Dean was loading three full sacks in the rear of his Jeep when he was surprised to see Ginger Dawkins several yards away. She stood with a tall, good-looking man with a rounded haircut that might have been stylish somewhere but to Dean looked silly.
"Looks like one of our guests is making a friend," Dean said to his wife as Ginger reached out and held the man's hand. It was unclear if the gesture was a token of affection or made to emphasize a point in her animated conversation.
"Let's be smart for once and mind our own business," Cynthia said as she stepped into the Jeep. "We have enough on our minds." Both remembered the last time they'd watched a guest meet with a stranger and the no-end-to trouble that followed.
After lunch, Cynthia borrowed a practice from Fred as she began to make a list of her own. The three were once again rocking away on the front porch. Whether it was wedding plans, baby names, or ways to kill her son, Dean didn't know. He tested the waters by broaching the subject.
"I'm glad you're coming to terms with this business," he said, trying to sound nonchalant.
"No, I'm not 'coming to terms,'" she answered with a chill. "I just decided it was a fait accompli and we might as well address the situation as best we can. That's all." Which sounded to Dean exactly like 'coming to terms,' but who was he to say?
Thankfully, Fred changed the subject, and in his old manner produced his Dick Tracy Crime Stoppers list of investigative procedure relative to Martha's bones.
"I plan to start checking the old newspapers for missing persons, soon as the library opens tomorrow," he said. "There must be some record. Maybe the courthouse records, too."
"Let's see," Dean answered. "About a hundred years of a weekly paper-that's about five thousand copies. Except maybe in the early days they printed dailies, so you better add a few to the number. Looks like this chore is going to cut into your garage sale and auction time. Not to mention your campaign manager job and jury duty."
"I'll narrow the search down some. Soon as this Fitzgerald guy calls with the details, we'll have a better idea of the time frame. He sure is taking his time investigating."
"I'd have been shocked if he didn't take his sweet time going up to the mine. Besides, it's Sunday."
"Crime don't take weekends off," Fred grumbled, then added, "that's kind of catchy. Maybe I'll use it as a campaign slogan!"
"I'm sure the bones will be the first thing Martha asks about when she calls," Cynthia said. There had been no mention of the lack of contact from the girl, but all three were disappointed no call had been received.