In Silence Sealed by J.R. Lindermuth

Author:J.R. Lindermuth [Lindermuth, J.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Torrid Books
Published: 2017-11-29T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Lydia didn’t go to work the next morning. Mazie and Dave Yoxheimer, her employers, were super people, but she didn’t think she could face them—or anyone else she knew right now. Her parents both looked in and she saw the concern writ on their faces. Still, Lydia didn’t get out of bed until she was certain both had left for work.

She passed on a shower for the time being and had just sat down with a cup of coffee and a cigarette when the doorbell rang. The sound cut through her like the sudden burn of a paper cut and she nearly dropped her coffee. Lydia closed her eyes, willing whoever it was to go away. She couldn’t face more grilling from that bastard Runyan, especially not this early in the morning. The bell rang again. Lydia sighed and dropped her cigarette in one of her dad’s old ashtrays she’d rooted out of a drawer in his den.

She padded out the hall in her bare feet, pushed aside a curtain with a finger and peered out. Flora Vastine stood on the porch. Before Lydia could move away from the window, Flora spied her, smiled, and waved.

Oh, shit. What does she want?

Reluctantly, Lydia opened the door. “Whadya want?”

“Mazie said your mom called and told her you wouldn’t be coming in today. Mr. Hetrick asked me to come by and see how you’re doing.”

Lydia scanned her. Flora had a blue stretch cap pulled down over her ears, and wore a hooded charcoal sweatshirt that appeared a size or two too big for her, and jeans. Her hands were shoved into the pockets of the jacket and, grinning, she shifted from one sneakered foot to the other. “Can I come in? It’s cold out here.”

Lydia opened the door wider and stepped aside. “I thought the department wasn’t supposed to be involved.”

Flora rubbed her hands together. “We’re not. I’m on nights. I don’t think the Staties will have a problem with me checking on a friend.”

Lydia took a deep breath. “Come on back,” she said, gesturing for Flora to follow. “I just made a pot of coffee.” She and Flora hadn’t always been close, but she thought if she had to talk to anyone today and expected sympathy her high school classmate would be near the top of the list.

Lydia poured a coffee for Flora and refilled her own cup. “There’s cream in the container—and sugar, if you need it,” she said, resuming her seat.

Flora shucked the jacket and draped it over the back of her chair. She stirred a dollop of cream into her coffee, then laid a hand on Lydia’s wrist. “Really, how are you holding up?”

The kitchen clock on the wall behind her ticked in syncopation with her heart. Tears welled up in Lydia’s eyes. She wanted to pull away from Flora’s friendly gesture. But she didn’t. “How the hell do you think?” Her cigarette had burned out. She flipped another out of the pack but didn’t immediately light it. She peered at Flora.

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