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No, I haven’t. She grabbed her phone again and looked at the list of calls. She found Mrs. Turnipseed’s number and called it back. She let the phone ring at least fifteen times, but there was no answer. Frustrated, she put the phone down again and went back to petting the dog, trying to keep her fears for Mrs. Turnipseed’s safety at bay. She could only pray that the sheriff’s department or the police department could get to the woman in time to prevent another death.

CHAPTER 22

As she continued to stroke Peanut’s head, An’gel debated whether to share her fears with Dickce. After a moment’s reflection she decided there was no need to wake her sister. Dickce would find out soon enough. One of them ought to have a few more restful moments while she could.

An’gel glanced at the clock. Nearly eleven thirty. Later than she expected. “I might as well get up and get dressed again,” she told Peanut. He seemed happy enough to remain on the bed while she changed clothes and went into the bathroom to brush her hair and check her makeup.

Peanut hopped off the bed when she opened the bedroom door and trotted across the hall to Dickce’s room. He whined and scratched at the door. Moments later the door opened, and Endora walked out. She rubbed her head against Peanut’s and meowed. An’gel watched them with a bemused smile. She had never seen a cat and a dog behave like best friends, but these two shared a strong bond.

“Did you get any rest, Sister?” Dickce asked as she stepped out of her room. “I had a good nap.”

“I did,” An’gel said, “until I was woken by a phone call.” She proceeded to tell Dickce about her conversation with Mrs. Turnipseed and her own calls to urge Kanesha to ensure the woman’s safety.

“I have a bad feeling about this,” Dickce said as she and An’gel walked downstairs, preceded by their four-legged companions.

“I do, too,” An’gel said. “I hope that foolish, venal woman doesn’t come to any harm over this.” She stared down at the phone in her hand. “Surely Kanesha will call soon and let us know what’s going on.”

“She will,” Dickce said. “I don’t know about you, but I’m thirsty. Let’s go to the kitchen and get something to drink.”

An’gel agreed. Peanut and Endora had taken off for the kitchen the moment they reached the bottom of the stairs. The sisters found them getting treats from Clementine.

“You’re spoiling them rotten,” An’gel said.

Clementine laughed. She gave Peanut and Endora each another tidbit. An’gel thought it was boiled chicken.

“They’re still growing,” the housekeeper said. “They need to eat a little extra now and again.”

“As long as now and again isn’t three or four times a day,” An’gel said wryly. She accepted a glass of ice water from her sister and drank half of it. “That hit the spot.”

“What time you reckon y’all be wanting lunch?” Clementine rinsed her hands at the sink and dried them with a hand towel.

“How about one o’clock?” An’gel said.

Dickce nodded. “That sounds good. What are we having?”

“Salad, vegetable soup, and cornbread,” Clementine replied.

“That sounds perfect for a chilly day,” An’gel said. “We’ll have it in the parlor, I think.” She and Dickce refilled their glasses and left the kitchen. Peanut and Endora remained with Clementine, no doubt hopeful for more treats, An’gel thought.

In the parlor they sat at either end of the sofa. An’gel felt disinclined to talk at the moment. Her thoughts remained focused on Mrs. Turnipseed, and she wouldn’t rest easy until she heard from Kanesha. She prayed for the woman, that she would be found safe at home.

When her cell phone rang, An’gel almost dropped her glass. She set it down on the coffee table and pulled out her phone. After a glance at the screen she looked at Dickce and said, “Hadley’s calling.”

Dickce moved closer on the sofa as An’gel answered the call. She set it on speaker so her sister could hear. After an exchange of greetings, An’gel said, “How are you? Have you had any news from the hospital?”

“I’m doing okay, I guess,” Hadley said. “I managed to get a couple of hours’ sleep. I haven’t heard anything from the hospital. I was hoping you might have.”

“No, I haven’t,” An’gel said. “I gave Arliss’s sister my number and I expect she’ll call at some point to let us know how Arliss is doing.”

“I hope so,” Hadley said. “I just can’t get my head around the fact that someone deliberately drove her off the road. I never expected this kind of thing when I decided to come home again.”

“Your return does seem to have acted as a catalyst of some sort.” An’gel hoped her candor wouldn’t offend Hadley, but getting at the truth behind these attacks was more important than bruised feelings.

“Yes, I suppose it has,” Hadley replied. “Excuse me a moment, An’gel.”

An’gel heard another voice in the background. A female, she thought, perhaps Hadley’s housekeeper.