The May Day Murders Read Online Free Page B

think I told you
about that yet. Found a pack stashed under her dresser yesterday.
She’s become incorrigible, Karen. She hardly ever minds me anymore.
I know that the divorce has a lot to do with it—she still resents
it—and she blames me for it ever happening. She wants Sam and I to
get back together; that I know for sure. This is so difficult,
Karen …” she added, her voice wavering.
    “ C’mon, dear, pull yourself
together. You’ll get through all of this. You just need to get your
mind off everything for a while. You’ve been through an awful lot
lately, but things will look up. As for Amy, I’m sure she’ll come
around eventually. Just give her some time. Part of her problem has
to do with her age, bear in mind. I sure wouldn’t want to be that
age again! Remember how tough it was? Teenagers are in their own
little world and tend to shut everyone else out of it. But Amy’s a
good kid. She’ll come around—you can count on it.”
    “ I wish I were as optimistic
as you are, Karen. As usual, you’re probably right—I only hope I
don’t have a nervous breakdown in the meantime. There are just so
many things going on that I feel out of touch with. Like Amy’s
choice of friends at school, for instance. They all seem okay, but
what do I know? We’ve only been in Columbus for three months and I
still hardly know a soul in this neighborhood. And I’ve only met
one of Amy’s friend’s parents so far—Amanda Givens. Her mother’s
divorced and seems to be a nice enough gal, but her home is
apparently the big hangout for all of Amanda’s friends. How do I
know that she’s keeping an eye on things when all those teenage
girls are congregating there?”
    “ Ann, you worry too much!
Woodcrest is one of the best suburbs in Columbus and has an
excellent high school. Amy’s in good company, believe me. Speaking
of which, how’s her schoolwork coming along?”
    “ Lousy,” Ann replied flatly.
“And it’s no wonder. She hardly ever does her homework.”
    “ Well, all I can say is give
her time. She just needs to adjust to everything.”
    “ Thanks for the
encouragement, Karen. I need all I can get right now.”
    “ No problem, dear—I think I
just heard Bill pull up. We’re taking in a movie tonight. I sure
wish you’d hurry up and find a man so we can double
sometime!”
    Ann laughed. “I don’t think I’m quite
ready for that yet, Karen. I’ve got enough problems as it
is.”
    “ Well, you should still keep
your eyes open anyway. It may be just what you need now—a
relationship of some kind. It would help get your mind off your
troubles.”
    “ I doubt it. I don’t think
I’d be very good company to anyone right now,” Ann
lamented.
    “ Nonsense! I can see that
you need an ego-boost, dear. Trust me, any man in this town would
kill to go out with you! If I looked just half as good as you do, I
could be taking my pick of eligible bachelors!”
    Ann laughed again. “You’re too much,
Karen! But in spite of your tendency to exaggerate, I’ll take the
compliment anyway. At least you’ve managed to make me
smile.”
    “ Come on in, honey,” she
heard Karen say. “Ann, Bill’s here. I want you to think about what
I said and cheer up! Everything’s going to be fine.”
    “ Thanks, Karen. If I don’t
talk to you tomorrow, I’ll see you at the office
Monday.”
    “ I’ll call you tomorrow and
check in,” Karen asserted. “Take care of yourself, Ann.”
    “ I will, Karen. Tell Bill I
said hello, and you guys have a good time tonight.”
    “ Thanks, dear. Talk to you
tomorrow.”
    Ann hung up the phone feeling grateful
for having a friend like Karen. She always had that knack for
making her laugh, she thought to herself.
    Karen Walker was office manager at the
travel agency where Ann worked. She was fifty years old, divorced,
with two kids who were all grown up and married. And although she
might look her age physically, she possessed a lighthearted
attitude toward life that made