Twenty-Five Years Ago Today by Stacy Juba Page B

I
understand. Let me think."
    She wrinkled her brow. "A friend and I went
to dinner straight from work. I hadn't seen Diana since morning. I
got home around 7:30 and read in bed." She looked toward Cheryl. "I
could never sleep until you and Diana were home safe.
Remember?"
    "I remember," Cheryl said.
    "By 2 a.m., I was panicked," Irene went on.
"I called Raquel, Diana's best friend and co-worker. She told me
Diana had left the bar hours before. Then I called Cheryl and
Michael. We decided to contact the police, but they told us she
hadn't been missing long enough."
    Cheryl nodded. "Mom woke Michael and me up. I
had been here with Eric all night. I read him a couple of stories,
and watched TV until Michael got home from work. Then we went to
bed."
    "I worked two jobs, went from one to the
other," Michael said, passing the bread basket down the table. "We
didn't live far from Reynold's Appliances, where my night job was,
so I got back about 10:15. I was fast asleep until Irene
called."
    "None of you had heard from Diana?" Kris
asked.
    "No, that's why I was worried," Irene said.
"In our house, if you were going to be late, you called."
    The front door slammed and they all turned.
Eric Soares strode into the dining room in a chambray shirt and
jeans. "Room for one more?"
    Kris's stomach lurched. Despite Irene's
reassurances, she had half-expected his arrival. He had embarrassed
her at work. He wouldn't humiliate her in front of his family. She
wouldn't allow it.
    "Eric, what are you doing here?" Cheryl
hugged her son. Kris hadn't noticed their resemblance before, in
mannerisms rather than physical appearance, the quick smiles
contrasting with a subtle concern in their eyes. Nor had she
noticed the broad lines of his chest, hinting at the muscle
underneath.
    "I've got time before the show, so I figured
I'd stop by," Eric said. "It isn't every day I get Gram's
cooking."
    Irene waggled a finger. "You can join us, as
long as you keep your mouth shut about the investigation. Kris is
here on my request."
    "Thanks for the welcome, Gram." Eric pulled
out a seat and glanced at Kris. "We meet again."
    "What a surprise," she said coolly.
    As Cheryl served stuffed chicken, Kris
summarized her visit with Jared. Stoic, Eric listened to every
word. She had no doubt he'd come to throw her off balance, not for
a home-cooked meal.
    "Jared claims he never made the harassing
calls to the bar," she concluded, relieved to finish her tale.
    "That's bull," Michael said. "Why would Diana
make that up?"
    "Could she have been mistaken about Jared?"
Kris asked. "Tell me more about these calls. Were they hang ups? A
heavy breather?"
    "It was no mistake. Her co-workers said she'd
have actual conversations. Diana knew who she was dealing
with."
    Irene hadn't touched her food. She stared
over her plate. "She probably didn't want to worry me. That's why
she confided in her friends and not us."
    "I don't know whether this Jared fits," Eric
said. "It's dumb to murder a girl after everyone knows you've been
harassing her."
    "But it happens every day," Cheryl said. "You
always hear about women killed by jealous boyfriends."
    Michael reached for another helping of
maple-glazed carrots. "Vince Rossi was no prize either. We tried to
make Diana see what a bastard the guy was, but she kept going out
with him."
    "She was stubborn," Cheryl said. "Pressuring
her might have made her more rebellious."
    "Where did Vince Rossi wind up?" Kris asked.
"Maybe I should talk to him, too."
    "He's still in Fremont," Michael said. "Now
and then I see his name in the police log for domestic assault and
battery. He owns a bar, a dive from what I hear."
    Irene bit her lip. "You shouldn't go there
alone. Can your boyfriend take you?"
    Kris thought fast. She wasn't about to admit
her single status to Eric Soares. Let him believe she had a guy
watching her back. "I'm sure he’d be glad to come."
    "How about if Eric went with you instead? He
might be an asset since he knows the whole story.