Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
SATURDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 9
F or the first time, I was glad Emmy was with Tim. I’d have to tell him about the nail fragment, the evidence that linked me to a murderer—and how could it not be a murder? Someone had gone to such lengths... breaking into my home to snatch the one item that could link us both to a crime. I hoped that once Tim heard my story, he’d let me crash on his couch for a while. He could be a real prick about things, but he’d have to see the danger of his family being so exposed.
If the criminal decided I knew too much, he could come back and kill me. I had to get away, but who could I stay with? Tim wasn’t back for another four days. Staying with Tasha would be awkward. I’d only met her husband Nelson once, when Tim and I had bumped into the couple months earlier, at a pub on one of the rare nights Tim had taken me out.
Jeffrey had plenty of room in his house, but I hardly knew him. And what I did know—namely his possession of a key to a missing woman’s house—made me wary. There was Muzzy, but she wouldn’t even speak to me, or leave her house when I lingered in front of it. Much as I hated to admit it, that friendship was over. I sighed. That left Mary. She’d jump at the chance to have someone else around. A person to enjoy her strong coffee each morning, a drinking buddy throughout the day. I rubbed my chin, trying to think of anyone else who’d be willing to give me temporary shelter but couldn’t produce a soul. I’d met so few locals in the short time I’d lived here.
There were hotels in town, but that was costly. Tim would be livid at the expense, no matter the circumstances. Out of options, I pulled out a duffel bag and began filling it with clothes from my closet and drawers. Mary was getting a temporary roommate.
As I stuffed socks and underwear into the corners of the bag, I felt a hot stirring in my chest. I was the one who should be angry—with Tim and his cavalier attitude. Leaving us alone in the house without an alarm system. Too expensive, he’d said. And I resented how casual he was with Emmy when I wasn’t around. He never texted to let me know how she was doing. Babies weren’t toys. They had very specific needs, especially when colic was an issue. I was mindful of that—and of his all-important connection with Emmy. Apparently, he couldn’t care less about my needs. I pressed down, compacting the clothes so I could get the bag zipped.
When I showed up on Mary’s doorstep, she smiled.
“I knew you’d end up here.” She looked at the oversized sack I still had balanced over my shoulder. “Please, drop your bag. Make yourself comfortable.”
“How could you know I’d come here with a packed bag?” I asked, surprise raising my voice a notch. I swerved the duffle off my shoulder and let it slither to the floor.
“Who’d stay in a house with intruders?” she asked. “C’mon, I’ve got a room ready for you.”
This was the same woman who walked into my empty house after she’d noticed a man’s shadow inside. Mary was either incredibly brave or quite reckless. Or drunk. That was it. Liquid courage had likely propelled the old woman across the threshold of my house, trailing a possible murderer.
I stepped inside the small bedroom and looked from the tiny dresser to the full-sized mattress laid out on a platform, with no headboard or footboard. A floor lamp stood on the other side of the bed, and a ladderback chair resided next to the closet. Bare bones. I looked at Mary and smiled. I could do no frills.
“Thank you, Mary, you are a good neighbor.” I couldn’t bring myself to call her a good friend . “I won’t stay more than four days. Tim will be back from vacation after that and, with any luck, he’ll let me stay with him until we figure out the whole mess.”
Mary tilted her head slightly, a ghost of a smile on her thin, chapped lips. She said nothing.