The Queen of Cool

By Claudia Hall Christian

Devastated by her husband’s sudden death, Lorraine “Lo” Downs returns from his funeral to find that she is locked out of their home. With no money in her pocket, and her wedding album as her only possession, Lo lands in the center of an international conspiracy to distribute a toxic weapon of mass destruction.

But Lo refuses to allow her grief or a little international conspiracy stop her from
getting at the truth. With the help of her friends and family, Lo tries to turn the tables on the sorrow which threatens to swallow her and on the shadowy circle of men who killed her husband and destroyed her life.

The Queen of Cool is an intoxicating ride across a landscape of insurmountable odds, covert government operations, and toxic weapons, where a courageous heroine who risks it all in the name of love. Set against the backdrop of Fort Worth, Texas, the Queen of Cool twists and turns through some of the city’s darkest places, wildest history, and even confronts the Lake Worth Goat Man. The Queen of Cool is an Internet serial sensation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cook Street Publishing cookstreetpublishinggmail.com
• Release date: Apr 18, 2012
• ISBN: 9780982641774

Claudia Hall Christian

Claudia Hall Christian writes stories about good people caught in difficult situations. Her stories are addictive, heart pounding, and intense. She is the author of the Alex the Fey thriller series, the Queen of Cool, the Seth and Ava Mysteries, Suffer a Witch, Abee Normal Paranormal Investigations, and the longest consecutive serial fiction ever written, Denver Cereal. She lives in Denver where she keeps bees, gardens, hangs out with her Plott Hounds, and husband

Book preview

THE QUEEN OF COOL

A serial fiction by:

CLAUDIA HALL CHRISTIAN

Cook Street Publishing

Denver, CO

Also by

Claudia Hall Christian

ALEX THE FEY SERIES

(AlextheFey.com)

The Fey

Learning to Stand

Who I Am

Lean on Me

THE DENVER CEREAL

(DenverCereal.com)

The Denver Cereal

Celia’s Puppies

Cascade

Cimarron

Black Forest

THE QUEEN OF COOL

(TheQueenofCool.com)

Copyright © Claudia Hall Christian

Licensed under the Creative Commons License:

Attribution–NonCommercial–Share Alike 3.0

Smashwords Edition Licensing Notes:

Thank you for purchasing this ebook! You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please return to Smashwords.com to discover the Alex the Fey thrillers, sweet and crunchy Denver Cereal and other works by Claudia Hall Christian. Thank you for your support

ISBN (13 digits) : 978-0-9826417-7-4

Library of Congress : 2012904018 (print)

PUBLISHER’S NOTE:

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

First edition © April , 2012

Cook Street Publishing

PO Box 18217

Denver, CO 80218

720-468-0531

CookStreetPublishing.com

For Holly Homer and Mary Bess Dalton

CHAPTER ONE

Saturday, early morning—2:30 a.m.

Clarke Avenue, River Crest, Fort Worth

Days: 7

Tink. Tink. Tink.

Don, someone’s at the door.

Asleep, Loraine Downs waited for him to say:

Shug, you stay right here. I’ll go see who it is. Probably just the kids.

Her unconscious mind waited to feel him get up from their bed, put on his pants, and move through their River Crest home. She waited to hear the front door open downstairs, Don’s deep Texas drawl, and his eventual return to their bed.

She waited to ask him: What was that?

Tink. Tink. Tink.

Lo jerked into consciousness. Something was terribly wrong.

Don?

She reached for him but found a leather bucket seat in his place. Her head turned to look for him. The seat was empty. Confused, she looked down at the photo album on her lap, her black silk suit, ruined black stockings, and the steering wheel.

Where was Don?

Where was she?

Lorraine raised her chin. Peering through the smudged windshield, the horror of the last week came rushing forward.

Don was dead. His funeral was today. As if her mind had touched a hot coal, she retreated from any thought of Don’s death. But the overwhelming tsunami of emotions continued to flood forward.

She’d arrived home from the burial to find that the bank had foreclosed her home – Don’s home; their home. She’d called Don’s lawyer but he knew nothing about the foreclosure. She’d begged the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Deputy to let her at least get her wedding album. While she wept on her front porch, he’d made some calls. Finally, he escorted her to get her wedding album and only her wedding album.

She hadn’t worried. She was pretty sure she could get in when he left. After all, she’d spent almost fifteen years in that house, she knew how to get in and out of it. She pulled her Lexus around the corner onto Clarke Avenue. When it was dark, she tried to sneak back to the house.

During the three-hour tribute and, finally, the burial of the love of her life, someone had changed all the locks. They had even fixed the basement window the girls had used when they wanted to sneak out to party with their friends. Unsure of what else to do, she sat on the swing under the big elm tree in their backyard. She wasn’t sure how long she’d sat there. A long time.

Another Deputy Sheriff arrived. He hadn’t given her a ticket for trespassing. He just escorted her from their backyard. While she cried, he’d locked the gate with a padlock. Turning back to her, he saw something across the street. Lo followed his eyes to find Don’s vicious ex-wife, Sue Ellen Carr, standing there. Her mouth opened to shout something. Before her words could reach them, the Sherriff’s Deputy began a loud monologue about all the laws Lo had broken by sitting on that swing.

He had grabbed Lo by the elbow and marched her back to her car. He’d waited for her car to start and watched Lo take off. Lo drove through their neighborhood for a while and finally returned to her spot on Clarke Avenue.

Tink. Tink. Tink.

Lo! a man’s voice yelled. His hand patted the window.

Lo peered through her driver’s side window. What she’d taken for a knock at the door was actually the business end of a metal flashlight tapping her driver’s side window. She turned the ignition key and rolled down the window.

What can I do for you officer? Lo asked. Her eyes blinked at the bright light in her face.

What are you doing, sis?

Larry? Lo asked.

Your neighbor called the Sherriff’s department seven times and the Fort Worth PD six times, Lo’s elder brother Larry said. Witchiepoo says there’s a vagrant sleeping in a car on Clarke Avenue. One of my buddies ran your plates. He called me, and I came to get you as soon as my shift was over. What are you doing?

I was sleeping, Lo said.

I saw that, Larry said. Why here?

I have nowhere to go.

Larry lowered his flash light. Reaching through the window, he hugged his sister. Her tear-wet face pressed against his black FWPD uniform.

Come on, he said. Let’s get out of here.

Where?

You eating regular food? Larry asked.

Yeah, I’m not competing this year, Lo said. I don’t have to diet until the next photo shoot for my Nike contract.

Good, Larry said. Let’s go to Whataburger.

I don’t have any money, Lo said. All my accounts are frozen.

My treat.

But…

It’s either that or jail, Larry said. Come on, Lo. Don’t let Sue Ellen win.

Lo looked up at her brother. His familiar face was the first thing that had made any sense since she’d got home from the funeral. She nodded.

Just in case you have a Molotov cocktail in there, I’ll follow you, Larry said.

Lo started the car.

Where are we going? Lo asked.

Whataburger, Larry repeated.

Which one?

You know which one, Larry said. You look like crap. I’ll order while you clean up.

Lo gave him a smile and drove. She got to the end of the block before he caught up with her in his Fort Worth PD cruiser. It was a little less than three miles from her home – Don’s home; their home – to where she grew up. Fourteen years, seven months, and four days later, she returned.

Driving down Hemphill, she passed through the intervening years as if they had never happened. She’d never babysat Don’s kids, met him, married him, and built an amazing life by his side. Standing barefoot in the Whataburger parking lot, she felt like the same impulsive mess she was all those years ago. She reached into her car and pulled out her black heels and her purse. She stopped walking to let Larry’s cruiser pass and then continued into the restaurant where she made a beeline for the restroom.

Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, Lo assessed the damage. She’d lost weight. Her skin was pale and sallow. Dark circles had appeared under her eyes. Her blue eyes were swollen and bloodshot. Lo washed her face and stumbled around the bathroom looking for the towel dispenser of her youth. She groaned at finding the loud hot-air hand-drying machine. With mechanical efficiency, she washed her face again – lather and rinse; lather and rinse. After the third time, she stopped and looked into the large blue eyes the photographers loved. While the mascara streaks had disappeared and her eyes were less swollen, she couldn’t erase the stunned look from her face. By the time she left the bathroom, Larry was waiting for her with a pile of food on the table.

Feeding the starving children in China? Lo asked.

When was the last time you ate? Larry asked.

Don took me to Café Modern last Friday, Lo sat down across from him. He had the ‘Surf and Turf’, of course, and I had the salmon. We drank a bottle of red wine and laughed our asses off.

Last Friday? A week ago yesterday?

Lo nodded. Larry pushed a burger at her and bit into the one in his hand. Intending to just take a bite, Lo bit into the burger and realized how hungry she was. She finished the burger, then another. She washed the food down with a healthy swallow of Dr. Pepper.

I haven’t had Dr. Pepper in… Lo smiled. Ten years? God, it tastes amazing.

Larry smiled and went to order two milkshakes. He gave the chocolate to Lo and sat down with his vanilla shake.

I miss him, Lo said.

I bet.

And now everything’s gone, Lo said. I can’t wander from room to room remembering. The bank won’t let me. I was able to get our wedding album. That’s all I have. After all this time, that’s all I have. Our beginning…

Larry’s eyes watched her face while he sucked on the milkshake.

Do you think he loved me? Lo asked.

Larry spit up his milkshake. Choking, he coughed until he was able to catch his breath.

Do you think he loved me? Lo repeated.

Adored you. Obsessed with you. You guys were… Larry shrugged. Amazing. Like a fantasy. Everyone wants what you had, but no one gets it. Everyone wanted to be around you all, just to catch some of the sunshine. Sure some people were jealous, but most of us…

Then why was he with her… that woman? Lo asked.

We don’t know what happened, Larry said. The Medical Examiner is waiting on a tox screen. That faith healer isn’t supposed to leave town until the tox screen comes in.

Makes me wonder if anything was real, Lo said. And now…?

Where’s your Nike money? Larry asked.

We only had one set of accounts, Lo said. The bank froze everything today, while Don was being buried. They froze everything with his name on it. The lawyer can’t even figure out why the accounts are frozen and the house…

Lo hiccupped back a sob. Larry reached across the table to hold her hand. Their eyes held for a moment.

My life is… over, Lo said. Don was… everything and… I stayed until after they lowered the coffin, you know. I stood there wanting to throw myself into the hole. I wish I had. If I had known that my entire life with Don would be flushed away, I…

Oh Lo, Larry said. You’re not Mom. You’re stronger than that.

You sure? Lo shook her head.

You’ll stay with us, of course, Larry said.

Ruth Ann has never been my biggest champion, Lo said. You’d better call her before you make any promises.

Larry nodded. He took out his cell phone and pressed a speed-dial number.

Hey, Larry said.

In the almost empty restaurant, Lo could hear Ruth Ann’s response.

Where the hell are you? his wife asked.

I took Lo out for something to eat, Larry said. You know she buried Don today.

Oh woe is pretty little Miss Fitness Model. Had to bury her golden ticket, Ruth Ann said. I bet all that money is going a long way to ease her sorrow.

She needs a place to stay, Larry interjected.

She hasn’t booked herself into a suite at the Ritz in Dallas? Ruth Ann asked.

She is my sister, Ruthie. She can stay with us, Larry said.

You bring that woman home and you better be prepared to call your lawyer, Ruth Ann said.

Lo grimaced at the sound of Ruth Ann hanging up the phone.

Yeah, some people are jealous, Larry said. I’m sorry.

It’s okay, Lo said. She loves you.

I should stand up to her but… Larry shrugged.

We weren’t raised that way, Lo said.

You escaped, Larry said.

Yeah, like I knew what I was doing, Lo said. I was just sixteen years old. Don swept me off my feet and… I was very lucky. Even if he was with this Jean-Jean… Even if she was his lover… I was very lucky.

Lo slurped the last of her milkshake.

Want another? Larry asked.

I think I’m going to explode, Lo said.

He smiled and she shrugged.

Why did you marry him? Larry asked. I’ve never asked you, but I always wondered.

Don is a Southern Baptist, Lo said. He couldn’t see any other way but to get married. Especially since I was so young. I mean, it bothers him that he’s twenty years older than me. He doesn’t want me to feel inferior or like I don’t have a say or…

That’s why he made you finish high school and go to college, Larry said.

Right, Lo said. He wants me to be ‘at his level, an equal partner in life.’ That’s what Don wants. I do my best to be that for him. But who can equal Don?

Lo’s eyes lost focus. She gave a soft smile.

He’s a better person than I am, Lo said.

Larry smiled at her use of the present tense. It was going to take a long time for his little sister to put her husband to rest.

And, I don’t know, Lo said. Dad died. Mom was a wreck. You’d left for the Air Force. And… it just happened. I got that summer babysitting job with his girls, met him, and married him two months later.

Why didn’t you guys have kids? Larry asked.

We can’t, Lo said.

How did he have kids with Witchiepoo?

That’s a very good question, Lo said. We don’t think they’re his.

But he paid child support for them?

That man paid child support for those kids and they lived with us full-time, Lo said. He loved those kids and gladly paid their mother if we could keep them.

Did they come back for the funeral?

Alisha has a trial starting on Monday, Lo said. She flew in and out today. She’s hanging on by a thread. I think work is the only thing that’s keeping her together. Mandy and I took her to the airport before…

And Mandy?

She went out with her friends, Lo said. She’s almost never in town, so she wanted to see her friends while she’s here.

How’s law school?

Harder for Mandy than Alisha, Lo said. Don thinks she’s going to quit and go to med or vet school. But she’s getting through it. She has finals soon, so she’s going back to Waco tonight.

Lo always seemed so happy when she talked about the girls. Larry gave his sister a smile. Even tonight, one of the worst nights of her life, she still smiled when she talked about those girls. Catching his smile, Lo smiled back at her brother.

Don wants a baby more than anything, Lo said. We’ve been doing the fertility thing but…

Lo shrugged. She took a deep breath and then broke down again. Like a silent guard, Larry stood watch while she cried into her hands. After a few minutes, Larry got up to grab some napkins for her. When he got back, she had put most of her sorrow back into its tight, private box.

I don’t have Don. I don’t have a baby. I don’t have a house. I don’t have a dollar. Lo looked at her brother. I have nothing.

You have the girls. You have me. You have Lisa.

Poor Lisa. Earl’s been out of work this whole year, Lo said. They’re really desperate. They couldn’t even afford to buy tickets to the Cowgirl Museum when her picture went up. Don bought the tickets for them.

Don was a great guy.

Lo nodded.

Their house foreclosed about six months ago, but they haven’t been thrown out yet. Some loophole… I wish I had that loophole. I wanted to lie awake staring at the ceiling in my own bedroom tonight.

Lo looked out the windows into the early-morning dark.

Do you think his pillow will still smell like him when I get back? Lo asked. It’s the only thing that got me through last week.

As he’d wiped the tears from her face, Larry wished he could wipe the pain out of his sister’s life. He squeezed her hand.

I’ll tell you what, Larry said. I’ll talk to a few guys and see if we can get you in there tomorrow. You can at least get your clothes, jewelry, his pillow, and the stuff they can’t auction off.

Thanks Larry, Lo said.

I was thinking about having a strawberry pie. They’re here for spring, Larry said. Want one?

Sure.

No crying, okay?

Lo nodded. Larry walked to the counter to order the fried delicacies. While he was gone, Lo tried to take a few deep breaths. His warm company and the fatty food were calming. For a brief second, she thought she might survive all of this. She smiled at him when he came back with two pies and two cups of coffee. They ate their pies and drank their coffee in silence. When Larry looked at his watch, Lo knew he had to go. He’d catch hell as it was. If he stayed any later, he might need that lawyer.

Do you have any money? Larry asked.

Nothing, Lo said.

Any cards just in your name?

Lo shook her head. Larry pulled out his wallet and gave her a hundred dollars.

I got this before I came to get you, Larry said.

I can’t take this, Lo said.

You can’t not take this, Larry said. You need food, clothing, and a place to stay.

What about Ruth Ann?

I’ll tell her I lost it in a bet, Larry said. I’m betting on you, Lo. You’re going to turn this around. I just know it.

How?

What about Don’s company? Larry asked. Don owned the biggest air conditioning company in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Owned in name only, Lo said. Henry, his dad, bought it as a side project. Don never got around to selling it.

So what? Is that frozen?

I didn’t think to ask, Lo said. It’s probably still in Henry’s name.

I bet you five bucks they didn’t touch that air conditioning business, Larry said. You should take it over.

What do I know about air conditioning? Lo asked.

What’s to know? Larry smiled. Let’s check it out tomorrow after we get some of your stuff. I bet Lisa would go through the books for you. She’s really good at that kind of thing.

And have Earl take care of their three kids?

Hey, a man’s got to do what a man’s got to do, Larry said. He’ll survive. Lisa and I will meet you tomorrow.

Meet me where?

Mom’s.

Mom’s? Lo shook her head. No. No. No. Uh huh. No way am I staying at Mom’s! I haven’t been there since I found her…

Since she hanged herself, Larry said. I remember. I’m the one who cut her down. Best post-boot camp leave on record. Do you still have the keys?

Lo nodded.

I drive by Mom’s every week or so just too… well… Larry shrugged. Did you know Don took care of the place? It has a new roof. He had someone mow the grass and take care of the yard. I saw a plumber there once or twice.

He did?

I asked Don about it at one of your Fourth-of-July barbeques, Larry said. A couple of years ago. I asked him what he was up to. He told me that his Lorraine was born in that house. He couldn’t let it fall to the ground.

You don’t think he met other women there? Lo asked.

When would he have had the time? Larry asked. He had a busy law practice, the air conditioning company, and he spent every other waking moment with you.

He was with another woman when he got sick.

You honestly think a man who wouldn’t be with you before marriage was with a bunch of other women?

Ministers do it all the time, Lo said.

Now you’re just being weird.

I don’t know anything anymore, Lo said.

Stop the doubt, Lo. It’s killing you.

Lo sniffed at her tears.

No matter what happened, Don Downs loved you, Larry said. And…

And?

Now that all this crap happened, Larry said. I wonder if he kept up Mom’s house so you’d have a place to go.

How could he have known? Lo asked.

Don always seemed to know what was going to happen, Larry said.

Yeah, I always thought it was from helping the Romani, Lo said.

The Gypsies kept him well informed about the future? Larry asked. Probably.

Shrugging, Lo wiped her eyes.

Come on, Larry said. I’ll take you home.

Larry put his arm around Lo, and they walked into the Whataburger parking lot. Larry helped Lo into her Lexus and went to his cruiser. Lo drove up Hemphill Street to Feliks Gwozdz Place and turned left. She continued on West Myrtle until she got to Henderson. She turned right and pulled up in front of their mother’s house. Larry pulled in behind her. She waited for him to come to her door before she got out.

They walked to the front door together. Lo put the key in the dead bolt and turned it. The door swung open, releasing a blast of hot air.

I bet the air conditioning works, Larry laughed.

Lo and Larry stepped into the house. Instinctively, they both turned to look into the living room. In the shadow and memory, they both saw their mother’s lifeless body hanging from the ceiling fan.

I still see her there, Lo whispered.

Me too, Larry said.

While Lo pulled the sheets from the furniture, Larry walked through the house. He turned on the air conditioning and checked to see if the water was running. He plugged in the refrigerator. He flipped a few lights on and off.

Looks like everything’s working, Larry said.

Larry hugged Lo tight.

Here, Larry gave Lo a disposable cell phone. Your phone’s off. I didn’t know if you knew.

I didn’t, Lo said.

I tried to call you, Larry said. This isn’t as fancy as your iPhone, but it works. It’s from a set of phones cops are supposed to give informants. Witchiepoo will never find you. I programmed mine and Lisa’s numbers in case you need us. If Alisha or Mandy call me, should I give them your number?

Lo nodded.

You’ll be safe here.

Thank you, Lo said. For everything. Really.

Anytime of the day or night, Lorraine, Larry said. Call and I’ll be here quick as I can. Just don’t…

Larry swallowed hard. He clutched Lo to him.

The moment passed, Larry, Lo said.

Larry kissed her cheek and walked out of the house. Lo closed and dead bolted the door. Crossing her arms across her broken heart, she walked back to the living room.

Well Mom, Lo said. I guess I’m home.

Q

CHAPTER TWO

Sunday morning—11 a.m.

Fairmount Historic District, Fort Worth

Days: 8

You know what I think, Don Downs touched her shoulder to wake her.

Hmm.

Loraine Lo Downs rolled onto her side to look at him. The crisp white sheet lay across his tanned muscular shoulders. He reached out to move a piece of blonde hair from her face.

Good morning. He leaned over to kiss her.

Hello beautiful, she said. What did you have in mind?

I think we should spend the entire day laughing, Don said.

You’re in court all week, Lo said. I have the no-carbs grumpies. How…?

Don tossed the sheet in the air and scooched across the bed to her. She rolled onto her back. He kissed her face and her eyes and then wrapped his body around her.

Love you, Lo. He began tickling her. Love you. Tickle. Love you. Tickle. Love you.

Lo laughed.

See! We’ve already started the day laughing, he laughed with delight. Never let the bastards get you down.

You know how to keep me from being down, Lo said.

No I don’t, little lady, Don laughed. Why don’t you instruct me in the finer arts?

In one swift motion, Lo pushed him to the bed. Her lips moved across his face until they caught his mouth. He tugged at her, but she resisted engaging. She just wanted to kiss him this morning.

Pound. Pound. Pound.

Don? Lo sat up in bed. Don?

Her voice rose with panic. Don wasn’t in bed with her. In fact, she wasn’t in her bed. She rotated around to sit on the side of the twin bed. Looking around the room, she had no idea where she was.

Where was Don?

He was just here. He was just right here. She patted the bed where he’d been. They had started making love and Don was never distracted from love making no matter what happened and…

Pound. Pound. Pound.

A shard of pain shot through her core.

Don was dead. She’d forgotten. Again. Don was dead.

She was at her mother’s house; the house she was born in; the house her mother had hanged herself in. Her house, Don’s house, their house was foreclosed while she was burying him.

She should have thrown herself in that hole.

She had to fight to take a full breath. If she didn’t know better, she’d have sworn she had a gaping hole where her heart once lived. She put her head between her knees to keep from throwing up.

Pound. Pound. Pound.

Wearing only a Dolly the Sheep T-shirt and panties, she went down the wide oak stairwell to the ground floor. Her memory filled in the image of her mother’s lifeless body hanging from the living room ceiling fan.

Hi Mom.

Waving, she continued walking to the front door. She flipped the lock and peeked out. Her little sister Lisa stood on her doorstep wearing her get things done outfit – blonde hair in braids, a bandana over her head, old jeans and one of her husband Earl’s old work T-shirts. She had four or five plastic grocery bags in her hand and her purse strap over her shoulder.

It’s eleven o’clock! Lisa said. What the hell are you doing? You can’t sleep all day.

Lisa pushed her way into the house.

Why didn’t you call me? Lisa asked. I sat next to you at the funeral and a few hours later you’re homeless?

I don’t know, Lo’s eyes filled with tears. This whole thing… I…

Never mind, Lisa said. I’m here now.

Lisa stopped in the doorway to the living room and stared.

Do you see her there? Lisa whispered.

Larry too, Lo nodded.

I know she’s not there, but… Lisa said. God that’s creepy.

Lisa pushed and prodded Lo into the kitchen. She set the bags on the Formica table in the middle of the room and began unpacking groceries. Lo leaned against the door frame to watch her sister. Within minutes, Lisa had bacon and eggs sizzling on the stove. She revealed a box of cinnamon doughnut holes and a bag of coffee grounds. Lisa gave the coffee to Lo.

Lo rummaged through the cabinets until she found her mother’s old percolator. She filled it with water and dropped the basket of coffee. She watched the coffee bubble in the little glass handle on top of the pot. This simple act was the first thing Lo had accomplished since she’d heard Don was sick.

What’s that? Lo pointed to a clump of grey-green leaves tied with a bright-red string.

This is sage, Lisa said. We’re going to burn the sage, open the windows, and let the ghosts out of this place.

Lo lifted her lips in a partial smile.

Where’s your car? Lisa asked.

In front, Lo said.

Of this house? Lisa shook her head.

Lo ran out the front door to where she’d parked her car. Gone. She dropped to her knees to touch the ground where the vehicle had been. Overcome, she began keening with grief.

They came this morning, a woman’s voice said.

Lo felt a hand on her shoulder. Through blurry eyes, Lo looked to see who was there.

I asked them, a dark-skinned woman said. They told me they had to take it. It was their job. I told them that wasn’t much of a job. They told me about the economy and a bunch of other garbage.

Mrs. Williams? Lo whispered.

Yes, child, the elderly woman said.

Mrs. Williams, Lo repeated. She looked up into the lined face of her mother’s next door neighbor. I’m glad to see your face.

I’m glad to see you too, Mrs. Williams said. I usually see that husband of yours. Great man. He brought me groceries. Once a week. Not ‘cuz I can’t afford them, just ‘cuz I don’t move around so good anymore. I cried when I heard he’d passed.

Don’s dead, Lo said.

Yes, child, Mrs. Williams said.

Lo! Lisa screamed from the porch. Lisa ran across the yard to her sister. She stopped short when she saw who was standing next to Lo. Mrs. Williams.

Lisa did an odd curtsey and Mrs. Williams laughed. The elderly woman held her arm out to Lisa and gave her a hug.

Now, I read in the Star-Telegram that you bought that car after winning that Olympia thing, Mrs. Williams said.

Three years ago. Lo bought this car when she won Ms. Fitness Olympia the first time, Lisa said. Don insisted she get something she’d use every day, so she’d remember she’d won.

Paid cash for my car, Lo said.

Why did they take your car? Mrs. Williams asked.

Nothing makes any sense right now. Lo shook her head.

I’ll tell you what we do, Mrs. Williams said. We call the police and tell them that someone stole your car. We let them sort it out.

That’s a good idea, Lisa said.

Let’s get you up, Mrs. Williams said.

Mrs. Williams and Lisa dragged Lo to her feet. A leering man jogged by them before turning into Fairmount Park. Mrs. Williams took Lo by the elbow and passed her to Lisa.

You take her inside, Mrs. Williams said. I’ll call the police.

Leaning on her cane, the elderly woman began a slow journey to her home next door. Lisa navigated Lo back into the kitchen and sat her down on a cracked-vinyl padded chair at the Formica table. Lisa returned to cooking. Lo picked at the chair’s stuffing through the cracks in the vinyl. Neither sister said anything until Lisa set a cup of coffee with half-and-half in front of her sister.

What do you think is going on? Lisa asked.

I have no idea, Lo said. "Really. None. Don and I went over our finances every single Sunday. We’d sit down with a bottle of wine and go through them. The house was paid off. My car… his car… he had money from his father. Money for the girls… Oh God!