Читать книгу Staying Home Is A Killer - Sara Rosett - Страница 9

“No, she’s not,” I said. “I saw her this morning. Just a few hours ago.”

“Ellie. I’m sorry, but Penny is dead,” Abby’s voice transitioned to her firm third grade teacher voice.

I stood there staring at the cocoa box, shaking my head. Rex scratched on the door. Automatically, I opened the door, unhooked his tether, and he bounded into the kitchen, leaving wet puddles. “What?”

“Will came home for lunch and found her. She’d committed suicide.”

“No. She couldn’t—I mean, I saw her this morning. She looked…radiant.” There was no other word for it. “She couldn’t have done that.”

Rex stopped bouncing and watched me with his ears perked up and his head cocked to one side.

“Ellie, I know it’s hard to believe. I’m having trouble believing it, too. She was quiet and kind of mousy, but she didn’t seem depressed. Anyway, Jill called me looking for you, since you knew her so well. Will’s in shock.” Abby swallowed. “He found her in the bathtub with her wrists slit. So he’s not functioning real well right now. Jill wanted to know if you knew anything about her family.”

“No. Not really. I think she mentioned Michigan once. I’ll call Jill.” Rex came over to rub against my side, apparently deciding I needed some affection.

“I’m sure the police will sort it out, but Jill wanted to try to contact the family, too.”

“Okay. Let me call her.”

While I patted Rex’s head I called Jill, confirmed that I didn’t know enough to help her, and she hung up.

I twisted the cocoa box back and forth on the counter. I couldn’t believe it. I walked back and forth across the kitchen as I reviewed my conversation with Penny this morning. She’d been happy. I was sure. I barely noticed when an icy puddle of water soaked into my sock. She’d been concerned about something, too, but only momentarily. She certainly hadn’t been depressed.

I leaned against the counter and pushed PLAY on the answering machine, expecting Jill’s sharp tones again.

“Ellie! I can tell you now.” Penny’s soft but unmistakably sunny voice came out of the little speaker. I felt that touch of cold again and shivered. “I’m so excited. I’d promised Will I wouldn’t tell anyone until the test was confirmed, but now it’s official. I’m pregnant! Can you believe it? I can’t. It must have happened right before Will went TDY in January. I didn’t even realize until last week. I thought I was late. I’m babbling, aren’t I? I can’t help it.” She laughed, a bubbly sound. “I’ve waited so long. I’m going to find my baby name book. Call me when you get in. We can go shopping for baby clothes.”

I put my head down on the counter and cried. The automated voice stated “Monday. Twelve thirty-four.” After I wiped my eyes, I went to the little secretary desk that my dad made for me. I pulled a stack of business cards out of one of the cubbyholes and flipped through them until I found the plain white one with small black type: OLIVER THISLEWAIT, SPECIAL AGENT, OFFICE OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS.