Ada waited until Perry called to let her know he was on his way home with Della. He did call like he promised.
"All right, Perry. I'm still here."
"Thank you. I'll see you shortly."
"I'll look forward to it."
On the way over, Della was able to tell him she wouldn't mind taking him to the office tomorrow.
"Thank you, Della. Maybe I should check in with the doctor Mom has and see what he says about getting together with her."
"Couldn't she do that herself?"
"Of course, but I think with her mentally sick, she might not remember to call him. I've been watching her, remember?"
"Yes. Maybe Patti will have an idea. Why would you need to make up an appointment for your mother if she could do it herself?"
"I don't know. She said something about a physical coming up. Maybe I will go with her so I can hear what her doctor thinks about medication and all that stuff."
"What was her reaction to that?"
"She says she doesn't need that stuff to make her feel better."
"I don't even know what Patti wants to do like I said before. She's very nice and tries to help people."
"I understand, Della. I know it's something new for both of us. She doesn't need to know about our problem. I do know that's part of her job."
"Yes, it is, Perry. You and your mother work out the date and time you want and I will set something up with her."
"That's the plan, Della. I will call in the morning to let you know when I'm ready to head over to the office."
"All right."
Then Della stayed in her car and Perry headed inside the house. Ada was indeed on the couch in the living room. Perry watched Della drive away.
"Did I miss anything when I was out for the day?"
"No, I don't think so. The only thing was you had a couple of messages. You can do that later."
"Who are they?"
"I have them written down. They say it's nothing urgent."
"Mom, I know I keep asking this, but you will have to start answering my questions sooner than later. You haven't answered any yet."
"I know, Perry. I will answer them at some point, but not now. I just don't want to answer them in court."
"People are thinking there might not be a court date because a lot of these people who worked with Dad aren't alive anymore, but I am thinking there might be one."
"What questions do you have for me now?"
"I know it was a long time ago, but you do remember anything else about Dad's cases like this one with the retail store?"
"I can't even remember what case he worked on when we met. That was years ago, Perry."
"Adam Smith said there were some children involved in that case, but one of them is the store manager since the original retired."
"What was the manager's name at the time?" Ada asked.
"We're looking for information now, Mom. Do you remember if he was working on a case at that store when the shooting happened?" Perry asked.
"I think he was. Not sure what kind of case it was at the store he was working. My guess is he was looking for a different job or something. I don't know. Your father worked on more than five cases all at the same time. When we met, he was only working on just one."
"I thought I heard that too. So he never told you anything about his cases?"
"Not that I remember."
"Do you remember hearing he asked a private investigator for help on a case?"
"What's the name?" Ada asked.
"She is still alive today, but Paul was able to contact her. It's Cindy McCarey. Do you recognize that name?"
Ada had to think back at the time when George was trying to solve a case.
"Well, do you?"
She was already putting hamburger on the table. It was spaghetti tonight, is what she decided to do with burger.
Perry liked this conversation better than the other one he had at breakfast with the Pattersons and Pastor Dan.
"I think so. I can't remember what she looked like. All I remember is she came to the house a couple times when working with George."
"Is she married?"
"I don't think she is. I remember hearing when she wasn't working on a case, she would perform."
"A performer? What kind?"
"Singer."
"I set up a date with her at the office tomorrow since she came up with a time in the afternoon. Is she well - known?"
"I don't know, Perry. I don't know how your father picked her out. I think she might be retired by now."
"You think so? Let's see what I can find out when I see her."
"By the way, Perry, how did breakfast turn out?"
"It was interesting, but there were just four of us instead of three."
"Why four?" Ada asked.
"Not sure. They had the child with them, but didn't make any noise when we had our conversations, which was good. I will share this information with Paul and Della tomorrow at the office. Thank you for helping out."
"You're welcome, Perry. Let me know what else I can do about this case your father's."
"I will, but you've done a lot for now. All you have to do now is think about talking with your doctor."
"Here we go again, Perry. After I have that physical coming up, I am done with him."
"Do you need to switch doctors?"
"No. He's okay, but does take good care of me. He did the same until your father was murdered."
"How did the doctor react to the news?"
"Just like everybody else I passed on to, they said that they felt bad for us. I know your friends did tell you the same thing."
"Yes, Della and Paul sure did. They are on my side that you didn't murder him."
"Are you sure that you're on my side? I still think you aren't."
"Yes, I am sure. If you don't mind me asking, but is that okay with you if I talk with one of your friends?"
"Why would you want to do that for? You don't need to ask them anything."
"Just about what happened at the time of the murder showed up until now."
"I don't know, Perry. Which friend do you want to ask questions?"
"Your neighbor, Staci. She might know something."
"Let me talk with her first. If she says something negative, then you stop talking with her."
"All right. I promise not to ask anything negative. I only want to talk with her. And you still need to answer my questions, and not just about the people he worked with."
"I know, Perry. I still need to figure out how to answer them. I know I remember sharing with you about somebody thinking I was a bystander with your father's case at that store."
"Do you know how to answer that?"
"I'm still trying to think that far back."
"If somebody asks you to the witness stand again, you will have to answer those questions that were mine. Just go along with it, okay?"
"Yes. I would never murder your father or anybody, Perry. I've never touched a gun in my entire life before. I will plan to keep it that way."
"I know I've never seen you with a gun, Mom. I know he kept one in his car when working on those cases."
"Do you think the person involved in that shooting could have been in that courtroom with you, Perry?"
"That was my guess, but not so sure one hundred percent. I still like to believe that the person whoever was involved with Dad at that time could have been in the courtroom. I still need to figure that out."
"He or she could have been with your father from school when he was growing up, Perry. How would you recognize that person that you don't know?"
"I don't know. I guess Dad probably talked about that person and described it to me. I guess that's how I recognized it."
"You have a good memory, Perry. Do you think the person who was in the courtroom with you could have been one of your father's private investigators?"
"I never thought of that one, Mom. I guess I'll have to ask around."
"It could be that woman investigator yours mentioned."
"You mean McCarey? Glad you knew a little bit about her. I think we're scheduling something for tomorrow at the office. You've been a big help in this case, Mom. I do need to see when I can go to that store and check out where the shooting happened."
"Why would you want to do that, Perry?"
"It could give me an idea or two about what or why Dad was there and got involved. Maybe that was the case that was made to be well - known."
"Perry, some cases out there are well - known. I guess this is because of George."
"Thank you for all you've done on this case."
"I think your father probably kept a few yearbooks with the classmates that could still be alive. I don't know if they're in law or what."
"If he kept them, would you mind going home and try to find them? Maybe that could really help me and see if the person was at the courtroom at the same time Dad was murdered."
"I'll do it."
"By the way, I talked with the police."
"You did. Anything they found about George?"
"Yes, but I haven't heard anything. I'll keep after them."
"Just be careful, Perry. This is really dangerous. I don't want to lose you like I did with your father."
"Mom, we've already talked about this several times. You will not lose me."
"I know, Perry, but look what happened to your father in that case. He got shot and now he's murdered. This is why I don't want to lose you as well."
