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"Yes," I said, "but I thought it was a different sort of blood disease, maybe even a cancer."

She shook her head.

"He died when he was four," I repeated. "I'm positive he said that."

"We can call my mother and ask her," Audrey said, "if you don't believe me. Corbette's mother didn't have his younger brother until she was in her late thirties. She's already in her mid forties, so you can't be remembering it right."

"I know what he told me," I said.

"Why would he tell you that?" she wondered aloud. Her face brightened with the answer. "Maybe he was trying to get you to feel sorry for him so you would let down your guard and become another victim of the King

Cherry Picker."

I stared at her.

"Rain?"

There was a disturbing smell.

"Oh no," I screamed rushing to the stove, "the biscuits!"

They were almost burned; just like I had almost been.

16

Who Can I Trust?

.

Jake came by in the morning to pick up the

Rolls so he could bring Grandmother Hudson back from the hospital. I saw him drive up in his car and went out to speak to him. I was thinking about going along, but I was afraid to suggest it, afraid it might upset Grandmother Hudson.

"Mornin', your ladyship," Jake quipped, tipping his hat and bowing as I approached.

"Good morning, Jake. What time will you be bringing Mrs. Hudson home?"

"They told me to be at the hospital by ten. It won't be more than a forty minute ride today. No real traffic." He gazed at the house. "How do you like livin' in that big house all by yourself?"

"I had a girlfriend over for dinner," I said as an answer. "I told her about your ghosts."

Jake laughed.

"Did it scare her?"

"A little, I think. You really believe in ghosts, Jake? My mama does."

"Something lingers in a house like this one, Rain," he said, taking his cap off and scratching his head. "There's too much history. There's nothing here that'll hurt you, though," he promised.

"How can you be so sure, Jake?" I challenged. He shrugged.

"Nothing here has ever hurt me," he replied. He opened the car door and looked at me. "Did you want to come along for the ride?"

I was tempted. I actually took a step forward and then stopped.

"No, I'd better wait here," I said. "I have some homework left to do and I want to be free to do whatever I can for Mrs. Hudson."

"You know she's bringing a live-in nurse home with her, right?"