“I wanted to let you know that a Mr. Francis McGuire will be visiting this morning. He’s a criminal attorney who is going to help Dolores navigate any future conversations with the sheriff or his deputies. She will meet with him in Willis’s office and is not to be disturbed.”
Lucinda said, “I’ll be sure and tell Marla Mae. What about Mr. Clancy and Mr. Norman?”
I shrugged. “I see no reason for them to be told who Dolores’s visitor is. If they ask directly, please refer them to me. And Elton, please sit down and finish your breakfast. Is that a corn muffin I see?”
“Sure ’nuff. The best one I ever tasted. I’ll be in the library shortly, ma’am, and available for whatever you or Miss Dolores might need.”
“Later today we’ll be going to the Seven/Twenty-four Storage facility. Here—I’ll text you the address.” I entered the address from my memo pad into a text box, and in a few seconds Elton’s phone pinged.
Lucinda said, “Would you care to have some breakfast here?”
“Not today, thank you. I think I will join whoever is in the dining room.”
From behind me Marla Mae said, “Good morning, Miss Jessica. That would be Mr. Clancy and Abby.”
As I entered the dining room, I heard Abby ask, “And if anyone at school asks me why Grampy died, what can I tell them? I’m not sure myself. Did he drown in the pond? Or fall and hit his head? I know he wasn’t sick like Mommy.”
Clancy saw me in the doorway and smiled. He seemed to be relieved that I was interrupting. “Abby, where are your manners? Say good morning.”
“Good morning, Miss Jessica. Guess what. I’m going back to school today. Daddy says I can’t stay home forever, although I wouldn’t mind that at all.”
“That’s wonderful news. Do you know I used to be a schoolteacher?”
Abby’s eyes opened wide. “No! Really? You said ‘used to be.’ Do you miss being a teacher?”
“Sometimes I do miss it. I particularly miss the energy of the interaction with my students. And I bet these past few days your teacher has been missing you.”
“Oh, I didn’t think of that. Mrs. Creighton probably does miss me. I raise my hand a lot and always do my homework. Before we leave I’d better go get Fluffy so I can show him to my friends Rosa and Eileen. We eat lunch together.” Abby dashed out of the room.
Clancy said, “Jessica, I had no idea you were a teacher. So what would you advise me to tell Abby about why Willis died?”
“Well, to children most adults are already impossibly old. I would just tell her that if asked, she should say her grampy was old and tired and it was time for him to go to heaven. That should do it.”
I heard the click click of high heels in the foyer, and then Dolores came into the room. She was wearing a short-sleeved black dress and strappy black sandals with heels higher than those of any shoes I’d worn in years.
“Good morning. Jess, look at my drop pearl.” She leaned forward and touched a silver chain at her neck. “Isn’t it gorgeous? Willis gave it to me on the anniversary of our first date.”
“It’s lovely. Clancy was just telling me that Abby is going back to school this morning.”
Dolores said, “That’s probably a good idea. At the rate we’re slogging along, I can’t even guess when the funeral will be. School will keep her busy.”
Abby burst into the room. “Granny Dolores, look. I am taking Fluffy to school to introduce him to my friends.”
“I’m sure your friends will be happy to meet him. Now, where’s my good-morning kiss?” Dolores leaned down and Abby gave her a sweet kiss on the cheek.
As soon as Clancy said, “Let’s go, or we’ll be late,” Dolores’s face morphed from smiling to frantic.
She held up a hand. “Are you driving?”
Clancy looked puzzled. “Of course. It’s much too far to walk.”
Dolores recovered slightly. “I only meant we have Elton on standby. Perhaps you’d like him to take you both. That way he could bring you back.”
“That’s a very kind offer, but I have some errands to run, so I’d rather take my own car. Come on, princess—we don’t want to be late.”
Abby turned to wave good-bye as she skipped out of the room behind her father.
Dolores leaned on the dining table for support. “I can barely breathe. Is this how it’s going to be from now on? I’ll have my heart in my mouth every time Clancy takes Abby in the car? I know he drinks too much. He knows he drinks too much. I have to do something, but I am not sure what.”
I put my arm around her. “Dolores, I am sure there’s a solution—”
She cut me off. “A twelve-step program is the only solution I can see. You tell me how I can force him to join one and follow the rules. He’s a grown man; he should know better.”
There was a light tap at the door, and Elton stuck his head in. “Excuse me, ladies. Marla Mae said to tell you that Mr. McGuire is at the front gate. I’m going down to let him on in.”
“Oh dear, I am not nearly ready. Let me go splash some cold water on my face and redo my makeup.”
“Dolores, you look fine.”
“Jess, I need a minute to gather my thoughts.”
“Why don’t you go to Willis’s office and take your minute? I’ll greet Mr. McGuire and offer him coffee, and then I’ll bring him to meet you.”
“Oh, would you, Jess? That would be grand.”
We walked into the foyer, and Marla Mae stood there ready to answer the door. Dolores darted into the office, and I asked Marla Mae if she’d seen Norman Crayfield that morning.
“Mr. Crayfield—he’s a strange one. In and out at all sorts of hours. I saw him drive off the grounds
