A Timely Vision

Miss Mildred put her hand back in mine, and we both closed our eyes. I was beginning to get a clear picture of something in the house. It looked like a large jar, the decorative kind, painted in a blue and white Chinese motif. It seemed to be on a shelf, but it was difficult to say which room it was in. I concentrated harder, trying to pinpoint the area.

There was a loud rap at the door, startling everyone in the quiet room. The woman with the bad green sweater jumped up and opened the door. Another attendant, along with Jerry Richards and a man in a dark suit who had to be a lawyer, stood in the doorway.

“I have a legal document that says these people can’t talk to my great aunt,” Jerry said. “Serve it, Mr. Hudson. I want all of you out of here. Don’t try to see her again. It’s not good for her, and you aren’t family.”

How had I never noticed the nasty little wrinkles on Jerry’s face? He looked like a large, ugly ferret, already counting the money he’d make from the sale of his great aunts’ properties. I knew I wouldn’t know the difference between a real legal document that forbade me from seeing Miss Mildred and something Jerry had made up. I looked at Kevin to help me out.

He got to his feet and held his hand out to the lawyer in the doorway. “I’m Kevin Brickman, Ms. O’Donnell’s attorney. I’d like to see that document.”

He was so smooth, so believable. It was as if he’d been planning for this moment all morning. It reminded me of all the old police detective shows I’d ever watched on TV. Apparently, things like this really did happen.

Mr. Hudson shook Kevin’s hand with deliberation, then took a document from his briefcase. “I believe you’ll find everything in order.”

Kevin glanced at the document and nodded to me. I trusted his judgment—he’d certainly seen more warrants and court orders than I ever had. Since becoming mayor, I’d seen and signed a lot of resolutions and proclamations, but they weren’t the same thing.

“I’m afraid I’ll have to leave, Miss Mildred.” I leaned close to her and kissed her cheek whispering, “Don’t fret. I’ll be back, and I’ll get you out of this place. I promise.”

I thought she might cry again, but she held on to her dignity. “I know you will, child. I’ll wait for you.” Then she turned her pointed gaze to Jerry. “So you’re the young mischief maker who thinks he can sell my house, my father’s house, out from under me. You’ve got a lot to learn, young man. Wait until I tell your grandfather.”

Jerry smirked, not at all concerned by her threat. “You take care of yourself, Aunt. I’ll take care of everything else.”

Kevin and I left the room. Jerry and his lawyer stayed behind. I could hear his explicit instructions to both attendants all the way down the hall. I was never to be let in to see Miss Mildred again. I was a troublemaker who only wanted to make her unhappy.

“Did you see anything?” Kevin whispered, close at my side.

“Yes. I think I can find it. I wish I’d had a few more minutes to clarify which room it’s in—Miss Mildred has a lot of bric-a-brac. But I’ll have to search until I find it.”

“I’ll help you. I’m sure we can get all the help you need.”

We went back out to the truck and got inside. I grinned at Kevin as he fastened his seat belt. “That was awesome how you stepped in. You almost had me believing you were a lawyer. I bet you used to do things like that all the time.”

He started the truck. “All the time.”

“And you don’t miss that?”

“Not at all. This is almost too much excitement for me.”

“You’re teasing, right? You really wanted to help, didn’t you?”

“As much as you want to paint, which by the way, we’ll have to get to sooner or later. What do you make of the relationship between Bunk Whitley and the two sisters? It sounds like he was courting them both.”

“He was a man about town.” I settled back for the trip home. It was hard not to be anxious about finding the power of attorney, but the truck could only go so fast. As Gramps was fond of saying, we’d get there when we got there. “And don’t make it sound like it’s my fault we haven’t painted. You haven’t painted either.”

“But that could change if the rain ever stops. I hope you’re prepared for that.”

“Do you think Bunk killed Johnny, like Max suggested, then skipped town?”

“It wouldn’t surprise me. If so, it turned out to be a good plan. Since it took thirty years for someone to buy the Blue Whale and find Johnny, it seems likely that Bunk, or whoever killed him, will get off without consequences.”

“Or someone else will get the blame.”

“There may still be a way to pin this on Bunk. If they can’t match DNA, they might be able to match fingerprints. It occurs to me that they may be able to get a look at his fingerprints from his military records.”

“But would fingerprints be enough to convince a jury he was responsible for Johnny’s death? Because it seems to me Bunk’s fingerprints would be all over the inn.”