The Mystery of the Lakeshore Ltd - An Eleanor and Lydia Mystery

Chapter Ten

They left Larisa in the spare room at Lowell's house - a place no one in the world had any reason to look for her - and hobbled across the dew-damp grass to Eleanor's back door. It was a happy surprise to find that the two young people hadn't killed each other in her absence. Both of them jumped to their feet when the door slid open.

"Nana!" Lydia raced into Eleanor's arms, and it was all Eleanor could do not to slump forward and let the girl carry her to bed. "I'm so glad you're okay."

"We're fine, dear, just fine."

Lowell waved goodbye and turned himself around to head back to his own house, announcing, "I've got to sleep."

"Did you find the papers?" Chet asked.

Eleanor nodded. "We did. The trip was a better success than we could have hoped, but I'm afraid I don't have it in me to share all the details right now." He began to protest, and she raised a hand. "I beg of you, give me a few hours, and I'll tell you everything."

A muscle jumped in the boy's jaw, but he didn't argue.

"Lydia, dear, help me to my room, will you?"

Lydia offered her arm and guided her down the hall to her bedroom. The energy radiating off the girl was so frantic and intense it was surprising she wasn't throwing sparks in the dim corridor. She managed to hold her peace until the bedroom door clicked shut behind them. "What happened? Where are the papers? Did anyone see you?"

It had been Eleanor's intention to wash her face and change into her nightgown, but the bed looked so inviting she couldn't stop herself from sinking down onto the edge of it. She kept her voice to a whisper. "We found the papers and we found Larisa."

"What? Is she okay?"

"She's fine. She's at Lowell's house now. I'll tell you everything, I promise." When had she decided to lay down? Had she even taken her shoes off? Did it really matter? Boy, that salesman hadn't been lying. The new memory foam mattresses were fantastic.

~*~

Morning took every opportunity to remind Eleanor of evening's foolishness. Her body ached. Her hair stuck up at weird angles. Dark circles dropped beneath her eyes. Mud from her shoes had left stains on her comforter. She took her time putting herself back together and kept her cane close at hand. The last thing she needed was to fall and break a hip.

Of course, when she reached the kitchen, the young people were already waiting for her. Chet had once again melted into one of the chairs, and Lydia paced the length of the room like a caged tiger.

"Would you be so kind as to make me a cup of tea?" Eleanor asked, mostly to give the poor, restless child something to do with her hands. While Lydia banged about, Eleanor called Lowell and asked if he and his guest would like to join them for breakfast. By the time the teapot began to whistle, Lowell was sliding the door open and Lydia raced across the room to embrace her friend.

Eleanor watched the emotions flit across Chet's face--surprise, relief, wonder, and most of all, fear.

"Do you think her story will match yours?" Eleanor asked him.

He met her gaze with panicky wide eyes. "Yes, but I think Riley's going to kill us all when he finds out she's here."

"Hmm," said Eleanor. "I suppose he might try."

Several minutes were given over to exclamations of joy and relief. At last, beverages and muffins were served and everyone settled down enough to compare notes. Larisa started by pointing a long, slim finger in Chet's direction. "You're a piece of dirt. Mr. Lopez told me you're helping the good guys now, and that's all well and great, but it's going to take a whole lot of help before I'll trust you. I don't know how you ended up here with these people, but if it were up to me, I'd hang you out to dry."