MySundaymorningkickedoff with a visit from two of Jacksonville’s finest. Seeing as I could hardly remember anything still, it was rather brief. I desperately wanted to tell them about Frank Darren, but with Cat staying at the house alone, I couldn’t risk her safety.
One of the officers put a victim’s report on the small table next to the bed. “Keep that number handy, Ms. Smythe. You could have blocked that night out of your mind, and you may recall things later. My direct line is circled at the top. Don’t hesitate to call if you remember anything that can help the investigation.”
“I will,” I said.
Both cops looked at me like they knew I was holding something back. After a moment, they nodded and left.
Two unexpected things happened while I waited to get discharged.
First, Rita swung by along with Muriel, and second, the dancers from Platinum’s came to visit, too. Not at the same time… though those worlds colliding would have been incredibly entertaining.
Both were surprises, and both for the same reason.
All of these women wanted to help me out financially.
Rita and Muriel bustled into my room with a box of fancy donuts from a small shop near Jacksonville University.
“If you wanted coffee, don’t blame me, blame your boss,” Muriel groused.
I grinned up at her. She had to be pushing seventy, but she had a movie-star like beauty. Her tortoise-shell frame glasses brought out her brown eyes. She had her sterling silver hair pulled into a low ponytail that hung over one shoulder.
“It’s all right, Muriel,” I said.
Her lips pressed together firmly while she aimed a stern look at me. “Those donuts are so sweet, they need something bitter to cut the sugar shock.”
Rita rolled her eyes and opened the box. “Muriel, you’re lucky I put up with your crumudgeony ways.”
Muriel aimed a dry look at Rita. “Explain what we’re really doing here before she gives the box to the nurses or worse, throws the box away.”
Rita looked at me, but opened and closed the box repeatedly. Waving the lid like some sort of puppet. “There’s something special about these donuts. Especially this box they came in if you look close.”
I focused on the box lid, and saw a white envelope attached to the inside. My brows furrowed and I looked to Rita. “What’s with the envelope? And why all the cloak and dagger?”
Muriel dragged a chair to my bedside and sat on the edge of the seat. “Because if either of us waltzed in here with an envelope, you’d refuse. But Rita and I know, you’re a sucker for sweets.”
I huffed out a laugh, then stopped short. Broken ribs were no joke, and laughing felt like sharp strands of barbed wire were wound around my torso.
Rita unfastened the envelope and set it on the table in front of me. “Anyway, I know you aren’t cleared for driving for at least a week. As far as I’m concerned you don’t need to show up for a month, just make sure your sister runs the car. She can drive it around the block. I don’t want to come jump the thing because you haven’t driven it.”
I felt tears pooling.
“Oh… now you did it,” Muriel announced in her driest tone.
I turned to her. “She should take the car back. It does double duty, gets people to the job sites and works as mobile advertising.”
Muriel’s lips twisted to the side and she dipped her chin. “Given where you were assaulted, I would think that is a great space for her car to do double duty.”
My eyes widened. “Have you been talking to Catalina or something?”
“Yes, on Monday. Did she have a similar sentiment?”
I shrugged. “Let’s just say, I thought better of it. For the sake of Rita’s business.”
Rita tapped a purple-tipped acrylic fingernail on the envelope. “That is an advance.”
Muriel stared at Rita. “Not an advance. We discussed this.”
Rita pulled a face at Muriel. “She can’t know that, and now you’ve screwed the pooch.”
