As soon as Cathy got home from the funeral parlor, after saying goodbye to Gloria and telling her she’d see her in class the next day, she called Nancy on her cell. Florence was still out to dinner with Howard. The note on the kitchen table confirmed it.
Nancy’s cell rang several times before she picked it up. “Cathy, you know I’m with Brian tonight. I hope this is an emergency.”
“Sorry to interrupt, but I think Brian needs to hear this, too, although Leroy will fill him in tomorrow.”
Nancy paused. “Hold on. Let me put this on speaker. What is Leroy going to fill Brian in about tomorrow?”
“Charlie’s gone.”
“Charlie?” Nancy sounded confused, but then she must’ve connected the bird with his name. “You mean Bodkin’s parrot? What happened? Did someone open his cage, and he flew away?”
“N
