Part 21 (1/2)

Bodie stepped over to the door. 'Oh, there's Pen. I wonder if she's eaten yet.'

'Ask her.'

He slid open the door. The sound made her look around. 'Good morning,' he said.

'Hi, Bodie.'

His heart beat a little faster. 'Are you hungry?'

Nodding, she swung her legs off the lounger and stood up. Bodie caught himself staring at her legs as she walked toward him. He turned away.

'It's wonderful out there,' she said and entered the kitchen. 'I never sit out at my place.'

'Maybe you can find a new apartment with a private patio,' Melanie said.

'I should try. Sleep well?' she asked.

'Fine,' Melanie answered.

'Me, too,' said Bodie. 'Zonked right out.'

”The jacuzzi will do that to you. That and the booze.' She met Bodie's gaze and looked away. 'I was out like a light.'

'Did you see Joyce's note?' Bodie asked.

'Guess she's making herself scarce. Who could blame her?'

'What do you mean?' Bodie asked.

'Just that she can't be very comfortable around Dad's family. She's obviously sleeping with Harrison, after all.'

'I thought you didn't believe that,' Melanie said. 'What changed your mind?'

'Being around her, I guess. I can't even put my finger on it, but there's something about her. Maybe the way she's been acting - I don't know - ingratiating. It's as if she has a guilty conscience so she's bending over backwards to be sweet. You add that to the fact that Harrison was here yesterday morninga and what you told me about the bed.' Pen frowned at her sister. 'It makes me think that maybe you've been right about her all along. She wouldn't be sleeping with Harrison if she loved Dad.'

'She never loved Dad,' Melanie said. 'She just wanted his money.'

'But that doesn't mean she tried to kill him,' Bodie pointed out.

Melanie stabbed him with her eyes.

He grimaced. 'Woops.'

'What are you talking about?' Pen asked. 'Tried to kill Dad?'

Bodie tried to look sorry for his slip of the tongue. With a shrug, he said, 'Maybe you'd better tell her, Melanie.'

'Neat play.'

'It just came out.'

'I wish somebody would tell me what the h.e.l.l's going on,' Pen demanded. 'My G.o.d, I think I have a right to know. He's my father, too.'

Leaning back against the refrigerator door, Melanie folded her arms across her chest. She sighed, gave Bodie another fierce glance, then met Pen's eyes. 'Joyce and Harrison fixed it up so Dad would get hit by the car.'

Pen's eyes went wide. Her mouth dropped open. She shook her head. That's insane,' she muttered.

'I told you she wouldn't listen.'

'Go on,' Bodie urged. Tell her the rest.'

'What's the point?'

Bodie looked at Pen. ' Harrison was driving the car that ran your father down. Melanie saw him. It was that vision she had last night in the hospital room.'

'I saw him behind the winds.h.i.+eld,' Melanie said. 'It was as if I were looking with Dad's eyes.'

'You can't make an accusation like that based on nothing more thana your imagination.'

'It wasn't my imagination.'

'Maybe it was telepathy,' Bodie suggested. 'Maybe your father communicated it to her.'

'Don't tell me you believe it, too?'

'I don't know. I guess maybe I do.'

'You're both bananas.'

Bodie wondered if, perhaps, Pen was playing it a bit too skeptical.

'Joyce made the dinner reservations,' Melanie said, a certain eagerness sneaking into her voice. 'She knew Dad always parked behind the bank, knew he'd have to cross the street. Harrison parked and waited till Dad started across.'

'It could've happened that way,' Bodie said.

'It did.'

'You'd need proof,' Pen told her. 'You can't base this whole thing on some kind of psychic experience.'

'Let's get proof,' Bodie suggested.

'I already know,' Melanie said.

'Your visions aren't always right,' Pen pointed out. 'Remember Dad's honeymoon?'

'That was a fluke.'

'Maybe this is a fluke.'