Page 34 of Gem Warfare

“I see. Let me get Pearl settled and I’ll be back with you.”

I waited a few minutes and then Ronnie opened the door again. “Sorry to keep you waiting,” she said. “I’m employed by Pearl’s children to look after her. She has dementia but we’ve found it best not to mention it in front of her. It’s not too far progressed yet but her memory isn’t what it was. She’s very lucid today but I’m not sure she can help you at all; and I’ve only worked here six months so I don’t think I’ll be any use either. The detective that came by yesterday evening said the body was in the ground a long time.”

I thanked Ronnie, and told her a few simple details she could pass on to Pearl’s children to reassure them she was safe before saying goodbye, knowing I wouldn’t find any information here. As I returned to the street, my stomach gave a low grumble so I figured now would be a good time to visit my parents and their kitchen.

~

I arrived before Garrett. I tried the door but it was locked and when I rang the doorbell, no one answered. Just as I was about to step back, I heard footsteps on the path behind me.

“There you are,” said Mom. “I thought you’d be by earlier. Did you come by earlier? We were out. Your father needed a new drill so we went to the hardware store.” My father, coming up the path behind her, waved.

“No, I just came now. I didn’t realize you were out. I thought you’d be home. You said to come for lunch.”

“Why would you think that?” asked Mom.

“You texted me!” I checked my watch. It was definitely a reasonable time for lunch.

“I do leave the house, you know. Just because we’re retired doesn’t mean we don’t have busy lives.”

“Got a great drill,” said Dad, holding up a box so I could see. “I’m going to put up shelves.”

“Sounds amazing,” I said.

“We do more interesting things than buy drills and put up shelves,” continued Mom, huffing at my father ruining her attempts to sound interesting. “I picked up a brochure for the archeology course at the adult education center. It doesn’t say anything about digging up skeletons. You’d think that would be on the syllabus.”

“Thankfully not,” said Dad, unlocking the door and stepping inside.

“I suppose you’ve had enough experience with that,” huffed Mom as he headed into the kitchen.

“I have,” he called back. “I don’t need to see any more dead bodies in this lifetime.”

Mom shook her head and continued, “I went down the street to check on the Dugans’ house first thing and see what the situation is. They have one police officer stationed outside.”

“He looked bored,” said Dad, returning. “He said they expect to be finished soon. The cadaver dogs went over the house and yard and didn’t find anything else.”

“Garrett mentioned that,” I said. “There’s no need for a police presence once they removed the body and finished examining the yard.”

“You tell your father that like he’s not a retired detective,” said Mom, shooting me a look.

“She’s right,” said Dad, without specifying which “she” he meant.

“Can you imagine cadaver dogs inside the house?” Mom shook her head as she stepped past me and whacked me with her shopping bag.

“Ow! I can. It was sensible to do.” I rubbed my arm and pulled a face at her back.

“Hmph,” snorted Mom.

“We’re glad we don’t have an unsanctioned graveyard on the street,” said Dad. “Although I always fancied living next to one, if only for the quiet.”

“Absolutely not,” said Mom, shaking her head and rolling her eyes. She hustled to the kitchen as we trailed behind her. The house was quiet, cool, and unnaturally still. It felt less like home without the chaos of my siblings, nieces, and nephews, although I was sure my mom probably appreciated the peace. I could only secretly hope that I would contribute to the noisy brood sooner rather than later.

“So, what can you tell me about the former occupants? Did you know any of them?” I asked.

“I told you she’d ask. Didn’t I, Steve? Didn’t I?” Mom bristled happily.

“Yes,” said Dad. “Do you want to see my drill?”

“Maybe later.”

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