“I don’t have specific proof right now,” Kim said. “That’s what I expect you to find when you do the story. But so many kids wouldn’t be dying if it wasn’t true. And all this was substantiated by Marsha Baldwin.”
“Ah, of course,” Kelly said dubiously. “How could I forget. The mysterious USDA inspector who you say has been missing for less than twenty-four hours. The one you feel has fallen victim to foul play.”
“Exactly,” Kim said. “They had to silence her.”
Kelly cocked her head to the side. She wasn’t a hundred-percent sure she shouldn’t be afraid of Kim, especially considering his double arrests. She had the sense his daughter’s death had done something to his mind. He seemed paranoid, and she wanted him out of the house.
“Tell me again,” Kelly said. “The reason you think Miss Baldwin is missing is because of the interrupted telephone call and the blood you found in the slaughterhouse?”
“Exactly,” Kim repeated.
“And you told all this to the police who arrested you?” Kelly asked.
“Of course,” Kim said. “But they didn’t believe me.”
“And I can see why,” Kelly said silently to herself. All at once she stood up. “Excuse me, Dr. Reggis,” she said out loud. “I’m afraid we’re going around in circles. This is all hearsay and therefore smoke and mirrors as far as I’m concerned. I’d like to help you, but I can’t at the moment, at least not until you have something tangible, something that a story could be based on.”
Kim pushed himself up off the low couch. He could feel his anger returning, but he fought against it. Although he didn’t agree with Kelly’s position, he had to admit he understood, and the realization only renewed his determination. “All right,” Kim said resolutely. “I’ll get something substantive, and I’ll be back.”
“You do that,” Kelly said, “and I’ll do the story.”
“I’m going to hold you to that,” Kim said.
“I always keep my word,” Kelly said. “Of course, I have to be the one who decides if the evidence is sufficient.”
“I’ll make sure there’re no ambiguities,” Kim said.
Kim exited the house and ran down to his car parked at the curb. He wasn’t running because of the rain, although it had increased in intensity while he had been in the Anderson house. He was running because he’d already decided what he was going to do to satisfy Kelly’s need for proof. It wasn’t going to be easy, but Kim didn’t care. He was a man with a mission.
Kim made a U-turn and stomped on the accelerator. He didn’t notice Kelly standing in the doorway of her house or see her shake her head one final time as he sped away.
As soon as Kim made it onto the freeway he punched in Tracy’s phone number on his cellular phone.
“Trace.” Kim said with no preamble when she answered. “Meet me at the mall.”
There was a pause. At first Kim thought the connection had been broken. Just when he was about to resend the call, Tracy’s voice came over the line: “I took you at your word. I’ve made arrangements for a funeral service.”
Kim sighed. At times he was able to put Becky entirely out of his mind. Thank God for Tracy. She was so strong. How could he face this tragedy without her?
“Thank you,” he said at last. It was hard to find the words. “I appreciate your doing it without me.”
“It will be at the Sullivan Funeral Home on River Street,” Tracy said. “And it will be on Tuesday.”
“That’s fine,” Kim said. He just couldn’t bring himself to think too long or hard about it. “I’d like you to meet me at the mall.”
“Don’t you want to hear the rest of the details?” Tracy asked.
“At the moment, meeting me at the mall is more important,” Kim said. He hoped he didn’t sound too cold. “Then I’d like to ask if you’d come back with me to our old house.”
“How can going to the mall be more important than our daughter’s funeral?” Tracy asked with exasperation.
“Trust me,” Kim said. “You can give me the details of the arrangements when I see you.”