Girl Hidden by Kate Gable

Author:Kate Gable [Gable, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781632252661
Publisher: Byrd Books

Mrs. Ellis lives in a big, 3,000 square foot home in West Hollywood. It's completely surrounded by hedges, giving it privacy both in the front yard and the back.

It takes her a few minutes to answer when we ring the bell on the gate. We're about to turn around and give up when the gate opens. She then appears, dressed in a floor-length bathrobe made of satin or perhaps silk. I can never tell the difference between quality fabrics.

She's barefoot and wearing thin, sheer pajamas underneath. Her hair falls in disarray all around and it looks like there's about a gallon of dry shampoo on top.

I know how that works because I use the products a lot when I don't have time to take a shower and do my hair. Mrs. Ellis has pale skin and small, delicate bone structure, or perhaps she just doesn't eat enough, like a lot of women in the city. Her eyes are red and if she were wearing any makeup, it looks like it has worn off.

We introduce ourselves, show her our badges, and she nods. She hangs her head, whimpering that she knows what happened to Julie.

"A friend of mine called just now," she says. "She lives on Julie's street. I can't believe that she's dead. I can't believe that they're all dead."

"We're very sorry for your loss," I say and I'm about to jump right into asking the questions when she surprises me by inviting us in.

Inside the gates, there are twelve-foot hedges all around. A big play set sits at the far end of her front yard and as we walk inside her Spanish-style 1920s, but recently remodeled all modern house, I see the big pool and the hot tub in the backyard.

"My husband has the kids today," she says.

"Are you divorced?" I ask.

"Yes. Well, no. We're separated, but he took them today to the movies after he heard what happened, just to give me some space."

"Yes, I understand." I nod.

She hangs her shoulders and taps her fingernails on the quartz countertop in the kitchen. She walks over to the cupboard, retrieves a tall glass with specialty bubbles inside to make it look handmade.

She pours herself a glass of water. My mouth is parched, but she doesn't offer me any. She gestures to the kitchen table and we all sit down, facing the backyard.

I glance longingly at the crystal blue pool surrounded by nothing but green grass, green shrubs, and the lone lemon tree standing in the corner, framing her slice of paradise.

"I'm sorry to bother you on such a difficult day, but we really need to find out as much as we can about the Hendrels and who might have done this. Can you tell me how long you and Mrs. Hendrel were friends?"

"Julie and I were close for years. We met when Teagan and Angie started school together in kindergarten. We did the PTA and volunteered for activities. She was always the funniest mom there. She had a good sense of humor and she liked to drink wine, which in my book was a win-win.

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