Part 29 (1/2)

Sophie jumps in. ”I read that that's where the n.a.z.is went to hide from being caught as war criminals.”

Jack continues. ”Maybe X realizes somebody's stalking him in Argentina. So he stows away on the s.h.i.+p and picks Johnny as the one to kill to get a new ident.i.ty. He throws him overboard and easily makes it off the s.h.i.+p with Johnny's ID. He wanders around and arrives at Fort Lauderdale, gets a job working on building these condos.” Jack stops to take a drink from his gla.s.s of water.

I continue for him. ”But maybe this stalker catches up to him. It could be someone from the camps who wanted revenge for killing his family. A Jewish man named Abe Waller.”

Bella gasps. Hearing his name in this manner is chilling.

Evvie can't wait. ”X probably murdered the entire Waller family so n.o.body ever comes looking for the real Abe Waller.”

Jack continues. ”We can imagine that in the middle of a terrible storm the two men fight to the finish. X is the stronger and he kills Abe Waller. So X has killed two men to keep himself safe.”

Ida says fervently, ”All right. But why didn't X keep using Johnny Blake's ID?”

Jack says, ”My guess is, he kept track of Tampa news and found out about Johnny's body turning up. Here was a golden opportunity. He can't remain Johnny Blake, so now he becomes Abe Waller. When he leaves Johnny's stuff behind, it probably must be because he couldn't get back into his locker and he figures those old clothes would get thrown out.”

Joe says, ”Which Stanley, the pack rat, never disposed of. Safe for fifty years until you, Gladdy.” He tips an imaginary hat to me.

Ida says, ”But why would he do something so crazy and then move in and live where he buried the body? It doesn't make any sense.”

I say, ”We can only speculate. He comes back a year later, thinner and with a beard and mustache. No one would recognize him as the guy who worked on the construction site. Maybe he decided to hang about awhile to make sure the body wasn't found. Then he just stayed on. It's amazing how utterly realistic he's been playing the part. I mean, why take on such a difficult role? Fifty years of going to temple consistently with Stanley. Not just being Jewish, but Orthodox, the most rigorous and devout form of Judaism. Why didn't he leave when he was sure he was safe?”

Jack says, ”Maybe he thought this was the ultimate disguise. No one would ever again recognize him. And he was right.”

It gets very quiet and I say, ”Time for a reality check. What if we're totally wrong and our imagination made up this entire scenario? What if Enya's behavior was was irrational and we're reading Abe's actions incorrectly? Maybe Enya, cracking up, is delusional and for some sick, sad reason, she's picked on Abe. And what if Abe's innocent? This man has lived an impeccable, faith-filled, decent life. What if our carefully built-up a.s.sumptions are just that, a.s.sumptions-and we are about to destroy a man's life?” irrational and we're reading Abe's actions incorrectly? Maybe Enya, cracking up, is delusional and for some sick, sad reason, she's picked on Abe. And what if Abe's innocent? This man has lived an impeccable, faith-filled, decent life. What if our carefully built-up a.s.sumptions are just that, a.s.sumptions-and we are about to destroy a man's life?”

”One thing's for sure,” Jack says, ”without knowing his real name, we have nothing to go on. We have no proof. It's all conjecture. But I have an idea . . .”

”Well?” says Evvie, never known for her patience. ”Tell us. What?”

Jack looks at me and smiles. ”We need to buy time. Glad, you're not going to like this, but we have to get people's minds off hurricanes and Enya and skeletons. Something to make Abe-if guilty-think he's safe. Only way to do that is give everyone something else to get excited about. An event that will make them happy. Now we spread the word about our engagement and upcoming wedding. And have a party to celebrate. That will give us time to come up with a plan.”

That startles me. I had no intention of having any kind of party, that's not my style. I'm not thrilled with the idea, but Jack makes sense. I dread having to give the pool gang that ammunition. There goes romance. Good-bye, privacy.

Ida bursts into the laundry room on our floor, in a robe and with her bun unpinned, letting her saltand-pepper hair fly. ”What's with the call to come over here right away? I was just about to take a bath.”Now that our final partner is here, we turn to Evvie, who called this meeting for eight-thirty this evening. As if we hadn't had enough discussion today. She's busily filling a second washer with a load of clothes. ”Thought I'd kill two birds with one stone,” she tells us.

Ida says, ”It couldn't keep 'til morning?”

With four of us girls already crowded in this small s.p.a.ce, there's hardly room to move an arm or leg. We all push backward to make room for Ida.

”I had something on my mind,” Evvie says, ”and I wanted it settled tonight.”

I come to my sister's aid: ”Ev suggested that we cast our votes for whether we believe Enya is right about her fears. Or whether we don't believe Abe is really a wolf in sheep's clothing, so to speak.”

Ida shakes her head. ”But why here, now?”

Evvie shrugs. ”I didn't want to hurt Joe's feelings by telling him he didn't have the right to vote.” She pushes her garments around in the tub so they fit in evenly.

Ida tries to put her hands on her hips. There's no room, so she drops her arms.

Bella and Sophie watch the two of them bicker. Sophie gets bored and she examines her face in the small utility mirror, looking for new wrinkles. Bella plays with the coin lever, pulling it in and out.

”All right already, vote. My bathwater's getting cold. And what's with you and Joe anyway? Since when do you worry about his feelings?”

”Don't ask,” Evvie says, looking toward me, who understands.

Sophie says, ”My hand is ready to lift up, so let's go.”

”Ditto,” says Bella, ”not that I'm in a hurry to go back to Dora. She's watching the reruns of the shows she watched this morning. I have such a headache from all the TV fighting and kissing and slamming doors.”

They all turn to me as usual, their reluctant leader, so I proceed. I guess it's a good idea to see where we stand. ”We heard a lot of stuff today and there was plenty to digest. If you're not sure yet, say so. Okay, who believes Enya is right about Abe being the n.a.z.i she knew in the camps?”

Sophie's hand shoots up first. ”I believe.”

Bella is next. ”I believe.”

I say, ”I believe.”

Ida hesitates, and then her hand goes up, too.

Evvie laughs as she raises her hand as well. ”I believe, and now all we need is for Tinker Bell to show up.”

We all smile at that. A buzzer sounds to tell her the first load is dry.

”We done now?” Ida asks.

Evvie lugs out her dry clothes. ”Done.”

The secret society meeting is over and it's time to head for our homes. Except for me. Evvie beckons me to stay. She says, ”We should go over and tell Enya. She must be on pins and needles. First I gotta finish my laundry.”

It's past ten o'clock by the time Evvie's laundry is done. Lights are out everywhere. Evvie and I tiptoe along the second-floor landing where Evvie and Enya live. I take a quick look at Abe's kitchen window. No light there. Evvie leaves her filled laundry basket in front of her apartment.

Enya's been told we're coming, so she is waiting right at the door.

We slip into her apartment quickly. Enya looks a little better now that Mary is taking care of her.

”I'm so ashamed,” she says. ”About the way I behaved.”

”Nonsense,” says Evvie. ”You had good reason.”

Enya leads us to the living room. Evvie and I sit down on her old horsehair sofa. ”Do you want anything?”

”No, thank you,” we say.