Hide and Snoop (The Odelia Grey Mysteries) by Sue Ann Jaffarian Page A

clear her throat. “It’s probably best you’re not here anyway. A lot of folks are getting the axe this afternoon, both from your old firm and mine.”
    “That’s what I’ve heard.” It was my turn to throat-clear. “Have you heard anything about Mark or me?”
    “No, but Mark’s been circling our area like a buzzard.”
    “He’s probably waiting for the all-clear signal to claim my office.”
    “No doubt, but if they have to choose one of you to go, I hope it’s him. He’s a real pill.”
    I smiled. While I would have called Mark Baker a bastard or an SOB, Alyce never swore. Calling someone a pill was strong language for her. “Thanks, Alyce. I appreciate that. Any word from Erica?”
    “None. I have no idea where she is or when she’s returning, and there’s nothing on her calendar. Did she say anything to you?”
    “I’m lucky she speaks to me at all.”
    When I ended the call, Zee handed me a small grocery bag she’d been packing during my call to the firm. “What’s this?” I asked.
    “The children’s cold medicine. Give Lily another dose before bed. There’s also a plastic baggie of Cheerios in there. Kids love to snack on those. I’m sure you have other kiddie foods in your fridge.”
    Lily was still clinging to my leg. I patted her head with assurance. “You may be sure,” I answered Zee, “but I’m not. We were going to have catfish with wild rice and steamed vegetables for dinner tonight. Think she’ll eat that?”
    “I doubt it. Little ones can be very fussy eaters. Try mac and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, hot dogs, chicken noodle soup, chicken fingers, PB and J, even waffles cut into bite-size pieces. Bananas, apples wedges, and applesauce are also good. I know you have some of those things at home.”
    Zee was right, most of those items were in my pantry and fridge already, and Greg was the king of grilled cheese. “She had chicken fingers for lunch.”
    Squatting down, I went face to face with Lily. “Do you want to go to my house, Lily? I have two kitties and a doggie.”
    The hysteria of a few minutes ago was forgotten as she nodded with enthusiasm. “I go Cheesehead Squirrel’s house!”
    Zee squinted at us. “Cheesehead what?”
    “Nothing,” I answered quickly. “Just a character she saw at lunch.”
    I stood and started rounding up Lily and her stuff for the trip to Seal Beach. The kid did look dog-tired and raggedy. She rubbed her eyes and yawned as I put on her sweater. I’d bet one of Greg’s kick-ass grilled cheese sandwiches Lily would sleep most of the way to my house.
    We were almost out the door when my cell phone rang. It was Carl Yates. I showed the phone to Zee.
    “You have to talk to him sometime, Odelia. Just do it and get it over with.”
    I took a very deep breath, held it, and blew it out as the ringing continued. Another ring and the call would go to voice mail. At the last moment I caved and punched the answer button. “Yes, Carl?”
    “I just got your message.” He sounded tired. Carl Yates was a tough lawyer but a very nice man. Throwing people out of work, especially employees he’s known for years, had to be killing him. “You’re not coming back to work because of a sick kid? Did you and Greg adopt when I wasn’t looking?”
    “You don’t know who Lily Holt is?”
    “Enlighten me.”
    “Lily is Erica Mayfield’s three-year-old niece. Erica dumped her on me Tuesday.”
    I cringed as I said the word dumped in front of Lily. I didn’t want to give her the feeling she was a nuisance, even though she was. It just wasn’t her fault. Zee sensed my concern and picked Lily up and took her into the den. Lily was so tired, she didn’t kick up a fuss over the separation.
    “I’ve been taking care of Lily every day since,” I explained to Carl. “On the firm’s time.” I said the last part slowly and with emphasis. “This morning Erica told me I’m to keep Lily over the weekend. She didn’t ask me, Carl. She demanded and