A rtie returned home by the end of the Saturday. Tom clearly could recall nothing, and Sheriff Wright called off the posse. Artie went by the animals, but his brother had already taken care of them, as Artie presumed he would have. As long as depression didn’t make him forget.
He found Theo on the sofa in the parlor, apparently asleep sitting upright. Hazel curled up close beside him, also slept. For a moment, Artie didn’t move. He couldn’t. Something about his brother and sister, weary and together, tore at his heart. Besides, he had never seen Theo with the girl so near him without making a fuss in her life.
At last, he went in search of Myrtle, who he found at her dressing table. She yanked the tangles out of her hair with little ceremony, humming some monotonous tune like a funeral dirge.
“Artie!” Her eyes widened in the mirror at his reflection, as if she had never expected to see him again. “You’re back already.”
“I am. Yes.”
She half turned in her chair, her eyes still wide. Artie couldn’t decide if she had questions that she didn’t dare ask or if she only waited for him to volunteer information. He decided to act on the latter assumption.
“We didn’t find anything. No evidence or…or a body.”
Myrtle merely looked at him with those wide eyes for a long moment, before turning back to her mirror and her tangles.
Artie hesitated. It hardly seemed the right moment, yet he wondered when he would have as opportune a time.
“Can I ask you something?”
“What is it, Artie?” Her voice sounded dreamy and far away.
He leaned against the doorframe. “I heard recently that…you have a brother?”
She looked at his reflection again in the mirror. “Oh, yes. What about him?”
“Why don’t I remember meeting him?”
Myrtle shrugged, yanking at her hair. “Tom is a strange egg. Your father thought it safest not to have him around. He didn’t even attend the wedding.”
Artie frowned. “Safest?”
“Mmm.” She turned in her chair again. “That’s what he said, though I’m sure Tom’s tendency toward any violence died out many years ago.”
“Violence?”
“Mmm… I haven’t seen him, but I tell you, Charles had nothing to concern himself over from Tom.” She went back to humming her dirge, though Artie tried to get her attention again. She didn’t hear him.
He wandered back to the parlor. Theo opened his eyes with Artie’s entrance. The older brother focused for several seconds, as if confirming Artie’s presence, then gently shook the little girl who lay asleep beneath his arm.
“Hazel.”
The child opened sleepy eyes and looked up at him.
Theo nodded in Artie’s direction. “I told you he’d come back.”
Artie wondered why such reassurances had been needed at all but didn’t consider it a good time to ask. Hazel, still sleepy, pushed herself in Artie’s direction, wrapping her arms around his neck when he knelt down.
“Mama was wrong!” The sleepy exclamation ended muffled into his shoulder.
Artie looked toward Theo, who shook his head with evident disapproval.
Hazel stepped back with her small hands on his shoulders, studying Artie’s face with far too much seriousness. “You’re all right, aren’t you, Artie?”
“Of course, I am, Sparrow.” He almost laughed, she looked so intense. “Whatever made you think I wouldn’t be?”
Hazel glanced back at Theo, who had crossed his arms while still leaning back on the sofa. “Myrtle hasn’t been herself.”
Hazel patted Artie on the cheek in baby fashion, then wrapped her arms around his neck again. “I’m glad you’re all right, Artie.” She sighed. “I’m glad that you’re home.”
Theo clearly wanted more news from Artie than those regarding his wellbeing. Artie didn’t know how much to say in front of Hazel. He merely shook his head, mouthing the one word “Nothing,” over her shoulder.
His brother dropped his arms and sighed.
Artie scooped up his sister and stood. “Theo, do you remember Myrtle’s maiden name?”
Theo raised both eyebrows. “Myrtle’s maiden name?”
Artie nodded.
Theo looked away in thought a moment. “Overman. It was Overman. Why?”
Artie smoothed down Hazel’s wild hair. “It’s something I need to look into. I’ll tell you later.”
Theo didn’t press. Artie sighed.
I don’t even know if it’s significant, but I need to find out.