Polly laughed. “Well, I guess I was wrong. You look great.”
Judith glanced over to the woman still under the dryer then spoke quietly. “And do you think I look a little less like Jasmine now?”
Polly nodded. “Definitely.”
“Good.” This time, she paid and even left a nice tip. “Thanks, Polly. You did a great job.”
“It’s just like I used to cut it when you were a kid.”
After her one day of rest and the new haircut, Judith felt surprisingly invigorated. And now she even had a plan. Or at least the beginnings of a plan. At this point, she’d just have to take it a day at a time and see what unfolded. But to start with she intended to pay a visit to Aunt Lenore’s. And there she would search for a birdhouse.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
AUNT LENORE HAD A number of wooden birdhouses and bird feeders spotted throughout her backyard, but Judith decided to ignore them for the moment and proceed with the watering. The vegetable garden was looking somewhat wilted from its previous hot day of neglect, but a good soaking perked it up. It was only after the plants were all cared for that Judith went from birdhouse to birdhouse until she finally came to the faded red one not far from the back porch. And there she found exactly what she’d been looking for. A key! And, just as she’d imagined, it unlocked the back door. She tried to suppress her feeling of being a trespasser as she entered the quaint little kitchen. For she felt certain this was what Aunt Lenore had been trying to communicate to her from her hospital bed. Still, she wasn’t sure why. Did Aunt Lenore want Judith to actually stay in her home and take care of things until she could return? Or was she worried that Judith had no place to stay? Or perhaps, and this was what brought Judith here today, she wanted her to find that box that Jasmine had left behind. And so Judith began to search the spare bedroom.
She looked in all the expected places, the closet, the bureau, beneath the bed. The small, tidy room had only a few places to hide a box. Of course, she had no idea how big or small this particular box might be or even what it looked like. Still, after half an hour of going through everything, she had found no box. She sat down on the bed to think. If it was true that Burt Morrison had taken Aunt
Lenore to the nursing home—and Judith wasn’t even sure about this as Aunt Lenore seemed somewhat confused— but if he’d actually been in Aunt Lenore’s house, was it possible that he might also have taken the box? But then why? And why would he take his wife’s aunt to a nursing home? Had she really been sick? Or was something else going on? And just where was Mrs. Morrison in all this? Were they both now staying in their house, the one that had been vacant just days ago? Or was Judith simply imagining things now, and becoming unrealistically suspicious?
Finally, she decided to lock up Aunt Lenore’s house and drive over by the Morrisons’ to look around and see if Jasmine’s parents were really back in town. After that, she’d head back over to Crest View and see if that nice receptionist might possibly allow her to see Aunt Lenore again. Or perhaps, if she were feeling really brave, she’d just sneak in. What could they do to her anyway? Arrest her? And if they did, she could show that know-it-all Detective Ford that perhaps she was the sort of woman who could get herself into police trouble after all.
But after what seemed a completely wasted afternoon (the Morrison house still looked vacant and the nice receptionist was not at the front desk and Judith could not sneak past the hawkeyed man who’d replaced her), she returned, in defeat, to the Pine Lodge Resort and bought a glossy magazine to take out and read by the pool. But even so, she couldn’t simply let go and relax. Finally, after running everything she’d seen and heard during the past few days over and over through her mind, she decided her only course of action would be to have another conversation with Detective Ford. Only this time she wouldn’t let him get to her. She felt certain he had information about Jasmine that she wanted, but for some reason he’d tried to discourage her that day. Perhaps it was because the police station wasn’t
the best place to talk. Like Polly had suggested, too many watchful eyes and eavesdropping ears around there. Just the same, Judith wasn’t entirely sure she could trust that detective. She’d need to play it safe with him, keeping her cards close to her chest as Peter used to say when he first began practicing law. Right now she longed for Peter’s analytical mind. She remembered how he used to get out his yellow legal pad and start making a great long list, then he’d cross some things off, and put other things on. Perhaps that’s what she needed to do herself.
She found a small stationary shop in Jasper, and there she bought a legal pad as well as some sketching materials, then returned to her room where she began to make lists. Lists of people, lists of all her unanswered questions, lists of her suspicions, lists of all information she had that was relevant to Jasmine. On and on she went until it felt as if her brain had been drained. And then she got out the phone book and looked to see if Adam Ford’s home phone number was listed. But of course it was not. She knew he was new in town. She then tried information, and to her surprise was given a number and was immediately connected.
“Hello?” answered a deep voice.
“Uh, yes, is this Adam Ford?”
“Who’s this?”
“I’m sorry to bother you at home—this is Judith Blackwell, we met the other day in Cedar—”
“Yeah, sure, I remember you, Judith. But where are you?”
She grew suspicious. “Uh, what do you mean?”
“I mean, you left town, right? But you didn’t go home, did you.”
Now she felt nervous. “How did you know that?”
“Well, if you’re at home, you’re not answering your phone. And besides, I have Caller ID, which I am just now looking at.” He paused. “And it says you’re calling from the Pine Lodge Resort. You staying there?”
“No,” she lied, her heart starting to pound. “I just stopped for dinner. It’s a nice enough place to stay, but a little too rich for my blood.”
“Oh, well, where’ve you been then?”
“Around.”
“Well, I thought you’d taken my advice and gone home like a good little girl.”
She felt her chest tighten in anger. “Look, Detective, as far as I know it’s still a free country, and I will come and go as I please.”
“Yeah, yeah. But you ought to be careful. Now, you want to tell me why you’re calling me?”
“Yes,” she took a breath. “I’m sorry to bother you at home, but I wondered if we could get together and talk.”
“Talk?”
“Yes, but I was thinking not at the police station.”
He chuckled. “You asking me out, Judith?”
She bristled. “No, no, nothing like that. I just thought we could talk, you know, maybe exchange some information.”
“You have information?”
“I might.”
“When do you suggest we have this little talk?”
”I was hoping soon.”
“How about now?” He paused. “Did you say you’ve already had your dinner?”
“Well, not yet. I was just going in.”
“Why don’t I meet you there? I could be there by six-thirty. That is, unless you don’t want to wait or unless you have a problem sharing a meal with a cop.”
“No, that’s okay.” She looked down at her shorts and T-shirt, knowing she needed to change first anyway. “I don’t mind waiting.”
“Good. I’ll be there as quickly as I can.”
Judith hung up and looked through her sparse closet for something that looked presentable to wear to dinner. Not that she wanted to impress this surly detective, but at the same time she didn’t like the idea of him looking down on her either. And, although she hated to admit it, he was awfully good looking, even if his manners were somewhat lacking. Finally she settled on a khaki skirt that needed a good pressing. She got out the iron and set to work with a vengeance. This, she paired with a black T-shirt and some sandals. She knew the outfit
needed a bit of jewelry, but in her haste of packing, she had naturally neglected to bring anything. Then she remembered the resort’s gift shop where she’d purchased her bathing suit. They had an interesting rack of earrings down there. Perhaps she’d give them a quick look while she waited.
After purchasing a pair of handsome silver hoops, Judith proceeded to the restaurant to wait. But to her surprise, he was already there waiting for her. “I thought maybe you’d run out on me,” he said when he spotted her coming his way.
“Sorry, I was just killing time at the gift shop.” She glanced at her watch. “You must’ve driven fast.”
“I’m a cop,” he said with a sly smile. “If I get stopped for speeding, I just flash “em my ID.”
“How convenient.” She didn’t like the sarcastic edge in her voice, but this man just seemed to bring out the ire in her.
“What happened to your hand?” He pointed to the bandage.
“Oh, I cut it. Had to get a few stitches. No big deal.”
“Well, you ready to eat now?”
She nodded, determined to be nicer. “Sure. The food is pretty good here.”
“You’ve eaten here before?”
She caught herself, remembering that he didn’t know she was staying at the resort. “Yes, when I first came to
Cedar Crest, my cousin and I came over to Jasper to eat.” Not exactly a lie.
“You have a cousin around here?”
She grimaced. This guy didn’t miss a thing. “Yes, actually it’s my mom’s cousin.”
“It?”
“Table for two?” asked the hostess.
“Yes, please,” said Judith, forcing a laugh as they were led to a table. Once seated, she turned to Adam. “You sure ask a lot of questions.”
He shrugged. “I’m a detective, it’s what I do.”
“Well, how about if we take turns. Question for a question.”
“What about the answers?”
“Answer for an answer.”
He stuck out his hand. “Deal.”
She shook his hand then smiled. “My turn now.”
“Fine, shoot away.”
She thought for a minute, unsure of the best place to begin. But worried that she might not get far, she decided to ask the most troublesome question first. “After investigating Jasmine’s death, are you absolutely certain that it was really suicide?”
His brows shot up. “Well, you don’t beat around the bush, do you?”
“Answer for an answer.”
“Am I certain that Jasmine killed herself? No, I’m not certain.”
Judith nodded. “I knew it.”
“But,” he continued, “do I think someone else did it? No, not necessarily. You see, Judith, as an investigator, I have to keep an open mind. Maybe she did. Maybe she didn’t.”
Judith frowned. “That’s not very much help.”
“Just being honest. Okay, now it’s my turn. How long are you planning on sticking around?”
“I don’t know.”
“That’s not a very good answer.”
She smiled. “Just being honest.”
The waiter came to take their orders. Judith ordered the grilled salmon, and to her surprise, Adam ordered the same. She took a sip of water, then studied him for a moment. “Okay, it’s my turn again. Where was Jasmine living before she came back to Cedar Crest and married Hal Emery?”
“Hmm, you’re good,” said Adam. “She was living in Seattle.”
“Seattle?” repeated Judith. “What was she doing up there?”
He shook his finger at her. “No, you don’t; it’s my turn now.” Then, after pausing a moment, as if to think: “Do you consider yourself a strong person, Judith?”
She blinked. “Is that your question?”
He nodded.
“Strong? What do you mean exactly?”
“Well, I don’t mean as in lifting weights. I mean as in character, will, determination?” He eyed her carefully. “Do you consider yourself very strong in those ways?”
She didn’t know how to answer him. Strong? Was she strong? “I’m not totally sure. To be honest, if you’d asked me this question a couple weeks ago, I’d have said, “Definitely not.’ But just lately I’ve begun to feel a little stronger, or more driven. But why are you asking me that?”
“Is that your next question?”
She wondered if she wanted to waste a question on that, but then knew she would be troubled by this if she didn’t. “Yes, I suppose that’s my next question.”
He nodded. “Good one.”
Just then the waitress came and set their salads on the table. Then after she left, Adam bowed his head as if to pray. Judith stared at him in wonder. This hardened and tough-talking cop actually prayed over his food? Embarrassed, she too bowed her head, unsure of what she was supposed to do, but when she peeked up, she saw that he had apparently finished and was already picking up his salad fork. She did likewise, unable to speak.
“Now, in answer to your question.” he began. “Why do I want to know if you’re a strong person?”
She nodded, then took a bite of salad, glad to have the conversation continue, but still perplexed at the picture in her mind of this guy bowing his head over his food.
“Because I happen to know that you’ve been through a lot in recent years. Lost a son to cancer.” He looked directly into her eyes. “I’m sorry. Then you lost your husband in a plane wreck. Then you discover your best friend has died under what seems, to you, mysterious circumstances. And then you come back to Cedar Crest, and the first time I meet you, you literally fall apart in my office.”
She had tried to forget that little episode at the police station and didn’t appreciate him bringing it up now. “I’m sorry about that. I guess I was a little stressed.”
He nodded. “Yeah, you looked it.” Then he smiled. “By the way, nice haircut.”
Once again caught off guard, she thanked him. “But you still haven’t answered my question. Why do you care about whether I’m strong, as you put it, or not?”
He slowly buttered a piece of bread, then finally continued. “Because I want to know if you’re able to handle what’s going on around here. Are you able to make it through the long haul, or are you going to fall apart and mess things up worse than they already are?”
“Mess things up?”
“Yeah, Judith, you’re swimming in some pretty deep waters right now, whether you realize it or not. I just want to know if you’re really made of the right stuff to make it.
And if you’re not, I’d suggest you go back to your safe little apartment and forget all about Cedar Crest.”
“My safe little apartment?” She studied his face. “You seem to know an awful lot about me, Detective. I’d like to know why and maybe even how.”
He shook his head. “You’re breaking the rules, Judith. It’s my turn to ask you a question.”
“Fine.” She frowned. “Ask away.”
“Then I’ll go back to my earlier question. But this time I won’t accept “I don’t know’ as an answer. So, tell me, just how strong are you, Judith?”
She felt relieved to see the waitress returning with their entrées now, buying her some time. How strong was she? She’d like to know the answer to this herself. Finally the waitress finished up by refilling their water glasses and then departed.
“This looks good,” said Judith as she forked her tender piece of salmon.
“Delicious,” he answered after finishing a bite.
After a brief spell of quietly eating, Judith knew she needed to answer his question. “I’m not sure how to measure how strong I am,” she began slowly. “I feel stronger than I’ve felt since losing my husband. Yet in many ways I still feel pretty weak. To be perfectly honest, I’m just not sure. Can you accept that as an answer?”
He swallowed a bite and nodded. “Guess it’ll have to do for now. Your turn.”
“Okay, what was Jasmine doing in Seattle?”
“Well,
it hasn’t been easy tracking down her whereabouts up there. Seems she was trying to keep a pretty low profile.”
“Why?”
“Uh-uh,” he pointed his fork at her playfully. “Not your turn.”
She smiled. “Sorry. Go ahead.”
“How committed are you to finding out the truth about Jasmine? Say on a scale of one to ten. One being mildly curious and ten being you’re willing to die to know.”
“Good question.” She carefully considered this. “I’d say around nine.”
“Nine? That’s pretty committed.”
“I almost said ten, but I was trying to be realistic. But to be completely honest, I feel a strange compulsion to get to the bottom of this whole thing. Whatever it takes. It’s as if Jasmine herself is compelling me to find out the truth about her. I think I told you about our childhood friendship, about being blood sisters and all that.”
“Yeah, I had some good childhood friends too, but I’m not sure I’d be willing to go to the mat to find out what happened to them the way you seem to be.”
“Well, Jasmine was very special to me. Besides that, my curiosity about her is probably what saved me from—” Judith stopped, surprised at what she had nearly disclosed.
“Saved you from what?”
“Is that really your next question?”
“Yeah, if you don’t mind.”
Judith set down her fork, caught off guard by his apparent, and unexpected, sensitivity about all this. But perhaps he already knew the truth anyway. He seemed to know so much about her. “Well, in a way, she sort of saved me from myself. Saved me from giving up completely.”
He nodded. “You were feeling pretty low then?”
“Just about at the end of my rope.”
“That can be tough. I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. It’s a place I’d rather not go to again.” She forced a small smile. “So, looks like it’s my turn to ask. Why do you think Jasmine was trying to keep a low profile, as you say, before she moved back to Cedar Crest?”
“My guess is to avoid contact with her family.”
“Even her sister, Constance?”
“That’s two questions in a row, Judith, but I’ll give that one to you. Constance is dead.”
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