بخش 03 - فصل 26

26 As they walk down to the elevator, he asks Janey something that’s been troubling him ever since she

called yesterday afternoon. “Do you think the questions about Olivia brought on your mother’s stroke?” She shrugs, looking unhappy. “There’s no way to tell. She was very old–at least seven years older than Aunt Charlotte, I think–and the constant pain beat her up pretty badly.” Then,

reluctantly: “It could have played a part.” Hodges runs a hand through his hastily combed hair, mussing it again. “Ah, Jesus.” The elevator dings. They step in. She turns to him and grabs both of his hands. Her voice is swift and urgent. “I’ll tell you something, though. If I had to do it over again, I still

would. Mom had a long life. Ollie, on the other hand, deserved a few more years. She wasn’t terribly happy, but she was doing okay until that bastard got to her. That . . . that cuckoo bird. Stealing her car and using it to kill eight people and hurt I don’t know how many more wasn’t enough for him, was it? Oh, no. He had to steal her mind.”

“So we push forward.” “Goddam right we do.” Her hands tighten on his. “This is ours, Bill. Do you get that? This is ours.” He wouldn’t have stopped anyway, the bit is in his teeth, but the vehemence of her reply is good to hear. The elevator doors open. Holly, Aunt Charlotte, and Uncle Henry are waiting in the

lobby. Aunt Charlotte regards them with her inquisitive crow’s eyes, probably prospecting for what Hodges’s old partner used to call the freshly fucked look. She asks what took them so long, then, without waiting for an answer, tells them that the breakfast buffet looks very thin. If they were hoping for an omelet to order, they’re out of luck.

Hodges thinks that Janey Patterson is in for several very long days.