Page 133 - My Home on the Earth

at the bus stop a few days later to say hello, she said her name was Marissa Collins. He’d seen her wandering in the town centre pulling two shopping trolleys. According to Mr Cooke, they’re not related because Miss Kilroy is far more attractive,’ laughed Helen.
‘Thank you for letting me know, Helen. It was very kind of you. One day, I’ll get to the bottom of all this. Bye.’
Alice returned to the kitchen to fold the ironing board and put it away. She made herself a cup of coffee and went into the lounge. ‘What is the woman up to calling herself Marissa Collins? The only comparison to her real name is she’s used the same initials, MC.’ The telephone rang again and Alice thought it was Helen calling with more information.
‘Hello, Marjorie. I thought you might be Helen. She called to tell me about the woman who now calls herself Marissa Collins. She is staying with Louisa Kilroy and I want to know why.’
‘You’re in luck, thanks to my detective work. I called a friend at our Ladies’ Circle. Her grandson is a student- teacher at Rauston Academy and it is the same Louisa woman who lives in the apartment. He spent a week in her classroom before Christmas and she wasn’t at all friendly. None of her class seemed to like her. She told him and another student that she lived in a luxury apartment at the exclusive Bay Park. She suggested they start looking for something similar. He said he laughed and said, “What! On our salary?” He and his friend thought her pathetic and self-centred.’
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