Part 16 (1/2)
Chapter Eighteen.
”Should we call Jose about us almost getting run over?” Annie Mae strode alongside me as we crossed Whitaker Street.
”I hate jumping to conclusions.” Although I felt like we were onto finding the killer. I scanned the area, looking for any wayward vehicles. I didn't want Annie Mae to worry; I was fretting enough for both of us and then some. ”That could've been a student driver. When Timmy and Teddy learned to drive, they spent more time curb hugging than staying on the street. I'm just saying.”
We walked down Park Street then took a right on Barnard. Before long, we stood in front of a three-story brick colonial home.
”Whoa. It's gorgeous.” Annie Mae climbed the red brick stairs.
”My dad looked at one like this a long time ago.”
”Did he want to move?” Annie Mae pushed the doorbell.
”No. He wanted to get some investment property and rent it out to college students, as extra income.”
I heard a click then the rattle of a chain hitting against wood. The door opened to a lady of average height and build with short brown hair. She wore light green scrubs. ”Good evening.”
”Hi. I'm Catherine Thomson, and this is Annie Mae Maple.”
”I'm Karen.” She shook our hands.
”Are you a relative?” Annie Mae asked Karen.
”No. Although I've been working for the family for years, I feel like a relative. So, what can I do for you ladies?”
”A long time ago, my father was a business partner with Micky Zwick.”
”Oh?” Karen squinted as she looked at us. ”So you're friends of his?”
”Sort of,” Annie Mae answered.
”It's a long story.” I glanced around, trying to find words to figure out what I wanted to say. ”If at all possible, I would like to talk to him.”
Karen shook her head. ”That's impossible.”
”He's dead?” Annie Mae asked.
My heart skipped.
”Oh, no. No. He just took his medication. It knocks him out.” Karen brushed a hair from her eyes.
”Is he ill?” Annie Mae asked.
”He has been suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The only thing we can do is ease his pain.” Karen guided us into the foyer.
”Lou Gehrig's disease,” Annie Mae whispered to me as we entered the house.
I asked Annie Mae, ”How did you know that?'
”In the play Thirty Three Variations, the main character, Dr. Katherine Brandt, suffers from it,” Annie Mae answered me.
The house smelled of rubbing alcohol and wood cleaner. We stood in a foyer.
Karen closed the door behind us. ”May I offer you anything to drink?”
Annie Mae shook her head.
”No, thanks,” I said. ”I'm so sorry about Mr. Zwick.”
”He has a few more years left, at this rate. He's in good spirits and seems to have accepted his condition.” Karen led us into a sitting room.
”Can I leave my name and number for him? He can call me when he gets up.” I dug in my purse.
”It's of urgent business we speak with him. We're investigating,” Annie Mae said.
”Are you working with the police department?”
”No,” Annie Mae mumbled. ”But we are good friends with someone in the department. Not that that is either here nor there.”
”Let me get you my information.” I took a pen and tore the address part of my deposit slip from the back of my checkbook. I wrote my cell number and my maiden name on the back, along with my dad's name. ”Please have him call me when he can.”
”I'm not sure when that will be.” Karen took the paper from me and tucked it into her s.h.i.+rt pocket.
”It doesn't matter when. Whenever he can call, it'll be fine. Thank you,” I said.
Annie Mae put her hands up. ”We can let ourselves out. Thanks for your time.”
We walked outside and down the front steps onto the sidewalk.
Annie Mae trailed after me. ”Thank goodness he's still alive, huh?”
”Yes,” I said.
”Unlike the other partners.”
”I know. Why did my dad and two of his other business partners all die in the past two months?”
”Although I'm only playing a detective, I can tell you that it's beginning to feel like someone has it out for that business group your dad was once involved in. Not that I want you to worry or anything. But then again, Micky is still alive, and as far as we know, so is Peter.”
”Yes. At least for now.”
”It could be all one big coincidence, right?”