Part 31 (1/2)
”Tell me.”
The look Jacob sent my way could have started a brushfire, and I took an involuntary step backward. ”What the h.e.l.l kind of nonsense are you fillin' her head with now?”
Debby grabbed his arm. ”Stop it. I'm sick of being treated like an invalid. I want to know the truth.”
He snorted. ”Truth? This woman just wants a little excitement in her life. Don't got nothin' to do with the truth.”
Well, naturally that rubbed me the wrong way. ”Hey. If you could just-” pull your head out of your a.s.s... ”-listen for a moment. I'm not making it up. The police are very close to arresting the murderer.”
Jacob's nostrils flared.
Debby said, ”Really?”
”Yes!”
”Prove it. If you know so much, tell me who killed my Walter.”
”I bet I know who they're looking for,” Jacob said.
Debby whirled. ”Who?”
Jacob paused, then said, ”Walter's first wife. She's been in town. Guess the police heard that, too.” He squinted at me. ”Am I right?”
I didn't answer, but my face must have given it away, because he nodded and turned to Debby. ”I figured as much.”
”His first wife! But why... how do you know she's here?”
”I, uh, saw her. With Walter. She was lookin' for money, I guess. And he said she's a real piece of work-meaner 'n a snake.”
An accurate a.s.sessment.
”Why didn't he tell me?” Her momentary grit had vanished, and only the little girl voice remained.
”He just wanted her gone, Debs. He didn't want you bothered with any of it.” Jacob's expression now held nothing but concern for his sister, and I could have been on Mars for all he noticed me. I found his focus on his sister a little unnerving.
”Debby,” I said. ”Are you okay?”
She turned bewildered eyes on me. ”What's her name?”
”Debby!” Erin's voice from the bottom of the stairs saved me from answering. ”What are you doing here?”
Debby blinked, then turned to Erin. ”Honey, how are you?” She held out her arms, and Erin glided into the hug as if from long practice.
”Um,” I said. ”You two know each other?”
Erin nodded happily, ignoring my questioning look. Little imp.
Debby said, ”Walter introduced us. Turns out Erin's quite the little Mariners expert.”
”Not like Walter was,” Erin said. ”He knew everything about baseball, and not just the Mariners, either. He had all kinds of stories.”
”Really?”
”He did,” Debby replied, more at ease in this conversation and with Erin than any of the times I'd seen her with her brother. Now he shuffled backwards, physically extracting himself from potential conflict. He went back into my storeroom. Had he been jealous of Walter? Was he still?
Debby continued. ”Walter loved two things: baseball and nature. He was going to be a scientist once, did you know that?” I made a noncommittal sound, and she continued. ”But I bet he knew more about baseball than any commentator.”
”I don't think Tootie knew that about him.”
”Well, maybe I'll tell her.”
Erin skipped into the storeroom. I heard her say, ”Hi! I'm Erin. Doesn't it smell great in here? This one over here's my favorite.”
The sound of footsteps on the stairs preceded Meghan into the room.
”Have you seen my offspring?” she asked.
I gestured with my elbow. ”She's in there.”
”Okay. Don't tell her I asked.”
”Stalking your kid again?”
Debby looked puzzled.
”Funny,” Meghan said, leaning against the end of the counter. ”But she is getting pretty sick of me d.o.g.g.i.ng her heels.”
”At least she's feeling better,” I said.
Meghan nodded. ”Seems to be.”
”Uh, Sophie Mae?” Debby said, and my eyes followed her gaze.
Grace Thorson stood in the doorway, a scrawny silhouette against the bright daylight.
”Where's my granddaughter? Where's my sweet little girl?”
THIRTY-EIGHT.