I Don't Want to be Friends

Mike didn't tell Carolyn that he was going to see Lynn. He just went. He wanted to talk to the woman first and see what she had to say. He knew Carolyn could and would take care of herself, but this whole thing gave him the creeps.

The stables where Lynn was staying was large and expensive looking even to his inexperienced eye. There were people bustling around and he stopped one of them to ask where he could find her. He got the evil eye, but the man pointed to a group of people outside an arena.

As he approached he saw they were discussing a horse being run around the pen. They seemed to be haggling over the price. Lynn saw him and told the others "Excuse me, there's someone I need to talk to. I'll be right back."

One of the men looked over at Mike. ""If I make a deal while you're gone, I'll expect you to honor it."

"Reggie, if you make a deal while I'm gone we'll all keel over in shock. But feel free." Lynn told him jokingly. Her attitude toward Mike wasn't exactly as welcoming.

"Hello."it was a declarative statement. She crossed her arms over her chest and looked levelly at him.

"You have to know why I'm here." Mike said.

"If she had her way, it'd either to tell me to get out of town or to arrest me, I suppose." Her tone was hard.

"I would've thought you'd have gotten that message already." He couldn't help baiting her.

"I don't care one way or another what she thinks. I haven't done wrong and I will go where and when I want to. She doesn't control the world, badge or no."

"For someone who deals with animals, you are awfully cynical."

"Animals come with owners. What do you want, Detective?"

"She wants to see you."

"Sure she does. Pardon me while I get my Easter basket to distribute the eggs."

"You don't believe me?"

"What do you think? She hasn't ever wanted to see me unless this is about the money. She's not getting one penny more than anyone else."

"You and she share a lot of anger."

"You don't even want me to respond to that comment. Today is Friday. I'm leaving here next Thursday. I'm available until then. I'll make and appointment with her whenever she wants. After that, I won't be talking to her again."

"That's awful hard nosed for someone who just did her a favor. You didn't have to do that, you know."

"I had my reasons and you saw the result. Figure it out for yourself. Now if you will excuse me, I have business to attend to."

She didn't ask him if he minded. She just turned and walked away. She reminded him then of Carolyn. It struck him that she was a lot like Carolyn.

Carolyn was feeding Jenna when he told her about his visit with Lynn. She didn't respond at first. "When did you go there?"

"This morning. She has as much anger in her at you as you do at her..u I think you ought to talk to her and see if you can't at least learn to get along. She may not be your favorite person, but she is family."

Carolyn stiffened at the reference. "One I had no choice in."

"Do you think anyone does? Do you think she did? Family is who you're related to. Friends are family by choice."

Carolyn looked over at him. "Where did you get that?"

Mike shrugged, embarrassed. "It's something I read once."

"I'll give her a call. Did you get the number?"

"No. But I do the name of the stable where she was.

"Some detective." Carolyn teased gently.

"Hey, I was worried about you guys, okay?"

"I know, Mike. Thank you. So what else did you find out?

"She's really cynical. I'd say she's had a lot of experience with a rough sort of crowd."

"You don't think she's a threat to Jenna, do you?"

"No. I wouldn't let her anywhere near her or you if I thought that. I am going to check into her further, though. Does she have any association with a criminal element that you know of?"

"I don't know anything about her." Carolyn admitted. "I never cared to."

"Well, we'll let her only get so far. She won't be a problem, I promise you that."

"Good." Carolyn replied.

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The meeting was set up for the following Tuesday at the restaurant where Mike and Carolyn had first talked to the woman. Lynn. Carolyn was nervous, but she supposed she should get used to calling the woman by her name.

Carolyn dressed carefully. Since she was on duty later she carried her badge in the inside pocket and wore her gun. Not that she really thought she would need it, but because she felt better with it on. She was early for the 10:00 am meeting. She found a table in the back of the restaurant and sat down to wait. The waitress brought her a cup of coffee.

"You wanted to see me?" a voice told her immediately who was there.

Carolyn controlled her body carefully, lest she give something away. She looked up to see Lynn standing next to the table. "I guess. Would you like to sit down?"

"Are you armed?"

"Excuse me?"

"Are you armed? It's a simple enough question."

"I…have my gun, yes. I'll be going on duty after this. Why?"

"I just want to know what to expect, is all. Just so you know, so am I."

"You have a gun?"

"I do. I thought you ought to know up front."

"Why would you carry…uh, thank you for telling me. Please, sit down."

Lynn perched uneasily on the chair and eyed her. "Your…fiancé said you'd decided to see me. Did you have a question? Or did the lawyer give you a hard time? I can call the estate lawyer and he can talk to your lawyer if you need him to."

"No, Lynn" Carolyn didn't miss the stiffening of her sister at the name.

"I don't go by that name any more. I've been Carol for years now."

"Sorry, I didn't know."

"No reason you should." Carol said sharply. "It's not like we're close or anything."

"How come you changed your name?"

"I didn't. It has always been mine. I choose to use it is all. Lynn was what he called me."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know. Do you have questions about the will or something?"

"No, it was pretty straight forward. I was curious about you and how you are. Who you are?"

"I have a knack for picking out nice horses for people, so I go around the country and do that. That's pretty much it."

"It has to be more than that. You said you carry a gun? Do you have a permit for it in New York?"

"Yes, officer, I have a permit for it. I sometimes carry large amounts of cash and valuable cargo, so I have a permit to carry one. Do you want to see it?"

Carolyn was taken aback by the vehemence in Carols voice. "No, I was just making conversation. My lawyer tells me that this is a pretty standard will. She also said that it's common for there to be a clause in there about people not knowing how many people inherited and who they are."

"True. I suggested that for everyone's peace of mind."

"Do you know how many there are and who they are?"

"I'm the executor. I know, but no one else will."

The waitress came over and reached for Carols cup. She put a hand on it and told the woman, "Just a soda, please. Diet of whatever you have." She requested with a smile.

"We have coke, honey."

"That'll be fine."

The waitress refilled Carolyn's cup and moved off. "You don't like coffee?"

"I never developed a taste for it. Soda is my drink."

"You never said. How did you find me?"

"He kept a file on you. He was very proud of you. He always held up what you've done to all of us and said we should all do as well as you."

"He did? How come he never contacted me? I never heard from him again after he left us for your mother."

"Be grateful. He was a miserable louse and a lousy failure at everything. You were better off without him."

Carolyn was shocked. "I still would have liked to know him." She said softly.

"Why? No one who knew him wanted to know him. Count yourself lucky you weren't one of them."

"You can't know that."

Carol shrugged. "If you want to believe that, go ahead. I know the truth. I can't make you believe what you don't want to. So what else do you need to know? I have an appointment before long."

Carolyn was shocked by her callousness, but she supposed she shouldn't be surprised. "I just thought we should have more to talk about, is all. We are after all related."

"An accident of birth. You made that clear years ago. So was there anything else you wanted to know?"

"No, I guess not. I had hoped…."

"What, Carolyn? You had hoped that we could be sisters, friendly acquaintances, Friends? I don't need any more friends. I have plenty. I'm actually a fairly likeable person. Sisters? I could use one of those, but I want a real sister. Not one who resents the very air I breath."

"I…it wasn't…."

Carol waved her hand in the air dismissively. "Whatever it was or wasn't is past. We either go on and deal with it from here or let it drop. I know what I want. What do you want, Carolyn? I have to go. I'll be in touch with you before I leave town. We can decide then. Good bye."

Carol strolled out of the restaurant. Carolyn was just as happy to see her go. She was a cold person and she wasn't at all sure she ever wanted to see her again. She stood up and gathered her coat. The waitress came over to get the dishes. Carolyn gave her a five dollar bill. The waitress handed it back. "It's already been paid for and then some."

"I didn't see…."

"That other lady said she didn't expect this to take long and she gave me a twenty. If you want to give her the change, I can…."

"No keep it. I'm sure she wanted you to have it." Carolyn smiled at her and left the restaurant.

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Mike came home fairly bursting with curiosity. He helped her get the table ready for dinner while she explained about the brief meeting that was confusing, aggravating and left her wanting to know more about her half sister.

"She was so angry and closed off. Like she was mad at me for…."

"Like she was scared? Like she was afraid of getting hurt? Like she'd been rejected before and she didn't want to go through that again?" Mike supplied.

Carolyn hit him on the arm with her fist. "Yes, damn you. Just like that."

"Ow! Don't take it out on me. I'm on your side here."

"There shouldn't be sides. Damn him anyway for being such a selfish SOB. He could have told someone where he was."

"Yes, baby, he could have. But maybe he was too much of a coward. Maybe he couldn't face the fact that he made a mistake. Would you have wanted him to come back and then leave all over again?"

"No." Carolyn turned toward him and buried her face in his shoulder. "I'm so confused, Mike. I don't like feeling this way."

"No one does, honey. No one does."

TBC