SEARCH by KATHY

Author:KATHY [KATHY]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-06-29T01:48:50+00:00

I followed the marks to the corner where I had put my suitcases. Closet space was limited; I had had to leave them stacked against the wall. The one on top was empty. I laid it aside.

"The lock has been forced," I said, examining the other suitcase.

That got Carl out of the chair. Squatting beside me, he peered at the lock. "You lock your suitcase too? What do you keep in there, the family jewels?"

"Just papers. Family papers." I lifted the lid. When I saw the contents, I knew I had been right. The large manila envelope had not been sealed, but I had tucked the flap inside. It was outside now, and the corner of a paper protruded.

"Is anything missing?"

I pulled the papers out far enough to check them but not so far that he could see what they were. There weren't many— my birth certificate, some of my mother's letters, and the lab report giving the results of my blood tests.

"No," I said, closing the envelope. The only other thing in the suitcase was the old photo album with Mother's snapshots. I took it out.

Carl jiggled the protruding metal tongue of the lock. It moved readily under his touch. "These locks are as flimsy as paper," he said. "Any casual kick or blow could snap them. Maybe she hit the suitcase when she was vacuuming."

"Maybe."

He could tell I didn't believe it. "Are you going to report this?"

"I don't know."

"I wish you wouldn't."

"Why not?"

"It would just get the kid in hot water. People are always ready to suspect 'the servants.' She'd probably lose her job."

I wondered why he was so concerned about the maid.

Could be he was only being kind and fair-minded. But she was a very pretty girl, and obviously admired him.... "You mean nice, kind Mrs. Dunlap would fire the girl without even trying to find out whether she was guilty?"

"You don't understand people like these," Carl said. We had both risen to our feet; his face was flushed with emotion. "Mrs. Dunlap wouldn't even know about it. The butler and the housekeeper handle minor domestic matters, and girls like Maria are a dime a dozen, they're so desperate for work. It would be easier for them to fire her than investigate." He saw I was weakening, and pressed harder. "I can't believe she deliberately broke the lock. Probably it was weak and snapped when she moved the suitcase, and she couldn't resist the temptation to see what was inside. But she wouldn't take anything. She wouldn't risk her job."

"I don't have anything worth stealing."

"Then why not give her a break?"

I knew Maria hadn't looked through those papers, and I liked Carl for being so vehement in her defense.

"Okay," I said.

"Thanks, Haskell."

"For what? I should thank you, for keeping me from doing something stupid and unfair. Sit down, I'll make coffee."

He did as I asked. When I went to the kitchen I realized I was holding the photo album close against my breast. I laid it on the counter and put the kettle on.

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