Vanishing Point

Wednesday

“I am not going to meet with her!” Terry Wyatt exclaimed. She stood in the living room of her Davis home, hands on hips, eyes flashing.

From the sofa where she and I sat, Jennifer watched, wary of her sister’s anger. I kept my expression noncommital; I was the messenger, bearing bad tidings.

But Terry’s rage wasn’t directed at me. It was aimed at her mother, and she vented it with full force. “What she did is unforgivable! And now she wants a new beginning? What does she think? That we’ll just pick up where we left off? Maybe she wants to tuck me into bed and read me a Littlest Lamb book? Where the hell does she get off?”

Jennifer cleared her throat and said in a tentative tone, “Terry, I think we should give her a chance, hear her out.”

“No, we should not! For years I’ve believed she’s dead, and as far as I’m concerned, she can stay dead.”

“But she had her reasons-”

“Oh, yeah, she had her reasons. She killed Cousin Josie and was afraid she’d get caught.”

“She told Sharon it was an accident.”

“I don’t believe that for one minute. And neither should you. This is all your fault, you know. You should’ve left well enough alone.”

“But Terry, just think-we could be a family again!”

I studied Jennifer, frowning. She certainly was cutting her mother a lot of slack. Of course, her life had been torn apart in the wake of her father’s death and my investigation; it was natural that she’d cling to what shreds were left-one of them being her image of Laurel as a flawed but good person. It was an image with which she deeply identified, as evidenced by last week’s journey back and forth across the territory where her mother had vanished.

“Jesus Christ!” Terry exclaimed. “Family! I can’t believe you said that.”

I stood up. Time for the messenger to depart before she became a target. “This should be a private discussion,” I told them. “When you come to a decision, let me know.”

I’d flown down to Sacramento that morning from Klamath Falls, rented a car, and gone directly to Terry’s house. Now I got onto Interstate 80 and drove south. I’d drop off the rental at Oakland, where my MG was parked at North Field. It seemed like years since I’d left it there and flown for the second time to Paso Robles.

I was tired, mildly depressed, and looking forward to getting home, taking a long, relaxing bath, and going to bed. One of the downsides of my work is the toll other people’s emotions take on me.

Let Jennifer and Terry go on from here, I told myself. You’ve done your job. You’re not involved anymore.

Ralph and Alice were waiting in the front hall when I got home. They gave me surprised looks; obviously they were expecting Michelle to show up and feed them. I took my travel bag to the bedroom, then spooned out some of the evil-smelling food they so loved, and told Ralph, “You’ll get your shot when ’Chelle comes over.” Giving insulin shots was not my forte.

Multiple messages on the answering machine. I pressed the play button.

Jim Whitmore of the SLO County Sheriff’s Department. “The DA down here’ll be in touch with you next week. Kev Daniel’s hired top legal talent, and the state’ll need your testimony to make its case. By the way, he wasn’t lying when he said he didn’t kill the dog; apparently it went looking for someone to help its master. Didn’t stay around to fight because it had two broken ribs. Hung around a restaurant near the pier, whining and trying to lead people out there. One of the busboys took it to a vet, and the vet called the guide-dog association number that was engraved on the plate on its halter.”

I’m glad the dog’s okay, but I really don’t need another court appearance.

Hy. “I’m flying back to the city tomorrow. Hope your case is going well. See you at home.”

You bet you will! At home, and in bed.

Ma. “Why are you never there or at the office? You’d better not be out getting in trouble again.”

You ought to be used to me getting in trouble by now, Ma.

Patrick. “I’m still in Crescent City. My piece-of-shit car died. I’ll try to make it in on Friday.”

Junk the thing and buy a new car. Please!

Saskia. “It was so good seeing you, dear, and meeting your lovely family. Please call me when you have time.”

Lovely family. Now that’s a new one.

Ted. “Your cell’s not on, and I don’t know how to get hold of you. Things’re really piling up here, and I’m working overtime. Call me when you get this.”

Go home, Ted. There’s nothing on your desk that can’t wait.

Robin. “My new phone’s finally been installed. Write this number down someplace where you won’t lose it.”

Good God, do I seem incompetent to her?

Jennifer Aldin. “Terry and I have reached an agreement. We’ll meet with our mother, but only if you come along to mediate.”

So you’re not involved anymore? Yeah, right.