Free Fogbound: A Lin Hanna Mystery by Sharon Canipe Page A

ever
happened.   They even threatened to
not pay my tuition for the fall term unless I transferred.   I was paying for summer school
myself—I have a part-time job, or I did have one, and I had some money
saved—a little bit anyway.   That’s why I was going to summer school.   I thought if I went home for the summer
they’d never let me come back.”
    Lin realized
that there had to be more to this story than Ellie was sharing.   Why were her parents so insistent she
change schools if she was doing well academically?   She wanted to ask but felt she
shouldn’t.   It was up to Ellie to
determine what she wished to share.
    Clearly, the
girl wasn’t ready to say anything more.   She gradually stopped crying and the remainder of the visit passed with
more casual conversation.   Finally,
Lin rose to go downstairs.   Sue
would be arriving soon to pick her up.
    “Are you going
to be discharged tomorrow?” Lin asked.   “Earlier you said you might be going home with your parents when they
came.”
    “I think I
might be,” Ellie said, none too happily. “My Mom talked to the doctor.   I think she wants me to see a specialist
in Charlotte.”
    “I’d love to
see your parents again,” Lin said, “Please give them my regards.”
    “Why don’t you
come back when they come?” Ellie asked. “When I told her you’d been by to see
me, my Mom said she’d love to see you again.”
    Lin knew she
had the next day off, but she wasn’t sure if she should be there when John and
Hilary arrived.   She didn’t want to
invade their personal time with their daughter. “I’ll tell you what,” she
finally said. “I’ll leave you my cell phone number.   When your parents come, if they have
time for a visit, they can give me a call.   I’m off tomorrow and I’d love to see them, but I’ll certainly understand
if they don’t really have time.   Whatever happens tomorrow, you be sure and stay in touch.   I’ll want to know how you’re doing.”

 
    ***
    The next
morning Lin got up early along with Sue.   Even with a day off she didn’t sleep in because she wanted to have her
car. She planned to drive Sue over to the Cone mansion and then return to pick
her up later in the day.   When Sue
picked up their keys the previous evening, she’d made a list of things they
needed to buy for the house.   Dr.
Leonard was storing all of his linens along with some of his better china and
glassware.   The dishes didn’t matter
as there were plenty of everyday things available, but they hadn’t thought to bring
sheets and towels from Lin’s place in Charlotte.
    “I’ll make a
run to WalMart,” Lin said. “We can buy enough to get by until   there’s an opportunity to get back to my
place.   Then we can pick up more if
we need them.”   They’d also made a
list of grocery staples they wanted to have on hand.   These could wait, but Lin thought she
might as well go ahead and shop for them as well.   She’d never liked shopping at
“WallyWorld”, but it was really the best choice for this type of shopping in
Boone, and one trip would be quite enough.
    She went early,
as soon as she returned from dropping Sue off.   The store was open twenty-four/seven and
was less crowded in the early hours.   She’d just finished loading her car with sheets, towels, and an
assortment of groceries when her cell phone rang.   It was Ellie calling from the
hospital.   Her parents were there
and she was, indeed, going to be discharged sometime in the afternoon to return
home with them.
    “Mom and Dad
would really like to see you, and we have to wait here for several hours.   Could you come by?”   Ellie was eager.
    “I would love
to see them,” Lin replied. “I just finished some shopping and I need to take
these things out to the house first.   I should be able to come in about half an hour if that’s ok.”
    “Great, we’re
just waiting on the doctor,” Ellie responded.
    Lin drove out
to Dr. Leonard’s