“And I need for you to be honest with me, too.” She did not look at me.
“Lucy, you didn’t eat at the Outback–not unless they’ve suddenly added spaghetti to their menu. There was spaghetti all over the inside of the car that I assume is from your carrying out leftovers. Where did you go that night?” She looked me in the eye.
“Antonio’s.”
“In Stafford?” She nodded.
“Why did you lie?”
“Because I don’t want to talk about it. It’s nobody’s business where I went.”
“Who were you with?” She shook her head.
“It’s not germane.”
“It was Carrie Grethen, wasn’t it? And some weeks ago she had convinced you to participate in a little research project, which is why you got in so much trouble. In fact, she was stirring the liquid rubber when I came to see you at ERF.” My niece looked away.
“Why won’t you tell me the truth?”
A tear slid down her cheek. To discuss Carrie with her was hopeless, and taking a deep breath, I went on, “Lucy, I think somebody tried to run you off the road.”
Her eyes widened.
“I’ve looked at the car and where it happened, and there are many details that disturb me a great deal. Do you remember dialing Nine-one-one?”
“No. Did I?” She looked bewildered.
“Whoever used the phone last did, and I’ll assume that was you. A state police investigator is tracking down the tape, and we’ll see exactly when the call was made and what you said.”
“My God.”
“Plus, there are indications that someone may have been on your rear with lights on high. You had the night mirror flipped on and the sunscreen up. And the only reason I can imagine you might have the sunscreen up on a dark highway was that light was coming in the back windshield making it difficult to see.” I paused, studying her shocked face.
“You don’t remember any of this?”
“No.”
“Do you remember anything about a car that may have been green? Perhaps a pale green? ”
“No.”
“Do you know anybody who has a car that color?”
“I’ll have to think.”
“Does Carrie?” She shook her head.
“She has a BMW convertible. It’s red.”
“What about a man she works with? Has she ever mentioned someone named Jerry to you?”
“No.”
“Well, a vehicle left greenish paint on a damaged area on the rear of my car and took out the taillight, too. The long and short of it is that after you left Green Top, somebody followed you and hit you from the rear.
“Then several hundred feet later you suddenly accelerated, lost control of the car, and went off the road. My conjecture is that you accelerated about the same time you dialed Nine-one-one. You were frightened, and it may be that the person who struck you was on your tail again.” Lucy pulled the covers up around her chin. She was pale.
“Someone tried to kill me.”
“It looks to me like someone almost did kill you, Lucy. Which is why I’ve asked what seem very personal questions. Someone’s going to ask them. Wouldn’t you rather tell me?”
“You know enough.”
“Do you see a relation between what’s happened to you at ERF and this?”
“Of course I do,” she said with feeling.
“I was set up. Aunt Kay. I never went inside the building at three a.m. I never stole any secrets!”
“We must prove that.” She stared hard at me.
“I’m not sure you believe me.”
I did, but I could not tell her that. I could not tell her about my meeting with Carrie. I had to muster all the discipline I could to be lawyerly with my niece right then because I knew it would be wrong to lead her.
“I can’t really help if you don’t talk freely to me,” I said.
“I’m doing my best to keep an open mind and clear head so I can do the right thing. But frankly, I don’t know what to think.”
“I can’t believe you would… Well, fuck it. Think what you want.” Her eyes filled with tears.
“Please don’t be angry with me. This is a very serious matter we’re dealing with, and how we handle it will affect the rest of your life. There are two priorities.