twenty-three

I’d had enough of Laurel. Reached my limit. And the expression on my face must have telegraphed my feelings because when Clancy offered to drive me home. I didn’t care that Laurel had been planning to give me a ride. I’d had it with her. What a know-it-all! First she lectured me on my attitude and then she spouted off about how we couldn’t help Dodie.

Clancy watched me as I opened the door of her meticulously clean silver Avalon and helped Gracie climb onto the back seat. “Laurel’s right, you know.”

I bit my tongue so I wouldn’t tell Clancy how Laurel had scolded me for whining.

I climbed into the passenger seat. As if to comfort me, the big dog settled her rump on the back seat and rested her muzzle on top of my shoulder. “Does Margit know all this? About Dodie?”

“It’s on my ‘to do’ list to call her this evening. Today she’s with her mother. It’s her mother’s ninety-fifth birthday.”

If my mom lived that long, I’d celebrate by poking myself in the eye with a fork. Putting up with her for another twenty years would be the death of me. During the day, I’d checked my cell phone and found three messages from her complaining about how I’d mistreated her at HER party. She also suggested that I was keeping Amanda busy so my sister wasn’t around, and gee, didn’t I realize how lonely Mom was there in that big house of Sheila’s all by herself ? How could I?

Very easily.

My cell phone rang. I nearly didn’t answer, thinking it was my mother frustrated by my silence. But at the last minute decided that with two people I cared about in the hospital, one on his way to jail, and another with one foot in the grave, maybe I should pick up.

“I have a phone number for you,” said Laurel before I could say, “Hi.” She rattled off a number and added, “I’m going to send it to you via text, so you don’t have to scramble for a pencil.”

“And I should call this number why?” I sounded petty because I felt that way.

She laughed. “Okay, okay. I deserve a little attitude. At least you’re acting spunky again. That’s the phone number for John Henry Schnabel. He’s the best criminal defense attorney in Illinois, and he’s agreed to take Detweiler’s case pro bono.”

My phone landed on the floor of Clancy’s car. “Oh, gosh, oh, I’m sorry. I dropped my phone. You there? Laurel?”

“Yes,” she chuckled. “I’m here.”

“How? Why? I mean, thank you, but …”

“Like I said, I’ve been through stuff. We’ll discuss that later. Schnabel has never lost a case when the client is innocent. He’s on his way to the Sangamon County jail right now, but he’s expecting your call. He needs the phone number for Detweiler’s parents because if they’ve already engaged counsel, he might need to back off.”

“Th-thank you.”

“You are welcome. Now call him so he can get to work.”

“I assume you need something to write on.” Clancy had overheard. She pointed to her glove compartment. “Pen, pencil, notepad are all there.”

Thelma answered on the first ring.

“It’s Kiki—”

“I’m sorry, hon, but I don’t have time to talk, we’re on our way—”

“Wait! Listen! I have the name and phone number of a criminal attorney who’ll handle your son’s defense pro bono. It’s John Henry Schnabel and he’s on his way to meet you at the Sangamon County jail.”

There was a long silence.

“Did you say John Henry Schnabel? How on earth did you get him to take this case? We don’t have that kind of money, Kiki!”

“It’s pro bono.”

“How on earth … ? Never mind! What’s his number?”

She stuttered her thanks and promised to call me with any news. Then I filled Clancy in on what had transpired.

“While you and Laurel were out walking Gracie, I called Amanda. She will pick up Anya from CALA, feed her, and drop her off later. I’m planning to come in with you and see that you get that cup of chamomile tea.” With a flourish, she reached into her purse and waved a plastic baggy filled with teabags.

“Let me guess. Laurel gave you those.”

“Wonder Woman strikes again.”

“I bet she owns one of those costumes with the red bustier and blue trunks. How does she do it? Laurel’s like my life coach, my personal mentor, and my personal assistant all in one. Geez, I always thought she was competent. Never seen her botch anything. Watched her smooth the ruffled feathers of the most disgruntled customers. But I didn’t suspect she could work miracles. Yet she has.”

“How much do you know about Laurel?” Clancy raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow at me.

“Uh, Mert recommended her.”

“Ever noticed how much alike they look?”

I rolled my eyes. “Piffle. You need new glasses.”

“Think about it. Has she ever talked about her personal life?”

“No.”

“Ever invited us to her home?”

“No.”

“Have we ever met anyone she’s dating or any member of her family or any friends?”

“No, no, and no. What are you driving at?”

Clancy shrugged. “I’m not sure what I’m driving at. She’s an enigma. I always thought that maybe you knew her better than I did. Or that Dodie did. Or that she was a friend of Rebekkah’s. But she’s not. She’s like this elusive shadow. An invisible-visible playmate who works with us and then—poof !—she disappears.”

A fly landed on Clancy’s windshield. It marched over, around, up and down. She hit the wipers and brushed it away. I knew almost as much about Laurel as I did about that fly.

No, that’s not true.

“Here’s what I know about Laurel: Whenever we’ve needed her, she’s been there. She’s always been a trooper. Always been upbeat and positive and helpful. If she has a past she’s running from, frankly, I don’t care. Sure, she ticked me off. But maybe she said what I needed to hear.”

“I missed something.” Clancy turned over her palms to indicate she was lost.

I filled her in on Laurel’s lecture about whining.

“She’s right, you know. You’ve been a great friend to me, and I think the world of you, Kiki, but you do have a tendency to whine a lot.”

“Nothing like kicking me when I’m down.”

“See what I mean?”