Chapter 9: Gil's Side of the Table

I told Gil everything in the school parking lot, with the heater running, before he could make a joke.

I gave him the name Mrs. Tandy had given me, and watched it go in.

I told him about the desk.

He sat with both hands on the steering wheel of his truck.

"Mom asked Mrs. Tandy to keep an eye out," he said slowly.

"Yes."

"That's not crazy, Rena. Mom worries."

"She told Mrs. Tandy to be on her lawn at the exact minute Officer Cobb came to our door."

"Maybe she guessed."

"Gil. Nobody guessed the census."

He opened his mouth, and I watched the joke rise in him.

"I need you to believe me once without a joke," I said. "Once. Please."

He closed his mouth.

It took a long time, and then he nodded.

"Okay," he said. "Let's ask her."

We got to Inez's at five.

She had a pot roast on, and the house smelled like onions and rosemary.

She met us at the door in an apron that said KISS THE COOK.

"My two favorites," she said, and kissed Gil, then me.

I let her.

She sat us on the plaid sofa in the living room.

Birdie was upstairs getting ready for bed, so we had the room to ourselves.

Gil sat forward with his elbows on his knees.

"Mom, I have to ask you something, and I'm not accusing you."

"Of course, honey."

"Did you ask Mrs. Tandy to watch Rena?"

Inez's eyebrows rose gently.

She looked at me, and then at her son.

Then she laughed, a short, sorry laugh, and put her hand to her pearls.

"Oh, Gil," she said. "Yes. I did."

I hadn't expected it.

I sat there with my whole argument ready and nothing to throw it at.

"I was worried about that little girl," Inez said.

"She told a police officer her mother kidnapped her. What was I supposed to do, nothing?"

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