Page 75 of Backwater Justice
His father. Home from the hospital. With all the chaos, it had slipped his mind. “Yes. I told Mother I’d call her when we got back.”
“Good. I’ll see you later.” It was a half-question.
“Probably.” He waited for Annie to say something more about the money.
“Wonderful. Thanks for a very fun day!” She tossed her silk scarf over her shoulder and blew him a kiss.Let him think he’s getting what he wants.Then she disappeared through the large doors of the hotel.
He knew he could pay her back. Not right away, but eventually. This could be the stroke of luck he needed.
* * *
When Maggie got back in her car, she sent a message to Charles, asking him to check out the financials of the gas station attendant and the deputy sheriff. She noticed a brand-new ATV at the side of the building. It could have belonged to anyone, but somehow, she suspected it was the attendant’s.
Before she headed back to Salem, she reached into her tote and dug for a bag of chips, but after groping and not hearing the crackling of a snack bag, she felt a round object and pulled it out. An apple! Annie!
Once she got back to the hotel, Maggie wrote a nice piece about Lorraine George. She presented a three-dimensional human being. A person.She could be your neighbor. Your friend.
Next, she phoned the local television station. When she gave them her credentials, they put her through to the producer immediately. “Maggie Spritzer! To what do I owe the honor?”
“Hey, Steve! Thanks for taking my call.”
“For you? Anytime,” he responded cheerfully.
“I’m in town doing a follow-up story about Vanessa Rowan and the growing number of runaways and missing persons. I interviewed the George family this morning.”
“Nice people. Seemed frustrated.”
“Yes. Anyway, if I give you some copy and a photo collage, do you think you could slip it into tonight’s broadcast at eleven?”
“Of course.”
“Great. Do you want me to email it to you?”
“That’s fine.” He paused. “How long are you going to be in town?”
“I’m not sure.”
“If you’re free one night and would like to have dinner, give me a call.”
Maggie pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at it for a second. “Uh, yeah. Sure. That would be nice. Thanks. Okay, gotta go. Sending info now. I’ll be watching!” Then she ended the call. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had asked her on a date. Sure, she and Ted had a “thing” for a while, but it was easier just being friends. Now, she thought,Was it a date?Depending on how things went, and what the Sisters needed, maybe she could extend her stay a day or so longer. But that plan was still open-ended for the time being.
She sent a group text to everyone, updating them on the evening news and the gas station attendant. Everyone planned to check in around eight o’clock.
* * *
Annie arrived at Milton and Patricia’s around five-thirty. Patricia answered the door. “Hello, Annie.” She still had a deer-in-the-headlights expression on her face. “Everyone is on the patio.” She turned and walked through the foyer, down a wide hallway that led to a great room with floor-to-ceiling windows. The main floor featured accordion window coverings that folded back to make an opening that stretched across the entire rear of the room. The adjacent dining room was fitted the same way.
Beyond the windows was a tiered slate patio that also stretched from one end of the house to the other. It offered a breathtaking unobstructed view of the hillsides and valley. A stone path meandered through the landscaping to lead the eye outward. The pool and outdoor barbecue area were on the side of the house, surrounded byLigustrum sinense, otherwise known as Chinese privet. Patricia explained that it had been a great setup when the kids were younger and came over to visit. They could knock themselves out behind the bushes while the adults lounged on the patio and watched the sky change from hues of blue to pink and lavender. It was Milton’s sanctuary.
* * *
Myra was already on the patio with Danielle. Benjamin was on his way, and Oliver was expected shortly. Helen and Gary had gone back to Bandon once they heard Milton was in better condition. Milton was sitting in a double-wide Mamagreen Boulevard heritage denim chaise, with a dark slate base.
“You are looking just peachy to me!” Annie smiled as she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
He took her hand. “You as well, my dear. I trust you didn’t scare the pants off my son this afternoon?”
“I don’t think so.”But something did.She grinned and gave Myra one of their mutual covert glances.