Page 18 of Trailer Trash

“Ask you what?”

“Ask me how Beasley got out of jail.”

Beasley was out of jail?How?“What do you want, Kate?”

“I want you to be a better sister. I want you to visit me more often.” She glanced up at Jed and licked her upper lip. “Mmm . . . and bring him back with you.”

“You’re doin’ this because you want me to comevisit?”

“And tell me about Joe. How’s he doing? I haven’t seen him since you both came together.”

“I’m not spying on Joe for you.”

“Spying? What are you talking about? He’s our brother. I want to hear about his life. Is he dating anyone?”

I shook my head in disgust.

“Is that a ‘no, he’s not dating anyone’?”

“How did you know about the azaleas?”

She leaned closer and tapped the desk with her index fingernail. “That was a tough one, I’ll give you that. And you have no idea how hard it was to get those flowers out of season.” She gave me a patronizing smile. “See what a good sister I am?”

“You dragged me up here to tell me you want me to visit you more often?”

“Is that a problem?”

“You couldn’t tell me in a letter?”

“What would the fun be in that?”

I wasn’t getting anything, but then again, why was I surprised? She loved the smell of fear and desperation, and right now I reeked of it.

“I want weekly visits,” Kate said, examining her nail beds. “Bring fire-engine red nail polish and paint my nails next time. That’s something sisters do, right?”

I didn’t answer.

“And I want Joe to know about the visits, but he can’t come. Just you and me.” She flicked her finger toward Jed. “But you can bring him.He’sa pretty picture.” She got to her feet and slowly glided toward him. “If you make your weekly meetings, then the letters will stop and your secret will be safe.”

“Until you change the rules,” I said.

“Rules are always changing, sis.” She stopped in front of Jed and ran her fingers from his shoulder to the crook of his elbow. “You should have learned that lesson by now too.”

I wasn’t about to admit she was right.

Kate looked up into Jed’s face. “Do you have a name, handsome?”

To his credit, his expression of disinterest could have been carved from granite. “What do you know about the Murray portfolio?” he asked.

Her eyes flew wide and she burst out into gleeful laughter. “Oh, youarea surprise. I suppose meeting in this office wasyourdoing?”

Jed didn’t respond.

“And what makes you think I know anything about the Murray portfolio?” Kate asked.

He remained silent.

“Does Neely Kate know about the Murray portfolio?” She glanced toward me. “No, I don’t think you do. But does your man know about Beasley?”

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