Free Fogbound: A Lin Hanna Mystery by Sharon Canipe

weekend.   He’s leaving town on Saturday evening so
we can move into the house next Sunday if we wish.   He wants us to pick up the keys before
the weekend.”
    “That’s
wonderful news,” Lin almost shouted. “I’m supposed to work next Sunday but I
feel sure I can swap a day to be off for moving.   I’ll talk to Rachel tomorrow.”
    “Hopefully,
that will work,” Sue said.   “I’m
already off on Sunday but I have no desire to unpack all our junk alone.”
    “We need to
celebrate this,” Lin said. “ How about we go down to Applebee’s for a cold beer
before we retire for the night?”
    “I’m in” Sue
said with a high five. “This lodge is a great place to stay, but I’m more than
ready to spread out a little even after only a few days.”
    Before leaving
to celebrate, they told Sally Mackey that they would be leaving the lodge next
Sunday.
    “I’ll miss you
ladies,” Sally smiled, “but I certainly understand your desire for a bigger
place.   I’ll enter your room
availability in the computer right now.”
    It was almost
midnight by the time Sue and Lin crawled into bed but they quickly fell asleep.

Chapter 5

 
    Tuesday evening
saw Lin heading once more into the medical center to visit Ellen.   Sue had decided to go out to the house
to pick up their keys and check on a few last minute questions.   The hospital was right on the way so Sue
drove and dropped Lin off, planning to pick her up in about an hour.
    Ellen looked
much better than she had the day before.   She was still quite pale, but her facial swelling had abated somewhat
and someone had helped her put her hair in braids.   Lin commented on her obvious improvement.
    “I do feel
better,” Ellie said.   “They’ve cut
back on some of the pain medication and I don’t feel so sleepy and groggy.   My folks just called from the airport in
Charlotte and they’re going to drive up tonight; they’ll be here first thing in
the morning.”   This last was said
without much enthusiasm.   Lin sensed
that Ellen was not altogether happy that her parents would soon be in town, but
she didn’t say anything.
    Instead, Lin
talked about her day on the Parkway and their plans to move into the house the
following weekend.   “That’s why
Sue’s not here,” she explained. “She went to get our keys and make sure we have
all the information we need to look after things out there.”
    “That’s a great
deal you got,” Ellie remarked. “I know Dr. Leonard, he teaches Art
History.   I had him for a class last
fall.   He’s really interesting.   I may major in art …if I get to stay in
school here…”
    Lin realized
that Ellie was close to tears again.   She pulled her chair closer to the bed and reached for the girl’s hand.
“Why would you leave school, Ellie? I mean, you may have to take a break while
you recover from all this, but that doesn’t mean you’d have to drop out.”
    “No, that’s not
it.   I’m a rising sophomore and I
have good grades and all that but it’s my parents.   They were already after me to come home
and transfer to UNC Charlotte before this happened.   Now my Mom says that’s absolutely what I
must do.   I love the university here,
and I really don’t want to leave,” tears were flowing freely now.
    Lin tried to
provide some comfort and reason, “Ellie, I’m sure your parents are really upset
about what happened to you this weekend.   After all, you were shot, and Pete was killed.   I’d be scared too if you were my
daughter.   Try to understand.   Right now you need to focus on healing
and rehabilitation.   You’ll need
help; it makes sense that they want to take you back home.   Take things a step at the time.   Maybe they’ll feel differently
later.   They just want what’s best
for you.”
    “I understand
what you’re saying, but that’s not it,” Ellie was clearly upset; she was crying
even harder. “They were already after me to leave here before this