Case of Imagination by Jane Tesh Read Free Book Online

I’d paint this room light blue,” he said. “You can help.”
    “I have cases to work on, remember?”
    He gestured with his dust rag. “This place is perfect. It’s already spooky and mysterious. It’s just right for séances and readings. I’ll clean it up and start advertising. ‘Come to Eberlin House and Find Your Future.’ It’ll be brilliant.”
    “If you want it to be spooky and mysterious, don’t paint it light blue.” I yawned. “I need to find out why I’m not getting my messages. I thought I’d return Buddy’s car and pick up mine.”
    He followed me into the kitchen. “Did you eat all the apples?”
    “No.”
    “Well, they’re all gone, and the cereal, too.”
    I peered into the cabinets. “All that stuff I bought?”
    “The cereal and a whole bag of apples.”
    “Do you suppose some kids got in? It’s probably a rite of passage to spend the night in this house.” I checked the back door.
    “I’m sure I locked it,” Jerry said. “But whoever took the stuff left the cookies and candy bars.”
    Maybe Celosia was home to a roving gang of bored teenagers. “Kids today. What gets into them?”
    “No more of my food, that’s for sure.” He sat down at the table and opened the jar of peanut butter. “If you’re going to Parkland, will you pick up some of my things?”
    “Where can I find your things?”
    “At Buddy’s.”
    “Anything else you want me to bring you?”
    “More food.”
    “How about a welcome mat and a birdbath? One of those ceramic deer, perhaps?”
    “I need some blue paint and some brushes.”
    “Got any cash?”
    I don’t know how he does it, but despite having turned his back on the family treasure chest, Jerry always has a wad of bills in his pocket. He handed me about fifty dollars. “That oughta do it. Buy a little something for yourself, too.”
    “You’re too generous.” I put the money in my pocket. “Where did all this come from?”
    He took a bite of his sandwich and indicated his mouth was too full to answer.
    “It’s not from some scam, is it? You haven’t been playing with Jeff again, have you?”
    Jerry shook his head. I wasn’t sure I believed him, but then again, Constance Shawn had just paid for a séance. “Okay, well, I’ll see you later. Don’t let the rats get you.”
    “Same to you,” he said.
    ***
     
    Parkland’s morning rush was over, but there was still a lot of traffic. After the calm of the countryside, I found it distracting. Going into my apartment, I felt a touch of claustrophobia. Had it always been this cramped and dark? True, it had been my idea to move out and let Bill keep the house, but I regretted leaving the large sunny house with its deck and front porch. Regretted leaving the house, not Bill. He couldn’t come to terms with the fact that I was not a mother and never would be.
    I slumped in the armchair and stared at the blank wall in front of me. I hadn’t put up any pictures. Bill was a good photographer, and all the pictures in our house had been portraits he’d taken. Unfortunately, his favorite subject was children. He had photos of little girls making sandcastles and little boys hanging by their knees from tree branches and children feeding ducks and babies discovering their toes. He thought this would inspire me. It just made me thankful the children in our house were framed and on the walls.
    Maybe I should have been more sympathetic. Maybe I should have explored the possibility that I wouldn’t have become like my mother, that I would have been patient and kind and understanding with a child of my own.
    Maybe this little fit of pity was because I was tired and discouraged and because Jerry had all the insight of an amoeba. I sat down on the sofa and let myself wallow for about ten minutes, then I shook it off. Didn’t I have not one but two cases waiting for me in Celosia? I took a shower and washed my hair. I exchanged the Celosia tee shirt and jeans for my favorite yellow shirt and gray