but I didn’t let him know.”
“Excellent, my dear,” approved Mother.
“Wonder why he didn’t call the CDC, or somebody in Atlanta?”
“He doesn’t want anyone in Atlanta to know, Mom. He made me promise not to tell. He gave me his computer password. I’m supposed to go to his apartment tomorrow and send an e-mail to his office so no one will suspect there is a problem.”
“How very peculiar. I would have thought he would have been screaming for help from Uncle Sam. They probably have all sorts of legal eagles who help back up their people in the field. I’m sure Ethan isn’t the first doctor from the CDC to ever get into trouble.”
Cassie was busy playing with the hem of her gown. Finally she looked up at me, her eyes shining with unshed tears.
“That’s just it, Mom. He’s apparently been in trouble before.” A tear escaped the corner of her right eye and slid down the smooth curve of her cheek.
“He’s rather, well, he called it unconventional, in his approach to his work sometimes. He, uh, he has a police record.”
“What kind of record?” I asked pointedly.
“Breaking and entering, receiving stolen property, that sort of thing.”
“That sort of thing? My goodness, Cassie, we’ve been harboring a veritable Pepe La Moko!”
She looked at me tiredly, “Pepe La who?”
“Never mind. I can’t believe that nice guy with the big warm smile is a hardened criminal!”
Cassie jumped up and stomped her bare foot with all the expertise of an angry toddler.
“He’s not a criminal! Those were charges filed against him by a rogue drug company he was investigating two years ago.”
“Oh, dear, drugs.”
Cassie whirled around to face her grandmother.
“Don’t you start, Gran! Oh, I should have known better than to count on you two for help. You never liked anyone I ever dated. But Ethan’s different. I love him. I’ll marry him even if he goes to prison. You’ll see!”
She fled from the room leaving us staring at the empty space she had vacated.
“Paisley, what does one wear to a jailhouse wedding?”
“Stripes are definitely out,” I answered sourly.
Chapter Four
None of us got much sack time that night. Cassie locked herself in her room and cried inconsolably. Mother and I agreed that we couldn’t go back to sleep, so we took turns making coffee and dealing hands of honeymoon bridge. We weren’t exactly taking things lightly, we just didn’t know what else to do.
The sun turned the horizon a rosy pink at around five o’clock. I added two bowls of oatmeal and some buttered toast to the coffee tray when it was my turn for kitchen duty.
“Have you been stacking the deck, Mother?”
“Paisley! How could you even suggest such a thing? One miscreant in the family is enough, don’t you think? I’m simply having a streak of good luck, that’s all.”
“Six hearts?”
“Fortune’s smile.”
The warm cereal made me sleepy despite the caffeine in the gallons of coffee I had consumed. Somewhere in the middle of another of Mother’s outrageous bids I fell asleep.
“Mom! Gran! It’s seven o’clock. Time to call Chief Joiner!”
Cassie had to shake me awake this time. I was practically comatose.
“Stop shaking your mother, Cassandra. Her eyes look like they’re getting a little loose. I’ll call Andy Joiner.”
I fell limply back on the sofa cushions. Paralysis had set in from my hairline down; I could hear what was going on, but I couldn’t move. I never have been able to function very well without a good night’s rest.
Mother went to the kitchen to make the call. That big sunny room was her personal domain, and she always felt as though she had more control over any situation from that vantage point. Cassie followed behind her like a lost puppy.
Speaking of which, Aggie had been abandoned by her mistress of late and had adopted me as her significant other. The puppy had spent the night curled up at my feet. She was licking my stockinged toes in an effort to arouse me enough to let her out for her morning walk.
There is nothing quite as uncomfortable as warm doggie spit going cold on your feet. After about ten minutes of her efforts, I pushed myself off the sofa with a mighty effort and staggered up to open the French doors.
The morning breeze refreshed me somewhat as it whisked away the mental cobwebs. I slipped loafers on over my wet socks and went out in the yard with the dog.
A late-night rain had soaked the ground, and the sidewalk was awash with earthworms in various states of decomposition. The few birds that had not yet gone south for the winter were out, chomping away with a vengeance on this unexpected slimy buffet.
Aggie hated getting her feet wet, which is probably the reason she knew to lick mine. She hurried through her morning ablutions and raced back to my side looking vastly relieved and more than ready to return to the warm, dry comfort of the house.
Mother and Cassie were filing back into the library. They both looked like they had lost their last friend.
“Looks like de news ain’t so hot.”
“Mom, please don’t make fun. You always try to make light of the most serious things. Please don’t this time.”
I went over and gave her a hug. She tried to resist, but I persisted, and soon she was sobbing against my shoulder.
“That bad, huh?”
“It looks quite dreadful, dear. I couldn’t get many details out of Andy, but from the little he said, Ethan seems to be in a lot of trouble. I left a message on Bruce Hawkins’ answering machine. The good doctor will be needing a good lawyer.”
“I still think we should call his office at the CDC. Surely there’s something they can do.”
Cassie rose up quickly and wiped her face on her sleeve.
“No!” she entreated, “I promised Ethan. No calls to Atlanta. I can’t do anything but send the message he asked me to until I talk to him again.”
She looked at me through a wash of tears.
“Mom, will you help me log on to his computer and send the e-mail? I know how, but I don’t want to make any mistakes, and I’m still a little upset.”
“Of course, Cassie. I’ll go with you.” I yawned hugely, “I’m in tip-top shape myself.”
“Take
