her own eye-cheaters. She settled the glasses over her nose, looked down at the list in front of her. Her first call was to someone named Brandy, aka Jo Ann Scythe. As Lizzie waited for the phone to be answered she wondered what she would do if Lily’s girls were too frightened to answer. If there was no answer, should she leave a message or go on to the next young woman? She panicked for one brief moment as she tried to remember what name Lily Flowers used at the Happy Day Camp. It ricocheted through her brain just as she heard a cautious hello.
“Brandy! Uh…Miss Jo Ann Scythe? This is Elizabeth Fox. Crystal Clark retained my law partner several days ago. I don’t know how to tell you this other than to come right out and say it. Miss Clark was involved in a terrible car accident. She was killed instantly. My partner, Cosmo Cricket, and I are trying to piece everything together and to do what Miss Clark wanted us to do. She gave her power of attorney to my partner. Obviously, she made provisions for you and your…colleagues. That’s why I’m calling. I don’t know where you are and I’m not sure I want you to tell me either.”
“Crystal is dead! She was the most careful driver I ever met. We were supposed to meet…oh, God! Did you tell the others?”
“You are my first call. Listen to me. I want you to call all the other girls and tell them what happened. I want you all to go to…to your final destination, wherever that may be as soon as possible. It would be a good idea, if after all the calls are made, you get rid of your phones and buy new ones. Buy extra minute cards for the time being. Designate one of you to be the spokesperson to stay in touch with me. I’m sure you can see my number on your caller I.D. Do you understand everything I just said, Brandy?”
The voice was stronger but still sounded a little jittery. “I do understand. How much time do we have?”
“The FBI should be arriving in a few hours. Does that answer your question?” Not waiting for a reply she rushed on. “Are you all together? If so, you need to split up, and you also need to look ordinary and travel under your real names.”
“Yes, we’re all together. We’re in Seattle. Crystal has a house here that she said no one knows about.”
“They’ll know about it sooner than you think. Clean up the house and leave. And I mean, inside and out, fingerprints, hair, leftover food, anything that could contain your DNA, the bag from the vacuum cleaner, and all—everything. Then ditch everything in a Dumpster somewhere way down the road. Can you do that?”
“Consider it done. This is serious, isn’t it? Do you need to know our final destination?”
“No, not right now, and yes, this is about as serious as it can get. How are you fixed for money?”
“Crystal has a stash we can draw on. She said we’d be good for a solid year. After that we were on our own. We thought that was fair, so we went along with it. Will you…will you…take some flowers to the cemetery for us? Just sign the card ‘Friends.’”
“We’re having Miss Clark cremated. But I will buy some flowers. Hang up now and go wherever you have to go. Call me as soon as you’re all safe.”
“Crystal, even under stress, always had her wits about her. Whatever happened, I can tell you this, it was no accident. I’d stake my life on it. Good-bye, Miss Fox.”
Lizzie licked at her lips, then bit down on the bottom one as she scanned the papers in front of her. There was no doubt in her mind that this was all going to be one gigantic mess.
She cleared the outdoor table and carried everything into the kitchen. She looked around in dismay. Cosmo must have used every pot and pan he owned to make breakfast. She shook her head like indulgent mothers do when their children create chaos. The end result had been more than satisfying, she thought, as she cleaned the kitchen and turned on the dishwasher. The remaining pots and pans she did by hand. Satisfied
“Brandy! Uh…Miss Jo Ann Scythe? This is Elizabeth Fox. Crystal Clark retained my law partner several days ago. I don’t know how to tell you this other than to come right out and say it. Miss Clark was involved in a terrible car accident. She was killed instantly. My partner, Cosmo Cricket, and I are trying to piece everything together and to do what Miss Clark wanted us to do. She gave her power of attorney to my partner. Obviously, she made provisions for you and your…colleagues. That’s why I’m calling. I don’t know where you are and I’m not sure I want you to tell me either.”
“Crystal is dead! She was the most careful driver I ever met. We were supposed to meet…oh, God! Did you tell the others?”
“You are my first call. Listen to me. I want you to call all the other girls and tell them what happened. I want you all to go to…to your final destination, wherever that may be as soon as possible. It would be a good idea, if after all the calls are made, you get rid of your phones and buy new ones. Buy extra minute cards for the time being. Designate one of you to be the spokesperson to stay in touch with me. I’m sure you can see my number on your caller I.D. Do you understand everything I just said, Brandy?”
The voice was stronger but still sounded a little jittery. “I do understand. How much time do we have?”
“The FBI should be arriving in a few hours. Does that answer your question?” Not waiting for a reply she rushed on. “Are you all together? If so, you need to split up, and you also need to look ordinary and travel under your real names.”
“Yes, we’re all together. We’re in Seattle. Crystal has a house here that she said no one knows about.”
“They’ll know about it sooner than you think. Clean up the house and leave. And I mean, inside and out, fingerprints, hair, leftover food, anything that could contain your DNA, the bag from the vacuum cleaner, and all—everything. Then ditch everything in a Dumpster somewhere way down the road. Can you do that?”
“Consider it done. This is serious, isn’t it? Do you need to know our final destination?”
“No, not right now, and yes, this is about as serious as it can get. How are you fixed for money?”
“Crystal has a stash we can draw on. She said we’d be good for a solid year. After that we were on our own. We thought that was fair, so we went along with it. Will you…will you…take some flowers to the cemetery for us? Just sign the card ‘Friends.’”
“We’re having Miss Clark cremated. But I will buy some flowers. Hang up now and go wherever you have to go. Call me as soon as you’re all safe.”
“Crystal, even under stress, always had her wits about her. Whatever happened, I can tell you this, it was no accident. I’d stake my life on it. Good-bye, Miss Fox.”
Lizzie licked at her lips, then bit down on the bottom one as she scanned the papers in front of her. There was no doubt in her mind that this was all going to be one gigantic mess.
She cleared the outdoor table and carried everything into the kitchen. She looked around in dismay. Cosmo must have used every pot and pan he owned to make breakfast. She shook her head like indulgent mothers do when their children create chaos. The end result had been more than satisfying, she thought, as she cleaned the kitchen and turned on the dishwasher. The remaining pots and pans she did by hand. Satisfied
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