“It is hard for me to remember things these days,” Mr. Sun said. He smiled as he said it, not seeming to be very bothered by the fact. But a moment later his smile faded, and he pressed one hand against his chest. “I remember this pain, though. I think I should go sit down.”
His granddaughter looked worried. “That’s a good idea. Hu Dandan will take you back upstairs. I’ll follow in just a moment.”
“Of course.” Mr. Sun turned his smile to Vivian and Florence. “You will come see me again, I hope, so we can talk more of Mae Kelly.” His expression became thoughtful as his nurse led him inside. “I have not talked of her in many years.”
As soon as they had disappeared, his granddaughter’s expression drooped, weariness showing through the patience and gentleness. “You will forgive me for asking, but what was he saying to you? His mind wanders these days, and we struggle sometimes to keep him safe.”
“He knew our mother,” Florence said faintly. She sounded like she couldn’t believe it.
Seeing the woman’s confused, slightly alarmed expression, Vivianadded, “She died when we were very little. So to find someone who remembered her…”
“So it is not a coincidence you were standing on the street outside our home.”
“No,” Vivian admitted. “I was looking for him.”
“Do you live near here?” the girl asked, her eyes narrowing a little.
“Just staying for a little while,” Vivian explained, trying not to shift nervously under the girl’s assessing stare. “Do you know Chin’s Chop Suey?”
Some of the wariness faded from the girl’s expression. “You know the Chins.”
“Yes.” Vivian nodded quickly. “I asked about your grandfather. He called me by our mother’s name once, when we met before. He said… he said just now that he remembers things from the past better than those that are more recent,” she added, hoping that it had been true.
“Yes.” Mr. Sun’s granddaughter sighed. “The past is like a moment ago in his mind. It is things like ‘don’t go outside alone or you may become lost’ that he struggles to remember. At least he wasn’t just wandering away.”
“We’re sorry,” Florence said quickly, giving Vivian a quick, nervous glance. “We didn’t mean to cause any trouble.”
The girl sighed again. “He likes speaking of the past. Perhaps it would be good for him to talk of your mother.” The glance she gave them was curious and a little disbelieving, but she shrugged. “Come by tomorrow. For today, he needs to rest.”
“Of course,” Florence said quickly, taking Vivian’s arm and giving it a little tug. “We wish him well. And thank you.”
“Yes, thank you,” Vivian agreed. It was almost painful to be so close and to be sent away. But Mr. Sun hadn’t seemed well, and she couldn’t argue with his granddaughter. “We’ll be by tomorrow.”
Florence didn’t speak again until they were sitting side by side on the streetcar, headed to Miss Ethel’s shop.
“Flo?” Vivian asked cautiously. “You okay?”
“He knew our mother,” Florence said quietly. Vivian’s hand was resting between them on the seat; without looking, Florence reached out and took it, squeezing so hard it was almost painful. “I can’t believe it. He knew our mother.”
“We’ll go back tomorrow,” Vivian promised. “We have to.”
The breath Florence let out was shaky, but she nodded. “Yes,” she agreed. “We have to.”
They saw the police cars parked outside Miss Ethel’s shop while they were still down the street. Vivian’s steps slowed, and Florence stopped completely, clutching her sister’s hand. “Vivi, you don’t think—”
“No, I’m sure not,” Vivian said, even though she was far from sure. “Maybe—”
Before she could say any more, their attention was caught by a low whistle. Glancing in the direction of the sound, Vivian spotted a man in a suit, his hat pulled low, leaning casually against a lamppost near the entrance to an alley. He was almost directly across the street from Miss Ethel’s store, but not quite; anyone glancing out the shop window would have to crane their neck just a bit to see him.
For a moment, Vivian almost stopped breathing. Then the man lifted his chin enough for her to see his face before gesturing with his head for them to follow as he ducked into the alley. Grabbing Florence’s hand, Vivian followed him as fast as she could without running, keeping her head turned away from the store across the street in the hope that no one would glance out and see them.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded, while Florence looked around the alley uneasily. “What aretheydoing here?”
“I don’t know,” Leo said, glancing across the street where two officers were just entering the shop. “That’s what I’m here to find out. And I wanted to try to catch you two girls first.”
“How did you know they’d be here?” Florence asked, eyes wide and worried.
“Police use the radio like everyone else these days,” Leo said with a shrug. “If you know what station they broadcast on, it’s easy to listen in. Dispatcher gives out addresses where they need someone to go. I recognized this one.”
