The Coffin Maker

Chapter 27

Li Li Wu received permission from the doctors to visit Ailsa. Wu had gone to the hospital in hopes of asking Riley Pacocha a few questions related to her kidnapping but the doctors informed her that although Riley's condition had improved, it was too soon for the FBI to be questioning the young woman. Wu called the Craig farm on her cell, spoke with Siv Craig and arranged a next day meeting with Ailsa. To spare her daughter over excitement, Siv Craig decided not to tell Ailsa of Wu's upcoming visit.

Ailsa was frying slices of luncheon meat in her grandmother's No. 4 cast iron pan when she saw a late model burnt orange BMW Z4 roadster convertible coming up the lane. She recognized the driver at a glance, the long black hair, designer sunglasses. She turned the gas stove to low and rushed outside to greet the FBI Special Agent.

"Li Li!" cried Ailsa. "Oh, I'm so happy to see you!" she said, hugging Wu.

Siv Craig, working in the yard, put down her pruning shears. She hadn't seen that manner of smile on her daughter's face for quite some time.

"Come, meet my mom," said Ailsa. She looked at Li Li's car. "Government issue?" she teased.

"I thought I'd give it a run," said Wu. "I don't get out of the city much... scarcely a chance to go over a hundred!" she joked. Wu turned to greet Ailsa's mother and the two exchanged pleasantries.

"Come in Li Li, I was making lunch. I'll fix you something," said Ailsa.

In the kitchen, Ailsa tended to her pan. Wu sauntered by and peeked at the sizzling luncheon meat. "Still the carnivore, I see," she said, raising a penciled brow.

"Well, they're actually very good, luncheon meat burgers. I would make you one from tofu, but we have none. However, I can make you a salad."

"That's fine," said Wu. "How do you feel?"

"Like Wilma Dean in Splendor in the Grass when she comes home from the hospital," whispered Ailsa quickly, before her mother came in, "tired of being handled with kid gloves."

"You've been through a lot," said Wu.

"It's behind me, Li Li. I don't want to be coddled anymore."

"I understand. Maybe this will help." Wu pulled Ailsa's cellphone from her purse.

Ailsa was ecstatic. "I thought I'd never see it again!"

"There's more," said Wu, as Siv Craig came into the kitchen. "Your car's been released," Wu continued. "You can ride back with me if you like and pick it up." She flashed the release ticket given to her by Sheriff Petersen.

"Mom, I can get my car!"

"That's wonderful darling," said her mother, pretending to be pleased. "Remember, your father and I don't want you moving back into the condominium just yet."

Ailsa rolled her eyes and gave Wu a glance worth a thousand words. "Yes, Mom."

The trio took lunch outside on the cement patio surrounding the in-ground pool. For dessert, they nibbled on cookies and sipped tea and coffee. Wu provided an update.

"You'll be happy to learn that Riley Pacocha is well on her way to making a full recovery. According to her doctors, she has received tremendous support from family, her schoolmates and a community church group. Apparently, they have scheduled her first outing, a soccer tournament in two weeks although she will be watching, not participating."

"That's wonderful," said Ailsa, happy that her mother was hearing first-hand about Riley's reintegration.

"At the preliminary hearing, Edmond Crowley pleaded guilty to the kidnappings leading to the deaths of Amber Kalita and Morgan McMahon and to the kidnappings, confinement, and bodily harm caused to you and Riley. In an arrogant manner, he attempted to upstage the hearing by reciting verbatim the federal and state statutes and the subdivisions of the acts governing the crimes he committed." Wu paused and folded her hands prior to continuing. "One benefit of the guilty plea is that some evidence does not have to enter a public court of law."