gaze straight to his face. “History tells me that you ignore all but the written rules in your guidance and formal recommendations to the zoning commission. In addition, you have the mayor’s ear.” She mimicked him and relaxed both arms to her sides. “Also speculate you don’t fully appreciate or understand the gigantic effect The Abbey fire has and/or will have on this entire area.”
He gazed away. He really couldn’t become publicly and prematurely entrapped in what might be future city administrative decisions. “You’re wrong, Carol.” He tried to keep his voice volume low. “Was at The Abbey when the fire broke out.” Her eyebrows briefly rose to indicate bewilderment. Then lowered to express simple dismay. “Was crouched on the floor at far front stage edge. Tried to help man find eyeglasses knocked off his head. While crawling on hands and knees, the kitchen blast missed direct hit. By good fortune the explosion’s initial shockwave rolled above my head. Stuffed a handkerchief into mouth to avoid fine dust dropping from the ceiling and crawled across the ballroom floor at the fringe of the ensuing main chaos. Ears heard the kitchen wall collapse. Blast tremors immediately caused my whole body to shiver.”
Stern in tone, Carol asked, “Why were you there?” Her eyebrows remained lowered.
His mind scrambled for words not to indicate he sought out an old girlfriend. “Purchased a ticket from those being circulated around City Hall. A flyer announced a scheduled band I wanted to hear.”
Carol intensely stared. He didn’t grasp why.
“Ever since Nancy reportedly died, I’ve heard you avoided dances and bands.” Carol stepped closer.
He began to smell perfume wafting in the whispering breeze beneath clouds trailing wisps tinted black. “I listen to bands at the CBC.”
“Doesn’t count. The only reason any guy goes to the CBC is to drink, not listen.” He couldn’t disagree. “And,” she added before a gaze to his left, “to ogle the waitresses in their skimpy serving outfits.”
He felt warmth rising in his cheeks and he couldn’t deny the spoken truth. Days ago Victoria’s short miniskirt barely covered a ruffled leotard, fully exposed when she bent forward. “Did The Abbey put up this crime scene tape?”
“Not that I know of.” Carol glanced behind her shoulder, as if she expected someone. “Perhaps, you can enlighten me.” She faced him.
“Must be the authorities found something suspicious with the fire. City hall rumors say arson’s highly suspected.” Can’t let her know he talked with the fire marshal. He observed Carol step sideways and bend at the waist to peer at the ground immediately inside the yellow tape. He had no idea what in the grass fascinated her.
* * *
Melissa’s senses didn’t require the brightly lit hospital room fluorescents this Wednesday to intuit Carol’s agitated mood. “Sis, what’s up? You get a speeding ticket?” She gazed straight ahead. The nurse had raised the hospital bed head position to forty-five degrees for the expected eleven a.m. visit.
“No, worse.” Carol deposited a filled paper shopping bag in Melissa’s closet and moved two plants from a fabric-covered chair seat to the floor. “Brought you your dark green small sweats and green-streaked sneakers.”
“Forget clothes,” Melissa demanded. “Tell me. You look ready to explode.”
“On way here stopped by The Abbey. Rob Campbell there measuring.”
More concerned about Carol, Melissa skipped the relief Carol’s news offered. In one major prayer petition positively answered, Rob Campbell hadn’t been listed among the killed in Sunday’s newspaper. And that caused Melissa to fret although concerned about the extent of injury. No mistake with Carol’s information no injury serious enough to disable him. “What’s disturbing?”
Carol tossed her purse on the chair. “We started talking. He said the city wasn’t going to allow The Abbey to be rebuilt like it was, where it was. I was ready to—”
“No way,” Melissa shouted. Pain gripped raw throat muscles. “Get me those clothes right now,” she demanded. She yanked the white bed sheet back, twisted it, and began to swing heels off the bed onto the floor. Carol grabbed Melissa’s fist holding the sheet.
“Hold on. There’s time; didn’t mean to upset you too. You need to recover your full strength first.”
Melissa smoothed a blue-striped cotton hospital gown. She reclined while Carol readjusted the bed’s sheet and blanket. “Were you given a reason?”
“Not really,” Carol replied, pulling up the chair. Seated, the purse squatted on Carol’s knees. “Just that there’d be no special consideration.”
“Typical Rob Campbell. Do you think Alice’s dad could help?”
“What you talking about?”
Carol’s overpowering perfume irritated nostrils. “Mr. Gunderson stopped by last night to wish me well. He told me Mayor Johnson appointed him to the vacant zoning commission position.” Carol dropped purse to the floor. “He’s to replace Mr. Salazar who’s been transferred by Matthew’s Manufacturing.”
“That might not be helpful. A nice man, Mr. Gunderson has no strong Abbey connection. Gossip says he’s invested in the stalled housing project.”
“Didn’t realize. Maybe I should sneak questions to Alice.”
“Don’t ruin a friendship. Appointment represents the mayor adding a vote for campaign better housing pledge. If we’re to battle the rumored housing project after Dad refused their low-ball Abbey offer, you can un-dump Mark.”
Carol appeared calmer. But why shift into meddling with her love life? “What about Mark?” She coughed.
“Two things. He could be housing developer attorney. And, last week he spoke glowingly of you in Bull’s store. I see he’s had flowers delivered.”
Her sister’s mention of Mark sparked a dull headache. Melissa reached for the water glass, took a sip, and returned the iced water to the bed stand. “He and I don’t have a future.” No response from Carol. “Do you think any land developer would be behind or dropped hints to encourage The Abbey fire? Or ... or, that Mark’s entangled somehow?”
“Neither.” Carol tugged neckline upward. “Why? You think he’s out to get even in an underhanded way?”
“Maybe?” Carol’s piercing eyes fixated. “On second thought, no, he wouldn’t. He brought flowers.” Feeling uncomfortable, she folded the sheet end forward from under the chin. Left elbow bumped the pinned nurse call button. It banged the bedside, dangled loose, but the distress light didn’t activate.
“Did you tell him you’d see him again?” Melissa fixed a gaze on the door. “Now, did you?” Carol’s eyes continued a focus on Melissa while she clipped the call button to a pillowcase.
“Well, no. As I recall, the nurse sorta interrupted.” Melissa sighed. “It’s over between Mark and me. I haven’t led him on.”
“You need to be sure.” Carol gazed toward the room door and back. “I’m getting telephone calls where the caller hangs up as soon as I answer. All the caller ID says is wireless customer. Think my ex’s behind it. Can’t prove
