Free Elizabeth C. Main - Jane Serrano 02 - No Rest for the Wicked by Elizabeth C. Main Page B

herself.
    I looked at her, but my normally loquacious daughter didn’t seem to have anything to add. Were we playing “ Twenty Questions ” ? If so, I needed a few more clues.
    Alix snapped off her yellow rubber gloves and flung them into the now pristine sink. “ I just told the police that one thing. T hey let me come home, so maybe it didn’t matter all that much . ”
    Bianca looked helplessly at me . I was too amazed at Alix’s attitude to answer.
    I found my voice at last. “ You’re right. Why should something as simple as learning that you saw your ex-husband, a man who was murdered later the same day, be of any interest to the sheriff? ” Concern for my friend gave my question a calculated sharpness as I struggled to break through Alix’s defense. I could barely hear her low response.

“ It’s not something I want to think about. ”
    I continued to press her. “ You can avoid the topic with us, but h ow do you plan to avoid it with Arnie ? Unless the murderer strolls into his office and confesses, I guarantee you ’ ll meet Arnie again in his official capacity rather soon . Alix, we’re on your side, but you have to think this through. Probably reporters are setting up their cameras outside right now. ”
    Alix still didn’t seem to get it. “ But I didn’t know Hunter was going to get himself murdered. ”
    “ That’s certainly good news, ” I said . “ And I hope Arnie appreciates that when you discuss the matter again , as I have every expectation that you will. ”
    “ Please don’t be mad at her, Mom, ” Bianca said. If I hadn’t been so focused on getting Alix to take an interest in her potential peril , I’d have been amused at Bianca. My daughter had no trouble finding fault with me for being too conventional, but she skipped right over any possible flaws in Alix, who apparently shed husbands the way an umbrella sheds raindrops. “ Alix is just in shock . She wants your help. Don’t you, Alix? ”
    An uncomfortable silence hung in the air until Alix put out a hand to me. Without actually looking up , she whispered , “ Please. ”
    Embarrassment at witnessing her humiliation washed over me . Some friend I was. My attempt to force her to talk only caused her more pain. I reached out my hand to join hers. We might have remained locked in a tableau of mutual discomfort for some time if Bianca hadn’t piped up.
    “ Should I get some paper, Mom? You know, to take notes? ”
    Now Alix and I cast sidelong looks at each other, smiles tugging at our mouths in spite of the tension between us. Bianca had many fine qualities, but secretarial ability wasn’t among them. The idea of her taking notes was ludicrous.
    “ Thanks for the offer. ” Alix flicked a glance at Bianca before she squared her shoulders and looked at me. “ But what we really need right now is— ”
    “ Tea. I have some nice green tea in my bag, ” Bianca said. “ We could sit and— ”
    “ I was thin king more along the lines of an apology, ” Alix said.
    “ That’s okay. ” A big smile broke out on Bianca’s face. “ We didn’t mind. ”
    Alix tossed her hair impatiently. “ No, it’s not okay, Bianca. ”
    “ You were upset. We knew that. When I was a kid and rude to Mom, she knew I’d just had a fight with a friend or something. She never took it personally. ”
    Yeah, right, I thought. Superwoman that I was, I never took it personally when my daughter was rude to me. I absorbed those situations like a blotter. Couldn’t get enough of them.
    Alix gave Bianca a long, level look that indicated she was reading my mind. When she spoke out loud, she confirmed it. “ Thanks for trying, Bianca. Go ahead and make tea, get paper and pencils for notes, do whatever you want, but please let me get through this apology. I’m out of practice. ” She paused. “ Who am I kidding? I’m not sure I’ve ever tried before … to apologize, I mean. ”
    “ Or ask for help, ” I said slowly.
    “ That either.