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.But Bert’s still not feeling all that great either.Damned flu.”Pete started for the door.Marcy had said only Rose knew, but maybe…“Sylvia, do you know anything about Ted and Marcy?”“Ted and Marcy? What do you mean?”“Did they know each other? Socialize? Did Ted talk about her?”“You make it sound like—Pete, if you’re suggesting what I think you’re suggesting, I’m going to be as angry with you as Rose is.”He placed a hand on each of her rounded shoulders.“I’m not suggesting anything.I’m just asking.And from your response, I’ll take that as a ‘no.’”“Ted was a good boy.” Tears welled in Sylvia’s eyes.Pete decided he’d better get the hell out of there before he made yet another woman cry.He leaned down and planted a kiss on Sylvia’s cheek.“Yes.He was.”He pulled on his hat as he headed for his car.Rose hadn’t given him the answer he was looking for.But she did give him something else without realizing it—more questions for Zoe.Like what was wrong with her computer that required Logan’s assistance right after his father had been killed?Pete suspected he knew the answer.And he didn’t like it much.Zoe parked in the freshly plowed VFW parking lot, away from the other vehicles arriving for the meeting.She turned off the ignition and leaned back in the seat.Last night, she’d taken three more runs into Brunswick Hospital.Each time, she’d made an excuse to escape the Emergency Department and prowl the hallways in search of that young man who resembled Logan.She needed to prove to herself it wasn’t him.But the look-alike remained as elusive as the real missing boy.With Matt nursing a broken leg, Zoe assumed the emergency meeting would be cancelled.However, when she came in from her barn chores that morning, she found his message on her cell phone’s voicemail stating he was home, and the meeting was on.And that she absolutely needed to be there.Why? She couldn’t imagine.As she sat in the parking lot staring at the VFW building, a week’s worth of memories flooded her brain.One week.If she could only turn back the clock one lousy week.Ted would be alive.Logan and Allison would be tormenting each other.Rose would still be her best friend.She’d even accept McBirney’s revolting presence in her fantasy.A small price to pay for all being right with the world.A knock on her driver-side window jarred her back into reality.Sylvia, bundled in a blue wool coat, cast a tight smile at Zoe through the glass.“I’m surprised to see you here.” Zoe slid down from the seat and slammed the door.“I was invited.” Sylvia rolled her eyes.“What’s your excuse?”“Pretty much the same thing.” She glanced around for Rose.“She’s not coming.” Sylvia took Zoe’s arm, and they picked through the slush toward the building.“Rose and her mother are sitting with Allison.”“Is she feeling any better?”Sylvia shook her head.“If anything, I’d have to say she’s worse.I think we’ll take her to the urgent care center at the hospital if she doesn’t show improvement soon.”“Any word from Logan?” The mention of the hospital brought him back to the forefront of Zoe’s mind.“No.You know that boy had nothing to do with McBirney’s murder, don’t you?”Zoe wished she could give Sylvia the response she wanted.“I just hope he’s okay.”Sylvia scowled at her.“That’s not a real answer.”“It’s the only one I have.”Matt Doaks intercepted them, sweeping along on crutches.He held up his right leg, encased in a plastic and Velcro brace, to avoid the slop.“Hello, ladies.I’m glad you could both make it.”Sylvia grunted.“I don’t know why you’re so insistent on my being here,” Zoe said.He winked.“You’ll see.” Then he swung away, maneuvering the crutches like a pro.“I’d like to see him hit an icy spot on those things,” Sylvia said.The mental picture of Matt sprawled on his back, crutches askew, forced a snicker from Zoe.“You know what’s going to happen here today, don’t you?” Sylvia said.They started forward again.“Not a clue.”“This is Matt Doaks’ big coming out party.With McBirney gone, Doaks will claim the throne of Chairman.He wants everyone here to witness it.”Zoe fought her gag reflex.Matt? Chairman of the township supervisors? Was that better or worse than McBirney? At least he wasn’t the brutish monster McBirney had been.But she had strong reservations about Matt’s leadership skills and judgment.She held the door for Sylvia to enter the VFW and then followed.Inside, the crowd wasn’t quite as large as it had been on Monday night.Men and women in coveralls and boots milled about.The soft rumble of assorted conversation filled the room, punctuated by an occasional boisterous laugh.Sylvia drew an audible breath.Her face had lost the ruddiness of winter’s chill, and her lower lip trembled.Zoe took her hand and squeezed.She knew what Sylvia was thinking because she felt it, too.Less than a week ago, Ted had been in this room.Two days ago, lunch had been served here following his burial.“I don’t know if I can do this,” the older woman whispered.“You don’t have to.Do you want me to take you home?”Before she could reply, several locals surrounded them, offering Sylvia hugs and condolences.Zoe escaped the circle of well-wishers and stepped into line to sign the attendance sheet.Howard Rankin and Matt sat at the head table.The two surviving supervisors.Howard, the voice of reason.Matt, Jerry McBirney’s puppet.Elizabeth Sunday perched on the edge of a chair at the end of the table.She appeared a bit disheveled.Stray wisps of hair hung in front of her face.She wore a bulky turtleneck sweater and wool pants with flat boots.Not her usual urban chic style.Zoe signed the roster [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]