Sunny walked her to the door. “Thanks for coming. I’ll keep you informed.”
Barbara buttoned her coat. “Be careful when you talk to Jesse. You never know how someone will react. And you know he’s got some violent tendencies.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Back at her salon, Rita finished with her customer, made change, collected a tip, and was sweeping the floor when the broom bumped into two shiny black shoes. “Oh, I’m sorry …”
Surprised, she looked up and peered into green almond-shaped eyes. The heat rose in her face. “Hi, Victor. What’s up?”
He cocked his head to the side, his shoulder-length hair swinging loose. “I worked near here today and thought maybe if you aren’t busy we could have lunch.”
“Sure, give me a minute to finish up.”
She could barely put the broom away and unbutton her smock, her hands were so shaky.
They chose Joe’s Diner, the closest burger joint. Rita glanced around at the shiny gray tiles that scaled the walls. The employees’ red shirts matched the red chairs.
“Gina and I used to come here a lot,” she said as they waited at the counter for their order. She felt her heart contract, thinking about Gina. Rita looked around. The place hadn’t changed, although she knew she had. She felt older now. Years older, which didn’t make her feel any better. She dropped her eyes. “I remember those happy conversations, especially the last time Gina and I ate here.”
They sat in a booth by the front door. Victor watched her while he took a bite out of his hamburger, and then his eyes focused on the little gray circles in the Formica table.
“Yeah, Gina liked this place. She used to meet me here when I worked this area.”
“Can you believe I started to call Gina this morning to ask if she wanted to go to lunch?” Rita said with a catch in her voice. “Then I remembered …” Her voice trailed off. “She comes to me in my dreams, but I can’t talk to her like my mother can. It’s so hard.” She blinked back tears.
“For me too. My divorce was final and Gina was going to move in. But she changed her mind. She told me she wanted to live by herself, with just the boys. I only wanted to make life easier for her. I don’t know what changed her mind. I can’t forget that we were angry the last time we talked.”
“That has to be rough,” said Rita.
“It is.”
“Do you have any kids?”
“No. My wife is pregnant,” he said, gritting his teeth. “But not by me.”
“I’m sorry.” She looked at his bow-shaped mouth and cleft chin. No wonder Gina was ready to leave Jesse. I just ended a relationship. I’m not jumping into another one. Somehow it felt disrespectful to Gina.
“No need. I’ve learned to deal with it. How about you? How’s the boyfriend?”
“Out of the picture.” She shook her head and changed the subject. “What tribe are you?”
“Sioux, South Dakota. Why?”
“I’d heard that South Dakota Indians have green eyes.”
The corners of his mouth turned up. “Just some of us.” They shared a laugh.
Smiling, Rita asked, “Do you enjoy your job?”
He picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth. “Not really. I wanted to go to law school. To be a lawyer for my people. But, you know how life doesn’t always work out the way we want.”
“What happened?”
“Reality set in. Got married, needed a job. Sierra Power was hiring.” He shrugged. “What about you?”
“Me too. Wanted to be a lawyer, that is. Ever since I was young, I would go to the courtroom with my dad. But like you say, things change. My godmother died and left me the salon. So here I am. Ended up in cosmetology school instead.”
While they talked, someone’s car alarm went off in the parking lot. A young boy walked past, balancing a heavy tray of food. He tried hard to control it, but his arms gave out. The cokes, fries, and hamburgers tumbled onto the floor.
Victor jumped up to help the boy clean up the mess. The young customer stood and thanked him. “Darn,” the kid said. “That was all my money.”
Victor put his arm around the boy’s shoulder and led him back to the counter. “Don’t worry, here’s a ten. Try again.” The boy thanked him.
Victor returned and asked, “Now, where were we?”
“That’s so nice of you.” She took a napkin and was wiping her pants where the boy’s coke had splashed on her. She thought about the fact that Lee would have never done what Victor did.
“Did you end up going to college?” she asked.
“Yes.”
Her face felt hot. “Sorry about all the questions. Guess I get it from my parents.”
“Well, I went to South Dakota State U. Made the dean’s list.” He brushed his nails back and forth across his chest. “Are you ready for this? We were known as the Jackrabbits.”
Rita gave a loud laugh. “Are you sure you weren’t in the Nevada desert?”
That gave both of them a good chuckle.
“How about you, did you go to college?”
“I started at Nevada University, here in Reno. I was so-so in school. I took a Native American history class. It was interesting. Take for example we didn’t get citizenship until 1924. Utah was the last state to allow Indians to vote, and that was 1958. Can you believe that mess? Even though women got the vote in 1920.”
“I know. Do you know it’s only been a short while that we have the right for our religious ceremonies, and grounds, and Indian child welfare? I’m considering starting night classes in prelaw.”
Rita pounded lightly on the table. “What’s stopping us from doing what we always wanted to do?”
He laughed. “Maybe that mustard on your chin.”
“Oh.” She grinned.
They ate their lunch in silence, each lost in thought. Finally, it was time to go. They got up. Victor said, “I’ll do the dishes,” as he loaded the tray, threw their trash in the bin, and walked to the car.
Victor pulled into her salon’s parking lot. He’d been quiet for some time, and then his voice seemed to boom in the car. “Do you like to hike?”
“I do, but I haven’t gone for a while. It wasn’t Lee’s thing.”
“Would you like to go to Windy Lake? We could hike the back ridge. It’s a pretty easy climb.”
“Like a date?” Embarrassed at blurting that out, she felt the heat flush her cheeks, and sweat break out on her forehead. She felt like a teenager with her first crush.
“Not really,” he said, and gave a casual shrug. “Just friends hanging out. It might do us both some good. Besides, I like talking to you about Gina. Fresh air helps clear out the cobwebs. I’ll call you.”
When he smiled thrills ran down her spine. She got out of the truck, thanked him for lunch, and watched him drive away. Nervous and a bit flustered she hugged her arms to her chest, whispering, “My God, what’s happening to me? I’m jumping to conclusions. How embarrassing.” He said it was something to do, nothing else. I’m the one reading more into it. He likes to talk to me … about Gina. It’s about friendship, nothing more. I’m not ready to get involved. Friends are fine … for now.
Still smiling, she strolled into the salon and busied herself cleaning around her station. Before she knew it, it was closing time. Rita counted the cash in the register, and said good night to her employees as they walked out the door. She locked up and headed home, still surprised at how much Victor had affected her. But she brushed it off. They were both involved with Gina, that’s all it was.
TUESDAY EVENING
Rita entered her house, threw her keys on the counter, and spotted a long white box on the hall table. Sunny sat at the kitchen table doing her nails. “What’s this?” Rita slid the box toward Sunny.
Sunny looked up. “It came for you this morning. Doesn’t say who sent it. Probably has a card inside.”
“Hmm, I hope it’s not from Lee.” She lifted the lid and pulled back the green tissue. “Oh, crap, what’s
this?” She threw the contents on the floor.
“What’s wrong?”
“Someone sent me dead black roses.”
“Why would a florist have dead roses? And black, at that?” Sunny pushed her chair back and stood to look at the contents of the box with Rita.
Rita studied the box. “It’s from the specialty florist on South Virginia Street. I heard they sell gross things for a bad breakup or a gag gift.”
“Maybe it’s from your loser boyfriend.”
“I don’t think so. I can’t imagine him spending the money … or doing something like this.”
“Who else would do that?”
Rita’s eyes were misty. She was so sick of everything. Gina’s death, the driver who rammed their car. Lee being such a jerk, et cetera. “I have no idea. I’m worried, Mom. Why are all these things happening to us?”
Sunny blew hard on her freshly polished nails. “I intend to find out. This is too much.”
Rita picked up the roses, put them back in the box, and closed the lid. She carried them out to the backyard and dumped them in the garbage can, closing it with a bang. “Tomorrow I’ll call the florist and find out who sent them.”
“Good idea. I’m going outside. I’ve felt restless all afternoon. It’s a full moon, and I want to see if I can connect with Gina. The wind is up. Maybe I can hear her whispers. That’s when the whispers are strongest.”
Rita nodded. “Take a jacket. It’s cold. Be careful.”
Sunny sat on a big rock at the edge of the driveway and called out to the moon and the wind. She was worried, thinking about everything that was happening and needing Gina’s help. What if I’m way off base here? Maybe Gina did get so upset she committed suicide. How would I know?
She raised her face toward the black sky shadowed by clouds dancing back into the full round moon’s light. She spoke to the Great Spirit. “Grandfather Spirit, is Gina with you? Can you hear me, Gina? I thought I heard you whisper in the wind. I miss you. I am so confused. Please help me. Tell me where to look. Stay with me and guide me. I am so sorry for our argument. I hope I didn’t cause you to do this horrible thing.”
Sunny sat with her eyes closed and her head hung on her chest. Then she felt an easy shaking of her shoulders and opened her eyes.
“Mom, are you asleep? You’ve been out in the cold for a while.”
“No. I guess I was in a trance. I tried hard to reach out to Gina. I felt her pulling me toward a woman, or it could be a man? Maybe it’s two of them, I can’t tell. She whispered to me that she’s with me and will help me. I thought she said something about leaving her boys.” Sunny sighed. “It does take a lot out of me.”
Exhaustion overtook her. She couldn’t make herself think anymore. Sunny stood and stretched. “I’m going to bed.”
They walked arm in arm into the house.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
WEDNESDAY MORNING
Rita gave the florist her name and address over the phone. The woman was gone for a few seconds, then came back on again. “Yes, they were delivered yesterday in the morning at ten thirty. It was sent by … oh, she paid cash and didn’t sign the receipt.” Her voice sounded flustered.
“She? It was a woman? Could you tell me what she looked like?” Rita asked, praying she could get more information, trying to stay calm as she asked questions.
“Yes, let me think. She had black hair and big round glasses. We weren’t busy, and I remember because she grinned and giggled, like something was funny. Like she was playing a joke on someone.”
Rita thanked her, hung up, and went out on the porch where her mom was bundled up with coffee and a cigarette.
“Mom, the florist said a woman sent the roses. Dark hair, big glasses. It has to be Eva. Boy, has she earned her name: Evil Eva.”
Leaning her head back, cigarette in hand, Sunny blew smoke into the air. “Probably. This is all so complicated. I mean, what is Gina trying to tell me?”
“Mom, it’s freezing. Put out your nasty cigarette and come inside.”
Rita hurried inside and lit a fire in the woodstove as Sunny came in and refilled her coffee cup. Both sat, relaxing their feet, sharing the ottoman.
Rita pondered before asking, “Mom, why can’t I see or hear Gina? I don’t have the feelings of intuition and spiritual knowing the way you do.”
“Yes, you do. It’s not that you don’t have gifts but that you ignore them. Remember? Gina came to you in your dreams. Instead of denying your talents, you need to develop them. I’ve always had mine, like your grandma and auntie. But knowing about them isn’t enough; you have to hone them, to follow where they lead you.”
Sunny remembered that when she was a child images would come to her, either in a dream or in her thoughts. She hated when that happened, the images scared her. She was too young to know what they meant. Her mother told her not to share this knowledge with others because they might think she was a witch. The memory of her mother holding that ridiculous belief made her smile. She loved her mother and did as she was told. So she never talked about her images, except to her mother.
Sunny blew on her coffee. Deep in thought about her family’s past, she spoke up to bring herself back to reality and center her spirit inside Rita’s house. “I’m having strange feelings about all of this. Maybe Gina is trying to get my attention. I don’t know what to think. There are endless possibilities.”
Rita grabbed her cat, placed him on her lap, and put her feet back on the ottoman. “What would be her reason to kill herself? Was she depressed or mad? Did she want revenge? Was she drunk?”
“No, I can’t see her doing that, but something was odd. There was a hole in the television screen. Something happened. Barry told me Gina threw an ashtray at it and made the hole.”
“Did Barbara have any suggestions? She must have some training in this type of situation, or have gone through similar things with her patients. What’re you going to do?”
Sunny thought, Yes, Barb had suggestions. She hadn’t forgotten that she needed to speak to Rita about her biological father. She just couldn’t do it right now. Guilt assailed her, and now she’d have to release it. She’d talk to her when things quieted down.
“Slow down. I have to think this through. I have people I want to talk to. Barb suggested I go see Eva. So I’ll start with her, if she’ll talk to me, and find out what she knows about the party.”
Rita turned her mouth to the side and scrunched up her eyes. “That’s going to be hard. She’s so sneaky. And it’s obvious she has issues with both of us. She can’t be trusted.”
“I might as well try. She was around everything and everyone. She must be involved with the weird things going on with us. I also made a list of people I think were at the party.”
Sunny called Eva, who answered immediately. “Hi, it’s Sunny. Don’t hang up.”
“What d’you want?” Eva sounded suspicious.
“I want to talk to you about Gina and the crank calls we’ve been getting.”
“Tell it to the phone company. Do I look like Nevada Bell?”
“By the way, why did you almost run us down the other night?” asked Sunny.
There was a pause. “Stay away from me.” Click.
“I thought you didn’t know who it was,” said Rita.
“I don’t. I accused her to see what she’d do. It’s an old investigator trick. Act like you know more than you do.” Sunny kept calling Eva. She tried three more times. Each time Eva hung up on her without a word.
“Damn it, she keeps hanging up.”
Rita grinned. “It’s her trademark.”
“I’ll go over to her place. At least I know she’s home.”
“Want me to go with you?”
Sunny smiled. “No thanks. One of us showing up is bad enough. She’d really freak if both of us went. I have to be careful. I don’t know what she’s capable of.”
“I have a pretty good idea. Maybe I should go with you.”
Sunny smiled. “No
. I’m trained to handle people like her, remember?”
Before Rita could follow her, Sunny fetched her coat and left. She hurried so she could catch Eva at home. “Maybe I can surprise her, throw her off guard,” she mumbled.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Eva’s house was a short distance away on Kettle Lane. Sunny drove to the end of the dirt-and-gravel driveway. Dust flew everywhere. She came to an abrupt stop in front of the wooden porch. Eva came down the stairs and stopped in front of her Mercedes, her hair pulled back into a short ponytail, wearing black sweat pants and a gray sweatshirt and carrying a gym bag. When she saw Sunny, she pivoted, ran back inside, and slammed the door. Sunny jumped out of the car, scrambled up the steps, and banged on the door.
“Eva, this is stupid. Open the damn door!”
“Go away! I’ll call the cops.”
“And tell them what? How you rammed my car? How you call us at all hours and hang up? We know you sent Rita the black roses. You were positively ID’d.”
“That’s not illegal. I’m calling the cops.”
Sunny paced back and forth, patting her arms. “Yeah, you go ahead and call them. I want to talk to them myself.”
“You can’t prove anything.”
“Open up, Eva. It’s freezing out here.”
“Good, I hope you freeze to death. Then you’ll be out of my way.”
“Let me in or I’ll call the cops myself.”
Eva opened the door a small crack. “I’m not interested in anything you have to say.”
“Just let me in. What are you scared of?”
Eva threw the door open. “I’m not scared of nothing, ’specially you and that daughter of yours.”
Sunny walked in. Eva made a huffing sound. “Did you hear me ask you in?”
Sunny breezed past her. “Did you hear me ask to come in?”
She kept going and entered the living room. It was the first time she had been inside Eva’s house. Sparsely furnished but mostly clean. A big black cat with yellow eyes was curled on the sofa. Sunny positioned herself between the door and Eva. She didn’t want to take any chances.
Whispers in the Wind Page 15