"That's true. But I loved him." Sister reached for a banana. "Lord, Lord, all that Coca-Cola stock."

"I guess so." I was rinsing my hands when the second part of Sister's announcement hit me. "The body's not there anymore?"

"Nope." Mary Alice put the top slice of bread on Trinity's sandwich and sliced it in half. "Here. Find out what she wants to drink."

"She's going to have a fit when you tell her."

"I know it. I thought we'd just work it into the Conversation. Make it easier for her."

"You mean like 'Have another sandwich, Trinity. And by the way, your sister's husband, who obviously isn't on your party list, has claimed her body and taken it somewhere.' "

"It's at Roebuck Chapel. And, yes, something like that. We could just bring it up casually."

"Casually."

"Gently. We don't want it to be too much of a shock."

"God forbid." I snatched the peanut butter sandwich from Sister and marched into the sunroom. Trinity wasn't there.

"Trinity," I called down the hall, "here's your sandwich. What do you want to drink?"

There was no answer. I put the plate down and walked toward the front of the house. "Trinity?"

Her cape and hat were gone from the hall tree; her car was gone from the driveway.

"Trinity?" I opened the door and called. Dumb. I went back to the kitchen. "She's gone."

"Gone? Where?" Sister had a mouthful of chicken salad.

"How should I know? To swear out a warrant for Judge Haskins?"

Sister chewed thoughtfully. "Maybe." She pushed the plate of sandwiches toward me. "Here."

"It's really none of our business, you know." I reached over Bubba Cat and got a sandwich half.

"But I can't believe she was that impolite. She could at least have said good-bye. Here I am fixing her a perfectly good peanut butter and banana sandwich and she's taking off." Sister picked up the plate of sandwiches. "Come on. Let's go watch One Life To Live. I swear, I can't believe Nicki has come back after all these years, can you? Vicki was doing so good for so long. Sane as you or me. Never should have left Clint, if you ask me."

"She's probably not thinking right because of her grief."

"No. It's Vicki all right. The whole other evil personality."

"I meant Trinity. Trinity's not thinking right."

"True. I'd hate to be in Judge Haskins's shoes."

I thought about the little man pushing his glasses up his thin nose, the little man who looked like a weasel. And I thought of the large woman sweeping the blue cape off like a giant exotic bird. Molting, but still formidable.

"Me too," I agreed. "Let's stay out of it."

Famous last words.

Other famous last words: "I've got a date tonight with Buddy Johnson, that nice older man I was dancing with at the wedding."

"Father Time? Can he see to drive at night?"