Voices Carry Page 17

  “They’re not sure if I might try to kill myself again.”

  “I see.” Patsy bit the inside of her bottom lip. “Will you?”

  “I don’t think so. A few weeks ago,” Crystal shrugged, “I’m not so sure. But things are different now.” She cleared her throat. “I’ve dropped a lot of old baggage over the past few days.”

  “Does your counselor or whomever know where you are?” Patsy asked.

  “I called yesterday. They wanted me to come right back. They wanted to send someone for me, to bring me back. But I’m not ready to go back just yet. And Genna said I didn’t have to.”

  “Of course, you don’t have to. I’m just concerned that if you’re supposed to be getting something—therapy or medication or whatever—that you’re doing without, well, we’d need to be thinking about that.” Patsy patted Crystal on the knee.

  “I have enough medication to take me through another few weeks, but I am supposed to be continuing with my therapy twice a week,” Crystal admitted. “I already skipped last week, and my doctor wasn’t too happy.”

  “Well, now, what shall we do about that?” Patsy asked.

  “I. . . I don’t know.”

  “Maybe we could call your counselor and see what she can suggest.”

  “She’ll suggest that you send me back to Kentucky, since the state pays her for my treatment.”

  “Then we’ll just have to ask what her second choice might be,” Patsy said thoughtfully, “and maybe I can help you come up with something suitable for while you’re here. For however long that might be.”

  I’d bet on it, Genna smiled to herself and went into the kitchen to start dinner. When had Patsy ever not succeeded in coming up with something suitable when it was necessary?

  Genna wasn’t at all surprised to discover that Patsy had already started dinner. One sniff from the kitchen door told her that Patsy’s favorite chicken casserole was baking in the oven, and unless her nose was playing tricks on her, that was one of Patsy’s fresh peach pies cooling on top of the stove.

  “Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes,” Patsy called to Genna from the living room. “We weren’t certain when you’d be home, so I put it on a little later than usual. It should be ready by seven.”

  “Patsy Wheeler, I could just fall over and faint,” Genna stood in the doorway, fighting the smile that threatened to play at both corners of her mouth. “You’re off schedule by an entire hour.”

  Patsy laughed and nodded, saying, “I know it’s a shocker. But there are times when we must make allowances for other more important things than precedent. Tonight seemed to be one of those times. I wanted the three of us to have dinner together.”

  “Thank you, Pats.” Genna locked eyes with her foster mother from across the room.

  “Think nothing of it. Now you go on and change your clothes and Crystal and I will get dinner on the table.”

  “I won’t be but a minute.”

  “Take your time, honey.” Patsy turned to Crystal and said, “Chrissie, honey, I think it’s time you started on that salad dressing you were talking about making. Does it have garlic in it? Good. Come along. I’ll chop for you. . .”

  Over the next few days, Genna watched as Patsy worked her magic on Crystal, drawing her out more and more, earning her trust in little ways. When Patsy finally proposed that Crystal might want to see Dr. Berger, a psychiatrist friend of hers who just happened to have a cottage across the lake, Crystal agreed with little hesitation. Dr. Berger could call Crystal’s counselor in Kentucky, Patsy had suggested, and get copies of her records and her prescriptions. Only if Crystal wanted her to, that is, just in case Crystal thought she might want to stay around for a little longer.

  Crystal thought she might.

  “I’ll just give Nancy a call, if you don’t mind, dear,” Patsy said on Friday evening. “I don’t want her to worry. Not that there’s reason to, of course. Brian still has his watchdog set up in the house across the road. Frankly, it gives me the willies, knowing that someone is watching my house all the time.”

  “Who is watching the house all the time?” Genna asked.

  “Oh, that security guard that Brian hired. I know it’s not right to judge someone else on such pettiness, but this Kenny Harris just flat out gives me the creeps sometimes.”

  “Patsy, that’s so unlike you.” Genna mused. For Patsy, who was the only person Genna had ever met who always looked for the best in everyone she met, the comment was downright uncharitable. “What is it about him that bothers you?”

  “I can’t put my finger on it. He just doesn’t say much, you know? He’ll sit in that little screened porch out front for hours looking across the road, but when you walk over and try to talk to him, he just sort of brushes you off.”

  “Maybe he’s just shy,” Crystal offered.

  “Maybe so.”

  “Well, a little shyness never stopped you before, Pats,” Genna teased. “I’ll bet you’ll have him eating out of the palm of your hand before the summer’s over.”

  “We’ll see.”

  “I can’t see anyone bein’ immune to you, Patsy.” Crystal shook her head. “You could charm the warts off a toad if you wanted to.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment, honey. Thank you.” Patsy grinned and reached for the phone.

  “Come on out to the deck,” Crystal said, enthusiastically waving Genna toward the dining room. “Wait till you see. . .”

  Crystal unlocked the door and pushed it open, then stood back while Genna stepped out onto the small deck.

  “Doesn’t it look beautiful?” Crystal pointed to the window boxes that overflowed with purple and pink petunias and some sort of viney thing that trailed down a foot or so past the window.

  “Oh, that is so beautiful!” Genna exclaimed. “Did Patsy do this?”

  “Patsy and I both worked on it while you were at work today. We picked out the flowers together, and she showed me what to put in the box before the plants went in. Honestly, Genna, the dirt that was in there was hard as a rock.”

  “I’m afraid I don’t have much of a green thumb. Every year, Pats plants that window box up for me, and I get all involved with what I’m doing, and I forget all about it.”

  “Well, I’ll make sure it’s kept watered,” Crystal said, then hastened to add, “For as long as I’m here, that is.”

  “I’d appreciate that.” Genna squeezed her sister’s hand. “For as long as you’re here.”

  “Actually, Patsy said we’d only be around for another day or so. Dr. Berger can’t see me until Tuesday, so we’ll go on up to the lake on Sunday, Patsy said. And then. . . well, who knows what then?”

  “You’re welcome to stay here, but I know that Patsy would be delighted to have you stay with her for a while.”

  “She did offer. I can’t believe how wonderful she is.” Crystal shook her head. “She’s every bit the angel you said she was. I’ve never met anyone like her.”

  “I’m sorry you couldn’t have met her sooner, Chris.”

  “So am I,” Crystal said. “Maybe I wouldn’t be as screwed up as I am. Although. . .”

  She stopped and looked out toward the woods at the far end of the parking lot.

  “Although what?”

  “I was just thinking that I’ve actually felt so much better these past few days, that maybe I don’t need my medication anymore.”

  “Don’t mess with it, Crystal. Let the doctors decide that. Maybe in time you’ll be able to cut it back, maybe eliminate it, but I don’t think that’s something you should arbitrarily play with.”

  “I guess you’re right. In any event, I can understand now, after spending a few days with your Patsy, how you turned out the way you did.” Crystal turned her back and leaned her arms on the deck railing. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous.”

  “I’m sorry, Chrissie. If I could reach back through time and change things, I would.”

  “I know. And I appreciate that you’r
e willing to share her with me now. That you’re willing to let me be a part of your life after everything—”

  “Move past it, Chrissie.” Genna cut her off. “We can’t change what was.”

  “I’m just feeling a little humbled by all this. By the way you treat me, even after. . .” She paused, then smiled a tiny smile when Genna raised her eyebrows in warning. “Okay. I won’t say anymore.”

  “Good.” Genna pulled out a chair and sat in it, then motioned toward the other one, saying, “Now, why not sit for a few minutes and tell me where you learned to make a lemon soufflé like the one you made for dinner tonight. . .”

  By Sunday morning, the axiom “Three’s a crowd” had taken on a whole new meaning for Genna. After several years of living alone and sharing only occasional living space with Patsy at the lake, the tight quarters in the apartment had begun to wear on her nerves. So she was surprised to feel a little bit of a letdown when she arrived home on Monday after work to the quiet space she’d been longing for just forty-eight hours earlier.

  “Be careful what you ask for,” she reminded herself as she sifted through the leftovers Patsy had stored in plastic containers in the refrigerator.

  The roast beef left from Saturday’s dinner caught her eye, and she sliced some thinly to top a bowl of mixed greens and bright wedges of tomato that Patsy had brought with her.

  “They’re not from Frick’s, you understand,” Patsy had told her with a touch of apology. It wasn’t necessary for her to explain why she’d gone someplace else for her produce.

  “I’m so sorry, Pats.” Genna touched her shoulder.

  Patsy shrugged and turned away.

  “You miss seeing Mrs. Frick.” It wasn’t a question.

  “I do. She’s a dear, dear lady.”

  “Surely you don’t think she blames you. . . ?”

  “Of course not. Their stand’s not been open these past few weeks. I heard they were trucking everything down to the market in Wick’s Grove.” Patsy grabbed a paper towel and cleaned an imaginary spot from the counter. “But on the bright side, I did get to meet the people who bought the Dreshers’ farm, over on the other side of the lake. Their produce is quite nice. And they’ve been busy as all getout since the competition closed.” Patsy folded the towel and smoothed it out as if it was made of linen instead of paper. “It’s just a shame, that’s all.”

  “Have the bikers been around?” Genna asked.

  “Sometimes one or two of ’em might go by,” Patsy shrugged, “but I haven’t noticed that they so much as slow down when they do. They just drive by, minding their own business. I figure they’ve just found themselves a nice little shortcut around the lake.”

  “Does Kenny Harris know about that?”

  “Sure does. He’s sitting on his duff out there on the front porch every time they go past, but they really don’t bother anyone.”

  “Does Brian know?”

  “I suspect so, since after they leave, Kenny picks up the phone and makes a call. I imagine he’s following Brian’s orders to call him every time someone who doesn’t belong on the lake shows up.”

  Genna had said nothing further on the subject, but had made a mental note to call Brian as soon as she got into the office the following morning.

  “I hear Aunt Patsy has taken in another little bird.” Brian picked up as soon as he heard it was Genna on the line.

  “Then I guess you’ve heard who that little bird might be.”

  “Gen, I’m delighted for you. I know you’ve had to have been missing her all these years.”

  “I have. And she’s missed out on so much—I’m assuming that Patsy told you all about Crystal’s illness?”

  “Yes. But I’m betting that a few weeks with Aunt Pats will work wonders.”

  “There’s no doubt in my mind that by the end of the summer, Chrissie will be an entirely different person.”

  “Now, let me guess what’s behind this call.” Brian pretended to ponder for a moment. “Let’s see, could you be calling for a rundown on what my security guard has come up with over the past few weeks?”

  “You know me all too well, Brian.”

  “I’ve been expecting the call. It’s not like you to take no interest in such things.”

  Genna could hear the rustling of some papers.

  “Here we go,” Brian was saying. “I’ve been keeping a log. We’ve had daily runs past the house by several of your biker buddies. The guard has film of this activity, by the way, so we’ve been able to identify most of them.”

  “Were any of them arrested in the Frick case?”

  “No. So far as we can tell, that group is maintaining a pretty low profile. Which of course means nothing when you’re dealing with criminals.”

  “So they made bail?”

  “Oh, yes. The Amish fellows didn’t, but the bikers were out as soon as they could get the cash counted.”

  “I thought bail was set steep.”

  “It was. But these guys are part of a larger organization. Money is usually no object for this sort of thing.” Brian paused, as if reading. “Yes, it looks like daily runs past the house, but they’ve never stopped. I think it’s more an intimidation tactic than anything else at this point.”

  “They obviously don’t know Patsy,” Genna murmured.

  Brian laughed out loud. “You’re right. If they did, they’d realize they’re wasting their time. It would take a hell of a lot more than a few scruffy looking guys on motorcycles going past her house to intimidate her.”

  “But you’re certain they’ve never stopped. . .”

  “Positive. Not once. If they did, Aunt Pats would probably have invited them to join her for iced tea and homemade pound cake on the deck.”

  “I’m hoping she’s taking this more seriously than that.”

  “You know Pats. She truly believes there’s good in everyone, and if you dig deep enough you’ll find it.”

  “What if they came at night, from the back of the house. From the lake side. . .”

  “We’d know before it would happen.”

  “How? Does Kenny Harris have night vision? Doesn’t he ever sleep?”

  “The D.A.’s office has someone on the inside.” Brian said softly.

  “You mean one of the bikers—”

  “—is C.I.D., yes.”

  “So you’re not worried?”

  “I’m concerned, but not worried,” Brian replied after a moment’s hesitation. “Between our undercover man and Harris watching the cottage, I feel we’re about as secure as we can be. We’re also keeping an eye on all of the new people at the lake, particularly the renters.”

  “A little off the record background check?”

  “A very little. I’m justifying it under the classification of ‘forewarned.’ Nothing heavy. No wire tapping or surveillance cameras on the unsuspecting.” Brian chuckled. “We leave that sort of thing to you guys.”

  “I’ll have you know I’ve never engaged in such activity.” Genna pretended to be offended.

  “Right. And I’m Howdy Doody.”

  “So did you learn anything relevant about Patsy’s neighbors?”

  “Not really. There really weren’t any surprises, actually.”

  “That’s no surprise,” Genna said. “Most people who go to places like Bricker’s Lake aren’t looking for much more than peace and quiet.”

  “So it would seem. Though there is that next door neighbor of Patsy’s. . .”

  “Nancy?” Genna asked. “What about her?”

  “We really couldn’t find much on her. Of course, we didn’t ask for more than the preliminary. We just didn’t turn up anything on her. She could be recently divorced and returning to her maiden name, who knows? My mother would say she told us so.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “My mother doesn’t much care for this woman.”

  “Why not? Nancy’s pleasant enough, the little I’ve seen of her, and she’s been wonderful company for Pats thi
s summer.”

  “I’m sure she has been. And frankly, I’m thinking that might be the biggest part of it. Maybe Mom’s afraid that Nancy’s better company for Aunt Pats than she is. Mom doesn’t think much of the security guard either, by the way.”

  “Patsy doesn’t seem to care for him, either. Thinks he’s odd.”

  “He’s a bit of an oddball,” Brian agreed, “but he’s apparently quite good at what he does.”

  “May I ask how you found him?”

  “He came on a reference from a friend who had used him earlier in the summer. I’m not at all concerned about whether or not either Mom or Aunt Pats likes him, as long as he’s doing his job. Which, so far, he’s been doing.”

  “I admit I feel a little better knowing that he’s there. And better still knowing someone’s keeping an eye on our bikers from the inside.”

  “If anything comes up, of course, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, I think you can just go about your business of rounding up the bad guys and let me worry about Pats.”

  “And Crystal,” Genna added.

  “Yes, of course. And Crystal.”

  After inquiring after Brian’s wife, Allison, and their three sons, Genna hung up the phone, feeling infinitely better than she had when she’d placed the call. Knowing that others were keeping their eyes on Patsy had removed a heavy load from Genna’s shoulders. Now, especially that her sister had joined Patsy at the lake, it was good to know that they weren’t quite so vulnerable.

  That bit of her life tidied up, Genna turned to the business at hand, that being her review of an interview with the mother of a recent kidnapping victim. She had read through to the second to the last page when Decker’s voice jumped at her through the intercom.

  “Genna, you there?”

  “Yes, I’m here.”

  “Get in here. Now.” Though not raised above conversational level, there was a tenseness to his voice that brought Genna out of her seat without a second thought.

  Assuming that “here” was Decker’s office, Genna practically ran down the hallway. Sharon pointed to the open door as Genna reached the secretary’s desk, and without a word, Genna hurried in to the cool office.