Free Curiosity Killed the Kat by Elizabeth Nelson Page A

what he may have done – but I didn’t think I would have a problem hurting Charlie if it turned out to be him at the door.
    The knocking sounded again, more insistent this time, and I peered out of the living room curtains to see who was standing at the door.
    Mrs. Foote saw me looking out and waved at me.
    “Hi honey,” she said cheerfully. “I hope it’s not too early? I hate to do this to you, but the funeral home just received your mother’s body and they need some instructions from the family.”
    I sighed and went to open the door.
    “No, of course it’s not too early.” I said . “The only thing is that I just don’t think I can handle this right now…” My voice trailed off and I looked at her pleadingly.
    Concerned she said, “Ok honey. I understand. Do you want me to go down there for you?”
    I just nodded and hugged her.
    “OK, don’t worry,” she said as she patted my back. “I ’ll handle this and you can just sign what needs to be signed, alright?”
    When I nodded again I could feel her smile against my cheek and she whispered in my ear, “We loved her too Katherine. She was my best friend for all these years. It’s my privilege to do this for her and for you.”
    I was so filled with gratefulness that I couldn’t open my mouth to thank her again as she got up and started toward the door.
    Smiling sadly she turned back to me and said, “I’ll call and let you know what’s happening later this afternoon, okay? Answer your phone!” And she stepped out the door, closing it gently behind her.
    Her comment about my phone made me wonder if Steven had been trying to call me. By now he and Charlie must be wondering if I’d had anything to do with Sandra’s disappearance. It would be a stretch to immediately blame me for it, even though they knew I’d been at the agency asking about Sana; but, both men were very smart and judging from the conversation I’d overheard, Charlie didn’t trust me at all. Of course, it would be a simple thing to just check my phone’s messages and see if Steven had called, but the truth was I was scared to hear his voice. I felt that the sound of his voice might scare me back into submission or shake my newfound confidence so much that I wouldn’t be able to do what I needed to do to help myself or Sandra. I was just plain too scared to find out. I kept my phone off and set it aside to check later.
    Time for Sandra to get up. I started some coffee brewing and went down the hall to knock on her door. I had more questions for her and it was time we sat down for a real talk. Since we’d met yesterday afternoon, our lives had been a non-stop rollercoaster of new horrors and I hadn’t had a chance to learn more about what was really happening in Charlie’s house.
    I knocked softly and pressed my ear against the door to hear if she was getting up. At first there was no sound coming from her room so I knocked again, a little louder. At that, I could hear the bed move and the sound of her sitting up. I could picture her scared little face and I was sorry she couldn’t be allowed to sleep longer. She really was just a child after all. It was tragic that she was facing so much terror.
    “Sandra,” I called through the door. “It’s Katherine. You need to wake up now, okay? Come to the kitchen, I’m making coffee.”
    I heard her sigh and the floor creaked as she stood up. Satisfied that she would be ready to talk soon, I left her alone and went back to the kitchen to see if my mother had any groceries we could use for breakfast.
    Rooting through her cupboards and refrigerator made me feel like I was back in high school trying to find something to make for dinner. I smiled unhappily to think of all the events that had happened to make me come full circle back to this kitchen.
    Finally I unearthed some eggs and spinach and mushrooms that I could use to make omelets for Sandra and me, and I set to work cracking the eggs and chopping and dicing the vegetables.