Touch and Go (A Mercy Watts Short) Read Online Free

like Evan.”
    “I doubt he has his character either.” Her face pulled down into what could have been an ugly cry, but she pulled out of it just in time.
    “Thanks. Evan was a great guy. Everybody loved him. When he died...” Her sparkle faded for a moment.
    “I’m sorry to bring this up for you. Thanks for helping me. If you can think of anything that might help me, please call.”
    Christina took my card. I never expected to hear from her, but I did. She called the next morning to tell me that a woman had come looking for Evan about a year after his death. She had been shocked to hear he was dead and had argued the point with her. Christina couldn’t recall the woman’s name, but remembered seeing her working in a bank in St. Sebastian. I spent the rest of my Sunday cleaning, grocery shopping and playing referee to Skanky and Pick. I didn’t want to drive back to St. Seb, but I had no choice. Claire did a stellar job on the transcription and I owed her.
    By the time I’d gotten ready to go, I’d about talked myself out of the trip. What did I really owe Claire? I’d spent hours in pursuit of Evan and plenty of mileage. Sure she’d done the transcription, but, hey, I’d done more than the cops. If she made another complaint, they’d follow my lead and, hopefully, find Evan. That was pretty good, wasn’t it? Not bad for an amateur, if I did say so myself.  
    I kicked off my shoes and turned on the TV. I needed to call my coordinator. I was a PRN nurse, which meant I filled in when hospitals or offices were short. It was a good deal. I worked three or four times a week depending on my financial needs. I called and she wanted me to work Peds the next day. I was always getting called for Peds. I’d been told that I was good with kids and I guess word got around. I didn’t think I was good. Kids were forever screaming and puking around me. I’d have taken a pass, but I needed the money. Since I’d been chasing Evan, three workdays had gone by. I needed Christmas money.  
    I settled in for the day, made a note to call Claire, and started streaming Devil in a Blue Dress . Love that Denzel Washington. Midway through, my mother called.
    “Hello.”
    “Oh Mercy, I’m so glad you’re home, honey,” she said in her sweetest I-want-something tone.
    “Hi Mom.”
    “How are you doing?”
    “Fine.”
    “Well, we are having a spectacular time. It’s warm and beautiful. We’ve been having the best seafood. Your father almost has a tan.”
    “Really?” My father was a redhead with the typical fair skin that went with it.  
    “Almost. How’s the weather there?”
    “Fine.”
    “You’re not very talkative.”
    “Uh huh.”
    “Are you busy, dear?”  
    Here it came. Busy means: if you’re not having surgery, we want you to do something. “Sort of.”
    “Is that Denzel I hear?”  
    Crap. I should’ve turned the volume down, but then she would’ve sensed the movie. Mom had the seventh sense, the what’s-my-daughter-really-doing sense. It worked through telephone lines and closed doors. Occasionally, I didn’t even have to speak.
    “Fine. I’m not busy.”
    “Working tonight?”
    Audible groan.
    “Mercy. It would not kill you to help out.”
    “Let’s not test the theory.”
    “It’s for the family.”
    “What family?”
    “Ours, of course. Don’t be difficult.”
    “Me difficult?”
    Mom sighed and sipped on something. Probably a pink, fruity drink with a paper umbrella. I looked out the window at the cloudy sky threatening me with more sleet. I was not in a mood to be helpful.
    “You know we don’t ask much.”
    “Right. Not at all.”
    “If you’re going to be like that, I’ll have your father contract someone.”
    “Can’t Uncle Morty or one of Dad’s actual detectives do it?”
    “Ned and Cecilia are out of town. Denny’s busy. Mort’s on vacation.”
    Uncle Morty was my honorary uncle and my father’s best friend. He was an all-around computer nerd and hacker. He