LITMIR.BIZ

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with that, she disappeared into the house. Erica handed Angie a bag. “Those are her meds. I set up her weekly box, so all she has to do is take them with meals.”

      “Should I put this in her room?” Angie jiggled the plastic box with letters on the top of twenty-one sections. Morning, noon, and night. The plan seemed easy enough.

      “The way she’s acting, if you do that, you might not see her all week.” Erica grabbed the last bag and walked with Angie to the house. “I’d set them up on the kitchen counter. I’m sorry she’s being such a problem. I would have thought she’d be over her tiff by now.”

      “Not your fault. And, no,” Angie added when she saw the haunted look in the young woman’s eyes, “it’s not wrong for you to want some normal time off. You deserve a week alone having fun. She’ll get over it.”

      “You may not be so supportive when I leave and you have to deal with the fallout.” Erica held open the screen door. “I’m going back to put these in her room and hang up her clothes. I’ll be right back out, but then I need to leave. My plane takes off in a few hours, and I still have to get to Boise.”

      “We’ll be fine,” Angie called after the retreating Erica. She looked down at Dom. “Right, boy? We’ll be fine. What kind of problems can an elderly woman give us?”

      Dom looked at her like he couldn’t believe she asked the question. Angie made herself a plate from all the food on the counter and sat down at the table to eat.

      When Erica came back, she nodded to the spread. “You sure you don’t want to grab something to take with you?”

      She glanced at her watch, then grabbed a plate. “I’m mostly packed anyway.”

      Erica filled her plate with eggs, bacon, and hash brown potatoes. “So, did you hear about the dead girl? I knew Heather from school. I mean, she wasn’t in my class or anything, but she was attending Boise State. Nursing school, I think.”

      “I did hear. I met her over at Pamplona Farms last week. I guess she was dating Javier?”

      Erica shrugged and, between bites, told what she knew. “Javier doesn’t really date. He’s all about the one-night stands. So when Heather started talking about them like they were a couple, I knew she was going to have a bad fall when he dumped her. The girl was nice, but really naïve.”

      “Did you date him?” Angie decided to keep using the word, even though Erica had been clear that Javier’s intentions were more of the gigolo variety.

      Erica brayed a laugh. “Me? Sorry, I’m not quite his type. He likes them young, blond, and missing a few brain cells. I always thought Heather was too smart for him, but I guess she hid that side of her when they were together.”

      “Maybe Heather was seeing someone else too?”

      “No way. That girl had wedding bells in her head.” Erica glanced at the clock. “Crap. I’ve got to run. If you need me, you have my cell. I’ll fly back if you can’t handle her or if something happens.”

      “Nothing’s going to happen, and you are not cutting your vacation short just because I can’t handle your grandmother.” Angie stood and gave her a bag of cookies. “Here, I thought you might want these for your long trip. I packed extra for you to be able to share.”

      “You’re so sweet. I appreciate this.” Erica headed to the door. “I just hope you’re still talking to me next Monday when I come to collect her.”

      Angie made swishing motions with her hands. “Go, shoo. Before I change my mind.”

      Waving and laughing, Erica headed out the door. Angie made a plate filled with the sweeter treats she’d made for the occupation. She poured a cup of coffee, knowing her guest liked it black. Then she went to the guest room and knocked. “Mrs. Potter? Are you decent?”

      She heard the chuckle and decided to take that as a good sign. She opened the door and held out the plate. “I know you said you weren’t hungry, but I made several of Nona’s favorites, so I thought I’d bring them to you, just in case.”

      “I might eat later.” She waved to the little table by the window. “Just set it there. I’m going to read for a while.”

      Angie moved toward the table, setting down the plate and cup. “What are you reading?”

      “Erica got these from the used book store. It’s a mystery but it’s set in the future. I figured if I’m not going to live to see it, I might as well imagine what it’s going to be like.” Mrs. Potter patted the book. “Besides, her husband is a lovely man and a true hottie.”

      “Mrs. Potter.” Angie laughed. “I didn’t think you knew the term.”

      “Dear, I’m old, I’m not dead.” Mrs. Potter patted the bed beside her. “Come sit a minute. I want to apologize for inconveniencing you in this way.”

      “Having you stay with me is so not a problem. I love it when you visit. Besides, Erica needs a break now and then.” Angie sat next to Mrs. Potter, noticing how tiny her hands were now, the skin tight on the bones. “We’ll have fun. I was thinking we’d do something with chicken for dinner. Do you have any preferences? I know I’ve been dropping off food for a few months, but I never asked what you really enjoy.”

      “I don’t eat much. I’m afraid my appetite has gone the way of my youth. Anything you make will be fine. Although I have to admit, I’m partial to your soups. Especially that one with pork and hominy. That was yummy.” She sat her book down on the bed. “I hope you don’t think I’m being mean to Erica. I just didn’t like her going behind my back and setting this whole thing up. I could have stayed in my house across the street.”

      “And I would have been worried about you constantly.” Angie saw the fire alight in her neighbor’s eyes. “Not that anything would have happened, but I would have kicked myself for not insisting you come stay with me if it had. And River Vista has been a little less safe lately.”

      “I’m sure you’re referring to the awful Mr. Moss’s death.” Mrs. Potter shook her head. “That was bound to happen. The man was a menace.”

      Knowing how Mrs. Potter felt about Gerald Moss, Angie left that inaccuracy aside. “Actually, there was a woman killed in town a few nights ago. She was stabbed behind the Red Eye.”

      “Barflies have a habit of getting squished by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Mrs. Potter added a disgusted sniff to the end of her statement.

      “Mrs. Potter. You know women are allowed in bars unaccompanied now. They have been for years. Barfly is a derogatory, sexist term.” Angie decided she needed to go clean the kitchen before she said anything more and the woman wheeled her walker across the street to her home. “Anyway, I need to get some chores done. Let me know if you need anything.”

      “I’m perfectly capable of walking into the kitchen for a glass of water.” The woman’s tone was ice.

      Great, Angie thought. Now I’ve insulted her. She walked out of the room, softly closing the door behind her. She’d apologize after lunch, even though she’d done nothing wrong. Better to say you were sorry than deal with the cold shoulder for a week.

      Angie’s phone buzzed. Glancing down, she recognized Estebe’s number. “Hey, what’s going on? Are you coming over?”

      “I am sorry, but I am unable to visit today.” Estebe’s voice was clipped. “I have been called to attend a council meeting and I must be in Boise. I probably will be there most of the day.”

      “Is this about Javier? Is your community upset he was questioned?” Angie didn’t know a lot about the Basque community, but she knew they were conservative in nature. Javier’s questioning in a murder investigation probably had everyone on edge. Especially since they had the festival coming up.

      “I’m afraid so. Javier had been called to replace our leader in a few years.

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