“We worry about them on account of them being children, and that has nothing to do with you. You are our concern here,Fedora. We can’t stop the messages unless you know who’s sending them. Do you know?”
“No.”
“All right, but we do want to know when you receive one.”
“Why?”
“It will assist in identifying the sender.”
“It hasn’t thus far. I used to tell Ellie.”
“I understand. And she told Ben. We employ you now, and we will let him know.”
“I’ve been telling Hitch.”
When Roen looked across the table at Lily, she gently spoke up. “I’ll wager you don’t always tell him. I’d say it was also the same with Ellie. You’re fond of them both and you don’t want to distress them. I know something about that, Fedora. A lot about it actually. There are people who want to help. You only need to let us.”
Fedora shifted her dark gaze to Lily then lowered her eyes again. “Then, yes. I received a message this morning.”
“Did you tell Hitch?” asked Roen.
She shook her head. “He didn’t come by Mrs. Brady’s today. I walked here on my own.”
“Have you been accosted on the street before?”
“Once by a group of children on their way to school. They were hurtful but meant no harm. And on two other occasions.”
“By the same person?”
“No. Mr. Stanton one time.”
Lily’s jaw went slack. “My children’s teacher?”
“I shouldn’t have said. I knew I shouldn’t have said.” Miserable, Fedora bent her head.
“You certainly should have. Who else knows?”
“No one. He said no one would believe me and I believed him.”
“He was wrong,” said Lily. “I believe you.”
With Lily supporting Fedora, Roen could return to his original question. “You said two occasions, Fedora. Mr. Stanton was one. Who was the other?”
“He works at the Songbird. I don’t know his name.”
“The owner?” asked Roen. “Buzz Winegarten?”
“No. I know who that is. I think he must tend bar.”
Lily’s eyebrows climbed her forehead. “You don’t mean Jim Springer.”
Fedora shook her head. “No. Mr. Springer is kind, like Hitch.”
“Then it must be Buzz’s nephew,” said Roen. “Lincoln Jordan.”
“If you say so,” said Fedora. “I told you I don’t know his name.”
“How do you know he works at the Songbird?”
