Rock with Wings by Anne Hillerman

Author:Anne Hillerman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2015-03-24T16:00:00+00:00

13

When she got off the phone with Chee, Bernie returned Darleen’s call. Her sister answered on the third ring.

“Howdy, sis. How’s it goin’?’”

Darleen had been drinking. Bernie’s heart sank.

“I got a buncha drawings done for that portfolio. When can you come over so I can show you? I’m celebrating now.”

“You aren’t driving tonight, are you?”

“Duh. That’s why I called, so you can come over here. Mama and I are watching an old movie on TV. I forget the name, but it’s funny. Here, she wants to talk to you.”

Bernie could hear the phone being transferred.

“Eldest Daughter, how are you?”

“I’m fine, Mama. Did you and Darleen have dinner?”

“Yes. Pancakes. Everything is fine here.”

“Except that Darleen has been drinking.”

“We have an agreement now. She only drinks at home, and I have her car keys.”

“I don’t think that school in Santa Fe is a good idea.” Bernie spoke without her usual caution.

“It is a good idea for her to have something to look forward to.”

“Tell Sister I’m tired tonight. I will look at her drawings tomorrow when I come to see you.”

Bernie was getting ready for bed when the phone rang. She checked the ID, and was relieved to learn that it wasn’t work, or Darleen calling back to argue.

“Hi, Louisa.”

“Hey there. I wanted to tell you that Joe is enjoying the laptop. We installed the Navajo language font.”

“Great.”

“He’s doing research on hummingbirds. And he’s looking up that cactus you gave me to see what kind it is.”

Bernie thought of the necklace Chee had mentioned, and explained the situation to Louisa. “I’m going to e-mail the Lieutenant a photo. Maybe he can find out something about it. He has Chee’s listing in his address book, so he can respond directly to him.”

“Good idea. Joe is really taking to this computer. You know, his spirit has been up and down. The physical therapist says that he’s frustrated, and it’s all part of the brain injury. But he’s got some of his old sparkle back.”

Bernie couldn’t imagine the Lieutenant having mood swings. She’d seen him satisfied, if not actually happy, when a case came to conclusion, and noticed brief, rare flashes of irritation, usually directed at Chee or the feds, but that was it. Sparkle was not a word she ever would have used to describe the Lieutenant. But she didn’t know him the way Louisa did.

Bernie woke early, went for a run, took a shower, and ate a tortilla with some peanut butter. She put on her uniform for work and headed to Mama’s.

Mama was sweeping the porch when Bernie drove up, using the broom for a bit of support.

“You’re working hard this morning. Did you have your breakfast?”

“I made the coffee.” Mama indicated the chair against the front of the house, next to her walker. “You sit here while I finish.”

It was nearly nine. Bernie asked, “May I fix you something to eat?”

Mama shook her head. “Youngest Daughter set up oatmeal in that envelope. She leaves me a bowl, even the water in a cup.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.