Part 14 (1/2)
”It sure is,” he said. ”It says so right on the box.”
I took a sip, then poured a little warmed syrup on the pancake and devoured it in record time.
He smiled at me as I looked up. ”There's nothing wrong with your appet.i.te, anyway.”
”Just keep them coming,” I said as he put another one onto my plate. ”I missed dinner last night. I don't I know what I'm going to tell Greg.”
”You don't have to worry about him,” Bradford said. ”We talked a bit last night when you were with the doctor.”
”He came by the hospital to see me?” I asked, the bite on my fork temporarily forgotten.
”You can eat and listen at the same time,” he said as he gestured to my food.
”Bradford, I'm serious.”
”Okay, okay. I told him you were all right, and he said if that was true, he wanted to see you. For a minute there, I thought I was going to have to lock him up for disturbing the peace, but he finally listened to me. What is it with you two, anyway?”
”I wish I knew,” I said. I wasn't looking forward to the conversation with Greg later. Knowing him, he'd want to reschedule our last supper together, but I'd had enough. I could barely manage to say no to him when I was at my strongest, and I wasn't anywhere close to that at the moment. Being shot at had that effect on me. No, it was time to end it with him once and for all.
Bradford glanced at the clock. ”Is that time right?”
”Actually, it's five minutes slow. I keep resetting it, but somehow it keeps slowing down the exact same amount every time.” I had a theory about my b.u.mbling poltergeist messing with the clock, but I wasn't about to share it with my levelheaded brother.
He took the last pancake off the griddle and turned off the stove. ”I've got to roll. Are you going to be all right?”
”I always have been,” I said. ”You're the one who insisted on giving me police protection. By the way, how did you sleep?”
”You tell me. Did my snoring keep you awake?”
”To be honest with you, last night you could have practiced bagpipes in the living room and I don't think it would have kept me up.”
He laughed. ”I'm glad to see you're in good spirits.”
”I just hope Bailey's okay,” I said.
”You still care about what happens to him after last night?”
”Bradford, he didn't mean to put me in jeopardy, I just know it. Has anyone seen him yet?”
He shook his head. ”I checked in ten minutes before you got up. There's no sign of him anywhere.”
There was something my brother was keeping to himself. I could see it in his eyes.
”What is it?” I asked. ”What are you not telling me?”
”Jennifer, an arrest warrant's been issued for him.”
I dropped my fork. ”You actually think he killed Eliza Glade?”
”I need to talk to him, and it looks like this is the only way I'm going to be able to get his attention.”
”That wasn't the question,” I said.
”Blast it all, woman, you do your job and let me do mine, okay?”
”Okay,” I said as I stood and walked gingerly to him. I kissed his cheek, a move that clearly confused him.
”What was that for?”'
”Watch duty, a wonderful breakfast, looking out for your little sister. Take your pick.”
He shook his head and laughed. ”If I live to be a hundred, I'll never be able to figure you out.”
”Call it my feminine mystique,” I said.
”I'd rather call you nuts.” As he walked to the door, Bradford said, ”Lock this behind me, then keep your eyes open, okay? And don't push that wrist. You need to give it time to heal.”
”Yes, sir,” I said. It was all I could do not to salute, but I doubted he'd appreciate my humor.
After he was gone, I finished the last pancake, justifying it on the grounds that I'd missed dinner the night before, then I took a long, hot shower. I wished the apartment had a tub-a steaming soak would do me good-but I didn't have one here, or at my new address, either. Maybe I could talk Lillian into letting me borrow her Jacuzzi sometime. I took a quick shower, then after I dressed, I called Sara Lynn's place to see how the ladies had managed the night before.
To my surprise, Lillian answered the telephone.
”I'm really glad you stayed there last night,” I said, wondering how my aunt's manner would be toward me this morning after our harsh exchange last night.
”Jennifer, how lovely to hear from you. How is your wrist?”
”It's good,” I said, relieved my aunt had chosen to ignore what had happened. I'd been out of line with my comment, but then she'd made a few herself over the years, so I figured I was just catching up. Still, I'd have to watch what I said around her until the sting wore off. ”Listen, I wanted to let you know that you can come in late if you want to. I'd be happy to open the shop by myself.”
I knew that morning wasn't my aunt's favorite time of day, and I wanted to make the offer in recompense for the night before.
”Nonsense. Sara Lynn and I are commuting to work together this morning. I'm going to drop her off at the sc.r.a.pbooking store, and then I'll be at the card shop.”
”That's wonderful,” I said. I wasn't sure how Lillian had managed to convince Sara Lynn to carpool, but I was glad she had.
”I'll see you soon, then.”
After I hung up, I gave Oggie and Nash their morning meal, then headed out the door. My wrist throbbed as I touched the handrail. At least I didn't have to carry anything bigger than my purse. Then I remembered that I had to move soon, and I wondered how in the world I would manage it with a tender wrist.
When I got to my Gremlin, I was surprised to see Bradford sitting beside it in his squad car. ”I thought you already left.”
”I did,” he said, ”but I decided to come back. I'm taking you to work today.”
”Bradford, don't be silly. I'm perfectly capable of driving myself to work and back.”
”I know, but if something happens to you when I'm not around, Lillian, Sara Lynn and Cindy are going to take turns killing me. Come on. Get in.”