Forget to Remember

terminal.
    She stopped in a restroom to attempt to make herself look presentable. She peered in a mirror and fluffed her short hair with her fingers so that it covered her bald spots. She had gotten it trimmed yesterday and was no longer wearing the beret. The marks on her face were going away. She looked pretty good, if she did say so herself.
    She hadn’t checked her small suitcase, so she looked for whoever was meeting her near the baggage carousel. A middle-aged woman stood there with a sign that read “Cynthia Sakai.” She almost walked right by, but she suddenly realized she was Cynthia Sakai. She had better get used to traveling under an assumed name. Just like a spy. She had a memory of reading spy stories. Now she was living like one.
    She stopped and said hello to the woman. The woman’s eyes flashed recognition, and she smiled. “Hi, Cynthia, I’m Rose Guthrie. Let me carry your bag.”
    Carol smiled. She was certain she had never been used to this kind of treatment. “It’s light. I think I can handle it. Please call me Carol.”
    Rose, who was wearing slacks and a light jacket, led the way out of the building and across several lanes of traffic to the parking structure. They chatted about how Carol’s flight had been (fine) and the weather (warm). The lights of a late-model car flashed in response to Rose’s remote. Carol put her suitcase in the trunk, and they exited the parking structure and the airport, heading west on I-40.
    Carol saw this ride as a chance to get some information. “Rose, do you work for Mr. Vigiano?”
    “Yes, I’m a paralegal. I do all his grunt work.” She laughed. She had a ready laugh. “I’m the one who answered the phone when you talked to Mr. Vigiano.”
    “Now I remember your voice. How long have you worked for him?”
    “Almost ten years. Almost forever. No, he’s a good boss, and it’s a good job.”
    “You must be familiar with the Sakai estate.”
    “Oh yes. I prepare all the legal forms that have to be filled out for any probate. Of course, Paul approves them before they’re filed, but he trusts me. It was a tragedy, their plane crashing like that. They were prominent people here in Chapel Hill. There was a big story about them in the newspaper.”
    Carol had read the story. “Have you met Mrs. Horton?”
    “Mrs. Sakai’s mother? No, I haven’t met her, but I’m about to—we’re about to. She’s anxious to meet you. I’m taking you to her home now for a late dinner. Although it’s not so late for you, coming from the West Coast. Are you hungry?”
    “I can always eat. Will Mr. Vigiano be there?”
    “He’ll meet us there. He had a court appearance this afternoon. Mrs. Horton has lived here in Chapel Hill for over fifty years. She has forty acres at the end of an unpaved road. Are you good at reading maps and following directions?”
    “I can read a map.”
    “Good, because I’m a bit shaky. Take a look at these directions…” Rose handed Carol a piece of paper “…and get the map out of the glove box.” She turned on the dome light.
    Carol directed Rose to the proper exit from I-40. She had additional questions. “Does Mrs. Horton live alone?”
    “She doesn’t want to leave her house, even though it’s in the middle of nowhere and she’s showing some of the signs of old age, apparently. Mr. Vigiano said she has live-in help.”
    “Is she his client?”
    “Information about clients is confidential.” Rose laughed. “No, she isn’t a client. Paul needs her to identify Cynthia.” Rose looked at Carol. “The wills stipulate Mrs. Horton has to make a positive identification of anybody claiming to be Cynthia.”
    “Has anybody else claimed to be Cynthia?”
    “There haven’t been any serious pretenders to the throne. You’re the first. For one thing, very few people have her looks, her background, and her coloring.” Another glance at Carol. “I met Cynthia many years ago, and I would say, from what I remember about her, if you aren’t her, you could pass for her.”
    “I don’t know my background. I’m not claiming to be Cynthia.”
    “Don’t be shy. Fifteen million dollars isn’t something to turn up your nose at.”

    CHAPTER 10
    Rose drove slowly along the gravel road by the light of the setting sun. They passed tall trees, grassy fields, and a sprinkling of houses. Three deer nonchalantly walked across in front of them. It was hard for Carol to believe they were within the city limits of Chapel Hill,