Watch Her by Edwin Hill

Author:Edwin Hill [Hill, Edwin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2020-09-24T00:00:00+00:00

HESTER

Hester had the driver drop her on the southern shore of Jamaica Pond, where the boathouse and bandstand sat by the water. She jogged through raw, wet air around the perimeter of the pond. It was right after nine, not too early for a social call, even a spontaneous one, and if she was lucky, Jennifer Matson would be home alone.

In the light of day, Pinebank was still grand, with its red and yellow brickwork, ornate veranda, soaring gables and multiple chimneys, all framed by the bare cottonwoods. Whereas at night the structure had seemed remote, at the center of a vast wilderness, the daylight revealed how exposed it actually was. An open field sat not fifty yards away, and a walking path led right along the south side. Hester also noted that someone had painted graffiti on the brick. The rain had streaked away some of the paint, blurring part of the image and lettering, but, to Hester, the design reminded her of Roy Lichtenstein, with bold colors, the sharp angles of a man’s face, the dark silhouettes of two women, and a speech bubble in the style of a comic strip. She traced what was left of the lettering and came up with keep secrets. She snapped a photo of the whole thing and took a second of the smeared signature.

At the front door, she rang the bell. A moment later, Jennifer Matson answered. Today, she wore capri pants and a pink sweater set, her white hair tied in a low ponytail, ready to take on the day. “I thought you might be someone else under all that gear,” she said.

“Were you waiting for someone?” Hester asked.

“I met a new friend yesterday. I thought they might come for another visit.”

Hester swiped at the rain dripping from her hood. “Someone painted a mural on the side of the house.”

Jennifer hovered in the doorway. “Is it nice?”

“I took a photo.”

“Then you’ll have to come inside and show me!”

Jennifer faded into the dimly lit house. Hester followed, through the foyer, and around to the kitchen where Jennifer perched at the island, a tablet in front of her. “Reading the paper before I get going,” she said. “I have a yoga class this afternoon. Have you done yoga?”

“Not with the kiddo and work. I don’t have time, not anymore.”

“If you make time for yoga, yoga makes time for you.”

“Very centering.”

“You can take your shoes off,” Jennifer said.

Hester kicked off her sneakers and hung the coat on a hook.

“Coffee?” Jennifer asked. And when Hester hesitated, Jennifer added, “It’s coffee, nothing else. I don’t get going till after noon.”

“Restrained. Sure, but sit. I’ll get it myself.” Hester took a mug from an open shelf by the sink and filled it from an urn.

“There’s cream in the fridge, and sugar over there,” Jennifer said. “How many kids do you have?”

“A girl,” Hester said, taking the stool opposite and sipping the coffee. “Rich,” she added.

“It’s monkey-shit coffee.” Jennifer laughed and covered her mouth. “That’s what Tucker calls it.

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