The Lost Women of Azalea Court by Ellen Meeropol

Author:Ellen Meeropol
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781636280509
Publisher: Red Hen Press
Published: 2022-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

ERIC GOLDEN

Bea left with the kids for Saturday morning soccer practice just as the detective’s car drove onto Azalea Court. Eric grabbed his jacket and met Detective McPhee as she pulled on her gloves.

“Any news?” he asked.

She shook her head.

“Can we organize a search party this morning?” he asked. “If the dogs are done, and the drone is finished? Most people are home today, and we know our neighborhood better than you folks do. We might find something your searchers missed.”

“Sure,” the detective said. “Just tell people that if they find something, anything at all, they should call me. Not investigate it themselves. They might compromise evidence.” She looked at Eric intently. “It’s possible that there could be some danger. People should stay in groups and be careful.”

By midmorning, Eric had gathered his neighbors on the Circle benches. The rain was over, but thick clouds and gusts of wind sent Evelyn home for a heavier coat. She and Donnie were ready to search, and the two women from Number Four joined them. Aggie and Arnold were working the weekend, but the new guy in Number Five showed up, his baby wide-eyed and smiling in the front pack strapped to his chest.

“I’m Timothy,” he said, shaking hands with everyone. “I don’t know the neighborhood yet, of course, but I’d like to help.”

Evelyn handed him a flyer. “That’s Iris. The woman who’s missing.”

“We should check all the backyards,” Eric said. “Plus, the gardens and the route Iris liked to take along the river and past the burial grounds. Who wants to do what?”

Before anyone could answer, Lexi came stomping out of her parents’ house and onto the Circle. “I can’t stay in that house another second,” she announced. “Can I search with you guys? I need to do something useful.”

Donnie put his arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “I’m so sorry, Lexi. This must be so hard.”

She nodded. “Thanks. Where should I look, Eric?”

“Either the gardens, backyards, or your Mom’s favorite walk by the river.”

“I’ll take the gardens,” Lexi said.

“Gandalf and I will come with you,” Jess offered.

Donnie and Eric decided to check out the backyards. Evelyn looked at Timothy and said, “Come on. I’ll show you the different trails to the burial ground, where we met in the rain yesterday. Iris loved that walk, although it was getting harder for her to manage.”

Donnie and Eric set out in silence, moving from one yard to the next. They peered under screen porches, inside gazebos and storage sheds filled with shovels and cross-country skis and cobwebs. Windblown leaves covered bags of unused mulch and discarded toasters. Nothing was locked—that wasn’t how people lived on Azalea Court—so the search went quickly. They started together in the front of each cottage, separated to check the side yards, and met up in the back.

“Anything?” Donnie asked as they finished Number Four.

“Nada. But why would Iris leave her house and hide in a backyard?”

“If she has Alzheimer’s?”

“I guess,” Eric said. “Asher says her dementia is a kind that progresses very quickly.

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