“I’m trying to figure it out. Wait a minute, which ‘she’ do you mean?”
“I mean the mother.”
“Good. Me, too. You think she was here to find out what Nell was saying to us? Or to keep us from telling Nell anything?”
“Maybe we should be wondering why Nell was so determined to talk to us. You think she might actually know something about her brother’s death?”
“We’re getting too wrapped up in this. We need to get out of Sarne.”
“I agree. But I don’t think the sheriff will let us leave.” I drooped on the end of the bed, trying not to look at myself in the mirror opposite after one quick glance. I looked too pale and even a little haggard. I looked like a woman who needed a big mug of hot chocolate and about ten hours’ sleep.
I could do something about that. I always carry powdered hot chocolate with me, and there was a little coffeepot in the room. After making sure Tolliver didn’t want any, I had a steaming mug in hand. I scooted up against the headboard, pillows stuffed behind my back, and looked at Tolliver, who had slid down in the chair so that his long legs were fully extended. “What’s our next appointment?” I asked.
“Memphis, in a week,” he said. “Occult Studies at some university.”
“A lecture?” I tried not to act as dismayed as I felt. I hated going back to Memphis, where I’d had the only easy part of life I could recall.
“Reading a small cemetery. I think they know the COD for most of the inhabitants.” Cause of death. “It’s a test. I could hear the professor gloating over exposing you, over the phone. Patronizing as hell. Is he going to be surprised or what?”
“Jerk,” I said scornfully. “They paying us?”
“A nominal amount. But we should do it, because I figure the word-of-mouth on this one is gonna be great, and it’s a private university, so some of the parents have money. Plus, we have an appointment in Millington the day after, which is real close.”
Tolliver had arranged things very well. “Thanks, brother,” I said, and I meant it with my heart.
He waved a hand to discount my gratitude. “Hey, what else would I be doing?” he asked. “Herding carts at Wal-Mart? Running a forklift in some warehouse?”
“Married with a couple of kids in a three-bedroom ranch, stable and happy,” I almost said; but then I clenched my teeth over the words.
Some things I was scared to say out loud.
