Thicker than Blood by C J Darlington

Author:C J Darlington [Darlington, C J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780989162159
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

May broke into a huge smile. “What are you doing here?” Before Christy could do or say anything, she was encircled in a hug, even bigger than the one May gave her at the funeral.

“I’m so glad to see you again,” May said into her shoulder, then let her go. Collars of several shirts stuck out at her neckline. She wore a hat similar to Jim’s, with nicks in the edges and mud splatters all over the felt. Christy almost smiled. Here was the grubby little girl who could never seem to stay clean.

“Sorry I didn’t call ahead.”

May shook her head. “What, are you kidding? I just can’t believe you’re actually here. You know how often I’ve wished this would happen? That you’d show up and surprise me?”

Actually, she hadn’t pictured May wishing it at all.

“So I take it you two have met?” May said to Jim.

“Yes, ma’am,” Jim said with a chuckle but didn’t mention Christy’s trespassing. Maybe he knew the embarrassment she felt about it.

May’s face lit up, and she clasped Christy’s arm. “Wait right here. I’ve gotta get Ruth.” She ran out the door, leaving Christy alone once more with Jim.

“I told you,” he said. “She’s glad to see you.”

Christy wanted to believe him. It felt better than she could have imagined to hug her sister again. But why wasn’t May upset with her for leaving the funeral?

May reappeared with the lady who’d accompanied her at the church. Shorter than May and round in the middle like a tomato, the older woman’s dark face was a sea of wrinkles, no doubt from countless hours of outdoor exposure.

“Here she is,” May said. “Can you believe it?”

“Great to finally meet you,” Ruth said, the skin around her eyes crinkling into deep crow’s-feet. She gave Christy a firm handshake with both hands. “My name’s Ruth.”

May touched Christy’s arm. “I’ve gotta check the fence to find where some of the cows are getting out. Come with me.”

“In the snow?”

“It isn’t too bad. We’ll take the horses.”

She hesitated. “I haven’t ridden in years.”

“I’ll give you a gentle one.” May’s eyes were pleading, and Christy couldn’t refuse.

As they walked away together toward the barn, she glanced back at Jim who winked at her, then busied himself with the hungry calf.

***

Pulling up to apartment building C, Harvey wished he’d driven his older Buick. It would have blended in better than the Mercedes. As it was, he checked the locks twice before leaving the car, knowing they would offer little protection in this neighborhood. Any car thief worth his salt wouldn’t let a lock faze him.

Harvey studied the dilapidated building. Two windows on the third floor were boarded over with new plywood. The bricks around the wood were stained with soot.

Christy lived here?

Inside the dark stairwell, a male and female shouting profanities reverberated through the walls from somewhere in the building. The argument faded as he climbed the stairs and reached the third floor. He checked the apartment number he’d written on the back of a business card—306.

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