“If Millicent was having an affair, maybe Fairchild did her in,” Frances said.

“Not Fairchild,” Sister said emphatically.

But I knew what Frances was thinking. Anybody is capable of doing anything if they are pushed too far. I had taken the same psych courses she had.

The phone’s ringing startled me. Haley looked up expectantly, but it was a neighbor from downstairs. That was the first call. In the next hour there were at least ten more, residents of the condo and friends of Millicent who had heard about the circumstances of her death and our discovering the body.

“I’m unplugging the phone,” Sister said finally. And she did. We watched the late news and heard that a woman’s body had been found on the beach at Holiday Isle, that identification was being withheld pending notification of the next of kin.

A woman’s body. Such cold, uncaring words. Tears stung my eyes. Millicent Weatherby, you were a good old broad from De Funiak Springs. How could you have met such a violent death?

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

After Haley and I were in bed, we heard the elevator open and close several times. The sound brought the dream I had had the night before popping up from my unconscious. The memory was so vivid that I asked Haley if she had heard anything out in the hall the night before.

“Like what?” she asked, looking up from her book.

“Like two people arguing. One was calling the other one a stupid bitch and saying to get on the elevator.”

“You heard two people arguing out by the elevator?” She put her book down, interested. “Was it a man and a woman?”

“I don’t know,’ I admitted. “I think one was a man, but it was like a dream, a real clear one.”

“I didn’t hear anything,” Haley said. “What were they arguing about?”

“I have no idea. It probably was a nightmare.” I picked up my book and began to read again. In a moment, Haley did the same. After about five minutes, though, she pushed her cover back and announced that she had to go make a phone call. I don’t know how long the call lasted, but I certainly knew who it was to. By the time she came to bed, I was sound asleep.

“Psst!” Sister said into my ear. “Psst, Mouse!”

I came straight up. “What’s the matter?”

“Are you asleep? I thought you might like to take a walk on the beach.”

“Are you crazy?”

“Shhh. Don’t wake Haley up.”

“What time is it?” I whispered.

“Don’t know. I didn’t look.”

“Yes, you did. It’s the middle of the damn night. What time is it? Two? Three?”

“It’s late,” Mary Alice admitted, “but I can’t go to sleep. Come on, let’s go down to the beach.”

“Absolutely not. I’m going back to sleep.” I pulled the sheet over my head.