The Remains of the Dead

by Wendy Roberts

  “Looks like they only moved back to Seattle in May. Before that, all the phone records are for a Portland address.”

  “Moved away for a few months but then returned to Seattle, maybe to be closer to Grant’s mother?” Zack asked.

  “I remember Sylvia mentioned a move to Portland that was just temporary. Grant was starting up a new sportswear store there and wanted to get it properly up and running before coming back.”

  Sadie frowned while her finger tapped a listing of long-distance calls made to a Seattle number.

  “Would you consider six months to be a long time?” Sadie asked.

  Zack’s gaze followed a sexy brunette as she sauntered past.

  “In what respect? It’s a helluva long time to go without sex.”

  “I’m not talking about sex.”

  “It would be more fun to talk about sex.” He wiggled his eyebrows comically. “But I guess six months isn’t that long if you’re talking about, say, how long someone’s been married.”

  “If someone told you they’d had an affair—”

  “So we are talking about sex.”

  “No sex,” she nearly shouted and then blushed when others glanced their way. “If someone said they broke up with someone a long time ago, how long ago would you assume that was?”

  “I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Maybe a year.” He wiped at his mouth with his napkin.

  “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

  “So, who’s screwing around?”

  “Trudy.”

  “Really? Who’s she messing with, Casper the Friendly Ghost?”

  “Ha ha.” Sadie rolled her eyes. “She had an affair with Kent Lasko.”

  “She told you this?” His eyebrows rose in question.

  “No, Kent did.”

  “Was that guy at the house again?” Zack leaned in on his elbows, his face suddenly dead serious.

  “No. I went to his place last night.”

  “You went to his place?” He folded his arms across his chest. “This guy was skulking around a crime scene and you just decided to pay him a visit?”

  Sadie shrugged. “I wanted to know what he was doing in the house. I found his address listed in Trudy’s address book and decided to confront him about it.”

  When she saw the furious look on Zack’s face, Sadie wasn’t about to mention that she’d also agreed to a date with the guy.

  “I’m not stupid. It’s not like I went inside his house. We met at a public place for coffee.”

  The look on Zack’s face said he was marginally appeased by that information.

  “Anyway, Kent told me he was at the Toth house to retrieve a necklace. Supposedly it was a family heirloom, a gift he’d given to Trudy when he’d thought she would leave Grant. He didn’t want Trudy’s family to find the necklace and ask questions that might lead to them discovering his affair with Trudy. Guess he thought he was saving her reputation. But he said the affair was over a long time ago. According to this”—Sadie pointed to the papers—“six months ago Trudy was still phoning him from Portland almost daily. He had his number changed, but I recognize the number she was calling as Kent’s old one.”

  Sadie drank from her water glass.

  “Maybe he ended it but she wouldn’t take no for an answer, so he had his number changed.” Zack polished off the rest of the food on his plate and tossed his crumpled napkin on it.

  “But then she moved back here with her husband and chose to buy a house two blocks away from her ex-lover? Why the hell would she do that if he’d changed his number and obviously wasn’t interested?”

  “People have done stranger things in the name of love.”

  “Yeah, but Kent said Trudy was the one who broke it off. He said she wanted to make her marriage work.”

  “She changed her mind. Guess she wanted to have her hubby and her side dish, too. It happens all the time.”

  “Right. There’s no way a woman packs up and moves house to be closer to a guy she dumped unless they’re still hot and heavy.”

  “Sounds right.”

  Her gaze met Zack’s. “But that means Kent lied.”

  “Sounds like he’s hiding something.”

  “Yeah,” Sadie agreed. She suddenly felt sick to her stomach. She hoped that something wasn’t murder.

  6

  They drove the unwieldy company van back to the Toth house after their lunch. They were halfway there when Dawn called Sadie’s cell.

  “Prepare to be mystified and amazed,” Dawn said mysteriously. “I’m inviting you out for an evening of mystical entertainment.”

  “And that means…?”

  “Chloe gave me a gift certificate for a psychic reading for my birthday. When I called to make the appointment, they told me that they have a two-for-one deal this week. So you’re coming with me.”

  “I’m probably busy,” Sadie replied.

  “You’re just saying that.”

  “When?”

  “Tonight at seven o’clock.”

  “I’m definitely busy.”

  “C’mon, it’ll be fun. You’ll see.”

  “I just can’t. I won’t be done working before seven o’clock.”

  “We’ll be done by then,” Zack piped up, and Sadie shot him a death glare. “Or not. Hell, we could be working on this one until next week.” He grumbled something under his breath about never understanding women.

  “We can meet up for drinks and appies first and just chat.”

  Sadie realized it would be the perfect opportunity for her to step up to the plate and tell Dawn how she felt about Noel. Truth was, she’d rather scrub decomp than have that conversation. But she knew she shouldn’t put it off.

  “Fine,” Sadie said. “Where and when?”

  She got the details and said good-bye.

  “It’s good that you’re getting together with your sister. It’ll do you both good,” Zack said.

  “Sure. Tonight I’m going to tell her why she can’t marry Noel.”

  Zack didn’t reply.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Sadie said.

  “Oh, I bet you do.” He chuckled.

  “You think I should mind my own business and stay out of it.”

  “That about sums it up.”

  “She’s my sister. I owe it to her to warn her that she’s making a huge mistake.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  He pulled the van into the Toth driveway, and Sadie brought the phone records with her to put back into the file cabinet. There was no sign of Trudy anywhere. Sadie was both relieved and a little disappointed. It would’ve been nice to ask Trudy about her calls to Kent. Not that she expected an answer, since the essence of Trudy appeared still to be in some kind of shock and refusing to speak.

  As Sadie plugged away at preparing the main floor for the restoration company, she thought about the phone calls and whether or not Kent had lied. She came to the conclusion that she was jumping to conclusions. After all, he didn’t say when they broke up, only that they had. And he didn’t really owe her an explanation. Besides the fact that she’d threatened to sic the cops on him if he didn’t provide a reason for entering the Toth home.

  Sadie briefly considered canceling their date, but truthfully, the idea of having a conversation with someone new, alive, and breathing appealed to her immensely. At least she could keep the conversation lively with the pointed questions she intended to ask regarding his relationship with Trudy. She would satisfy her curiosity even if it meant no future dates with the hunky Kent Lasko.

  By four o’clock the house was ready for the next and final phase, which involved meeting with the restoration company that would replace the carpeting removed from the master bedroom and also try to match and replace the section of blood-soaked hardwood that had been cut out of the living room floor.

  Zack began packing up. Sadie knew there was no use procrastinating. It was time to go home, primp a little, and practice the lecture she’d prepared to give her sister at some poin
t between drinks and appetizers.

  As if reading her mind, Zack commented, “Take it easy on Dawn. Remember, your opinion is only your opinion.”

  Sadie rolled her eyes. “It’s not like I’m going to freak out. I’ll just lay out the facts and point out the obvious.”

  “That you think she’s marrying Noel only because he looks like your dead brother?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good luck with that.”

  Sadie’s plan was to have a heart-to-heart chat with Dawn over food and drinks. She arrived at Fado’s Irish Pub a few minutes early to prepare her thoughts. She’d already decided to take the direct approach. Even if Dawn was ticked off, Sadie knew she owed it to her sister to say what was on her mind.

  But how do you tell your sister she’s only getting married because her boyfriend looks like her dead brother? Sadie thought glumly.

  The waitress brought the menu to the table, and a sense of déjà vu swept Sadie into remembering an evening out with Brian a month before his death. Sadie and Dawn had joined him and his girlfriend at a pub much like this one. There’d been a bowl of nuts on the table, and Brian was acting his usual goofy self, so when Sadie had called him nuts, he’d picked a peanut from the bowl and flicked it so that it pinged off Sadie’s forehead. A nut free-for-all had ensued.

  Sadie closed her eyes, and she could hear Brian’s rolling laughter and see his strong hands gesturing as he talked. She could see the way he would play air guitar just to embarrass his fiancée, Joy. And she could hear the sound of his deep baritone voice as he stated solemnly that no man would marry his sisters without being interrogated by him first.

  The memory was a kick in the gut. She wondered if Dawn had given even a moment’s thought to the fact that their brother wouldn’t be at her wedding.

  Sadie broke from her memories when she reached for her glass of Guinness and realized it was empty. She’d finished it and still there was no sign of Dawn. Scowling at her watch, she muttered, “Where the hell is she?”

  A few minutes later, when she was angrily unfolding bills from her wallet to pay for her drink, Dawn rushed in.

  “I’m sooo sorry I’m late,” she breathed.

  “Where have you been?” Sadie demanded sharply. “I’ve been sitting here for almost an hour!”

  “I tried calling, but your phone must be turned off. I only got your voice mail,” Dawn replied, sliding into the wooden chair across from Sadie.

  “My phone’s never off,” Sadie said. She dug the phone out of her jacket pocket as proof, and then cursed. “I must’ve turned it off by accident.” Then with a wave of her hand she added, “It doesn’t matter. We agreed on six o’clock so we wouldn’t be late for the crazy psychic and—”

  “But look!” Dawn giggled hysterically and thrust her left hand in Sadie’s face. “We were picking out my ring, and the jeweler could size it right there if we were willing to wait, and I just had to have it on my finger today.”

  “Nice. Very…sparkly,” Sadie said, scowling at the cluster of small diamonds on her sister’s finger. “Guess it’s official.”

  “Yup, I’m getting married.” Dawn thrust her hand out to admire her finger.

  “While I was sitting here for an hour I was thinking about Brian. I wondered what he would’ve thought about Noel,” Sadie blurted, her tone peppered with emotion.

  Dawn looked stunned.

  “Brian and Noel would’ve gotten along great.”

  “Riiight.” Sadie snorted. “I don’t think you’ve given any thought to Brian at all.”

  Dawn leaned forward on her elbows and scrutinized Sadie through slitted eyes.

  “This pissed-off attitude isn’t about me getting married, is it? It’s about you missing Brian. About the fact that our big brother with the massive biceps isn’t around to scare the crap out of Noel, the way he always liked to mess with his sisters’ boyfriends.” She sat back in her seat and sighed. “Our brother is dead and I miss him too, but that doesn’t mean I’m never getting married or having children or living my life.” She waggled a finger in Sadie’s face and got to her feet. “And I’m not going to let you ruin my good mood today, so c’mon.” She grabbed Sadie’s arm and pulled her to her feet. “Pretend you’re a happy, supportive sister and let’s go next door to Maeva’s Psychic Café before they give our appointment to someone else.”

  The psychic café had a storefront that sold everything from crystal balls to tarot cards and also had a counter where you could sit and nosh on nibblies while sipping herbal tea. The stools at the counter were full, but a young woman with multiple piercings in her nose, ears, and eyebrows told them that Madame Maeva would be with them shortly and encouraged them to browse.

  “What a scam,” Sadie muttered under her breath. “They want us to drop a wad of cash while we wait for an appointment that costs an arm and a leg.”

  “Technically the appointment cost us diddly-squat,” Dawn pointed out. “It was a gift, remember? And nobody’s forcing you to buy a thing. Oooh, look at these,” she exclaimed holding up a pair of beaded earrings.

  Sadie picked up a brochure from the counter.

  “Oh, look, Madame Maeva Morrison will also do parties. How about instead of an engagement party we throw you a psychic party?”

  Before Dawn could respond, the decorated clerk advised them, “Madame Maeva will see you now.”

  She motioned for them to follow her behind the counter.

  They walked down a short hall with three brightly colored closed doors. The clerk opened the middle door, which was fire-engine red.

  “Enjoy yourself,” she said.

  “Come inside and have a seat,” a woman with a gravelly smoker’s voice called out.

  The room was dark except for the soft glow of half a dozen black and red pillar candles on a squat table. Around the table were huge matching black and red cushions meant as seating, and their host was sitting on one at the far end of the table. She had shoulder-length, curly black hair, a sharp pointed face that looked fortyish, and so many chains around her neck that Sadie wondered if the woman would be able to stand without help.

  “Hello. I’m Maeva Morrison. Your friend Chloe gave you a half-hour session as a gift, and you’ve brought your sister. How nice.”

  “Wow. She knows I’m your sister,” Sadie said, elbowing Dawn. She sneered at the psychic. “Did you look into your crystal ball for that information?”

  “Sadie,” Dawn admonished. “Just sit down.”

  Dawn sank into a black cushion next to Madame Maeva and folded her legs into the lotus position. She nodded for Sadie to sit on the other side.

  “That’s all right.” Madame chuckled. “I see believers and nonbelievers alike, and I can get a reading on just about anyone. As long as they pay my fee, disbelief doesn’t affect me in the least.”

  “So you admit this is just a money grab?” Sadie asked in an acid tone. She eased around the corner of the table and took a seat across from Dawn, on Madame Maeva’s left.

  “You’d feel better if I did my work for free?” Maeva asked. “Do you think people would trust you more at your job if you did it for free?”

  Because Dawn looked like she was ready to spit nails, Sadie retracted her comment.

  “That was rude.” Sadie cleared her throat. “And I apologize.”

  “No need for apologies, but we should get right down to work so we don’t use up your entire session. Who wants to go first?”

  “Oh, me!” Dawn squealed.

  “All right then.” Maeva smiled. “For an additional ten dollars I can tape your session for you.”

  “That would be great,” Dawn gushed.

  Maeva took the cellophane wrap off a new cassette tape and placed it in a recorder on the table. After pressing RECORD, she said, “In order to give you a proper reading, I need to hold both of your hands in mine. If you have a specific question or area of your life you’d like me to read, simply concentrate on that subject. I’ll be glad to answer any questions late
r, but please try not to interrupt until I’m done.”

  Dawn eagerly placed her hands in Maeva’s.

  “You know, most people don’t know this, but Sadie here has a similar talent—”

  “Dawn,” Sadie warned.

  “Let’s focus on you,” Maeva said. “I need you to be perfectly quiet. Simply concentrate. I’ll try and zero in on the questions that concern you, but I should warn you that the answers I see may relate to other matters entirely. I can’t control the order in which things come.”

  The medium closed her eyes and began to hum a song softly under her breath. The tune sounded an awful lot like “We’re Off to See the Wizard.”

  “You like The Wizard of Oz?” Sadie asked.

  Maeva opened one eye and peeked at Sadie. “My humming assists me in summoning even the most reluctant spirits.”

  “And the song? Are we summoning Munchkins?”

  “Personal choice. It’s my favorite movie. Now, stop talking.”

  Sadie rolled her eyes and folded her arms tightly across her chest.

  Maeva hummed for almost a full minute before she began to speak.

  “This is an exciting time for you,” Maeva murmured. “Congratulations on your engagement.”

  “Wow, you can tell that already?” Dawn gasped.

  “Yes, because your engagement ring is pinching me.” Maeva laughed and repositioned her hand in Dawn’s. “Now back to work.” Her humming grew louder. “You work in a doctor’s office, right? A clinic. You’ve been hoping for a raise. Unfortunately, I see no promotion in your future, at least not there. You’ll start another job soon, though, very close to where you’re currently working. You’ll love it there. Better pay, more holidays, and”—she paused and winked—“there are some great fringe benefits.” More humming. “You’ve been worried about your mother. You think she doesn’t get out much now that your dad’s retired. I don’t get a reading about your mom, but your dad should have a checkup. He hasn’t been to a doctor in a while. It would be good for him to go.”

  There was more humming and more advice given over a period that lasted far longer than Sadie would’ve liked. At one point Maeva actually directed Dawn in the color to paint her kitchen, insisting that yellow would be much better than the off-white she’d selected.