The Sleeping Beauty Killer

7

Laurie had just taken a seat on the wine-colored velvet sofa in Ladyform’s luxurious lobby when Charlotte appeared through a set of white double doors. She rose and gave Charlotte a quick hug.

“We’re the same height today,” Charlotte observed cheerfully.

“Thanks to my three-inch heels and your flats,” Laurie said. Charlotte was just shy of five-ten. She was slightly stocky but seemed confident in her own skin. Her chin-length light brown hair neatly framed her round, makeup-free face. Laurie thought of her as the perfect representative of her family’s company.

“Thank you so much for seeing me on such short notice,” Laurie said, as Charlotte led the way to her office.

“No problem. I could use the distraction. My mom’s flight from Seattle lands in an hour. And big news: Dad decided to come up from North Carolina. So as soon as we’re done here, I may need to break out the vodka.”

“Oh dear. Is it that bad? They seemed to be getting along so well the last time I saw them.” More than getting along, Laurie thought. If the disappearance of Charlotte’s sister was what broke the couple apart, finding out the truth about what happened to their daughter seemed to have brought them back together again.

“I’m kidding. Mostly. It’s almost like they’re dating each other. It’s very sweet. I just wish they’d get back together again, so they’d stop using visits to me as an excuse to see each other. Dad’s gotten better about trusting me with the company, but I still feel him looking over my shoulder when he’s here. Speaking of possible couples, how are things with Alex?”

“Fine. Last I heard, he was fine.”

In theory, Alex’s departure from the show had been strictly business, as he needed to return full-time to his law practice. But she’d only seen him once in the last month, and their “date” this Thursday was to watch the Giants game at his apartment with her father and son. It would be a late night, but Timmy’s school was off the next day for teachers’ meetings.

“Message received,” Charlotte said. “When you called, you said it was about the show?”

“Do you work with a woman named Angela Hart?”

“Sure. She’s my marketing director, also one of my closest friends. Oh, I know why you’re here,” she said excitedly. “It must be about her cousin.”

“So you know she’s related to Casey Carter?”

“Of course. She has kept her connection to Casey quiet at work, but I knew that the reason she left early every other Friday wasn’t to go to the Hamptons as she claimed. She visited Casey faithfully. A few years ago, after too many martinis, I asked Angela point-blank: Did your cousin do it? She swore on her very life, with no hesitation, that Casey is innocent.”

“Did she mention that Casey came to see me today? She wants to be featured on Under Suspicion. She even gave me a list of five alternative suspects that her defense attorney never really explored.”

“I had no idea,” Charlotte said. “I’m not an expert on the case, but I was under the impression the evidence was compelling. I make a point never to share that observation with Angela, of course, but everyone in prison claims they didn’t do it.”

“I know, but I can’t help being intrigued. It’s one thing to say you’re innocent, but she showed up in my office the very first day after she got out of prison. To tell you the truth, it reminded me of how I felt when your mother showed up asking for help. I couldn’t turn her away.”

“Obviously, Angela might have a blind spot when it comes to her cousin, but would you like to speak to her?”

“I was hoping you’d introduce us.”