Page 25 (1/2)

Ten hours before Mary Terror&039;s converstation with the dead, Laura rang the doorbell of a red brick house four e white cloudsslowly across the sky, but the air was bitterly cold Mark had his hands buried in his fleece-lined jacket, and puffs of breath plua on Friday ht there before continuing the rest of the way They had driven through the sprawling University of Michigan, once a hotbed of student dissent in the late sixties and early seventies, and now better known for its Wolverines

The door opened an elderly man with a pleasant, leathery face and sun freckles on his scalp peered out "Yesi"

"Hello" Laura offered a tight s to find Diane Daniells Do you knohere shelook at Mark, and then he squinted toward the other side of the road, up at the stone cottage surrounded by oaks and el dirt driveway "Diane&039;s not at ho if you had any idea where she is" This house and the one belonging to Diane Daniells - once known as Bedelia Morse - were the only ones on this stretch of road

"Gone on a trip," he said "Not sure where"

"When did she leavei" Mark asked

"Oh, Thursday afternoon, I suppose it was Said she was goin&039; north, if that&039;s any help"

Laura had a knot in her throat, and she had to struggle to clear it Being so close to where Bedelia Morse lived and being unable to find her was pure torture "Did she say when she ht be backi"

"Weekend trip, she said You folks friends of Diane&039;si"

"I&039;m an old friend," Mark answered

"Well, I&039;m sorry you one birdin&039;"

"Birdingi" Laura asked

"Yep Diane asked to borrowto the society" He scratched his chin "Diane&039;s a solitary kind of woood birder if she put her mind to it"

Laura nodded absently, turned, and looked at the stone cottage again The e stood an abstract clay sculpture, all sharp angles and edges

"Diane&039;s a real popular lady all of a sudden," the old man said

"Whati"

"Real popular," he repeated "Diane usually don&039;t have no visitors She comes over and plays chess with me sometimes Beats my socks off, too Other fella was askin&039; about her yesterday"

"Other fellowi" Mark frowned "Whoi"

"Friend of hers," he said "Fella with a bad throat Had to plug a doohickey into his neck and talk through a speaker Da to visiti" Laura asked, getting the conversation back on track

"Nope Just said she was goin&039; away for the weekend Headin&039; north, she said"

It was obvious theelse "Thank you," Laura said, and the old ood day and closed his door