As she wrote, Skye remembered something she wanted to ask May. She poked her head into the dispatch area. May was flipping through a Family Circle, obviously still upset.
Skye walked farther into the room and stopped in front of her mother’s chair. “I forgot, I have a question for you.”
May closed the magazine. “Oh?”
“Yeah, do you remember Minnie dropping out of school her senior year?” Skye hooked a chair with her foot and brought it toward her.
“Yes, it was before you were born and Vince was right around a year old.” May looked puzzled.
“Do you recall why she didn’t finish?”
“Well, I was really busy back then trying to keep up with Vince and the house and all, but I believe she had sort of a nervous breakdown, and went away somewhere to rest.” May frowned. “I think Mona went along to keep her company.”
“Did you find anything in that odd? I mean, did Minnie seem to be heading that way to you?”
May chewed her lip. “Now that you mention it, at the time I wondered a little. Minnie seemed okay to me.”
“And why take Mona out of school?”
“Mona hated to miss school. She was the smart one. We all thought she’d go to college for sure, but she seemed different when she got back.”
“Different?”
“More serious. Less frivolous.”
“Did you say anything to Grandma or Grandpa?”
“Grandma just said that I had been too busy to notice Minnie’s condition. Grandpa forbade me to speak of it, and ordered me to forget it.” May’s eyes widened. “And I did until you mentioned it.”
“Wow, Grandpa must have been pretty intimidating.”
“Oh, he was, he was.” May sat silently, seemingly lost in thoughts of the past, until the phone rang. “Yes, okay, good. I’ll tell her.” She turned toward Skye. “That was the chief. He said they’re pretty sure the blood was from a deer. They found the hide and entrails nearby.”
“But no sign of who did it?” Skye got up and fetched her list. She slowly erased the question mark. Another prank.
“No, but he said there didn’t seem to be any danger and you can go home.”
“Great.” Skye sighed. “Any idea how to remove deer blood from concrete and siding?”
“Call the twins. Their husbands hunt all the time.” May went back to her post, the excitement over for now.
Skye considered her mother’s advice and decided to go one better. Not only would she consult her cousins for cleaning tips, she would invite them to brunch on Sunday.
The twins might be able to tell her something about Minnie, since she couldn’t get in to see her aunt herself, and Victoria might let something slip about Dante or Hugo. Too bad her Aunt Mona didn’t have any kids to pump for information.
It was difficult to make herself walk through the bloodied threshold of her cottage. Wally had obviously tried to wipe the worst of it off, but brownish-red streaks remained.
Bingo met her at the door demanding food and attention until a breeze carried in the coppery smell of blood. Suddenly, he danced backward, his fur standing in a ridge down his spine. He streaked out of the foyer and slunk under the bed.
The light was blinking on Skye’s answering machine when she got to the kitchen. Before doing anything else, she washed her hands and took a bottle of Ice Mountain from the fridge. After a few swigs of the spring water she sat down at the table and pushed the play button.
“Skye? This is Doc. Pulled in a few favors and got that information you wanted. Esther Prynn is living in Chicago. Here’s her address and phone.” After relaying that data Doc went on, “Haven’t had time to go over my records yet. I’ll let you know what I find.”
She stopped the machine and made a careful note, then got up to check on Bingo. Only his eyes were visible as they glowed in the darkness.
Creeping forward on her stomach, Skye called, “Here kitty, kitty. Bingo, it’s okay, sweetie.”
He didn’t even blink.
After trying food and his favorite toys to lure him out, Skye said, “Fine, stay there. I never knew you were such a ’fraidy cat.”
She returned to the kitchen and played the last message.
“This is Karolyn. I’m calling for Superintendent Wraige. He would like to see you Monday at one to discuss the Clapp matter.”
Shit, shit, shit! I still haven’t figured out a way to keep my job and my integrity. What am I going to do?
Skye was surprised by her cousins’ easy acceptance of her invitation for brunch. She had always felt a misfit among her family. At parties the conversations centered around children and housekeeping, subjects to which she could contribute little.
The twins had both married before they turned twenty and produced children shortly afterward. Skye was graduating from college while they were changing diapers. She was leaving the Peace Corps when they were sending their firstborns to kindergarten. It was almost worse with Victoria, whose only focus was to be invited to the right parties and belong to the correct country club.
Making an effort to drown out her thoughts, Skye put on a Patsy Cline CD and turned the volume high. At least she had gotten instructions from her cousins for washing up deer blood. And maybe the brunch would give her a chance to get closer to them.
After mixing the cleaning solution as directed, Skye took a brush and set to work.
Skye had a date with Simon the next day. He was picking her up at nine and they were going to spend all of Saturday together. She got up at seven so she’d have time both to get ready and call her mom.
May answered on the first ring. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. In fact, I took your advice about asking the twins how to clean deer blood.”
“That’s great.”
“Of course I didn’t tell them the real reason I was asking, so make sure you don’t tell either.”
“Why would I say anything? I’m just glad to see you talking to your cousins.”
“Actually, I went a little further.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, well, I, ah, invited them over for brunch tomorrow. Victoria, too.”
“That’s great. Maybe you’ll all get to be closer now that you’re home.”
“I hope so.”
“What are you serving?”
“I’ll start with mimosas and Bellinis.” The champagne drinks were sure to loosen tongues. “Next, cantaloupe bowls with fresh fruit and quiche. And your famous lemon silk sherbet with dream bars for the perfect ending.”
Simon arrived precisely on time, looking cool and elegant in khakis and a short-sleeved denim shirt. Skye wore a denim skort and striped polo shirt.
After Simon gave Bingo the appropriate number of pets and scratches they got into Simon’s Lexus.
Hand on the wheel, Simon asked, “Where to, my lady? Your chauffeur awaits.”
“Are you sure you don’t have somewhere in mind?”
“Nope, it’s up to you.” Simon smiled and took her hand.
“Well, last time you let me choose, you didn’t like it, but if you’re truly a man of your word . . .” Skye trailed off, watching his reaction.
Simon’s eyes narrowed as he recalled the instance she referred to. “One qualification: nothing illegal.”
“Okay, I can live with that.” Under her breath Skye added, “Probably.”
“So, what do you want to do?”
“Go visit a little old lady.”
CHAPTER 20
How I Wonder What You Are
One of the reasons Skye needed to talk Simon into going to see the old nurse was because she was afraid to drive in Chicago. She mostly blamed this on her lousy sense of direction, although sometimes she wondered if it wasn’t really because May had frightened her when she was a teen with stories of all the awful things that took place in big cities.