Part 18 (1/2)
”It's hard to trip her up while she's lying in bed. So, I'm taking her and Macy to the Dallas Zoo tomorrow.”
”Get her out of her comfort zone.”
”Right.”
”Well, Buddy, I hope it works.”
”Me too.”
Chapter20.
Greg and Cynthia had remained at the murder scene for nearly an hour, watching the police, giving statements and talking to neighbors. So, Greg had arrived at the church later than usual, and stayed later, and now he was in a hurry to eat lunch at Jane's Diner before his first lesson at 1:00.
But as he rushed down the sidewalk to Jane's, he still made the effort to look for new b.u.mper stickers. It was an addiction. He could not pa.s.s by a car without checking its b.u.mper. It was always fun to find one he'd never seen before-like the one on the car in front of Coreyville Copy Shop.
If ignorance is bliss, then you must be ecstatic.
Not very nice, he thought, but it was a new one for his collection. He filed it with hundreds of others in his mental database. Not the best use of a brain, but they say most people only use 10% anyway.
”So, I hear you've had quite a morning,” said Jane as Greg walked through the door. She was standing behind the counter at the soda fountain, filling gla.s.ses with various soft drinks.
”You could say that.” Greg wasn't the least bit surprised that Jane had already heard about it. By now, he thought, everybody in town knows. He walked over to the counter. ”She was one of my piano students.”
”Yeah, I know. But why were you and Cynthia at her house at 6:30 in the morning?”
”We were jogging.”
”Oh, yeah. Your new health kick. But why did you stop at Nancie Jo's house? What tipped you off?”
”Nothing, really. I was concerned about her because she missed her lesson last night. And she didn't call to cancel, so I called her. But I got no answer. Now I wish I'd gone to her house last night. Maybe I could have done something.”
”Yeah. You could have got yourself killed.”
”That's true. But I still feel bad about not checking on her sooner.”
”Well, from what I hear, she was already dead by noon. So, there was nothing you could have done. Do the police have any leads?”
”You tell me,” said Greg.
”Hey, I don't know everythingthat goes on in this town,” she said with a sly grin.
”Well, I talked to the neighbor across the street, but he wasn't any help. I told the police what he said, but they didn't bother to interview him.”
”Oh, I know who you're talking about. No wonder the police didn't care what he had to say. He's crazy.”
”He did seem kinda off.”
”Not kindaoff. Wayoff.”
”Anyway, he said a nurse came to visit Nancie Jo on Thursday and that she was driving a white car, and something about the word 'ecstasy.'”
”See? The guy's wacko,” said Jane as she walked away with the tray of soft drinks.
Greg mulled it over. A nurse...white car...ecstasy... How awful it must be living in a fog, never making any sense. Ignorance is bliss, they say. Maybe not. Where had he just read that slogan? Oh, yeah-the b.u.mper sticker on the white car in front of the copy shop.
If ignorance is bliss, then you must be ecstatic.
Ecstatic. ECSTASY. The b.u.mper sticker on the white car in front of the copy shop! He ran out the door to look at the car.
But it was gone.
It was nearly 8:00 PM, and Carnie was driving to Jake's house when her cell phone began to ring.
”I miss you. And I want to get married,” said Carsie.
”I know. I miss you too. But don't worry. The wedding will be back on track before you know it.”
”Really? Is Mallie Mae doing better?”
”Not that I can tell. But I think he's about ready to marry you in spite of her condition.”
”Why? I talked to him yesterday, and he didn't soundany different.”
”Uh...I don't think you can tell over the phone.”
”I should come back.”
”No. I mean, you need to give him a little more time. He's missing you more every day. Eventually, he won't be able to stand it. Then he'll beg you to come back and marry him.”
”Wow. I hope you're right, Carnie.”
”Just be patient, Sis. I'll talk to you tomorrow.”
”Okay. Bye-bye.”
Carnie parked in the driveway and walked up to Jake's front door.
When she knocked, Jake swung the door open immediately. His eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw her. But it was almost too much-like looking directly at the sun. He wasn't sure whether she was wearing a dress or a long, stretchy s.h.i.+rt. But she was definitely not wearing a bra.
”You're on time,” said Jake.
”Of course.”