Page 77 of Roses and Skulls

Why am I letting it get to me? I don’t even like this asshole half the time. He’s done nothing but rock my world since he came to town.

When the girl closes the door behind her, I relax, taking my first look around the room. Red walls and black lace sum it up. An old woman with stark white hair, piled high on her head, sits in a high back chair by a fireplace. “Come here girl, let me see you,” she says, motioning with a hand full of big gaudy rings. “One thing you need to know right now is I don’t allow boyfriends to be hanging around.” She narrows her eyes at Elijah. He stands where he’s at, looking completely terrified to be in her private room.

Quickly, I take a step towards her. “Oh, I’m not here for a job. I just had a few questions if you would indulge me.”

Her eyes widen when I move into the light. She rises from her chair slowly, her body trembling with the effort. “Jesse?” she whispers.

“No, I’m her daughter, Billie Rose,” I offer kindly. I feel bad, she looks like she just saw a ghost.

Elijah is behind me in seconds as if he needs to protect me from her. His hand rests on my back as she reaches out and runs a crooked finger over my cheek.

“My god, you are just as beautiful as she was.” She eases herself back down in her chair, motioning for Elijah and me to sit as well. “Your mother was the sweetest child. She used to work for me, you know?”

My eyebrows shoot so high I think they might have left my face. Bell cackles at my reaction. “Not that kind of work, hun. She used to help me around the place, take the trash out, run and pick up my cigarettes, things like that. She was skinny as a rail that girl. I found things for her to do so that I knew she had money to eat on. Her aunt was a worthless piece of shit.” She taps her bright red nails on the arm of the chair, tilting her head at me curiously. “Anyhow, what can I do for you child?”

I breathe a sigh of relief. I’m not sure why but the thought of my mom being a prostitute didn’t settle as well as her being a killer. “Thank you for giving me a few minutes of your time,” I say, beginning to nervously pick at my nails. “Um, I found some receipts of my grandfather’s…”

She cuts me off. “Oh, honey, that isn’t what you’re thinking either. That man was a saint and a loyal one to boot.”

All of the tension I had been holding releases. I knew he wouldn’t cheat on my grandmother; I should have never doubted him.

“What were the receipts for?” Elijah asks, leaning forward.

The old woman isn’t easily intimidated. She ignores him, remaining focused on me. “One of my girls got knocked up and I took the child in. Bill graciously helped me out financially with him when she took off and left me with the baby.”

Why?

“Why would he do that? You said he didn’t frequent your establishment, so the kid clearly wasn’t his,” Elijah continues to interrogate the old woman, voicing my thoughts out loud.

“I’m sorry,” I say, elbowing him in the ribs. “But I am curious myself.”

She doesn’t seem bothered by either of us, waving a hand in front of her face. “Let’s just say he felt an obligation to help. I can’t say more than that. He tasked me with helping to make sure the little one didn’t end up in the foster care system and he offered to take care of the expense. I never had a child and figured it was my last chance to experience motherhood, so I agreed.”

Elijah stills next to me. Both of us coming to the same conclusion at the same time.

“Was the baby Crow’s son?” I ask.

Her eyes widen but she recovers quickly, shaking her head. “I should have known you’d be a smart girl just like that mama of yours. I can’t say for sure who his daddy is. Like I said his mother worked for me.”

I fall to my knees in front of her, taking her gnarled hands in mine. “Please, my grandpa passed away, so I can’t ask him. Anything you could tell me might help me understand why he would want to help this child.”

She pulls her hand away and pats my cheek as I stare into her makeup caked face. “I didn’t know Bill had passed. I’m sorry.” Her eyes well with tears.

“Please,” I beg.

She pulls at a hair on her chin, and just when I think she’s considering giving me answers, she presses her lips together. “Bill was a good man, one who was trying to protect his family. He made me promise I would never speak of any of this. I’m sorry, hun, but I’m a woman of her word. I’ve said too much already.”

“But..” I glance around, searching for clues.

“Sweetie, do your mama a favor and let this one go,” she says quietly. “I’m leaving all this behind in a few weeks.” She waves her ringed fingers around her room. “There’s a beach on the west coast and a margarita just waiting for me. It’s time for me to move on and leave this shithole behind. I suggest you do the same.” She presses a button, and a big, bald man steps out of a room behind her. “Reuben, can you please see my guests out.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he says, walking towards the door, holding it open for us to follow.

Slowly, I rise to my feet, more confused than when I arrived.

Once we’re outside, I pull away from Elijah and walk down the sidewalk running along the building. He follows closely behind, then I hear a familiar voice coming from behind us.

“Hey, when are you getting in?” I hear Lanie ask.

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