21Sorry for the delay. Life has gotten in the way. And also I've had this problem with my account/password. It takes me hours to get in - anyone else with this problem?
Anyway - on with the story...
Chapter 6 The Memories
'I don't know why they both are so intent on going, Grandma. I hardly remember the Rands.' Scott accepted the juice and cookie his Grandmother handed him. It was just after dawn the day and they were in the kitchen alone, Scott taking a short break from his father's instructions after an urgent call had come in from Tracy Industries.
'They both played with Jimmy, if I'm remembering right,' Grandma said. 'Not that I liked the idea. There was something odd about that boy.'
'I don't really remember him.'
'He was a strange one. Never left their farm. Was Mr Rand's nephew, I think. His mother worked in the army and the father died some time earlier. So, they offered to bring him up.'
Scott munched on the cookie. 'I don't know why John is so adamant to go. He's angry about something. It's not like him.'
'Leave him alone!' said Grandma so fiercely Scott was taken aback.
'I'm not saying he shouldn't go over Virgil, I'm just saying I don't know why either of them is so intent on going.'
Grandma frowned. 'I remember something…oh, my darn memory…what was it that happened back then? You know, when Mr Rand died.'
Scott shrugged.
'Of course you do! We all went to Mr Rand's funeral. No, wait a minute. Virgil was sick. Did you stay home with him?'
Scott perked up.
'That's right, Grandma. I remember. I didn't want to go anyway. Dad was going to call us from the mission he was on. We'd all been looking forward to it. I said I'd stay home with Virg, because he was sick. In case the rest of you didn't get home in time, I'd stay back and take the call.'
'Yes, yes. That's right. John didn't want to go either but I made him. Told him he had to since Jimmy was his friend.'
'I thought Jimmy was Virgil's friend?'
'Both were! That's right. John nearly fainted at one point, just as the coffin was being lowered. He wouldn't step inside the Rand's home when we got there for the wake. He went off and sat in the barn the whole afternoon. I sent Gordon out there to get him when we were to leave, and Gordon told me later that John was in there crying.'
'Funny you would say that, Grandma,' Scott said, a memory playing across his face, 'I went to see check on Virgil and found him crying in bed. I nearly panicked because I thought he must be getting sicker, but he threw Willie at me and told me to get out.'
'Willie?'
'His stuffed beagle,' Scott said.
Grandma nodded in memory.
'Maybe they were a lot closer to Jimmy than I remember.'
'Or…' Scott said quietly.
Grandma looked at him quizzically.
'…it brought fresh memories up for them,' Scott answered.
Grandma squeezed his shoulder. 'Yes, that's probably right. Your mother wasn't long gone herself. And I'm sure they both liked Mr Rand. I think he had an old telescope that John used to admire. Perhaps it was more traumatic than I thought.' She sighed. 'Young ones shouldn't have to see so much death so young.'
'How did Mr Rand die?' Scott asked.
'He killed himself,' Grandma said. 'Well, so they think, though there was always a doubt. Some things didn't add up. But those state police weren't much use for murder mysteries.'
'Murder?'
'Well, no. It was just a rumour. Some doubts about there being other people around that afternoon. There were questions never answered properly. Sad business all round.'
'They moved didn't they? Mrs Rand and Jimmy?'
'Mr Rand's sister was in the army and he and Maureen…Mrs Rand…looked after him for a couple of years. After Mr Rand's death, Jimmy's mother resigned from the army after her term and took Jimmy back to Louisiana. Maureen went away to South Africa to visit her sister, but her sister's marriage fell apart soon after she arrived, so they both came back home to live in that old house. Her sister died about ten years ago. Maureen hardly left the property after that. Neighbours I kept in touch with said she was going a little soft in the head.'
Scott was silent, and truth be told he hadn't quite followed all the comings and goings of his grandmother's explanation.
'What will happen to the house now?' he finally asked.
'Jimmy will decide. He inherited it since the Rand's had no children of their own, and his mother was lost some time back.'
Scott fell quiet.
'Yes, it is all rather gloomy,' Grandma said, squeezing his shoulder again. 'Here, have another cookie. It'll make you feel better.'
Neither of them noticed an eavesdropper just outside the dining room doorway. As Virgil turned away, his face was troubled.