Nutty As a Fruitcake by Mary Daheim

thereof—also resided in the genes.
    Miraculously, the cousins arrived downtown in one piece. They spent the next three hours trooping from Donner & Blitzen to Nordquist’s to The Belle Epoch. By the time their feet and their money had given out, each had acquired most of the items on their respective lists. At precisely four o’clock, they were in the car again, breathing heavily.
    â€œThe stores look pretty,” Renie said, somehow managing to reverse out of their parking place without hitting either of the adjacent vehicles. “I like Nordquist’s historical Santa Clauses, especially the Russian one.”
    â€œThe Belle Epoch is so homey,” Judith said. “Every year, they convert the turn-of-the-century Thanksgiving window into Christmas. It’s a wonderful transition.”
    â€œTrue,” Renie agreed, as the big blue Chev snaked up the curving exit lane. “But Donner & Blitzen is always the best. All those silver stars and gorgeous angels make you feel like you’re halfway to heaven.”
    Judith smiled. “The store smells good, too. I wonder if they use a special Christmas spray.”
    â€œWe’ll have to figure out when the kids can get together to come down and have their pictures taken with Santa at Donner & Blitzen. I swear, they’ll be forty years old and still have to sit on Santa’s lap for the annual photo session.” So wrapped up in holiday tradition was Renie that she made the wrong turn and found herself exiting in the opposite direction from Heraldsgate Hill. “Damn,” she breathed as they waited for an opening in the steady late afternoon traffic. “Now we’ll have to drive two miles out of our way just to get home.”
    Judith darted Renie a quick look. “We’ll be going right through the hospital district,” she said, hoping to sound innocent.
    â€œI know,” Renie replied. “That’s the only way we can get on a one-way street that takes us back to Heraldsgate Hill. Do you think I’m stupid as well as reckless?”
    â€œNo-o-o,” said Judith. “But as long as we’re in the vicinity, maybe we should check on George.”
    Renie applied the brake too hard, throwing both cousins forward in their seat belts. “Hold it! Are you trying to finagle yourself into this Goodrich thing? What’s the point? George killed Enid; George tried to kill himself. Open and shut. Get over it.”
    Judith sighed. “I know. You’re right. But I care about George. I’d like to find out if he’s dead or alive. They won’t tell us over the phone, so if we drop in, we might be able to talk to Glenda or Art. And if George has died, we’ll find out right now instead of waiting to hear about it. Come on, coz, Bayview is only four blocks away. Arlene would never forgive me for passing up this opportunity.”
    Renie groaned but turned right instead of left. “I should have known when you tried to pump Gary Meyers. Okay, okay,” she went on, seeing the arguments forming on hercousin’s lips. “It’s not easy to turn your back on a murder. It’s impossible when it happens two doors down from your house. But you could wait until Joe gets home from work. He’ll know, won’t he?”
    â€œMaybe,” Judith allowed. “It depends on whether he and Woody are all wrapped up in the Shazri case.”
    Parking at Bayview Hospital proved fairly easy, but finding George Goodrich was another matter. The public hospital was an enormous maze with additions, annexes, and employees for whom English was definitely not their native tongue. After twenty minutes, Judith and Renie found themselves outside of the Intensive Care Unit. They also found themselves face-to-face with Sancha Rael.
    â€œMr. Goodrich’s condition has stabilized,” Rael informed them in detached tones. “I can’t tell you any more than that, and shouldn’t