Read Online Trouble in a Big Box (A Kelly O'Connell Mystery) by Judy Alter - Free Book Online
Authors: Judy Alter
Tags: Mystery & Crime
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dinner. Hmmm… K elly, remember the chicken casserole I made the night I moved into your garage apartment? I’ll make a double batch of that.”
Of course I remembered. That was the night after she “shot Jim Guthrie in his ass,” as she so delicately put it. I would welcome the casserole, and the girls would welcome the attention of making whistles for Claire and her daughters.
We chatted. Claire’s girls, Megan and Liz, were doing well in school and seemed to be adjusting to living at home with Claire in charge again after a disastrous period of living with their father. Claire’s job as hospitality person for a small local bank was going well. The world seemed in order—except for Mike.
Neither of us said anything to her about the stalker but he or she was always lurking in the back of our minds. “You’re sure everything’s all right?” Claire asked, “Do I have to ask Keisha?”
She knew me too well, and she and Keisha were now allies in the “Keep Kelly Safe” club.
“Oh, a strange car has been following me, so we’re being extra cautious. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about.” I tried to signal with a nod toward the girls that we’d talk about it later, and Claire nodded that she understood, but then added, “A kind of old green Nova? I saw it parked down the street.”
“That’s it,” Maggie said, “and I’m not walking Gus alone this evening.”
Claire always rose to the occasion. “Come on, let’s go walk him together. We’ll walk right by that car and show that person we’re not afraid.”
They were gone about fifteen minutes, but I didn’t fret and worry like I had before. When they came back, Claire was a bit out of breath. “Gus sets some pace,” she said. “I need just a bit more wine before I drive home.”
“Miss Claire says that’s a young girl in the car,” Maggie said, as proud as though she herself had discovered this fact.
“Pretty sure, but that’s all I could tell.”
Somehow I found that reassuring, though I well know women can be as deadly as men. Hadn’t Jo Ellen North killed my ex-husband and come way too close for comfort to killing me?
As she turned to leave, Claire said casually, “I’m about to start private yoga lessons. Want to join me? My treat. It would be good for you. Stress release and all.”
I told her I’d think about it though the idea didn’t appeal to me.
After supper, I called Mom and Anthony, asking them to come to supper Sunday. Anthony said he and the boys would be there, but Mom hesitated. Mom had kept her distance since Mike had been hurt, and I thought it was out of consideration for his privacy. Keisha burst that balloon by telling me Mom went to the church almost every day, volunteering for this or that from answering the phone to helping sort donated clothes for needy children. She attended sewing circle and a senior citizens fellowship that offered daytime trips to various places. Now, she said, “That’s the Sunday night fellowship supper, and I hate to miss it. But I haven’t seen you much. Yes, I’ll come. And I’ll bring a pie.”
I wanted to say sarcastically, “Don’t bother if it’s trouble,” but I knew my hurt feelings would be showing. When Mom moved down here, I was afraid she’d be on top of us, and now I bet I hadn’t seen her in over a week.
“Keisha,” I asked next morning, “does Mom have a new boyfriend?”
“Not that I know of. But don’t be surprised if one turns up sooner rather than later.”
I went on to tell Keisha about my planned dinner party, adding, “Bring your mother if you want.”
With a sly look, she said, “I’d rather bring José. I’ve been seeing him now and then.”
I knew Keisha well enough to know that translated into she’d been seeing a lot of him. Somehow I’d also lost track of Keisha while I concentrated on Mike and a green Nova. I really needed to pay more attention to my circle of close friends.
“Bring them both,” I
Of course I remembered. That was the night after she “shot Jim Guthrie in his ass,” as she so delicately put it. I would welcome the casserole, and the girls would welcome the attention of making whistles for Claire and her daughters.
We chatted. Claire’s girls, Megan and Liz, were doing well in school and seemed to be adjusting to living at home with Claire in charge again after a disastrous period of living with their father. Claire’s job as hospitality person for a small local bank was going well. The world seemed in order—except for Mike.
Neither of us said anything to her about the stalker but he or she was always lurking in the back of our minds. “You’re sure everything’s all right?” Claire asked, “Do I have to ask Keisha?”
She knew me too well, and she and Keisha were now allies in the “Keep Kelly Safe” club.
“Oh, a strange car has been following me, so we’re being extra cautious. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about.” I tried to signal with a nod toward the girls that we’d talk about it later, and Claire nodded that she understood, but then added, “A kind of old green Nova? I saw it parked down the street.”
“That’s it,” Maggie said, “and I’m not walking Gus alone this evening.”
Claire always rose to the occasion. “Come on, let’s go walk him together. We’ll walk right by that car and show that person we’re not afraid.”
They were gone about fifteen minutes, but I didn’t fret and worry like I had before. When they came back, Claire was a bit out of breath. “Gus sets some pace,” she said. “I need just a bit more wine before I drive home.”
“Miss Claire says that’s a young girl in the car,” Maggie said, as proud as though she herself had discovered this fact.
“Pretty sure, but that’s all I could tell.”
Somehow I found that reassuring, though I well know women can be as deadly as men. Hadn’t Jo Ellen North killed my ex-husband and come way too close for comfort to killing me?
As she turned to leave, Claire said casually, “I’m about to start private yoga lessons. Want to join me? My treat. It would be good for you. Stress release and all.”
I told her I’d think about it though the idea didn’t appeal to me.
After supper, I called Mom and Anthony, asking them to come to supper Sunday. Anthony said he and the boys would be there, but Mom hesitated. Mom had kept her distance since Mike had been hurt, and I thought it was out of consideration for his privacy. Keisha burst that balloon by telling me Mom went to the church almost every day, volunteering for this or that from answering the phone to helping sort donated clothes for needy children. She attended sewing circle and a senior citizens fellowship that offered daytime trips to various places. Now, she said, “That’s the Sunday night fellowship supper, and I hate to miss it. But I haven’t seen you much. Yes, I’ll come. And I’ll bring a pie.”
I wanted to say sarcastically, “Don’t bother if it’s trouble,” but I knew my hurt feelings would be showing. When Mom moved down here, I was afraid she’d be on top of us, and now I bet I hadn’t seen her in over a week.
“Keisha,” I asked next morning, “does Mom have a new boyfriend?”
“Not that I know of. But don’t be surprised if one turns up sooner rather than later.”
I went on to tell Keisha about my planned dinner party, adding, “Bring your mother if you want.”
With a sly look, she said, “I’d rather bring José. I’ve been seeing him now and then.”
I knew Keisha well enough to know that translated into she’d been seeing a lot of him. Somehow I’d also lost track of Keisha while I concentrated on Mike and a green Nova. I really needed to pay more attention to my circle of close friends.
“Bring them both,” I
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