“Well?” she asked.
“The girl who lives here is named Callie. She’s in the hospital right now. So I came by to check on some things.”
“Does she know you’re here?”
“Not exactly.”
“Not exactly?” She frowned. “What kind of things were you checking?”
“I’m trying to help her and it was the only thing I could think to do.”
“Are you being purposely evasive?”
Behind her, the old man had climbed down from his porch and was inching closer, no doubt as curious as Natalie was.
“Is there someplace we can speak in private?”
For the first time, her gaze faltered.
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea. First, I need to understand what’s going on here.”
Clearly she anticipated that in addition to explaining about Callie, I’d try to speak with her about the way we’d said goodbye. Which was exactly what I intended, if given the chance.
“I’ve told you what I’m doing. There’s a girl in the hospital and she needs my help. I came here to do just that.”
“How can you help her if she doesn’t know you’re here?”
“Please,” I said. “I don’t want to speak in front of an audience.” I nodded at the neighbor, who now stood only several feet away.
“Did you remove anything from the premises?”
“No.”
“Damage anything?”
“No,” I insisted. “Feel free to go inside and check. The door’s unlocked.”
“It’s still trespassing,” she pointed out.
“I highly doubt that she’ll press charges.”
“Is that so?”
I moved closer, keeping my voice low. “She was the one who broke into my grandfather’s house. She also stole my grandmother’s social security number. And she’s very sick. Having to deal with a sheriff is probably the last thing she wants.”
“You know I’m going to have to speak with her about this, don’t you?”
“Good luck,” I said. “She may not speak to you at all.”
“And why is that?”
By then, the older man was nearly within hearing distance. Another neighbor, too, had appeared and was heading our way. When I saw a third door open and yet another woman emerge, I leaned in.
“Please,” I pleaded. “It’s no one else’s business. I’m saying this for Callie’s sake, not mine.”
“I can’t just let you walk away. People saw you trespassing.”
“Then put me in your car. You can bring me to mine.”
“Where’s yours?”
“Up the road. You can’t miss it. I think the folks around here would be happier if I got in. Like I was in trouble.”
“You are in trouble.”
“I don’t think so.” When she didn’t respond, I turned toward her car, noting that all three neighbors had congregated a short distance away and were casting wary glances at me. “If you’d like, we can speak at the station.”
I walked past her and slid into the back seat of the cruiser before Natalie could stop me. For a few seconds, she continued to stand outside the car before finally approaching the gathered neighbors. I watched as the old man began motioning toward me, clearly exercised. Natalie nodded, saying little as the man went on, and after a few minutes, she returned to the car and got in.
As Natalie started the engine and pulled onto the main road, her eyes flashed to the rearview mirror. I could see her irritation at being put in a situation she clearly wished she could have avoided. “Which way to your vehicle?”
“To the left,” I said. “A couple hundred yards.”
“I should just bring you to the station.”
“Then how would I get my SUV?”
I heard her sigh. It took less than a minute for her to reach the spot where I’d parked. When I tried to get out, I realized that the door was locked. Natalie graciously stepped out and opened the door for me.
“Thank you,” I said.
“What’s going on?” she asked, crossing her arms. “I want the full story.”
“I’m thirsty,” I said. “Let’s go to my house.”
“Not a chance.”
“It’s getting warm out here and it’s going to take a while.”
“What’s the girl’s name again?”
“Callie.”
“I know that much,” she said. “What’s her last name?”