"No, Julie. Annie died years ago. I only first heard about Howie was when I met him last September. Annie was mentioned, but only that she was killed when they were children."
"What about the killer? They caught him, didn't they? People at the memorial service had contradictory stories and when Howie pressed them, no one seemed to have any real facts."
I considered not admitting what little I knew but frankly, I felt sorry for Howie's dilemma and for Julie caught in the middle. "I don't know a whole lot Julie, but I understand the police at the time had a strong suspect but couldn't prove anything. He was later imprisoned so they dropped the investigation. I just learned this recently."
"He's still in jail?"
"No. He served his time."
"How could he get out? He killed someone!"
"He served his time for the crime they convicted him of doing; apparently it was not the murder and definitely not the murder of Annie Abbott."
"That's just not fair!" When I didn't respond, she continued. "He started talking about going back . . . you know, doing that thing he does. But now Quinn's gone too, so Howie couldn't go back even if he got up his courage to do it! Why did they leave us; they were his friends? Why did they just run away like that?"
I told Julie everything that happened, my being attacked at Howie's house and that the assailant was shot dead. Better that she convey the information to Howie in her own words, and not compel me to admit what we'd been holding back information from him.
"Howie's work allowed us to tip the police about Owen Bryce and his brother being pedophiles. The brother Jude killed himself in jail and this guy was apparently seeking revenge."
"How did he find Howie?" before I could answer she asked, "Did this all happen because of what I did?" When I didn't answer immediately, she knew the answer. "Oh God, I hate myself," she said through her tears.
"Julie, that's all over and done with. You know better now. Let's try and make the best of what we have, for Howie's sake. Here's what I want you to do: see if Quinn has checked out of the hotel. Go to his room. Did Howie have a key?" She mumbled a yes. "According to Betsy, on the note Martha left, she said Quinn was coming back east to meet up with his wife and daughter and leave from here. See if he left a note for Howie."
"Maybe he left the machine things . . ."
"They're useless without Quinn. He's the only one who knew how to manipulate them."