“You can sit anywhere you like. Breakfast is served buffet style.”
They took a table by the window, then helped themselves to the buffet on the sideboard, indulging in the coffee cake and muffins that Mrs. Marcos had set out—along with her spinach quiche and strong Louisiana coffee.
“Are you enjoying your stay?” the B and B owner asked, as they were finishing their breakfast.
“It’s perfect,” Stephanie answered.
“And we enjoyed your accommodations so much that we’re hoping to keep our room for another night,” Craig added.
“That would be fine. Where are you off to today?”
“We thought we’d drive over to Houma.”
“It’s a lovely little town.”
“Didn’t I read about some kind of explosion there?” Craig asked.
Mrs. Marcos’ expression clouded. “Yes.”
“At an underground research lab,” Mrs. Marcos said, then pressed her lips together, indicating that she didn’t want to continue the subject.
What do you mean by underground?Craig asked.
“Nobody in town knew Dr. Solomon was still doing research.” The woman stopped, looking confused. “Well, I guess some people did know. Like his nurse, Mrs. Goodell. She worked for him at the old clinic . . .” Her voice trailed off. “I don’t know why I’m prattling on like this. I have things to do in the kitchen.”
“You’re just being friendly,” Stephanie said in a pleasant voice when her heart was pounding. She added her psychic power as she let Craig direct the message he sent the B and B owner.
If you know anything more about the Solomon Clinic or Dr. Solomon, tell us now. He repeated the suggestion, waiting tensely for what she would decide.
The outcome wasn’t a sure thing. Stephanie could see the woman going through a debate in her mind, and she felt Craig pushing the idea.
“So, who was this, Dr. Solomon?” Stephanie asked.
“Thirty years ago, he had a fertility clinic,” she said, as though she didn’t really want to speak the words. “My friend Darla Dubour went to him, and she was so appreciative when she got pregnant. She had a little boy. David.”
“It’s always nice when medical treatment works out,” Stephanie said brightly. She caught a stray thought from Craig and asked, “Where is her son now?”
The woman’s eyes clouded. “He died.”
Stephanie sucked in a startled breath. “What happened to him?”
“I should stop talking about this.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know how we got off on the subject. I guess we were just looking for information about Houma so we could plan our day.”
“You can get that from the chamber of commerce or the town hall.”
“Yes, thanks,” Stephanie said, but the other woman was already bustling toward the dining room entrance where another couple was waiting to be seated.
I guess we hit some kind of nerve, Stephanie said to Craig when they were alone again.
Yeah. There must have been some blowback from the Solomon Clinic.
Or it’s because that woman’s son died.
I think we should go see her.
Do you think she’ll talk to us?Stephanie asked.
