Page 103 of The Bone Code
“Do you mind if I record our conversation?” Again, Vislosky activated her phone without awaiting permission.
Aunt Bee looked dubious but didn’t object.
“May I ask your name and role with Amity House?” Vislosky began.
“Gertrude Pickle. I know. Both are terrible.” Giggly chuckle. “The kids call me Mama Gertie.”
“Your role here?”
“House mother.”
“Do you live on-site?”
“I have an apartment downstairs. It’s small but has everything I need.”
“How long have you worked here?”
“Oh, my goodness. Since I was widowed, nineteen years next month. How time does fly. Can’t imagine what I’d do if I had to live alone.”
As before, I laid the Shady Sam’s photo on the table.
“You remember Harmony Boatwright?” Vislosky asked.
“I surely do. Harmony stayed with us often. I love hearing about our young people, especially when they’ve been away for so long. How is she? Do tell me everything.”
Vislosky and I exchanged discreet glances.
“When was Harmony last here?” she continued.
“Well…” Straining to remember. “It has been a while.”
“A while?”
“Our policy is that young people aren’t obliged to sign in or out. The administration feels that requiring formal registration might—”
“One year? Five?”
Pickle closed her eyes and canted her head sideways in thought. It felt as if a full minute passed.
“Yes.” Pickle nodded slowly, doubling her chin count. “I’d say it’s been five years.”
“Why did Harmony come here?”
“For the same reason many young people do. To escape conflictat home. Oh, dear. What’s all this about?” Her brows furrowed as the significance of a police visit finally dawned. “Has something bad happened?”
As Vislosky gave a brief account of the dead girl in Charleston, Pickle’s whole body seemed to curl inward.
“Do you know Digger France?” Vislosky asked.
“We met once or twice.” All chirpiness gone.
“Your impression?”
“Harmless and hopeless.”
“Hopeless?”
“May I see ID?”
