The Disappearance of Sara Colter by Laurinda Wallace

Author:Laurinda Wallace [Wallace, Laurinda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-02-15T22:00:00+00:00

Nora’s weekly housecleaner, Rose, a thickset brown-haired woman of uncertain age, but one who showed up without fail each Thursday, was pushing a rag mop over the kitchen floor, singing a Bing Crosby ballad. Bing was crooning the smooth melody over the radio which was turned up. Angela was spending the day with Anna’s cousin, and it was the first time in quite a while that Nora had been able to have a day to herself. It felt odd not to have something to do. The Silver Spot Laundry had delivered each boarder’s clean and pressed clothing, which was folded neatly in piles on the dining room table. She decided to distribute it to her boarders to save some steps for the cleaner. Stacking it carefully in a large wicker laundry basket, she mounted the stairs to the bedrooms. Reggie’s old room had already been prepared for his return. His family situation was sad, but living in the West wasn’t for everyone. It was probably better for him to resettle in Pennsylvania near Cynthia’s family.

Linens had been changed, and all the beds were made with Rose’s usual tight corners and fluffed pillows. After placing Anna’s and Angela’s clothes on their respective beds, she finished the task in Gideon’s room. Spying the letters on the bureau, she noticed they were still unopened. The envelopes were from S. Flynn in Rochester, New York, which meant they must be from a relative. Why wouldn’t he read them? Did her newest boarder have some secrets? Was he estranged from his family? It had to be painful if he was. Straightening the brush and comb on the dresser, she left wondering how the topic might be broached. It was really none of her business, but there was habitual sadness about the man that tugged at her, much like Anna and Angela—like Reggie. Her house was full of people with broken hearts it seemed.

The telephone jangled, and she hurried down to the kitchen to answer it. The cleaning lady had just stepped back to admire the sparkling floor, and now Nora would have to mar the surface. She tiptoed a few steps on the wet floor to pick up the receiver. Rose pulled a face and dipped the mop back into the sudsy water.

“Is this the residence of Nora Stedman?” an authoritative female voice asked over a crackling line.

“Yes. Yes, this is Nora Stedman.”

“I have a person-to-person call for you from Suzanne Flynn.”

“Hello, Mrs. Stedman? This is Suzanne Flynn.”

The voice was strong despite the bad connection.

“Yes, this is Miss Stedman.”

“Oh, yes—Miss Stedman,” the woman corrected herself. “I’m calling to find out if my brother, Gideon Flynn, is at your address.”

“You’re Gideon’s sister?”

“Yes, I am. His younger sister. I’ve been trying to locate him for ages, and the newspaper he worked for in Tucson gave me your address. I’ve sent him letters, but he hasn’t sent a reply.”

“Your letters did come to the house, but—”

“Is he there? I truly need to talk with him.”

“I’m so sorry, Miss Flynn, but Gideon isn’t here.

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