There Was an Old Woman

Chapter Thirty-two


It had been so sweet of Mrs. Yetner to invite Evie to stay over, and though Evie had no intention of taking her up on it, knowing that she had the option made her feel safer and less alone. It was chilly and damp when she got back inside. The insecticide smell hadn’t vanished completely, and in the kitchen a single pantry moth fluttered drunkenly about. With her bare hand, she smacked it against the wall.

It took four calls to locksmiths listed in her mother’s 2008 copy of the Yellow Pages before she found one that was still in business and taking calls on a Sunday night. In return for payment in cash, the woman who took her call promised someone would be there in an hour.

Evie hung up and called Ginger. “The house got broken into,” Evie said as soon as Ginger picked up, “but they didn’t take anything valuable.”

“Oh my God. What next? Are you okay?” Ginger asked, her voice rising. “Did you call the police?”

“I’m fine. Of course I did.”

“Did they make a mess?”

“No. In fact, if I wasn’t so anal about the way I sorted Mom’s papers, I never would have realized the house was broken into. And before you ask, I’ve got someone coming to change the locks.”

“Tonight?”

“In an hour.”

“You sure you’re okay?”

“Other than a headache—” Evie put her hand to her temple and massaged the spot that had started to throb. Headaches that started that way usually turned into doozies. She started for the bathroom where she’d seen some Excedrin in the medicine cabinet. “—I’m fine.”

“It’s a good thing you had all that money with you,” Ginger said.

“Good thing,” Evie said as she ran water in the bathroom sink and splashed her face with one hand. “I’ll deposit it first thing tomorrow.”

“You’re sure nothing else is missing?”

“Ginger, I checked everywhere.” Evie opened the medicine cabinet. “I’m sure—”

But the words died on her lips, and the phone dropped into the sink with a clatter. Except for the tube of Crest toothpaste that she was sure she’d left on the sink, the bottom shelf of the medicine cabinet was empty.

She picked up the phone. “You’re not going to believe this. Everything that was on one shelf of Mom’s medicine cabinet is missing.”

“That’s weird. Were there any prescription drugs?”

“I don’t remember anything like that.” Evie conjured a visual image of what else she’d seen. “She had Excedrin. Vitamins. Maybe some cold medicine. I can’t remember what else.”

“Excedrin and vitamins?” After a long silence, Ginger added, “You know, I’d find it more reassuring if whoever broke in had taken her jewelry and her goddamned TV. Because this is just plain creepy. I don’t think you should stay there.”

“I can’t leave now. I’ve got a locksmith on his way over. At least when he’s done, I’ll be the only one with a key.”

“Then I’m coming to stay with you.”

“You are not.” The doorbell rang. “That’s the locksmith. Don’t worry. Mrs. Yetner invited me to stay with her, and I will if I need to.”

“How do you know she wasn’t the one who broke in?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Evie said and disconnected the call.