"First off, I'm going to find out who owns that mine. That's where we start."
"You can do that?" Cynthia asked, impressed.
"Sure. I can compare Martha's drawing with a map and get the location. There's a fleet of nice ladies at the courthouse that are always happy to help. It's not like I'm an amateur at this sleuthing business."
"I'm sure now that the sheriff's office is involved, they'll take care of everything." Cynthia looked at her watch. "Dinner at the Calvias' house must be just about over. The time is two hours later in New Jersey." She rose to go into the building.
"You're going to call them?" Dean asked over his shoulder.
"Certainly. It's not as if they don't have a mutual interest in this business. There's decisions to be made, wedding details to discuss, and I'm sure Rose Calvia feels the same as I about the children staying in school." Cynthia's speech about Billy Langstrom seemed as old as the Gettysburg Address, but far less remembered.
Dean thought of suggesting that Cynthia wait until dessert (and the news) was digested before chitchatting about the particulars, but he held his tongue. He'd been on thin ice with this whole subject since the beginning. Cynthia didn't ask him to join her and he was more than happy to remain rocking a groove in the front porch decking.
The Dawkins-the Ginger/Joseph half-drove up, this time making no effort to hide their rented Jeep, or their door-slamming anger. Joseph stormed by Dean and Fred without a word, but Ginger lingered to finish her cigarette. Ginger was steaming mad. She stood on the front porch, puffing on her cigarette as if sucking in a lung full of chemicals might somehow help matters.
"Problem?" Dean asked, as he shaded his eyes from the late afternoon sun.
She paused, as if hesitating to confide, until her anger overcame her reticence. "It's that's lying bastard, my brother-in-law and his lard-assed wife! They didn't go to Telluride at all! Can you believe it? We saw them! They snuck up to our property-up in the mountains! The sneaky bastards! Lied right to our face!" She stomped on her cigarette butt and kicked it into the daisies before slamming her way into Bird Song. Dean looked at Fred, who had no idea what was going on. Dean just smiled, wondering how Ginger and Joseph would know where brother and sister-in-law were if they themselves hadn't lied like the proverbial rug and done the exact same thing as the pair they were accusing.
Apparently the historic Calvia dinner transpired without bloodletting, or at least no mayhem was reported by Cynthia after her lengthy conversation ended. The telephone confab was between Rose and Cynthia and apparently the two spoke with like mind. While there was a comment that father Joe Calvia hadn't taken the news well, no details were given, and no calls from a hospital emergency room followed. It appeared randy Randy remained alive, his presence required as a bridegroom as soon as details could be arranged. The wheels were already in motion. Cynthia would attend the New Jersey wedding-thank God for Visa-while Fred and Dean would hold down Bird Song. It would be a Catholic wedding, albeit in the rectory-but still a must in the eyes of the Calvias. The wedding date might be close to Dean's August Election Day, but Cynthia would vote absentee if necessary. Silly David Dean for thinking more time might be needed to put all these pesky details to rest.