“Ech.”
“Anyway,” he continued, “I think they attacked me. I admit that I thought you were involved before. But now I realize that this is bigger than you.”
He believed it more now. It was hard to suspect a woman wearing a pink nightgown. Her hair started to droop as it dried.
“Why would I know anything about them?”
“Because this year you gave them the community’s charitable donations. That’s why Charlotte started investigating them.”
“She had a silly grudge about bridge.”
“And you had a silly grudge about Abram. Right? That’s why you kicked her out, isn’t it? You found out they were together and decided to make her life a little worse.”
He felt bad after he said it. Her face began to sag.
“Maybe. But that doesn’t matter.”
“She just wanted to find out something to retaliate. But the Initiative-the group you gave money to-was more than she bargained for.”
“I don’t know what she found. But she was old.”
“No.” Firmer. “It wasn’t old age that killed her.”
“It was because she forgot her medication.”
“She forgot it? You don’t really believe that, do you? It’s a great excuse. But it isn’t true.”
“It could be.”
He stared at her, seeing past the makeup and mascara. She stared right back. She wasn’t the type of woman who could be easily intimidated. He kept talking.
“What do you know about the group? Why did you switch?”
“I don’t know much about them. It’s not important.”
“Have you seen their commercials?”
She swallowed and pulled her nightgown tighter around her.
“I have heard about them.”
“They’re total radicals.”
“I’ve heard that.”
“Charlotte must have found something. Do you know what it was?”
“You’re just looking for a story.”
“No. I’m looking for the truth.”
“I don’t know anything about them.” She sighed. “We decided to switch to them because they supported the wetlands. And that’s important. We didn’t know what they would be like.”
“But didn’t you already help a charity that did that?”
“It’s good to pass the money around.”
“It just seems a little unusual.”
“It was one decision. Charlotte was just angry about bridge.”
“Well, whoever killed her was mad about something else.”
“I’m telling you.” She stopped a little, caught her breath, and spoke more loudly. “You don’t really think they did something, do you?”
“I do. I can’t prove it yet, but I do.”
“Ech. You’re just a paranoid reporter.”
“I wish.”
“Well, we just gave them money. I don’t talk to them or anything like that.”
“I just don’t understand why you switched. And why you chose the Saving Tomorrow Initiative.”
“That’s why it’s our decision.”
They were both silent. He’d written down her answers. He looked at them-scribbled lines, shorthand without a translation. His handwriting looked as angry as he was.
“What argument did you give when the rest of the community voted for it?”
“I don’t give arguments. I tell them what we should do. They follow.”
“So you admit you made the decision yourself?”
She stopped. Then she gave in.
“Yes, I made the decision. But we all had input. We give this money out. It’s only fair to give it to more than one group.”
“You know that the Saving Tomorrow Initiative has supported some outrageous positions. They’ve said nature is more important than humans. That all development should stop.”
“I’m not responsible for that.”
“Your money couldn’t have hurt their efforts. How do you think they got the money for TV commercials?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’ve never even seen TV commercials for a group like that. Don’t you think that’s a little odd, Sheryl?”
“I’m not their treasurer and I’m not their leader. All we did was give them money, and I don’t see why that means Charlotte was killed. She was just mad that she couldn’t play in our bridge games.”
“You know something? These hurt.” He touched the bruises. “They’re a dangerous group.”
“Listen. We talked about this before. I guess you weren’t convinced. But I was a nurse. Now I’m just an old woman who plays bridge two days a week. I don’t spend my time getting involved in things like this.”
Sitting there, she started to look a little sadder in her pink nightgown. It folded into smooth shadows, places where the pink darkened to red. She’d peeled the lipstick off at the corners, and her lips floated crimson in the center of her face. Then she seemed to wake up again. She scowled at Jake.
“Are we done? I don’t want to waste any more of my day.”
“Sure.” He closed the notebook and put his pen in his pocket. “We’re done.”
He started walking toward the door. He stepped on a petal that she’d missed and looked back.
“I’m sorry we tricked you.”
“Did I do all this for nothing? Is Gary coming?”
“Not today. I’m really sorry. I just care about Charlotte.”
She nodded her head and stood up slowly.
“If you really think these people attacked you and hurt Charlotte, then I have a little advice.”
“What?”
“Know when to draw the line.”
“I do.”
“And be careful.”
As he closed the door, he saw her staring out at him, waiting for it to shut.
CHAPTER 35
He was getting slower. He tapped his stopwatch as he went up the stairs to his apartment. He’d only run five miles. Charlotte Ward hadn’t left him much time for running. But he felt relaxed, calm even, until he got to the top of the stairs.
“Out for a jog?”
He thought he’d seen a lot of Kaylie before, when she wore tight t-shirts and cut off shorts. It was nothing. She was wearing her swimming suit. That was how she’d gotten her tan. Her tan lines really were lines. Her suit wasn’t any thicker than a centimeter. He collected his breath and wiped the sweat off his forehead.
“I was out for a run. I don’t jog.”
“Well well.”
She sat down in front of his door while he stood above her.
“Excuse me.”
“Do you need to get in?”
“Yes.” She didn’t move and he sat down beside her.
“Going to the beach?”
“I just got back from the pool.”
“Do you swim?”
“I sunbathe. Does that count?”
“You must work out a lot.”
“Oh really?” She tilted her head and looked at him. “How do you know I work out a lot?”
“Because you make fun of me so much. For having been a little overweight.”
“Right, that’s how you know.” She hit his shoulder.
“That hurt.”
“Did it?”
“You forget, I’m sore.”
“You’re starting to heal.”
“I think I’m almost better.”
“No.” She shook her head. “Looking at your face, you’ve got a way to go.”
“Thanks. I should probably get to work.”
He started to get up. He took his key out of his pocket and put it in the door. She sat there, letting her legs stretch.
“Tell me what you’ve been working on. Where have you been? You still owe me a drink.”
“When did we agree on that?”
“You have to agree.” She stood up beside him and pointed at the dark stain on his t-shirt.
“I sweat a lot.”
“I bet you do.”
“Right.”
“Where have you gone today?”
“I was out doing some research.”
“About what?”
“You wouldn’t care.”
“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t care.” She tilted her head. “Would I?”
“I guess not.”
“Good. You understand. Were you with your girlfriend?”
He’d been with Gary’s girlfriend.
“I don’t have one yet.”