“I’m going to be picking Edith Mossman’s brain,” Joanna said. “Trying to get the goods on her son.”
“Nice,” Frank said. “Call me a wimp if you want to, but I’ll stick to making phone calls. Getting a nice little old lady to turn
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state’s evidence against her own son sounds a little underhanded to me.”
“Maybe,” Joanna agreed. “But if Eddie Mossman is the kind of creep he seems to be, I’m in favor of doing whatever it takes to get him off the streets.”
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When Edith Mossman emerged from Burton Kimball’s office, Joanna hurried forward.
She helped the older woman into the car and stowed her walker in the backseat. Once Joanna’s seat belt was fastened, she glanced at Edith. The older woman sat motionless.
Her head was thrown back against the headrest; both eyes were closed. ‘Are you all right?” Joanna asked. “Tired,” Edith returned. “I’m very tired.” “Have you had anything to eat?”
Edith shook her head. “Knowing that Eddie was coming here to make trouble upset me so much that I couldn’t eat a thing.”
“Let’s go have some lunch then,” Joanna offered. “You’ll feel better after you have some food.”
“I don’t think so,” Edith said hopelessly. “I don’t think any 260
thing is going to make me feel better ever again, but I suppose I do need to keep up my strength.”
“Did Burton think he could help you?”
“Mr. Kimball wasn’t sure,” Edith replied. “He said we could probably slow things down some, but he didn’t know if we can stop Eddie from taking Carol’s body away altogether. He said that if Carol were a minor or incapacitated in some way and I had been appointed her guardian, then it was more likely he could fix this. Or if I had some kind of written document, like a will or something, specifying her wishes, then that would work, too. As it is, Eddie, as her father, is officially considered to be her next of kin.”
“Your son can’t take Carol’s body anywhere if he isn’t going there himself.”
Suddenly, despite her lack of food, Edith Mossman straightened in her seat and came to full attention. “What are you saying?” she asked sharply.
“If someone were to file criminal charges against your son, if he ended up going to jail or prison rather than returning to Mexico, he wouldn’t be able to take his daughter’s body anywhere. It’s my understanding that when it comes to shipping caskets containing human remains across the international border into Mexico, it’s customary to have a relative of the deceased ride along to accompany the body.”
“You’re saying, if Eddie doesn’t go back to Mexico, then Carol’s body doesn’t go either?”
Joanna nodded. “It’s not one hundred percent, but it might work.”
“Tell me what I need to do,” Edith said.
“First you’re going to have some lunch. Then we’ll talk.”
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J. A. Jance
Joanna pulled into the last open parking place at Daisy’s Cafe. Junior Dowdle, Daisy’s adopted developrnentally disabled son, met them at the door with a wide smile and a pair of menus. “Booth or table?” he asked.
“Booth, please, Junior,” Joanna told him.
Junior led them to an empty booth and deposited their menus on the table. As he waddled purposefully away, Edith Mossman eyed him suspiciously. “Why would a restaurant hire someone like that?” she asked.
“It’s his mother’s restaurant,” Joanna explained. “A few years ago, Junior’s guardian abandoned him over in St. David. Moe and Daisy Maxwell took him in. First they were just his foster parents. After the death of Junior’s biological mother, Moe and Daisy officially adopted him. They also taught him how to work here.”
“Oh,” Edith said, relenting. “I suppose that’s all right then.”
When Daisy appeared, pad in hand, Joanna ordered a roast beef sandwich while Edith settled on a cheese enchilada. As soon as Daisy walked away from their booth, Edith turned her full attention on Joanna.
“Now what can I do to help?” she asked.
Joanna herself had been mulling that very question. “Did any of your granddaughters’
abuse occur while they were still in the States?” she asked.
Edith shook her head. “I don’t think so. According to Carol, it started happening after they moved to Mexico. Cynthia, my daughter-in-law, was terribly ill ever before she became pregnant with Kelly. She never should have gotten pregnant that last time, but Eddie insisted. That’s one thing The Brethren do believe in-that they should go forth and multiply. Eddie believed in multiplying in a big way. And so, when Cynthia was too sick to …”
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