Wes shuddered. Cats. His mother refused to have any pets in the house, and he was not an animal person.
“Dot,” he said, ignoring the rampaging cats and getting to business. “Thank you for allowing us into your home. We’re grateful for your time.”
“I want to apologize again for running your obituary,” added Nadine. “I take full responsibility, and I know how distressing it must have been.”
“A horrible experience for anyone,” said Wes. Seeing Nadine’s lips tighten, he added, “Truly and unimaginably awful.”
She glared at him before turning back to Dot. “As I said, I’m very sorry.”
Dot checked the diamond and platinum watch that dug tightly into her freckled wrist. “Time’s up,” she said. “See you next week.”
Wes, who was on the verge of transitioning the conversation to ask Dot about her past, paused. “What?”
“You had one hour.”
Nadine scowled at the pretty bouquet she’d arranged in the blue vase as though calculating each second she’d spent fluffing out petals.
“Yes, but we spent it talking about waterfront development projects,” he pointed out.
“Not my problem.” Dot clapped her hands, since her voice caught at the end with her breath.
“But—” said Wes.
“Maria!”
Wes had to admit they were beat, but his annoyance evaporated after another look at Dot. Her eyes were closing, making it obvious the meeting had been physically taxing. It was their own fault for not optimizing their time.
“Thank you for seeing us,” said Nadine politely. “We’ll be back next week.”
A woman materialized near the door, hair pulled back in a bun so slick it would make a synchronized swimmer proud. “I found the postage stamps in a kitchen drawer with the twine,” she said.
“Leave them,” said Dot. “I put them there so I’d remember where they were.”
The woman shook her head. “Like a squirrel, you are.”
“So don’t touch the nuts. Can you show our visitors out?”
Nadine smiled. “Hi, Maria.”
“How did you meet her?” muttered Wes. Who was she? This was unfair. He should have known Nadine would manage to gain an advantage in the four minutes they’d been apart.
Nadine gave him that Cheshire cat smile as Maria waved for them to follow her through the main hall. Wes tried to peek down the corridor that branched off to the right. All he could make out was what seemed like a row of cabinets lining the wall.
Then they were past Sir Latimer and the cheetah and back outside.
“So,” said Nadine when the door closed behind them. “That’s Dot Voline.”
“Not what you expected?” asked Wes, curious about her perspective.
“I’m not sure,” she said. “As she was talking, I could almost hear some of her characters?”
“Aunt Sara fromThe Day After the Day Before?”
“That’s the one!” said Nadine, giving Wes a faint satisfaction they were on the same page.
“I said time was up!” Dot’s voice seemed to come from the heavens, causing them to jump.
“Does she have those intercoms everywhere?” Nadine squinted as she searched the ceiling.
