Hide and Snoop (The Odelia Grey Mysteries) (5 page)

five

Zee’s dark hand cupped
Lily’s forehead and cheek. “She has a fever,” she announced, “but just a little one. Nothing to be alarmed about, but she should be in bed. She also needs a bath. A warm bath and bed.” Zee made the announcement like handing out hardcore medical advice.

I felt like a bad mother, even if it was temporary. “I probably shouldn’t have taken her to lunch.”

“Nonsense,” Zee told me. “The child needed to eat, and it gave me a chance to run to the store and pick up some children’s cold medicine, just in case.”

Zee picked up a bottle from the counter, shook it, and measured out a spoonful. “Here, Lily, open wide.”

Lily hesitated, eyeing the concoction with suspicion. She glanced at me, and I gave her a reassuring nod.

“Go ahead, Lily. It will help you feel better,” I said with encouragement. Her little lips pursed in defiance, then like magic she opened her mouth so Zee could dump in the medicine.

Zee held Lily’s little face in her palm again and smiled at the girl. “You’re such a little cutie. We’re going to get along fine, aren’t we, Lily?”

Lily grinned up at her new caretaker, probably sensing she’d finally been passed into the care of someone with competence. Lily had taken immediately to Zee. Of course, it helped that cartoons were playing on the TV when we arrived. Zee was armed and ready—cartoons, cold medicine, and kid-type snacks. She’d even dragged out some of her kids’ old toys and books. The woman was as ready as a high-end daycare, though I would have expected nothing less. As Zee showed me her arsenal, Lily plopped down to watch cartoons, one of Hannah’s old dolls clutched in her arms like a flotation device.

“See,” Zee assured me, “Lily will be much better off here than in that office. As soon as you leave, I’ll dump her into the tub. After, I’ll tuck her in, and we’ll read stories together.” Zee pointed to the small suitcase. “I trust there are some jammies in there.”

“I have no idea what Erica packed. And considering how grubby Lily appears, who knows if what’s in there is clean.”

“If not, I’m sure I can rustle up something.”

I filled Zee in on what was happening at the office and my conversation with Steele.

Zee listened with her usual patience and common sense. “If Woobie lets you go and Steele can guarantee you a job in the fall, it might be good for you to take a few months off in between.”

“It is very tempting.”

“And who knows, maybe the job with Steele might open up sooner.”

I played with the salt and pepper shakers on the kitchen table, occasionally glancing over at Lily, who we could see through the wide door leading to the den.

Zee covered one of my hands with one of hers. We’d known each other over twenty years. She was closer to me than my own family, and there was no one I trusted more besides Greg. “Things always turn out for the best, Odelia. I’ll keep you and Lily in my prayers.”

I gave her a sad smile and squeezed her hand in return. Zee was the better half of this relationship, just as Greg was the better half of our marriage. While I saw the glass half empty, she saw it overflowing. I knew things would work out. Maybe not to my personal satisfaction, but in the end the dust would settle, and I’d have a place to go—either with Steele or someplace new. Or maybe a new opportunity would present itself, one I hadn’t considered yet. In the meantime, all I saw ahead of me was a road strewn with potholes and land mines.

“I’m not so sure,” Zee added, giving my hand a final pat, “that staying at Woobie is best for you, even if they don’t fire you. You haven’t been happy there since that merger.”

“Greg says the same thing.”

Zee held up a teapot of Constant Comment tea she’d brewed just before I’d arrived. “Tea?”

I shook my head. “No, thanks. I guzzled a lot of iced tea at the restaurant.”

Zee poured herself a cup and set the pot down. “Have you told Greg yet what’s going on with Lily and the office?”

“Not yet. I wanted to get Lily settled with you first. I’ll call him on my way back to the office.” I stared out the window at the back yard. Greg and I had been married there, right next to the swimming pool. We’d met there for the first time, too.

“I really don’t want to go back to the office.” I groaned—an ailing cow being led to slaughter.

“Then don’t,” Zee said simply. “Stay here with us today or go out and do something fun to take your mind off everything.”

“I have to go back to the office.” I continued to look out the window.

“What are they going to do, fire you?”

I turned my head. “Good point.”

Zee took a sip of her hot tea. I could see she was giving my situation considerable thought. “Does Carl know you have Lily?”

I raised my head, wondering where she was going with this train of thought. “I don’t know. Why?”

“If they lay you off today, what becomes of Lily? They can’t expect a fired employee to be saddled with the kid of a partner.”

“So I should take Lily back and hand her over to Carl after he fires me?”

We both turned to look at the child in question. Lily was still in front of the TV, sitting cross-legged and half babbling, half singing to the African-American baby doll cradled in her arms.

“You could,” Zee said after turning back around to me. “But that’s not the best thing for Lily.”

I started to get up from the table, groaning as I lifted myself to my feet. “Tell you what, I’ll go back and take my medicine, whatever it might be. I’ll let Carl know Erica left the kid in my care and ask him what he plans to do about it. Put the problem on him.”

“Sounds like a good plan. In the meantime, Lily can stay here and get some rest.”

I picked up my purse. “I should have talked to Carl anyway when Erica started leaving Lily with me. It’s really inappropriate.”

“One thing more, Odelia.”

Uh-oh. Zee’s voice had changed from supportive to warning.

“You said Lily’s mother is missing. Is that true?” she asked.

“That’s what I heard.”

Zee lifted a hand and pointed an index finger at me. “No matter what happens—no matter what they ask of you—don’t you
dare
start nosing around in that business.”

I was taken aback by the order. “Why would I?”

“I’m just saying…”

With her words hanging in the air like a bad stench, I left the table. Going into the den, I squatted down by Lily. “I have to go back to the office, Lily, but you’re going to stay here with Zee. Okay?”

Lily turned her cornflower blue eyes on me, and for a minute I thought she might start to cry. She clutched the doll tighter.

“I’ll be back later to get you. I promise,” I added quickly as I stroked her hair. “Be a good girl, and let Zee take care of your cold. Okay?” I offered up another chance for her to agree.

This time Lily surrendered a little nod. Bending down more, I gave the little girl a hug. She wrapped her arms around my neck and clung like a monkey to a vine.

Once I disentangled myself from Lily, I gave her a final pat on the head and started for the back door. I had just given Zee a hug goodbye and a word of thanks when a high-pitched, blood-curdling scream came from the den. Both Zee and I turned to find Lily standing at the doorway, her once-sweet face transformed into a gargoyle. She was screaming at the top of her lungs, rivulets of tears running down her flushed face.

Zee stayed where she was, but I rushed to Lily, holding out my arms. She launched herself into them and latched herself around my neck.

I looked at Zee in total surprise. “What’s the matter with her? A moment ago she seemed okay.”

“She’s three, Odelia. Three-year-olds can be as temperamental as a half-dozen women in menopause.”

Great
. Lily and I should make a fine pair.

I wrapped my arms around my charge, feeling her warm body melt into mine as her crying subsided. I was lost without a map when it came to kids.

“She’s also not feeling well and needs a nap.” Zee headed to the kitchen counter with the teapot and her cup. “Not to mention, poor Lily has been handed off quite a bit in the past few days. Maybe one more stranger is her breaking point.”

“But she seemed to like you.” I put Lily down. She stood straight but clung to my left leg like a plaster cast.

“She does like me.” Zee rinsed out her teacup and wiped her hands on a nearby kitchen towel. “And tomorrow she might be just dandy staying here. She’ll probably be fine ten to twenty minutes after you leave today. Hard to tell.”

I considered my options, then went back to the table to retrieve my phone from my bag. Lily moved with me like a leg iron, not letting go of the choke hold she had above my knee.

I hit the entry for the firm’s main line. After two rings it was answered by our receptionist.

“Carl’s been looking for you for a couple of hours, Odelia. Where’ve you been? Isn’t your cell phone working?”

I felt a twinge of guilt. I’d left the firm without letting Joyce know, but that had been my plan. “Don’t worry, Joyce. I’m calling to tell you I won’t be back this afternoon. Lily’s not feeling well, so I’m taking her home with me.” I paused, then added in a tone of surrender, “Why don’t you put me through to Carl.”

“Denise Morales is in with Carl now, so you might want to wait a few minutes and call back, or I can put you into his voice mail.”

Denise Morales. I wondered how much Joyce knew about the layoffs. One of the positions that wasn’t duplicated in the merger was that of receptionist, so I felt confident Joyce still had a job. Denise wasn’t so lucky. She worked in our file room, and Hamlin-Hawke had brought over a couple of their own file clerks. In all honesty, they did seem more efficient than Denise. Maybe folks felt the same about Mark and me—that he was the more efficient paralegal when it came down to the work itself.

“Did you know about Hope and Kelsey?” I asked Joyce.

“Yes, very sad.” Her voice was low and guarded.

I wondered if Joyce knew my head was on the chopping block, too. Probably she did. Seemed like everyone knew.

“They also let go the Hamlin-Hawke mail guy,” Joyce added, “and Susan, the litigation secretary they brought over.”

I was sad for those folks, but it was nice to see it wasn’t just Woobie employees being tossed out the door.

“Thanks for the info, Joyce. You can put me through to Carl’s voice mail now.”

I told Carl the same thing I’d told Joyce—Lily was ill, and I was taking her home and putting her to bed. His office was on the other side of the building from mine, so I didn’t know if he was aware of Lily’s continuing presence, but I didn’t take the time to explain. I could do that if he called back.

My next call was to Alyce Allen. I gave her the same spiel.

“So Lily’s with you?” she asked.

“Yes. Erica asked me to take her until Monday.”

I looked down just in time to catch Lily wiping her runny nose on my skirt. The skirt was brand new and probably would never be the same. I looked over at Zee, who was watching with amusement, no doubt remembering the clothing she’d sacrificed at the altar of motherhood.

“Alyce, I left my computer on. Would you go in and log it off for me?”

“Sure, Odelia. Glad to do it.” She paused long enough to clear her throat. “It’s probably best you’re not here anyway. A lot of folks are getting the axe this afternoon, both from your old firm and mine.”

“That’s what I’ve heard.” It was my turn to throat-clear. “Have you heard anything about Mark or me?”

“No, but Mark’s been circling our area like a buzzard.”

“He’s probably waiting for the all-clear signal to claim my office.”

“No doubt, but if they have to choose one of you to go, I hope it’s him. He’s a real pill.”

I smiled. While I would have called Mark Baker a bastard or an SOB, Alyce never swore. Calling someone a pill was strong language for her. “Thanks, Alyce. I appreciate that. Any word from Erica?”

“None. I have no idea where she is or when she’s returning, and there’s nothing on her calendar. Did she say anything to you?”

“I’m lucky she speaks to me at all.”

When I ended the call, Zee handed me a small grocery bag she’d been packing during my call to the firm. “What’s this?” I asked.

“The children’s cold medicine. Give Lily another dose before bed. There’s also a plastic baggie of Cheerios in there. Kids love to snack on those. I’m sure you have other kiddie foods in your fridge.”

Lily was still clinging to my leg. I patted her head with assurance. “You may be sure,” I answered Zee, “but I’m not. We were going to have catfish with wild rice and steamed vegetables for dinner tonight. Think she’ll eat that?”

“I doubt it. Little ones can be very fussy eaters. Try mac and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, hot dogs, chicken noodle soup, chicken fingers, PB and J, even waffles cut into bite-size pieces. Bananas, apples wedges, and applesauce are also good. I know you have some of those things at home.”

Zee was right, most of those items were in my pantry and fridge already, and Greg was the king of grilled cheese. “She had chicken fingers for lunch.”

Squatting down, I went face to face with Lily. “Do you want to go to my house, Lily? I have two kitties and a doggie.”

The hysteria of a few minutes ago was forgotten as she nodded with enthusiasm. “I go Cheesehead Squirrel’s house!”

Zee squinted at us. “Cheesehead what?”

“Nothing,” I answered quickly. “Just a character she saw at lunch.”

I stood and started rounding up Lily and her stuff for the trip to Seal Beach. The kid did look dog-tired and raggedy. She rubbed her eyes and yawned as I put on her sweater. I’d bet one of Greg’s kick-ass grilled cheese sandwiches Lily would sleep most of the way to my house.

We were almost out the door when my cell phone rang. It was Carl Yates. I showed the phone to Zee.

“You have to talk to him sometime, Odelia. Just do it and get it over with.”

I took a very deep breath, held it, and blew it out as the ringing continued. Another ring and the call would go to voice mail. At the last moment I caved and punched the answer button. “Yes, Carl?”

“I just got your message.” He sounded tired. Carl Yates was a tough lawyer but a very nice man. Throwing people out of work, especially employees he’s known for years, had to be killing him. “You’re not coming back to work because of a sick kid? Did you and Greg adopt when I wasn’t looking?”