Page 63 of Home Body
“Okay.Hmmm.” She tapped a nail, now painted orange, on her cheek. “There is one thing that might help. I’ve heard that some guy went out there once – like five years ago – to fix the roof on that old falling down garage she has out back. Rumor is he said she had a whole bunch of old metal file cabinets in there and was very worried about the roof leaking on them. They were important to her. Gramps figured they might be the files from Dr. Upton’s clinic. Nobody knows what happened to them.”
Inez let out a low whistle. “Thank you, Prissy. That might indeed be very helpful.”
“And one other thing. My grandma’s book club has talked about it a few times when I’ve been there. She pays me to keep the snacks and wine glasses filled. I’m always broke, so she’s really only doing me a favor. Those women would never let their wine glasses go empty.” She smirked. “But for sure the consensus is that doctor was selling babies. They saw too many people come to town without a baby and leave with one. They think it was more than private adoption, which I guess would’ve been legal. They think it was shady, like maybe he and that nurse of his, nasty Nellie, were taking babies away from unwed mothers.”
Inez inhaled and said, “Stealing them, you mean.”
“They never say that but, yeah, that’s what that would mean.”
“Thank you, Prissy. You’ve been a big help.” Dalia held out a hand.
Prissy hopped off her desk and enthusiastically shook Dalia’s hand. “Aw, you deserve to know. Good luck.” She shook hands with Kenyon and Inez, too.
“What a delightful young woman,” Inez said once they were back in the car. “I’m thinking she’s going to surprise everybody and grow up to be sheriff someday.”
Kenyon chuckled. “Yeah, I can see that. And she’ll make sure they have spiffy new uniforms.”
It only took minutes to reach Nellie Franklin’s house outside of town. Kenyon pulled up in front and parked on the street, not daring to drive onto Nellie’s property. They got out and Inez stopped, staring at the humble house. After a long, deep breath for fortitude, she said, “Let’s hit it.” She led the way as they walked up the driveway, her strides long and self-assured.
Nellie came out her front door with the screen door clapping shut behind her and raised the shotgun she held at her side. Her intruders, being intelligent women after all, stopped in their tracks.
Dalia and Kenyon frantically clutched each other’s arms in fear. Inez showed no fear, facing their potential killer without pause.
“Hello, Nellie. Remember me?”
Nellie squinted, thinking about it. “’Course I know you, you damned bitch. Get the hell off my property.”
“We need to talk to you first.”
“Well I don’t need to talk to you. Go!” Nellie lifted the big gun higher, pointing it right at Inez.
Inez bopped her head back toward the two young women who cowered behind her clinging to each other. “They can go back to the car if they want. I’m not going anywhere.”
“You always were a flaming fool.”
Dalia and Kenyon garnered strength from their mentor. They let go of each other, and Dalia peeked out from behind Inez.
“Miss Franklin,” Dalia said, her voice strong and clear, “I think I’m one of the stolen babies.”
In utter disbelief, they watched as Nellie Franklin’s entire body morphed into a jellyfish, collapsing in on itself. Her head fell, her chest caved, her legs wavered. The color drained from her face. In a whisper they barely heard, she said, “Good god. I knew this day would come.” The burden too heavy to bare, she lowered the gun and went back into her house.
Kenyon took off for the car but the other two stayed put.
“There’s that garage that might have files.” Dalia pointed at the ramshackle structure at the end of the driveway.
Inez glanced at the house, squared her shoulders, and said, “I’m going in.” She started toward the house.
“Wait.” Nervous and afraid, Dalia backed away. “Inez, you don’t need to get arrested for me. We’d better go.”
“She could shoot you through a window, you know.” Kenyon hollered from her stance behind the car, maintaining some semblance of common sense despite her terror.
Inez pondered the situation as she stood in the middle of Nellie Franklin’s driveway, her gaze homed in on the garage. “Okay,” she relented. “But I’m coming back tonight after dark.”
Stunned, Dalia and Kenyon scrambled into the Toyota as if it provided them with the safety of an army tank. Inez casually sauntered to the vehicle, unconcerned about the possibility of being shot dead, and opened the back door. Kenyon fired up the ignition but before she could put it in gear, Inez slammed the door shut without getting in.
Dalia rolled down her window. “What are you doing?” she squealed.
“I’m going in. She practically invited us. I think she wants to unburden herself. She’s ready to talk.”
