“Let me grab our coats,” Lanie says, rushing off before I can agree or protest.
“Nina, throw me that blanket.” I motion to the unused fleece throw hanging off the back of the couch.
Within a minute, Lanie is back and practically hurling my coat at me as she slings hers on. She makes her way out into the freezing night with me close behind.
“Mrs. Fields, what on earth are you doing out here? You’re gonna freeze,” I say, jogging across the street, hitting a piece of ice that nearly takes me out. A patch of snow saves me from my second almost-fall of the night. I’m holding the blanket up to put it around her shoulders, but she stares right through me. It’s like this for several moments until her eyelashes flutter and her mouth drops open. She pops a closed fist on her hip and begins a tirade.
“Well, I came out here to see what she was doing out in thecold.” She shakes her head, tsking. “Dressed like that. I’ve never,” she grumbles. “Last time I saw a woman dressed that scandalously…well…it was you,” she says, pursing her lips and looking up at Lanie. “Ladies don’t dress like that.”
“It was Halloween, Mrs. Fields. I was a nurse.”
Mrs. Fields makes a noise that sounds an awful lot like clearing phlegm from her throat.
“What woman?” I ask, looking around the area only to find it absent of anyone aside from Mrs. Fields and us.
“That one,” she says, gesturing behind me.
We all turn to find nothing but cold air and darkness.
“That’s odd.” Mrs. Fields rubs at her forehead.
Lanie and I share a glance, both of us knowing there isn’t a woman aside from us out here.
“Where did she run off to? She was just here.”
It’s clear that Mrs. Fields is confused.
I admittedly know very little about Charmaine Fields, aside from the fact that she’s lived in this neighborhood since well before we bought our home. The only other information I have about her is that she’s widowed and lives alone. Her daughter and son both reside in other states and come to visit on alternating months, except for holidays when they’re all here.
“Mrs. Fields, are your children in town?”
“I’m telling you she was out here,” Mrs. Fields says, completely ignoring my question. “I saw her through my window. She was wearing a skimpy dress. No coat.”
“Much like you,” I say, trying to contain the scolding tone. “We really must get you back inside.”
She stands up tall, pursing her lips at me.
“I didn’t have much time now, did I?” She levels me with a scowl before continuing in a clipped tone. “Far too cold for anyone to survive long out here. She would’ve gotten hypothermia.” Sheturns to Nina. “The girl was clearly drunk, dear. Her appearance gave it away. She was disheveled and just stood there, staring at the Manns’ house.” She looks over at me again. “I think she took a swim tonight. What kind of person swims in this cold?”
Chills rush over my body, and it isn’t due to the cold. The fact that she’s described someone in detail and says they were staring at my house has me a bit on edge.
“Let’s get you back home,” I say, placing my hands on her shoulders and steering her toward her house.
“I don’t need an escort, Alyssa. I am perfectly capable of walking home.”
I sigh. “Humor me. There’s black ice, and I would feel awful if you slipped.”
She sucks her teeth, glancing at the ground skeptically. “Never a good idea to break a hip at my age.” She taps her chin. “I have been fortunate enough to live by myself all these years. Wouldn’t want to put myself in danger of being shipped off to some moldy old center for the elderly.” She huffs. “You shall escort me.”
I vaguely hear Corinne whisper under her breath, “It’s happening.”
I’m about to question her, but a car pulls down the street, headlights beaming over us. I squint, raising my hand to shield my eyes as it passes, pulling into Nick’s driveway.
It’s him.
He makes quick work of parking, jumping from his cruiser, and heading toward us.
Lanie grins at me, but I ignore her.
