Page 85 of The Woman Who Couldn't Scream
Lilith sniffed with such disdain Merida thought Phoebe was going to fling herself into battle armed with a serving fork.
Someone edged into the room from the direction of the kitchen.
A young man; Merida had seen him loitering on the premises, living in the supply shack at the far back, occasionally dashing toward the house and coming away with food and drink. She recognized him from her research: Phoebe’s son, Evan Glass, recently released from prison. Now he watched his mother, listened to the battle, smiled and swung his arms like a fighter against an imaginary opponent.
As much as Merida hated to miss the rest of the fight, if he was going to get involved, she would consider a retreat to her rooms.
A knock sounded on the front door. It opened.
More combatants?
Kateri walked in holding a plastic catering tray in one arm, her walking stick in her hand.
Phoebe’s son speedily backed out of the room.
Yes, he definitely had something to hide.
Merida signed, “Hello!”
Phoebe shrieked, “Sheriff Kwinault, thank God you got here.” She pointed. “Arrest that woman!”
Kateri said, “Hello, Merida, good to see you. How’s the entertainment?”
Merida gave her a thumbs-up.
From her chair, Lilith called, “Katherine, is that you?”
Kateri walked to the arched doorway. “Yes, Lilith. Please, per your innkeeper’s request, would you vacate the parlor?”
“Not until my bedroom is cleaned.”
Phoebe started shouting again. “My maid didn’t show up for work. I can’t hire someone else because everyone in this town is already employed. I can’t get it all done by myself.Make her move!” She seemed to expect Kateri to draw her pistol.
Instead Kateri said, “Lilith, tonight I go to my quilting club. Would you care to go with me?”
Lilith’s struggle between staying to annoy Phoebe and going out with her sister was almost audible.
Kateri slid Merida a sideways, conspiring glance. “Come on, Lilith.” She headed into the parlor. “I know how important your support of early American crafts is to you. Here’s a chance to see a contemporary quilting group in session. It is, I believe, exactly like the historical gatherings and a fascinating glimpse of culture in the western states.” She came out, arm in arm with her sister.
They were a contrast: Lilith with her blond hair, perfectly made-up face, casual vacation dress and superior irritation and Kateri, so very Native American with long dark hair pinned under a sheriff’s brimmed hat and amused brown eyes.
Kateri smiled brightly at Phoebe. “We’re going out.” To Merida, she said, “Want to come?”
Merida did want to come. Not because her sewing skills were any better than Kateri’s, but because she had spent much of the last twenty-four hours with Benedict and things were getting… worrisome. As if she should have taken her chances with the slasher. Not that Benedict was pushy. Not in the slightest. In fact, there hadn’t been even a suggestion of another kiss. Worse, when he thought she wasn’t looking, he watched her as if he suspected… something. When she thought of the somethings he might suspect—her long-ago identity or her plan for vengeance or both—she wanted to get as far away from him as possible. He had tried to kill her once before. He was not the kind of man who would fail a second time.
In answer to Kateri, she held up one finger, hurried into her room, grabbed her purse and a sweater—evenings so close to the ocean often became chilly—came out and activated the locks on her door. She turned to find Phoebe and Lilith locked in a glaring contest. She wanted to tell Phoebe she didn’t stand a chance; instead she took Lilith’s other arm and started toward the porch.
Her gesture broke up the impasse and earned her a look of gratitude from Kateri.
As they stepped outside into the early evening, Lilith asked, “We’rewalking?”
“Yes,” Kateri said. “My only vehicle is a patrol car. I left it in its parking spot at City Hall in case someone needs it. Anyway, if I’d brought it, you’d have to sit in the back.” In the back with the cage between the front seat and the doors with no handles.
“Ihave a car,” Lilith said. “I rented it in Seattle and I’ve hardly driven it.”
“The library is only a few blocks. Almost everything in Virtue Falls is only a few blocks.” Kateri gestured north. In a solicitous tone, she added, “Unless you have difficulty walking?”
“Of course not! Every day I walk vigorously for exercise!” Lilith started swiftly in the direction Kateri had indicated. “Although I do prefer the gym. There’s quite a sufficient gym here, but it’s very busy. After my first time there, they have not had room for me to work out.”
