Skinless

Chapter 5

"So who's this guy we're trying to trace down?" Chris asked as he tossed his empty cup into the garbage bin that sat just outside of the Mission.

"The Adam's frequently brought indigents home to freshen them up," I replied. "I believe a man named Wally was with them on Thursday. I'm hoping he saw something to point us in the right direction."

"That jacket looks good on you," Chris said, confusing me with a change of subject. His eyes were looking at it critically like I did when I first tried it on. My face heated up, and I started walking to the door, trying to hide my rebellious smile. I knew the jacket was perfect. The double-breasted nature of it, trimmed my figure down, giving me back some of the curves childbirth and age had taken from me.

"Thanks," I said as nonchalantly as possible, not wanting to encourage him if he was flirting. Though it did seem an honest assessment of my jacket.

"You expect Wally to show up here?" Chris asked me as we moved through the door.

"Hoping is more like it," I replied. "Sister Agnes said she'd ask around to see if anyone knew where he was. Either way, it's our only lead."

"Where do you hide your gun?" Chris asked, again forcing a stumble in my mind. I wondered if his brain normally wandered or if it was intentional.

"On my hip," I said, looking at him curiously.

"The jacket hides it well," Chris said. "I was just curious. I've never known a detective before. It's rare that bugs break the law." I laughed more at the way he said it than at what he said. It was so smooth, yet I was sure he came up with it on the fly. His smile made me turn away and head toward the kitchen. I had a job to do, and his damn eyes weren't helping.

"Good morning, Detective Crosby," Sister Agnes greeted me. Her eyes lit up when Chris came up beside me. "And you've brought some help."

"Sister Agnes, this is Professor Rathus. He's helping in the investigation."

"You can call me Chris," He said holding out his hand. Sister Agnes took it, and they shared a smile. Sister Agnes looked a little more pleased than a woman of God should be.

"Sociology?" Sister Agnes asked, still grasping his hand.

"Entomology actually," Chris said before I could stop him. Sister Agnes immediately released his hand and looked at me. Her smile had disappeared.

"Is there something we should know?" Sister Agnes asked me quietly. She had put together the few pieces she had been given quickly. Two dead and an insect expert. Her eyes became more alert, her intelligence no longer hidden by a friendly facade.

"Probably," I said, "though I'm not at liberty to say right now." I hated not telling the public, but the powers that be were right. It would probably cause more harm than good at this point. Sister Agnes looked at me then at Chris, then back at me. Thankfully, Chris remained stoic.

"This...Wally. He's important?" Sister Agnes asked. She already knew that he was. It was the emphasis on the word important that was the real question.

"Maybe a witness," I said while nodding. "Our only witness."

"Does this have something to do with the skinless body rumors?" Sister Agnes asked.

"What rumors are those?" I asked, struggling to keep the surprise off my face.

"So it true," Sister Agnes stated, using my traitorous face as her guide. She looked at Chris, and he melted under her gaze as well. God picked his daughter well. Sister Agnes looked up to the ceiling. "We're going to have quite the chat," she said to God.

"Sister, I can't confirm any..." I started.

"Save it," Sister Agnes interrupted, holding up her hand. "You don't want a panic."

"At least until we know what we're facing," Chris said, essentially verifying her thoughts.

"Is that what happened to Martha and Harry?"

"Yes," I said, ignoring my first thought of lying. It was too late anyway.

"They didn't deserve an end like that," Sister Agnes said, shaking her head. I could almost see her mind working, then a decision formed. "I'll keep quiet for now, but I won't be silent forever. If I think for one minute that my silence hurts more than it helps, I'm done cooperating." Her finger was wagging at me like I was a three-year-old who just broke her favorite lamp.

"Of course," I said, relenting to her vicious finger. Sister Agnes dropped her hand and her face relaxed. I stood a little taller, a little embarrassed at how I reacted to what I assumed was her anger. Memories of Catholic school were still strong.

"What do you need from me?" Sister Agnes asked, folding her arms across her chest.

"Any word of this Wally character," I replied, putting some strength back into my words. She nodded. "And I'd like to know more about these rumors. Maybe someone has seen something that we need to know about, especially incidents around the old factory district."

"Come," Sister Agnes said, "the coffee is watered down, but the pancakes are good." She turned and walked into the dining room. More memories of Catholic school invaded. There were many long olive colored tables laid out in rows. The metal framed plastic chairs were exactly like grade school, and I knew I would feel small sitting in one again.