Read Unfinished Business - Barbara Seranella for Free Online Page B

and talk. Sometimes
they need you to help them do something around the house. Some of
them can't even get out of their chairs."
    "So are they all old?" she asked.
    "Not all. They just have to be housebound and
alone. In fact, one lady I deliver to in Barrington Plaza Gardens is
closer to our age."
    "What's her name?" Munch asked.
    "Robin Davies."
    "Robin Davies?"
    "You know her?"
    "Sure. Toyota Celica." She realized Robin
hadn't been around in at least a month. "She volunteers at
Asia's school, mentoring drama students. Apparently she has a lot of
theater experience. She helped choreograph the school's summer drama
production. We did Pinocchio. Robin was really good to Asia—to all
the kids. I should go see her or something. I didn't realize she was
sick."
    "As I understand it, she was in the hospital for
two weeks. When she was discharged it came out that she had no family
nearby to help her. They signed her up before she left the hospital
to receive meals as part of her aftercare."
    Munch looked back over the mostly vacant shop. Carlos
and Stefano were sitting on the workbench, watching the driveways for
work to roll in. They reminded her of that cartoon of two vultures
sitting on a tree limb. One is turned to the other and saying,
Patience, my ass. Let's go out and kill something.
    She turned back to D.W. "Can I tag along?"
    "You want to come with me?" he asked,
brightening. "You mean like right now? Today?"
    "Yeah, I can take a lunch break for once."
    "Give me a second," he said. He slid open
the back door and shoved back a stack of two-by-fours. Then he lifted
a milk crate full of power tools from the floorboard of the front
seat and jammed it into the clearance he'd created. His movements
were jerky, hurried. Twice she saw him catch his fingers in between
the crate and the building materials.
    Lou stood in the office doorway and watched with an
amused expression.
    "I'll be back in a little while," she told
him.
    D.W. had a whisk broom now and was briskly attacking
sawdust clinging to the upholstery of the passenger seat.
    "Real1y," she said. "It's all right."
He stepped aside and she climbed in.
    The van smelled like fried chicken. She didn't fasten
her seat belt. Their destination was only a couple blocks away But it
wouldn't have made a difference even if it had been miles. She hated
the feel of restraints. She didn't buckle up unless Asia was with
her. D.W. looked as if he was going to say something as he fastened
his own, but then apparently changed his mind.
    The Barrington Plaza Gardens was an upscale housing
development complete with spa, fitness center, and lots of Mercedes
in the individual carports. It was also surrounded by a twelve-foot
block wall. They entered the complex through the security gate off
Barrington Way. The gate guard walked out with his clipboard. D.W.
pointed to the placard on his dash and was waved through. Robin's
apartment was toward the rear of the complex. They drove around the
complex's large central fountain. The roads were well maintained and
bordered by flower beds full of roses.
    Robin's Celica was in her carport. A fine layer of
the heavier particles of Los Angeles's atmosphere covered the car.
This was odd in itself. Robin was meticulous about how she kept her
vehicle. She had it hand-washed once a week, waxed at least once a
month by the detail business that operated out of the gas station.
She was one of those customers who seemed almost disappointed when
you couldn't find anything that needed fixing or servicing.
    D.W. parked in a space marked LOADING ZONE.
    Munch waited while he got his blue plastic grocer's
basket ready. In the back of the van he had three large square
quilted bags. Each was stamped SANTA MONICA HOSPITAL. When he
unzipped the first bag she saw it was lined with silver insulation
fabric. He removed a rectangular aluminum box and put it in the
basket. Definitely chicken. The second quilted bag contained a cold
meal and from the third carrier he pulled two