Read Online Regarding Anna by Florence Osmund - Free Book Online Page A

inside the burlap wrapping. She probably burned it.
    I tried to move forward on my case by following up on the scant information I had gleaned from Minnie during our first meeting, but after several false starts, I was no further along.
    It could be that Minnie had told me everything she knew about the boarders and the “hanky-panky” that went on in the house before she’d bought it. If that was the case, I wouldn’t have felt so bummed out about having ruined my relationship with her. If that was the case.
    * * *
    I woke up at two-thirty in the morning, shivering. Damn heat had gone out again. Past experience told me it was no use calling Elmer—it wouldn’t be fixed until Monday morning anyway. I donned two sweaters, put the only other blanket I owned on top of the one already on the bed, and then draped the bedspread over that.
    After thirty minutes, I decided that wasn’t working, so I got up and put a kettle on the hotplate for a cup of tea and then left the rest of the water boiling, hoping the steam would provide a little heat for the room.
    It was Sunday. I wasn’t sure what to do with myself at such an early hour—I had ironed everything in sight. No use turning on the television—all that was on were test patterns this time of day. Why were they on anyway? What did they test?
    No use going down to my office—the heating systems were connected.
    December had been a good month, and I had a little extra cash, so I decided to drive over to Lou Mitchell’s and have myself one of their big breakfast skillets, something I hadn’t had in years. I knew they opened early.
    I got dressed and jumped in my car, the comforting taste of eggs, bacon, and hash browns the only thing on my mind. The car’s heater was still out, so it was a chilly ride to Lou’s. I arrived at five-fifteen and had to wait for a table—the restaurant was packed.
    After eating the best breakfast I’d had in a very long time as slowly as I could, I paid the bill and headed home, wishing there was somewhere else I could go that was warm and didn’t cost anything. No place came to mind.
    I was at the bottom of the long staircase leading to my apartment when I heard my phone ringing. I couldn’t imagine who would be calling at that hour.
    I raced up the stairs.
    “Hello.”
    “Miss Lindroth?” It was Minnie.
    “Yes.”
    “Where have you been?”
    Quickly reminding myself it would serve no purpose to be sarcastic, I put on my diplomacy hat and answered her.
    “I just walked in the door after having breakfast at Lou Mitchell’s. Is this Minnie?”
    “Pretty extravagant for someone who lives in a one-room apartment over a two-bit lawyer’s office.”
    I took in a deep breath and reminded myself of what she meant to me.
    “Actually, that’s my office too. And thank you for contacting me.”
    “Well, I wasn’t going to, but then I thought to myself, you owe me one big apology, young lady.”
    “I know I do. Would you like it over the phone or may I come over?” I silently begged her not to hang up.
    “I suppose.”
    You suppose what? “When would be a good time?”
    “Would I be calling now if it wasn’t a good time?”
    I took a chance she meant an in-person visit. “I’ll be there in a few minutes then. Can I bring anything?”
    “How about the truth?”
    She was a tough old bird, but I deserved that retort.
    “I promise you that.”
    As I drove, I started to rehearse what I was going to say, but then put the kibosh on that thought—better not to come in with a prepared speech. I decided to wing it and just tell the truth—like I should have done before. I would leave my PI hat in the car.
    I was at the stop sign at Belle Plaine and Lawter when my car conked out. Talk about bad timing! I was less than five blocks from her house. I pumped the gas a few times and tried to start it. Nothing. I repeated the process until I became sickened by the smell of gas.
    I felt the blood rise up in my neck. I threw the car into