Murder of a Sweet Old Lady (28 page)

When Miss Prynn didn’t answer, Skye tried another question. “Do you recall what Minnie’s diagnosis was?”

Miss Prynn’s eyes took on a cunning gleam and she rubbed her hands together. “I might be able to remember. Keep all my records right here for safekeeping and I could go back and look, but you know that information is all confidential.”

“I realize that, and I understand your position. I’m a psychologist myself, but this could be a life-and-death situation. I’d be very grateful.” Skye tried to connect with her, one professional to another.

“Grateful, huh? Just how grateful would you be?” Miss Prynn’s eyes brightened.

Skye frowned. “I’m afraid I—”

Simon cut her off. “How much would it take?”

Miss Prynn smiled. “Ten thousand?”

Simon stood up and took Skye’s arm, forcing her to rise, too.

“Five thousand?” The old lady’s voice took on a whiny tone.

Taking out his wallet, Simon said, “One hundred, for your inconvenience.”

“Five hundred. It could mean my license.”

Skye found her voice. “Two-fifty. You don’t practice anymore.”

Miss Prynn fisted her hands. She looked at the shabby room and small television set. Frustration mixed with anger on her face. “Okay. You know, you’re as much of a bitch as your aunt was.”

“I don’t suppose you’ll take a check?” Skye asked, half in jest.

“Cash. Tens and twenties.” Miss Prynn stood. “I’ll dig out the file tonight. You bring the money Monday morning, first thing.”

“Why not tomorrow?” Skye frowned.

“Not on the Sabbath.” Miss Prynn locked the door behind them.

 

It was nearly midnight when Simon dropped Skye at her cottage. They had decided to spend the rest of the day at Lake Geneva and had taken the late dinner cruise.

Simon walked Skye to the door and took her in his arms. “What a great day. I love being near the water.”

Skye reached up and smoothed his hair back at the temple. “The company wasn’t bad either.”

He nuzzled her ear and a shiver ran down her spine. She could feel the sexual magnetism that made him so self-confident. His lips met hers and happiness filled her.

As their kiss deepened, his hand closed over her breast and she pulled away. He was so very good-looking and she reacted so strongly to him; she couldn’t let this go any further. Dark memories of her ex-fiancé surfaced. She wasn’t ready to completely trust another man.

Simon looked down at her. “What’s wrong?”

“We’re both tired. Maybe we should talk about this some other time.” Skye refused to meet his eyes.

“I’ve heard that excuse before. I think we need to get this into the open.” He waited, daring her to be honest.

Skye sat down on the concrete step. “What more is there to say? I’ve told you before I wasn’t ready for anything but a casual relationship.”

Simon joined her on the stair, his mouth spread in a thin-lipped smile. “You told me all right, but that was nine months ago. Most couples move forward, but you’re stuck in the past.”

She ducked her head. Maybe he was right. She wasn’t being very mature or very strong. But the few times she had allowed herself to be totally swept away by love had always turned out disastrously. She was afraid of her own taste in men. “I’m sorry Simon, but I’m just not ready to go through the humiliation again.”

“You think it would be humiliating to love me?” His voice was cold.

“No, that isn’t what I mean.” Skye looked up at the stars and wished she could be different. “Whenever I become truly, deeply involved with a man I lose my common sense, my good judgment.”

Simon’s lips twisted into a cynical smile. “You mean you do worse things than breaking and entering or buying confidential medical records?”

Skye narrowed her eyes and looked at him for the first time since they had begun talking. “Comments like that just prove what I’m saying. You don’t understand my needs and ambitions, but you expect me to understand yours.”

“That’s ridiculous.” Simon stood up. “How can I understand? You’ve never told me what happened with your ex-fiancé.”

She met his accusing eyes without flinching. “There’s nothing much to tell. He was handsome, charming, rich, and held an impressive social position in New Orleans’ society. I was awed that he had any interest in me and so unsure of myself that I allowed myself to become his puppet. I agreed with things I felt strongly against. I said things I didn’t mean. And I did things I’ll regret to my dying day. All to please him.”

“You were out of your element, away from home. That wouldn’t necessarily happen again.” Simon took her hand.

She shook off his touch. “When things went wrong with my job and the threat of a scandal became known, he dumped me and never looked back.” Skye stood up and whispered, “He never even said good-bye.”

“I’m not like that. Let me prove to you that isn’t how all men are.”

Skye took a ragged breath. He was slicing open a barely healed wound. “I need more time.” Time to forget, to erase the pain. “Can’t we just go on the way we’ve been? Have fun without becoming serious?”

Simon wrapped his hands around her upper arms and forced her to look at him. Rancor sharpened his voice. “No. I want more. And if you aren’t prepared to give it to me, then I have to look elsewhere. Time is moving on. I don’t want to be sixty when my kids graduate from high school.”

He spoke so viciously that she wondered how she could have ever thought him kind. “I’m sorry. I’m just not ready. I lose myself when I’m in love. I’m afraid your opinion will become more important than mine. I’m afraid I’ll become so terrified of losing you I’ll do anything to keep your love.”

“I guess that’s it, then.” He paused as if challenging her to go through with it. When the silence between them became unbearable, Simon turned on his heel and strode toward his car. Over his shoulder he said, “Don’t expect me to call. This time it’s over.”

Skye watched until the Lexus’s taillights were out of sight. What had she just done? Slowly she turned, unlocked the door, and went in. It took a few moments to register, but she finally noticed the light was on in the kitchen. She didn’t think she’d left any lights on.

After that scene with Simon, she was in no mood for another intruder or more vandalism. Skye flung up the hinged seat of the hall bench and grabbed the shotgun. She had just about had it. This time she was shooting first and asking questions later.

As she stepped into the kitchen, Skye let the gun slide to her side. The table was covered with food and there was a note in her mother’s handwriting:
I was afraid you wouldn’t have enough time so I made the food for your brunch. I also cleaned up a little. Hope everything is okay. Love, Mom.

Skye shook her head. What a sweet thing to do. It was too late to call and thank her mom, but she’d do that before church tomorrow. Still, she’d have to make it clear to her mother that from now on, Skye would prepare for her own parties or she’d have to take May’s key away. It was all too much. Simon, her grandmother’s murder, her parents’ need to help—Skye curled into the corner of the sofa and buried her head.

 

Ginger and Gillian arrived together. This was their first visit to Skye’s cottage and curiosity shone on their identical faces. Skye guided them through the foyer and into the great room. She had placed a folding table and chairs next to the sliding glass doors, where the view of the river was best.

“Make yourselves at home. Victoria should be here any minute.” Skye gestured to the sofa.

“Victoria’s coming?” Gillian settled into the corner of the couch.

“She accepted my invitation.” Skye raised an eyebrow. “Is there some reason why she wouldn’t want to have brunch with us?”

Ginger and Gillian looked at each other. Skye could see the silent communication and was frustrated by her inability to interpret what was being conveyed.

The uneasy silence was broken by the ringing of the phone.

Skye started toward the kitchen, saying over her shoulder, “Excuse me.”

Trixie’s voice greeted Skye’s hello. “I talked to my cousin. We can see her today at six. That’s when the pharmacist goes home for his dinner break.”

“I’m surprised the drugstore is even open on Sunday, let alone so late.”

“The owner is trying to compete with the new Wal-Mart in Laurel. He can’t stay open twenty-four hours, but he is open eight a.m. to eight p.m. seven days a week,” Trixie said.

“Great. I’ll pick you up about five to. I can’t talk now. I’m entertaining my cousins.”

“What are you going to do to them? Is this the pay-back for having kidnapped you?” Trixie asked excitedly.

“Nothing and no. I’m trying to forgive and forget.”

“And pry information out of them, I bet,” Trixie guessed.

Skye didn’t comment. “See you tonight. Bye.”

As she rejoined Gillian and Ginger, the doorbell rang. Victoria entered in a miasma of Obsession and a flurry of georgette. Her lilac slip dress and high-heeled white sandals made Skye feel underdressed for her own party.

The twins tugged at their own clothes, making it clear Victoria had the same effect on them.

No one said anything until Skye remembered her manners. “So glad you could make it on such short notice. Please make yourself comfortable. I’ll get us some drinks.”

Victoria chose a canvas sling chair facing the sofa and sank gracefully onto its seat. “I wouldn’t have missed this chance to spend time with my dear cousins.”

“I have mimosas and Bellinis. What would you all like?” Skye stood ready to fetch the glasses from the kitchen.

After Skye explained what both drinks contained, the twins opted for mimosas and Victoria asked for a Bellini. Skye filled her own glass with orange juice and 7-UP, adding a little grenadine to disguise the fact that she wasn’t drinking any alcohol.

Skye returned to the great room carrying a tray of drinks. She had just served the last goblet when Bingo entered the room. He froze in the doorway and sniffed the air. Walking stiffly, he advanced toward Victoria and launched himself into her lap.

Victoria shrieked and held up her hands to stop him but Skye heard the chiffon of her dress rip. Skye scooped up the indignant cat, stuffed him into her bedroom, and closed the door.

She turned to Victoria. “Are you all right? I’m so sorry. He’s never behaved that way before.”

With a stunned expression Victoria examined the tears in the fabric of her dress. “This was brand-new. It cost a hundred and forty-nine dollars plus tax.”

“Maybe it could be fixed,” Skye offered weakly.

“I don’t want it fixed. I want it new!” Victoria’s face turned an unattractive shade of red and her voice screeched like fingernails on a chalkboard.

“I’ll write you a check.” Skye felt a knot in her stomach as she handed over the slip of paper.

After looking it over, Victoria tucked the check into her purse. “I’ll let you know how much the tax was.” Sitting back in her chair, she said, “I believe I’m ready for that drink now.”

Skye sat on the only vacant seat and took a sip from her glass. She searched her mind for a topic of conversation and finally said, “When are Flip and Irv going on that fishing trip?”

“They decided to skip it this year. We’re going to spend their vacations camping at the rec club,” Gillian answered for them both.

“Oh? I’m surprised. I thought I heard them say they had already made all the arrangements.” Skye kept a neutral look on her face.

“Well, with Grandma dying and Momma in the hospital we decided this wasn’t a good time.” Gillian finished her mimosa.

Skye poured her a refill from the pitcher. “That’s too bad. It sounded as if they were really looking forward to it.”

Ginger chugged the rest of her drink. “Maybe if we had got Grandma’s good jewelry, like she promised us, they could have gone, but no one seems to know anything about that.”

Victoria, who had been silent, asked, “Grandma Leofanti had good jewelry?”

“No,” Skye answered, “all she had was the emerald ring that she passed to me on my eighteenth birthday as the firstborn granddaughter, a pair of earrings, and a pendant. As it turned out, we each ended up with one piece.” Skye filled Ginger’s empty goblet.

“What about me?” Victoria pouted.

“Sorry, Hugo chose the living room set.” Skye reappeared from the kitchen with a fresh drink for Victoria. “So, how’s Aunt Minnie doing?”

Gillian looked at Ginger before speaking. “Pretty good. They’ve decided to keep her for a thirty-day observation.”

“That’s as long as most insurance companies will pay for a psychiatric stay,” Skye said.

“That explains it then.” Ginger put her empty glass down.

“Can she have visitors?” Skye asked.

“Just Ginger, Daddy, and me.” Gillian tossed back her third mimosa.

“Did you ever hear about your mom going away for a rest when she was in high school?” Skye picked her words with care.

The twins shook their heads.

Ginger leaned forward. “A rest? What do you mean?”

“Nothing, really. Someone mentioned they thought they remembered your mom going away for a while when she was in her teens.” Skye stood up. “Everyone ready to eat?”

The group moved to the table. Skye had set it with a starched linen cloth and matching napkins. The seafoam green dishes she had inherited seemed to float on the white expanse. Her everyday flatware had been polished until it looked almost like real silver. The pink crystal goblets she had chosen from her grandmother’s estate sparkled in the bright sunlight from the patio doors.

A centerpiece made up of pink roses and ferns from May’s cutting garden completed the setting. Skye brought out the cantaloupe bowls with fresh fruit and they began to eat.

“What does Prescott do for fun in the summer?” Skye asked Victoria.

“He’s taking golf and tennis lessons at the club.” Victoria spooned a melon ball into her mouth.