"May we come in?" Howard asked, his expression grim.
"Certainly," she replied as if it were a social visit.
Instinctively her fingers affirmed her hair was in order for the mug shot. The blue skirt and sweater were a little dressy for jail, but they'd no doubt give her some fashionable stripes to wear anyway.
"Miss Anderson," Len began in a formal tone.
"Oh for heaven's sake, Len. Don't be so rigid. You have a job to do so spit it out."
He looked startled for a moment, and then composed himself. "Connie should be here any minute. We'll just wait for her."
Lisa frowned. "Why involve Connie? She doesn't know anything."
Howard frowned. "It's best you don't say anything right now."
She sat down obediently in the chair and crossed her legs. "How have you been, Len?"
Len looked uncomfortable and glanced at Howard as if for support. "This isn't a social visit."
Lisa sighed. "I know. So why wait for reinforcement?"
Headlights flashed on the curtains briefly and a car door slammed. Quick steps crossed the porch. Lisa started to get up but Howard motioned her to sit still while he answered the door.
"What took you so long?" His voice was sharp.
Connie glanced from him to Lisa. "Have you told her yet?"
Howard shook his head and Len cleared his throat.
"Miss Anderson, I'm here to inform you of an accident."
Lisa stared at him. "Accident? Who?" Her gaze went from Len's stoic face to Howard and then to Connie, who looked pale. Fear clutched at her throat. "Who?"
Len snatched the forgotten hat from his head. "Your parents."
Her heart hesitated a moment, contracting for a race. "How bad? Where? Was someone hurt?" They wouldn't all be there unless something terrible had happened. Her heart leaped into a gallop as she stared at Len.
"A train hit their car." Len's face was pasty white and for a moment she thought he was going to throw up.
"A train?" The unexpected information was coming so fast it was hard to absorb. Everyone was staring at her as if they expected her to faint or something. Slowly her mind grasped the situation. Someone must have been killed. Her mouth felt dry and her voice was barely a whisper. "Someone was killed, weren't they? Who?"
Len had regained his composure. "I'm sorry. No one survived."