must have had it once.
Wearily,
I shuffled papers into order and collected the ubiquitous briefcase, which was
beginning to feel like my personal albatross. Before I could switch the phone
to voicemail and make my escape, it rang. I debated answering but ultimately
picked it up.
“Mack
Realty,” I chirped as brightly as I could manage. “Kate
Lawrence speaking.”
“Oh,
Kate, you’re just the person I wanted to talk to. I’m so glad I caught you.”
The
voice sounded vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t quite place it. “How can I help
you? I was just closing up the office for the day.”
“Sorry,
I hate people who don’t identify themselves on the phone, just expect you to
recognize their voices. This is Bitsy Grant, Margo’s friend. We met this
morning at Vista View.”
Ah,
yes, the taller, blonde one. “Bitsy, of course. Don’t
tell me you’ve decided to sell your unit,” I joked lamely. “I’m afraid our
supply is exceeding the demand a bit these days.”
Her
polite laughter was hollow, and I winced at my insensitivity. The woman had
just lost a good friend.
“Janet
and I were wondering if you and Margo might be free for brunch tomorrow
morning. Margaret Butler’s cousins, the Hendersons ,
are in town and seem to have some new concerns about her death. They’ve made an
appointment to see Janet’s husband Gerald this evening. He was Margaret’s
attorney, you know.” She paused as if interested in my response.
I
did know, but for Ginny’s sake, I wasn’t about to say so. “Is that right?” I
returned noncommittally. “You want to see us about Margaret, then?” We really
didn’t even know her to talk to, I’m afraid.”
“In
a roundabout way it is about Margaret,” Bitsy replied. “The thing is, as the
sales reps for Vista View, you and your partners must be a bit worried about
the effect the deaths of two of our youngest residents might have on sales.
Since Janet and I both serve on the residents’ committee, we thought it might
be worthwhile to put our heads together and see if we can come up with a way to
put everyone’s minds at ease.” Again, the laugh that didn’t
ring true.
I
thought quickly. Strutter had to drive Charlie to yet
another game, but Margo could join us if she moved one appointment around. “As
a matter of fact, I am free tomorrow, and I know Margo would love to see you.
Shall we say the Town Line Diner at eleven?”
“Perfect,”
Bitsy agreed a bit too enthusiastically. “We’ll see you then.”
Curiouser and curiouser . I switched on the voicemail system, turned off the lights and trudged up the
stairs. Well, I thought, what with one thing and another, at least I hadn’t
thought about turning fifty all day. As if on cue, a tsunami of a hot flash
rolled over me, and sweat broke out on my scalp. Shouldn’t have tempted fate, I
reflected as I secured the door and headed for my car.
Nine
“I’m
not sure why we’re even talking to you about this except that Margo said you’ve
been involved in one or two unofficial inquiries over the years. We thought you
might have taken an interest in our little situation at Vista View,” said Bitsy
the next morning.
The
four of us were ensconced in one of the Town Line’s window booths a discreet
distance from the other late breakfasters. A gray rain dripped persistently,
which didn’t encourage the locals to make any unnecessary stops on a Saturday
morning. Charlie’s soccer game would probably be postponed, I thought, apropos
of nothing. I’d had a restless night and felt strangely lethargic. I forced my
attention back to Bitsy.
“It’s
not as if we have a reason to go to the police, or of course we would.” She and
Janet regarded Margo and me uncomfortably from their side of the booth. “We’re
just trying to understand how our friend could simply get up from the bridge
table on a Thursday evening, walk out the door and expire in her bed at some
point over the ensuing two days.
Wearily,
I shuffled papers into order and collected the ubiquitous briefcase, which was
beginning to feel like my personal albatross. Before I could switch the phone
to voicemail and make my escape, it rang. I debated answering but ultimately
picked it up.
“Mack
Realty,” I chirped as brightly as I could manage. “Kate
Lawrence speaking.”
“Oh,
Kate, you’re just the person I wanted to talk to. I’m so glad I caught you.”
The
voice sounded vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t quite place it. “How can I help
you? I was just closing up the office for the day.”
“Sorry,
I hate people who don’t identify themselves on the phone, just expect you to
recognize their voices. This is Bitsy Grant, Margo’s friend. We met this
morning at Vista View.”
Ah,
yes, the taller, blonde one. “Bitsy, of course. Don’t
tell me you’ve decided to sell your unit,” I joked lamely. “I’m afraid our
supply is exceeding the demand a bit these days.”
Her
polite laughter was hollow, and I winced at my insensitivity. The woman had
just lost a good friend.
“Janet
and I were wondering if you and Margo might be free for brunch tomorrow
morning. Margaret Butler’s cousins, the Hendersons ,
are in town and seem to have some new concerns about her death. They’ve made an
appointment to see Janet’s husband Gerald this evening. He was Margaret’s
attorney, you know.” She paused as if interested in my response.
I
did know, but for Ginny’s sake, I wasn’t about to say so. “Is that right?” I
returned noncommittally. “You want to see us about Margaret, then?” We really
didn’t even know her to talk to, I’m afraid.”
“In
a roundabout way it is about Margaret,” Bitsy replied. “The thing is, as the
sales reps for Vista View, you and your partners must be a bit worried about
the effect the deaths of two of our youngest residents might have on sales.
Since Janet and I both serve on the residents’ committee, we thought it might
be worthwhile to put our heads together and see if we can come up with a way to
put everyone’s minds at ease.” Again, the laugh that didn’t
ring true.
I
thought quickly. Strutter had to drive Charlie to yet
another game, but Margo could join us if she moved one appointment around. “As
a matter of fact, I am free tomorrow, and I know Margo would love to see you.
Shall we say the Town Line Diner at eleven?”
“Perfect,”
Bitsy agreed a bit too enthusiastically. “We’ll see you then.”
Curiouser and curiouser . I switched on the voicemail system, turned off the lights and trudged up the
stairs. Well, I thought, what with one thing and another, at least I hadn’t
thought about turning fifty all day. As if on cue, a tsunami of a hot flash
rolled over me, and sweat broke out on my scalp. Shouldn’t have tempted fate, I
reflected as I secured the door and headed for my car.
Nine
“I’m
not sure why we’re even talking to you about this except that Margo said you’ve
been involved in one or two unofficial inquiries over the years. We thought you
might have taken an interest in our little situation at Vista View,” said Bitsy
the next morning.
The
four of us were ensconced in one of the Town Line’s window booths a discreet
distance from the other late breakfasters. A gray rain dripped persistently,
which didn’t encourage the locals to make any unnecessary stops on a Saturday
morning. Charlie’s soccer game would probably be postponed, I thought, apropos
of nothing. I’d had a restless night and felt strangely lethargic. I forced my
attention back to Bitsy.
“It’s
not as if we have a reason to go to the police, or of course we would.” She and
Janet regarded Margo and me uncomfortably from their side of the booth. “We’re
just trying to understand how our friend could simply get up from the bridge
table on a Thursday evening, walk out the door and expire in her bed at some
point over the ensuing two days.
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