The clock struck four. I was shocked. We’d been talking for almost three hours. And Delia hadn’t even told me her story yet.

“Oh dear. I should be getting back,” she said. “I told Aidan I wouldn’t be long.”

Just at that moment there was a loud knock on the door. I opened it just enough to see who was there, and a tall woman with black hair pushed past me.

“ ‘Delia darlin’,” she drawled, “I hear they found Lily! We gotta get ourselves to Shotgun City right this minute. Aidan just called me. Told me you’d likely be here.”

The woman gave me a sharp look. “Who’s this?” she said.

Delia smiled. “This is my sister, Nora Sweeney,” she said. “She’s the one who found Lily, and she’s coming with us.”

Before the woman or I could say a word, Delia rushed us out the door.

“I’ll explain in the car,” she said.

Delia

Delia

Mayflower was unusually quiet as I told her about Sullivan’s revenge scheme and Shane Kearney’s role in it. When I had finished she glared at Nora. She likely wouldn’t forgive her as quickly as I had, but there again, she didn’t know Nora’s whole story. I knew she’d come around eventually. For now, Mayflower was satisfied with taking out her vengeance on Shane Kearney.

“I never thought Shane Kearney would turn out to be as crooked as a dog’s hind leg,” she said. “As for that floozie, Francine, I never did trust her. All gussied up and full of sweet talk, and all the while in cahoots with Kearney to kidnap Lily.”

Nora tried to choke down a giggle. I was sure she’d never heard such colorful talk.

“Them two better high-tail it out of town before folks find out what they did. They’d be about as welcome here as a skunk at a picnic.”

Having said her piece, Mayflower leaned back in her seat with an air of righteous disdain.

We rode on in silence until we reached the outskirts of Shotgun City. The area around the lean-to huts and shacks, usually buzzing with activity, seemed eerily quiet. No children played in the yards, and the tables outside the taquería were empty.

“Where is everyone, Manuel?” I asked the driver, expecting him to tell me today was a holiday.

Manuel shrugged his shoulders.

When we drove on to the main street that ran through town, Mayflower and I sat straight up. Ahead of us, a crowd was gathering. People were pouring out of the stores and cafés and saloons. Alarmed, I told Manuel to stop the car. He pulled over to the side of the road, and we all jumped out. Mayflower, Nora and I joined hands and followed the crowd. Everyone was running in one direction, their pace quickening.