Sea Change

“No, I didn’t, Mommy,” Mr. Plum said.

“You went up to visit the new store,” Mrs. Plum said.

Mrs. Plum looked at Kelly Cruz.

“Willis loves to get in the car and drive off by himself. He drives all over the country.”

“No,” Mr. Plum was kind but firm, “you’re confused.”

Mrs. Plum looked at her husband. He was serene in his certainty, sipping a gin and tonic today. Pacing himself, Kelly Cruz thought.

“Didn’t you open a new store in Tallahassee? Right after Memorial Day?”

Mr. Plum smiled fondly at his wife.

“Mommy, you’re getting old on me. I didn’t go anywhere in June.”

“You have a car,” Kelly Cruz said.

“My dear,” Mr. Plum said. “Of course we do.”

“Wow,” Kelly Cruz said. “I never think of cars at a place like this. Is there a parking garage?”

“Indeed,” Mr. Plum said. “And valet service all through the day and night.”

He seemed proud.

“I suppose you have assigned spaces?” Kelly Cruz said.

“Probably deeded.”

2 5 6

S E A C H A N G E

She was aware as she chatted with Mr. Plum that Mrs.

Plum was staring at him. Mr. Plum looked at her indulgently.

“Of course,” he said kindly.

He rang a small bell, and the Cuban maid came in and brought the Plums another drink from the trolley. Kelly Cruz nursed her 7-Up. As he sipped his new drink, Mr.

Plum seemed to lose interest in Kelly Cruz. Instead he looked thoughtfully out from the patio at Biscayne Bay. Mrs.

Plum appeared not to look at anything.

“Well,” Kelly Cruz said. “So, no travel, I guess.”

Mr. Plum seemed not to hear her. Mrs. Plum shrugged and shook her head.

Kelly Cruz put her unfinished soft drink on the coffee table and stood.

“Well, thanks, sorry to bother you,” she said.

Mr. Plum continued to look at the bay. Mrs. Plum reached forward and rang the bell, and the Cuban maid came and showed Kelly Cruz to the door.

Kelly Cruz paused at the door and smiled at the maid, just a couple of palsy Cuban girls taking a moment to chat.

“Mi hermana,” Kelly Cruz said. “You remember when Mr.

Plum went up to Tallahassee a couple of months ago?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Mrs. Plum didn’t go with him, did she?” Kelly Cruz said.

“No ma’am.”

“Good,” Kelly Cruz said. “Thanks, Magdalena. The garage on the lower level?”

“Yes ma’am.”

2 5 7

55

J esse was on the phone with Kelly Cruz.

“He’s so empty and sweet,” she said. “It’s like part of him is missing but he doesn’t mind and there’s no reason you should be upset about it.”

“Except for him being a pedophile.”

“Except for that,” Kelly Cruz said.

“And you think the wife knows,” Jesse said.

“She knows,” Kelly Cruz said. “I can’t promise you that she even knows she knows.”

“But she knows.”

“She knows,” Kelly Cruz said.

“Can you work on her?”

S E A C H A N G E

“Some. If I can catch her away from him. They are nearly always together, as far as I can tell.”