forty-one

Geneva sat quietly and listened. She picked obsessively at a thread dangling from a small pillow on her lap. When I finished, she said nothing. She stared at the floor. I’d told her everything I had learned and everything I suspected, but I still had no idea who’d shot Moira, much less why.

“If Moira was being used by Andy to cover up money laundering, why didn’t she come to us?” Geneva asked. “Why didn’t she tell us?”

“Maybe she was afraid you wouldn’t believe her. It strikes me that no one lent her much credence on any subject.”

Geneva’s face paled. “Fair enough.” She put her hands over her face and burst into tears, long, wracking sobs. I jumped up and sat on the arm of her chair. Damn. I’d done it again. Open mouth, insert foot. I put my arms around her and held her while she cried. After a few minutes, her chest stopped heaving and she took a deep breath, wiping her eyes.

“I’m sorry, Julia. I didn’t mean to lose it like that.”

“No, I’m sorry. What I said was … I didn’t mean it as a criticism. I wouldn’t say anything hurtful to you for the world.”

“But you’re right. You’re right. We were so tired, tired of her screw-ups and escapades. Tired of excuses and so tired of always bailing her out.”

“Please, please don’t beat yourself up. Don’t torture yourself with guilt.”

Geneva nodded, wiping her eyes. “Easier said than done. But what makes you think there was another man in her life? Explain it to me.

“Well, call it an educated … no, call it I’m 99.9% sure. In her chart, Pluto by transit has been hitting her natal Venus off and on for the past year. She’s been involved in an affair, most likely a secret one, and this has been very intense and powerful. Now, you could argue that Andy is the person she was involved with, but frankly I don’t think so. Whatever their relationship, it hardly struck me as anything more than contentious. So that’s why I believe there’s someone else.”

Geneva sighed. “And you think this man killed her?”

“I don’t know. I really don’t. And I don’t even know if it was a man.”

“What do you mean?”

“We don’t know she wasn’t involved with a woman.”

Geneva gasped. “I never even thought of that. Are you saying my sister might have been gay?”

“Not at all. I’m just trying to remain logical. It isn’t possible to predict gender from a chart, assuming we even had one for another person. Moira was involved in an affair. It was intense. It was consuming her. It may have even been secret, but there’s no guarantee it was with a man.”

Geneva was quiet for a long time. She finally took a deep breath. “You were right the other day.”

“Right about what?”

“Studying Moira’s chart. You warned me. You said I might not like what I found out.”

“Are you sorry I’m doing this? Do you want me to back off ?”

Geneva shook her head vehemently. “No. I have to know. I have to know the truth about what happened that night. What on earth led to my sister’s murder.”

By the time I left Mary Leary’s house, Geneva was calm, but she was still sitting in the same position, picking at threads from the pillow. Her eyes had a far-off look.

 

When I reached my apartment, I dropped my purse on the floor in the hallway, hung my jacket on a chair, and stumbled into the bedroom. I couldn’t think about Moira any more. I couldn’t think about Rita. Both of them young, murdered, and dead. I fell onto the bed, clothes and all, and pulled the comforter over me. I sank into a sleep so deep I’m certain I left my body behind on the planet and ventured somewhere else.

When I finally woke, it was dark outside. I dragged myself off the bed and walked around the apartment turning on lights. I fixed a cup of chamomile tea. I needed a respite from the turmoil and my own thoughts. I needed to stay in my cocoon. I needed to be domestic. And I was starving. I dug one of my grandmother’s care packages out of the freezer and thawed it in the microwave. This one was slices of steak with mushrooms, onions, and carrots.

I cleared away the dishes and washed everything. Then I fed Wizard his dinner. The phone rang but I decided not to answer. I didn’t want to hear from anyone. Not the Learys, not my clients, not the police, no one. But then curiosity got the better of me. I saw Cheryl’s number on the caller ID and picked up.

“What are you doing tonight?”

“I’m hiding out. I just warmed up some food and I plan to watch a movie. How ’bout you?”

“It’s Saturday night! I was hoping I could talk you into going back to that bar on the Embarcadero.”

Cheryl’s spirits had improved a great deal since the court hearing. I really didn’t want to tell her about discovering Rita’s body. At least not yet. “Hate to disappoint you, but no way.”

“What a pooper you are.”

“Why don’t you come over? We can watch a movie and drink some wine. Stay over if you like.”

“Oh gee, whaddya got? Brain Eating Mummies Devour LA?” Cheryl was referring to my undying love of grade-B sci-fi’s of the 1950s. I also love old mummy flicks. Whether it’s an Egyptian priest cooking up tanna leaves or a giant octopus destroying the Golden Gate Bridge, no matter what, everything always turns out just fine.

“My DVDs are American classics!”

“American cult dreck.”

“I won’t take offense. Most people just don’t get it.”

“Right. You and Wizard are connoisseurs.”

“See if I invite you again.”

Cheryl laughed. “I’m just teasing you. Don’t really feel like a domestic night tonight, but thanks.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?”

“The open house.”

“Oh, yeah … I guess.”

“Gale has her heart set on your getting that condo.”

“I know. Don’t get me wrong, I’m curious, just don’t know if I’m ready. Oh, that reminds me—I’ve got to call her back anyway. She left me a message. Wanted to know how we made out at Rochecault. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“’Night.”

Part of me regretted turning Cheryl’s invitation down, but I was glad to be battening down the hatches. I popped a bag of popcorn in the microwave and a DVD in the player. Wizard followed me into the living room and settled on my lap while I munched out. By the time the popcorn was gone, Wiz was snoring and the atomically mutated giant ants were dead in the desert. I knew all would be well and I could sleep.