Cut to the Chase Read Free

handed it to the toddler.
    Elizabeth parked it on the sandbox’s seat, clambered in and plunked down amid a bright plastic toy collection. She grabbed a yellow shovel and scooped sand into a plastic pail. After adding two more shovels of sand, she poured water into the pail, stirred, looked thoughtfully at Candace and dumped the contents on her head.
    Candace, squatting beside the sandbox, wasn’t quick enough to stop her.
    Water and sand splashed over Elizabeth’s baseball cap and dribbled down her face and neck. She scrubbed at the mess, balled her hands into fists, jammed them in her eyes and wept.
    â€œAnything to get attention,” Candace said and folded her arms around Elizabeth. “Time for a quick spray in the bathtub.”
    Her gaze swung between Jack and Hollis. “Hollis, would you show Jack how the machine works?”
    Hollis would have preferred hearing why Danson’s failure to phone had terrified Candace, but this wasn’t the time to pursue the topic. “Sure,” she said, called to MacTee and followed Jack to the basement laundry room.
    Before Hollis left, Candace lowered her voice and said, “When Elizabeth’s cleaned up and had her morning nap, would you join us for lunch? There’s more to Danson’s story.”
    Hollis agreed almost before the invitation left Candace’s lips.
    Jack had parked a large blue duffle bag on the basement floor in front of the washer.
    â€œIt’s a basic machine,” Hollis said. She showed him which dials to turn. “Do you start practices right away?” she asked.
    â€œNo. They told us to come early to find a job and a place to live. We’re semipro, and we don’t make enough to live on. Too bad, or we’d be better players. That’s the way it is. I have interviews this afternoon,” he said.
    â€œWhat do you do?”
    Jack stopped sorting his laundry. “Anything. I don’t have specialized training, but I’ve worked in fast food restaurants, and I can probably get something that will mesh with the training schedule.”
    â€œGood luck. I’m an artist, and my studio is here. If you need to know anything about the house or the neighbourhood, feel free to come up and ask me.”
    â€œYou’re here every day. I forget that people work at home,” Jack said.
    â€œI do. Candace’s mother is here off and on during the daytime too.” She pointed to the ceiling, “She’s above you on the first floor. You may wake up at three in the morning and hear her. She’s a dancer and practices at all hours.”
    â€œIt’s already happened. I figured college kids lived upstairs, although the music was kind of strange. I figured they were Latin Americans.” Jack’s eyes widened, and his mouth made a perfect “o” before he said, “Candace’s mother is a dancer?”
    Leaving him to digest his surprise, Hollis and MacTee headed back outside. Hollis didn’t know what had been causing Candace such distress, but it hadn’t just been her obsession with her brother’s whereabouts. Danson seemed like a normal, caring if somewhat fanatical guy. Hollis wondered why his sister was so concerned. What revelations was she about to hear?

Two
    B ack in the garden, reading the Globe’s pontificating columnists, learning what was happening in the city and immersing herself in the details of others’ lives no longer attracted Hollis. She had a real-life issue to deal with.
    Why had Danson disappeared?
    Maybe he’d run away from life’s responsibilities or done a flit with a gorgeous girl? Maybe the explanation was simply that he’d forgotten the charger for his cell phone. Men frequently took off. Modern life was hard on them. Whatever the last conversation had been about, it had to have been something serious, or Candace wouldn’t be panic-stricken. Since no answers danced before her eyes, she’d