Going to the Bad by Nora McFarland Page A

about you.”
    Rod didn’t laugh. He didn’t even look at me. He took a breath that sounded surprisingly like a sigh. His shoulders hunched and the worry lines on his forehead deepened. “Lilly, I need you to stop working on this story.”
    â€œI know you’ve been through hell today.” I got up and transferred to Callum’s empty seat next to Rod. “But is there more you’re not telling me?”
    â€œThe hardest part about how my grandfather died was that I couldn’t get to the hospital in time to say good-bye. He asked for me, and I wasn’t there.”
    His eyes were glassing over, but he didn’t look away.
    â€œI’m so sorry,” I said. “I forgot that you . . . I mean, of course that’s on your mind now. We’ll go to the hospital right away.”
    We paid our check and left. I’d eaten half my tuna melt, but Rod had barely touched his catfish and eggs. I wrapped the biscuit, usually his favorite, in a napkin and took it with me.
    We were close to the Oildale house so we detoured to pick up Rod’s Prius. Neither of us wanted to go inside what I’d once thought of as a safe place—which was good, because we couldn’t. Crime-scene tape blocked the front porch and a police seal was on the door.
    Rod suggested, and I quickly agreed, that we stay at the house he owned near the bluffs. The repairs that had prompted his moving in with me a year earlier had been completed, and the 1970s ranch-style house would be free and comfortable.
    We drove to the hospital in our separate cars. I lagged behind only long enough to put my KJAY shirt back on. Once on theroad, my cell phone rang. It was Callum, so I took the call and put it on speaker.
    â€œWhat happened with the animals?” I said. “Is the bird really history?”
    â€œYes, but it didn’t happen on air.” Behind Callum’s voice I heard a cat meowing. “The animal control guy took off after the noon show, but he left a couple cages unlatched.”
    â€œI thought he looked distracted. What if he doesn’t come back for the five?”
    â€œWe’ll figure something out.” Callum paused, and I heard a computer mouse clicking. “I’ve done more Internet snooping about the man who stole Warner’s jewelry. Mida is Carter King’s sister. They both inherited the family farm from their parents, who died young.”
    â€œIs Mida still alive?”
    â€œNobody ever bothered to change the title on the land so she must be. The farm is her last known address.”
    â€œAs much as I’d like to talk with her, I have to go to the hospital first.”
    â€œPerfect. I’ll call Leanore and brief her on the story.” A dog barked, followed by a sharp hiss. “When you’re ready, take her with you to the King farm. If you run into anybody, say she’s doing one of her local-history pieces on the old robbery.”
    â€œWhat about Rod? He’s been through a lot today.”
    â€œThen leave him at the hospital or send him home to get some rest. Whatever he needs.”
    At the hospital I parked and met Rod in the lobby. On the ride upstairs I explained that Callum was sending Leanore and me out to the King farm.
    Rod’s cheeks were already chalky white, so he couldn’t pale any more. “This is a bad idea, Lilly. You need to stay here with me.”
    We stopped at the entrance to the surgical waiting room, where Leanore and Annette sat together. Three new people waited for news of their own relative on the other side of the room. Iimagined myself in their place with hunched shoulders and a listless, miserable gaze directed at the floor.
    I glanced inside to make sure the patrol officer was gone before speaking. “I know it’s important for you to be here, and I understand why, but we’re different. If I sit here and wait, I’ll come apart. I have to do something.”
    Rod looked