"Really." I forced myself not to react. "She was your only daughter-in-law. Right?"
Ruth laughed, the sound coming out forced. "Yes, I suppose so, but that still made her my favorite."
"Did the two of you ever have any disagreements?"
"Jalinda and I?" she repeated the question back as if she couldn't believe I'd ask such a thing, but it was also a tactic of liars.
I wouldn't fall for it. "Yes, you and Jalinda."
Ruth shook her head and gave me another forced laugh. "No, never. We always had a great relationship. I thought the world of her."
Lies.
Five and a half minutes now.
"It's horrible what happened. Isn't it?"
Ruth glanced at me, and her eyes flashed just once. It was enough. "Yes, just tragic."
She took a seat on the chair and I extra regretted that missing coffee.
