The Misadventures of the Laundry Hag 00 - Skeletons in the Closet

think about is yourself! How could you leave her there alone? I thought for once you would step up and help instead of hinder, but then you ditch your sister at the first opportunity. That was bad enough, but you parading in here with your latest conquest in tow, after all of the shit you’ve pulled, that’s the last fucking straw!”
    “Neil!” I shouted loud enough to make my own ears ring.
    My brother’s face was impassive, not a flicker of emotion available. I blinked, and Marty was in motion, striding down the hall to Kenny and Josh’s room where he slammed the door so hard our double paned aluminum windows rattled.
    “What Maggie?” Neil’s red face focused on me.
    “I’d like you to meet Josh’s teacher, Mrs. Martin.”
    I watched the rage leave my husband’s stance as an “oh shit” look of understanding appeared in his green eyes. The school teacher’s typically pasty face mottled red, and her small white hands clenched tightly. Marty stomped down the hall, towing his oversized green duffle bag. He stopped long enough to kiss me on the cheek, drop a one-armed hug and a vague promise to call soon. I wanted to hold him to me forever, but he pulled away, and with a final glare at Neil, he left.
    We listened to the Chevy engine sputter to life and peel out of our development. The clock ticked on, and I still couldn’t think of anything to say.
    Neil finally broke the silence. “He drank the last beer.”

    * * * *
    “So you see, Mrs. Martin, Hemingway was a sadistic alcoholic, and the use of his work as gospel, especially for students who are unable to comprehend the more abstract concepts in his writing, will only sour a young child to the great works of literature which are available.”
    I worried my lower lip as Mrs. Martin considered my speech. I thought the sadistic alcoholic part might be over the top, but since my husband had called the woman a tart to her face, I figured slighting Hemingway wasn’t quite so bad. Besides, I had a concussion and I’d run the emotional gamut in the past twenty-four hours. I deserved a little slack.
    Mrs. Martin slapped her hands on her thighs. “While I don’t agree with your assessment of Hemingway, I can see how strongly you feel about this, Mrs. Phillips. Tell Joshua that he may select another book tomorrow and as long as he has the report in by Friday morning, I’ll record the higher grade.”
    “Thank you very much for your time, Ms. Martin, and once again, I’m so sorry that you were dragged into our family drama.” I cringed at a sense of déjà vu . I remembered similar words written to me by Alessandra Kline. The woman may have been the next thing to impossible to work for, but I’d like to believe her heart had been in the right place.
    “I’ll let you rest now,” Ms. Martin said and retrieved her purse. Then, under her breath, but loud enough for me to hear, “You’ll need all of your strength to deal with that man.”
    She left, and I called out to tell ‘that man’ it was now safe to show his face.
    “Did you call for the pizza? I’m half-starved.”
    Surprise flickered across Neil’s face. “What, no lecture?”
    “No lecture. I know you were upset and I think the fifteen apologies you threw at Ms. Martin were plenty.”
    “What about Marty?”
    “Marty will be back. He doesn’t have enough pride to be seriously wounded, so he’ll vent for a bit, come back when he’s broke, and everything will return to normal.”
    “You seem remarkably calm,” Neil observed.
    “A brush with a psychopath and a blow to the head will do that for a girl.”
    Neil leaned down to give me a kiss. The doorbell rang. “I don’t want to answer that.” He glared at the door.
    “Do it, but don’t let whoever it is in.”
    Neil unlocked the deadbolt and blocked the entry to the house. I heard him conversing with a female voice. I was dismayed when he came back followed by Detective Capri.
    “I promise to make this quick, Mrs. Phillips, but I wanted to let you know your brother was correct. Mr. Finkelstein had installed a digital video system after firing ‘that crummy security specialist’. Your whole encounter was caught on film.”
    I was groggy and more than ready for all the loose ends to be taken care of. “That’s nice.”
    “We’ll still need you to come down to the station, but not until you’re feeling up to it. There’s something else I want to discuss with you as well.”
    I quirked an eyebrow at her distorted