“See you later!” Camille said finally, giving up on a response. After a second I said, “Good-bye.” It was lucky I was in a mood to work hard, since the Emersons had made more than their usual mess since my last visit. There were only four of them (Camille, her husband, Cooper, their two boys) but each Emerson was determined to live in the center of chaos. After spending fifteen minutes one day trying to sort out the different sizes of sheets I needed, I’d suggested to Camille that she leave the clean sheets on each bed, ready for me to change. That was much better than extending my time there, since Mondays were always busy for me, and Camille had blanched at the thought of paying me more. We were both happy with the result; that is, when Camille remembered her part.
My cell phone rang while I was drying the newly scrubbed sink in the hall bathroom.
“Yes?” I said cautiously. I still wasn’t used to carrying this phone.
“Hi.”
“Jack.” I could feel myself smiling. I grabbed my mop and cleaning materials in their caddy, awkwardly because of the telephone, and moved down the hall to the kitchen.
“Where are you?”
“Camille Emerson’s.”
“Are you alone?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve got news.” Jack sounded half excited, half uneasy.
“What?”
“I’m catching a plane in an hour.”
“For?” He was supposed to be coming to stay with me tonight.
“I’m working on a fraud case. The main suspect left last night for Sacramento.”
I was even more miserable than I’d been after finding Deedra’s body. I’d looked forward to Jack’s visit so much. I’d even changed my sheets and come home from the gym early this morning to make sure my own little house was spanking clean. The disappointment bit into me.