly, sir. I keep replaying everything in my head wondering if I missed something. Jacob received a phone call that Thursday evening and said he needed to go to the school. He left and that was the last I saw of him," Mrs. Goldman responded through tears.

"How did he seem during and after the call?" Steve asked. "Did you hear any of the conversation?"

"That's what I keep replaying. Jacob received calls all the time almost at all hours and so I tend to ignore the conversation. I can tell you that it didn't strike me as unusual. I do recall that he was quiet for a moment during the call, so someone was perhaps making a lengthy explanation. After that, he hung up, grabbed his wallet and keys and took off."

"Did he take anything else with him?" Mike asked.

"No," Mrs. Goldman replied.

"Would he normally take a briefcase or something with him?" Steve countered.

"Not always and if even if he did, he often kept that in his truck."

The group sat quietly as Beth served the tea. "The only thing I recall was that he had a very straight lined expression. It wasn't relaxed and it wasn't annoyed. Instead, he looked almost…I don't know the word for it, sorry. He had no expression I guess what I'm trying to say."

"Stoic?" replied the second friend who had not spoken to this point. Steve glanced at the woman and felt himself turn red for a quick beat. The woman cast a glance toward Steve with no reaction.

"Yes," Mrs. Goldman answered, "very stoic. No exasperation that would normally happen when an evening call came in. He hated interruptions at night."