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"Okay, then. It's probably because of the tension you're under. If anything changes, let me know. I'll call your father at the office."
While I spoke to my mother, Karen and Jesse carried everything upstairs. When I went up, I saw she was settled in the attic again, looking cool and unaffected by anything that had just occurred.
"Are you sure you'll be all right up here like this?" Jesse asked her anyway.
"Oh, yes." She looked at me. "Thank you," she said. She stepped up to us both and put her arms around me and Jesse, burying her head in his shoulder but holding us both tightly. "You're my only family now," she said when she stepped back.
"Don't worry," Jesse said. "We'll bring this to a head and get it right."
She smiled and, after glancing at me, leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. We turned and started out, looking back once to see her standing in the dwindling light of the sun sinking behind the trees on the west.
The shadows looked eager to swallow her and imprison her in their darkness once again. Despite it all, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. I wanted to hate her, but my heart drove those feelings deep down and away.
"I love you, Zipporah," she whispered loudly enough for me to hear.
"I love you, too," I heard myself say. It was truly as if someone else within me was saying it.
I saw the look in Jesse's eyes. He really and truly did admire us for our close friendship. He had his share of buddies and good friends, but nothing compared to how Karen and I were. Maybe it was just a girl thing
I followed him out and closed the attic door. We descended the steps slowly, and at the base, he turned to me, looked up at the closed door, nodded, and said, "I have an idea. We're going someplace tonight after dinner."
"Where?"
"To the Bates Motel," he said. "You know where I mean?"
"Yes."
"Are you okay with it?"
"Yes," I said, but I was more f
rightened than I had ever been.
19 At the Bates Motel
That night Jesse started on his plan to get Daddy to make the calls to the district attorney. He made a reference to it at dinner and presented it in such a way that it did look as if he was thinking only of me. Daddy agreed he was right. That plus my mother obviously telling him I had stomach problems because I was so nervous and tense these days made him promise to try. As I was helping Mama with the dishes, Jesse returned to the kitchen and asked if I wanted to go with him to a department store outside Monticello. He said it was open for another hour, at least. Because Monticello was the county seat and the biggest village, that was credible.
However, Mama shook her head and smiled at him skeptically. "You're just asking her to go so you can try to pry out the surprise we're expecting tomorrow," she told him
Jesse pretended that was the reason but added that he and I spent too little time together. I know my mother thought he was implying that he was going to talk to me about the Pearson tragedy and try to cheer me up.
"Your brother's right," she said. "Go ahead. I can finish here. There's not much left to do."
We hurried out to his car.
"That was close," Jesse said. "I thought she wasn't going to let you go."
"What exactly are we going to do, Jesse?" I asked as we backed out of the driveway.
"A little police work," he said. "Don't worry. We'll be extra careful."
I noticed he had a camera.
"What are we taking pictures of?"
"Not sure, but let's wait to see," he said cryptically.
The village was its characteristic sleepy self. There was nearly no traffic, and the only storefront light was from the bar and grill. Sparky was out in front, as usual, and raised his head when we paused at the blinker. The wind lifted some paper and made it dance on and off the walk until it settled on the street. Jesse shook his head at the empty streets and sidewalks.
