Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
PRESENT DAY
Later, I’m on the couch when Mom’s phone buzzes on the coffee table. She’s still in the bathroom, so I lean forward and tap the screen.
The message is from an unknown number.
I pick up the phone just to be sure I’m reading it right.
What did we do?
What does that mean? I open the text thread, but this is the first message. My heart skitters, blood chilling. With a racing pulse, I use my phone to search the number online.
Nothing.
There are no results.
“What’s wrong?” Mom is standing at the edge of the living room, drying her hands on the sides of her pants.
I don’t know what to say, so I just turn the phone so she can see the message. Her face processes it slowly, changing from confusion to worry.
“Who’s this?” I ask.
She takes the phone with both hands, studying it. Then she drops it into her pocket. “Oh, probably just a scammer. They’re getting so smart these days. Have you seen the new one about unpaid parking fees? Clinton doesn’t even have paid parking, but I get those texts all the time.”
She rolls her eyes and drops down beside me on the couch, then pats my thigh. “All right, what should we watch? Blood of Our Blood again? I waited for you, like I promised.”
I swallow. It’s a fine explanation, I guess. Besides, what else could it be? I try to force the worry out of my brain, only to replace it with the new, more pressing concern. I need to ask her about this before we turn on our show, otherwise it’ll never happen.
“Sure. Hey, can I ask you something first?”
“Of course, honey.” She’s not really paying attention, too busy scrolling through the app on TV to find our show.
I put my hand on hers, drawing her focus to me. “It’s about Ruth.”
She pauses then, face still. “What about her?”
I brace myself. “Will says they’re investigating her death. They think it might’ve been… That someone might’ve hurt her on purpose. That it might not’ve been an accident.”
A muscle near her eye twitches. “It’s all hogwash. Some overzealous cops. You remember Timmy Murphy? He’s the one on the case. Never was the brightest, if you ask me.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want you to worry about it. There’s nothing to worry about. It’s hard enough on all of us losing her. We don’t need it dragged out for no good reason.”
“So, you don’t think it’s possible? I just want you to be careful. If… I mean, Ruth knows everyone you know. If someone hurt her, I want to make sure you’re safe.”
Her face softens just a bit. “I’m safe, Opal. I am. I appreciate the concern, but I’ve been protecting myself longer than you’ve been alive.”
“And you’re…older now. Alone.”
“As opposed to how it was…when? When you were living here? What exactly do you think you were going to do if a murderer showed up? You were a child. You think you were keeping me safe somehow? I’ve always been alone. And I survived just fine.”
I’ve struck a nerve. Her words are too harsh. “I didn’t mean anything. I just worry about you.”
“Well, what I want to talk about is your new job.” She pats my leg, and just like that, the conversation is over.