Murder by Proxy (21 page)

If Ernie's wife was being treated here, Edna would try to find Ernie and tell him her plan.

“We have a Maxine Freedman in room three-oh-four. Is that who you mean?” The helpful woman stared inquiringly at Edna.

“That sounds right. Three-oh-four,” Edna repeated. “Thank you.” She had no idea if Ernie's wife's name was Maxine or not, but she'd find out. She smiled and began to whistle under her breath as she again headed for the elevators with Jillian in tow. She was really getting the hang of this detective business.

The next half hour passed quickly as she visited with Karissa and Grant. Jillian cooed over her little brother and thought he was the cutest baby she'd ever seen. “When can we bring him home?” she asked, looking at her father with barely suppressed excitement.

“We're waiting for the doctor,” he said, studying his watch. He did look awfully tired, Edna thought. “She'll probably release Karissa this morning, and we can all go home.”

That's my cue, Edna told herself. “I think I'll take a little walk around the hospital while you're waiting. I'd like to see how this facility compares to the South County and if I can take any ideas back to Mary,” she said, mentioning both the hospital nearest to their new home in Rhode Island and her neighbor who worked as a volunteer there. It was as good an excuse as any to leave the room without Grant questioning her, but he only nodded absently when she picked up her tote bag. Before hurrying from the room, she added, “If I'm not back by the time you're ready to leave, just go along without me. I'll catch up with you later.” She counted on the fact that he was too tired to process information quickly enough to question her intentions.

Out of sight of her family, she stopped near the elevators and tried Ernie's cell number. If he had turned on his phone's ringer again, she would double-check with him before walking in on a stranger, but there was no answer from his mobile.

Arriving at room 304, she rapped lightly and poked her head around the partially opened door. “Hello,” she called. “Mrs. Freedman?”

A woman with short, iron gray hair was lying in bed, facing the window. As Edna ventured further into the room, the patient slowly turned her head and gazed blankly at her visitor. An oxygen tube was affixed to her nose and fluid dripped into her arm from a bottle hanging from a metal stand beside the bed. The woman's eyes were dark-rimmed and listless.

“Yes.” The sound came from between dry lips in a quiet hiss. Then, squinting and displaying a little more energy, she said, “Do I know you?”

“We haven't met,” Edna said, approaching the bed. “Are you Ernie's wife? Ernie, the detective?”

The woman on the bed gave a weak smile. “That would be me.” She inhaled shakily before speaking again. “Why? Who are you?” She slid her hands down the bed on either side of her waist, as if she would push herself up.

Edna hurriedly put out a hand, palm toward Maxine. “Please don't disturb yourself. I'm sorry to intrude, but I'm a friend of your husband. I'm working on a case with him.”

The slight stiffness went out of the woman's arms as she visibly relaxed. “Are you Edna?”

She found the question pleased her because it meant Ernie had told his wife about her and probably about the case, as well. “Yes, I'm Edna.”

“Oh,” Maxine sighed, the weak smile returning. “Glad to meetcha.”

“I'm very sorry to bother you, but I've been trying to reach Ernie. I have news for him that I think he might want to hear, but he isn't answering his cell phone. Do you know how I can reach him?”

Looking toward the ceiling, Maxine moved her head slowly from side to side on the pillow. After a brief pause during which she seemed to be mustering her strength, she said, “I don't think he's gotten used to that new phone of his yet.” She paused again before explaining further. “He went home to get some sleep. Been here with me all night. I don't want to bother him unless it's very important. He told me he'd be back about one this afternoon.”

Edna followed Maxine's gaze to the clock on the wall opposite the bed. It wasn't quite ten o'clock. Trying not to show her disappointment, she smiled at the woman. “I'll call him later this afternoon. I'm so sorry to have bothered you.”

In the same weak voice, Maxine said, “No bother. Want me to give him a message?”

Edna thought for a minute, before deciding. “If you could, please tell him that I think he was right, and I've gone back to Eldorado Springs.”

“You've gone back to Eldorado Springs,” Maxine muttered before turning her head away and closing her eyes.

Right
, Edna thought, realizing Ernie probably wouldn't get the message. That was okay. She would call him this afternoon, when hopefully, she'd have something to report. With that thought, she quietly left the room. She hesitated for a moment, trying to decide if she should go back and speak to Grant again. The sooner I talk to Yonny, the sooner I can get back to the house and see that everyone's taken care of, she told herself and left the hospital.

On the way to the little dead-end canyon, she wondered how she was going to get into Yonny's house. She had to look around the place, had to see if she could spot anything else that might belong to Anita. When she reached Eldorado Springs, she drove slowly past the tiny, blue house, noticing no signs of activity. She stopped briefly to study the glass art which gleamed in the late-morning sun. She was right. Except for differences in color, the hanging looked very much like the one in Grant's bedroom window. She continued down the narrow dirt road, glancing back once in her rear-view mirror. Where was the Bronco Lia had told Karissa that Yonny had driven to the hospital?

At that moment she wished she was more knowledgeable about makes and models of automobiles and made a mental note to study up on them when she had the opportunity. If she was going to be any sort of detective, that was something she would probably need to know. Right now, she thought a vehicle of that sort had been parked near the house the previous morning. Maybe Yonny had driven off in it, or maybe it belonged to a neighbor. It was hard for her to decide with so many cars lined up along the roadside and so many houses clustered together.

Studying the vehicles along her route, she drove over the bridge at the end of the street and turned right. She hadn't spotted an obvious place to pull off and park on her first drive around the neighborhood. She would be less picky this next time. As she maneuvered the Celica down the narrow track for the second time, she thought that Yonny didn't seem like the violent type.
Besides
, she told herself,
if he had done away with Anita, would he still be hanging around? Wouldn’t he have fled?
Interrupting her mental meanderings, she spotted a narrow space between a car and a tree. She was three houses away from Yonny's, so she pulled in and turned off the motor.

Sitting in the car and staring toward the house, she imagined herself knocking on the door to confront the man. He was young and strong and very fit. It wouldn't take much for him to overpower her and make her disappear, too, if that is what he had done with Anita.

Edna took a deep breath and reached to open the car door just as the door to the house opened and Yonny stepped out. Her heart raced. Should she confront him or wait for him to leave and try to get into his house? He was wearing a small backpack and had a coil of rope draped over one shoulder. Greta trotted out, and Yonny pulled the door closed. He looked up the hill in her direction and Edna, still uncertain as to what she should do, was about to sink slowly down in her seat when he turned abruptly. Whistling to the dog, he set off in the opposite direction.

She watched as the pair disappeared from sight. If she could get into the house and look around before he got back, maybe she would find something that would point to Anita's whereabouts. Maybe she could find out if Yonny was connected to the Quinn Foundation. The veterinary link was too coincidental, and she knew from her television shows that coincidences were suspicious. If, on the other hand, she found nothing to indicate Yonny was involved in any sort of subterfuge … well, that would mean she was back to where she'd started, and she didn't want to contemplate that at the moment.

Now that she knew for certain Yonny was out of the house, she felt a surge of courage. She would just go see if he'd left the door unlocked. She would walk up to the front of the house as if she were arriving for a visit. Then, she'd knock and see if anyone answered before trying the latch. That's the way they did it on television.

Certain that the house would be empty, she got out of the car and walked purposefully up to the front door. If any of the neighbors happened to be watching her, she wanted to look as if she might be expected. She glanced in the window beside the front door but could see nothing except what looked like one end of a living room.

Pausing only briefly, she raised a fist and knocked firmly. She waited a minute, looking right, then left over her shoulder, nonchalantly trying to see if anyone was outside, coming along the road or standing in a nearby yard. She peered quickly into the window once more but could see nothing in the semi-dark interior. After several seconds, she took a deep breath, thinking it’s now or never and put a hand on the doorknob. She felt it turn. Startled, she stifled a yelp as the door swung wide.

“Did you forget your key?” The young woman swallowed whatever she was going to say next and stared at Edna. Curiosity, then a look of puzzlement began to replace the smile that, a moment before, had brightened her face. “Do I know you?”

Edna thought it was probably the strong resemblance between her and her son that made Anita Collier feel they had met before.

Nineteen

Neither woman spoke for several seconds, Edna because she was startled to see the person she had almost given up hope of finding and Anita because she was apparently still trying to figure out if she knew her visitor.

“I'm Edna Davies.” She finally broke the silence and added, “Grant's mother.”

At the mention of a recognized name, the puzzlement on Anita's face morphed into pleasure, then just as quickly into caution. “I've told no one where I am. How did you find me? Did he send you?”

Assuming the “he” in question was Grant, Edna said, “No. Grant doesn't know where you are. As a matter of fact, he doesn't even know I've come here looking for you.” At that moment, her surprise and delight at locating Anita switched to fear. A sudden sense of urgency made her reach out to the young woman in the doorway. “Quickly. We must leave. You're in great danger.”

Anita backed away from Edna's impulsive gesture and started to close the door. “I know I'm in danger. That's why I'm staying here. Please go away.”

Edna raised a hand, placing her palm against the door. “No, wait. Listen to me. You must come with me at once before Yonny returns.”

“I came to find you or to find out what has happened to you. I must admit, though, I never expected to see you here.” Edna knew she wasn't making much sense. She started again. “Look, I know about your parents' car crash and about the person who's been harassing you. I think Yonny is the one who's behind it.”

Anita's face splotched with anger. “Now you look. Yonny told me the crash that killed my folks wasn't an accident. Why would he have said that if he did it? Why would he be looking for my stalker? And why would he have brought me up here and kept me safe?” Her voice had risen with each question.

How does Yonny know the Colliers didn’t die by accident?
Edna wondered at the same time she said aloud, “Did he tell you why someone might want to harm you or your parents?”

“He said I have a great-aunt back in New York who is going to leave me all her money. He says I need to stay here, where it's safe, until he finds whoever is after me.”

Edna paused, her confusion increasing.
Could I be wrong about Yonny? But how does he know the Colliers’ car was tampered with? Not even the mechanic at the impound lot knew until recently. And how does Yonny know about Mrs. Maitland and the inheritance?

“Tell Grant I'll call him as soon as I can. Now, please, you really must go.” Anita stepped back to shut the door.

Edna felt anxiety turning to acid in her stomach. She was convinced this woman was in danger. “Please trust me,” she begged, sliding one foot beside the doorjamb and pushing against the door with her hand. “If you'll only come with me to Grant's house, I'll explain on the way, but we must leave immediately.”

“I told you, I'm safe here. Please move your foot.” Anita lowered her gaze and prodded Edna's shoe with the toe of a sturdy hiking boot.

In desperation, Edna blurted out, “Do you know your great-aunt is dying?”

Anita stopped nudging and raised her eyes, studying Edna's face before her frown deepened. “You're wrong. I'm going to meet her as soon as Yonny finds out who murdered my parents. He says it isn't safe for me to leave here until then.”

“So he told you about your great-aunt and your inheritance,” Edna spoke the thought more to herself than to Anita.
If he has an ulterior motive, why would Yonny tell her all this?

Anita used her boot to push Edna's foot away from the doorjamb and shut the door just as another idea occurred to Edna. “Did he tell you if you don't see your great-aunt before she dies that the money will go to the Quinn Foundation?” She shouted the name at the closed door.

As the echo of her words faded into the ensuing silence, she stood looking at the house for several more seconds, feeling desperate and helpless. She had done her best. Maybe Ernie could come up and convince Anita to leave this place. She was about to turn away when she heard the latch click and the door creaked slowly open.