by Marja McGraw
“Joe is going to pose as Mateo and I’m going to meet Pluto – “
“Don’t you just love that name?” Aunt Martha interrupted.
I took a deep breath, but only counted to five before finishing my explanation. “Anyway, I’m going to meet Pluto and we’re going to exchange Zasu for Mateo, or in this case Joe. When I have Zasu, Joe will arrest Pluto.”
Neither woman spoke, surprising me.
“I think I really blew it,” I said.
“What did you do?” my mother asked, using her I-love-you-anyway tone of voice.
“I told Pluto about his partner being murdered. I was hoping it would upset him enough that he’d blow the whistle on his boss. It didn’t. Instead he sounded angry.”
“I probably would have done the same thing.” My aunt patted my hand.
That’s the problem, I thought. I did what you would have done.
Instead of voicing my thoughts, I smiled at her. “Thank you, Aunt Martha.”
Mother shook her head. “I don’t like this. What if something goes wrong when you meet him?”
Ah, there was the Voice of Doom I knew and loved.
“It’ll be fine. Detective Redding has all the bases covered. All of the ducks are in a row. I can’t think of any other clichés at the moment.”
“You don’t need any more,” Aunt Martha said. “We get the picture.”
“Maybe you do, but I don’t.” Mom looked angry. “Sandi’s putting herself in danger. Why can’t Pete do this?”
“Pete will be there. I’m the only one Pluto has talked to and he wants me there to make the exchange. He probably figures that as a woman I’ll be easier to handle.”
“He seems to know very little about women.” My aunt smiled at me. “I know you can handle yourself and with Pete there, well…”
My mother tried to lighten the mood a little. “If I hadn’t taken my hormone pills this morning I could have helped.”
My aunt laughed. “That’s the last time I remind you to take your pills.”
“When are you supposed to meet this guy?” Mother asked.
“Three o’clock.” I glanced at my watch. “I’ll have to leave around two-fifteen.”
Joe had returned and joined us.
“Oh, my goodness,” Mom said. “You look awful!”
“That’s the idea,” he said, grinning. “I probably look worse than the real Mateo.” His grin disappeared. “It’s such a shame that we have to do this. I hope Ms. Pitts is okay.”
“I’m sure they’re taking care of her until they can get their hands on Mateo,” I said. “At least, I hope so.”
“Me, too.” My mother crossed her fingers.
“Me, three,” Aunt Martha said. “We just love that
young lady and her baby.”
My mother turned to her sister. “Since we can’t help Sandi, and Felicity is napping, why don’t we drive down to the B&B and give Gloria a break from Sophie?”
“Good idea,” I said. “Maybe that will keep you two out of trouble.”
“At least we’ll be serving a purpose.” My aunt stood and waited for my mother to join her.
“We’ll be waiting to hear from you, Sandi.” My mother smiled at me, but her lip twitched as though she was nervous, maybe even ready to cry.
“I’ll be fine, Mom, and I’ll call you as soon as we know anything.”
The two women grabbed their purses and headed outside. I heard my mother’s car start and they were gone.
I looked at Joe and felt his pain, until I remembered it was make-up.
“Those two women are phenomenal,” he said, glancing at the back door.
“My mother and aunt? What makes you say that?” His comment had taken me my surprise, to put it mildly.
“I’ve had time to observe them. Behind their eccentricities there are two women who’d do anything they could to help someone with a problem, regardless of the position it might put them in. They’re good women.” He looked me in the eye. “I can see where you get your attitude from.”
My mouth moved briefly, but nothing came out on the first try. I took hold of Joe’s hand and shook it. “I’ve never looked at them that way. I guess sometimes we get so used to people that we forget to look underneath the top layer of their being.
“Thank you, Joe. You saw something that I’ve been blind to.”
He shrugged, maybe feeling a bit embarrassed. “What
time is it?”
“We’ll need to leave in about an hour,” I replied.
He nodded and walked out to the living room.
I stayed where I was and listened to the voices of my husband, Redding and Joe, while I thought about my relatives.
Could they help?
Nahhh. That would be a stretch of the imagination. Besides, I didn’t want to put them in danger.
Chapter Thirty-nine
I spent one of the longest hours of my life while waiting for the hands on my watch to reach two-fifteen.
Bubba and Clem seemed nervous. They must have sensed my mood. I paced the kitchen and both pets dogged my steps.
My phone rang and I jumped. Caller ID said it was my mother.
“Hi, Mom. What’s up?”
“You’re not going to believe this, but we’ve been hearing Gloria’s ghost. We’ve heard all kinds of sounds coming from… I’m not sure where they’re coming from. Martha and I are going to investigate. Maybe we can’t help find Zasu, but maybe we can at least find the ghost.”
“You do that and tell me about it later. I’m leaving to meet Pluto in a few minutes.” I was glad they had something to keep them busy.
“Since we can’t do any damage by looking for a ghost, we’re calling this our latest adventure. We know you don’t want us to think of your cases as adventures, right?”
“Right. Okay, let me know what happens. I’ll call you as soon as I get home.”
“I’m counting on it.”
“Mother, is Phil there?” I wanted to warn him to keep an eye on my relatives.
“No, Gloria went to the store and Phil went to buy more paint. He must have gone with a friend because his car is still here. Anyway, we’ll start our ghost hunting as soon as Gloria comes home.”
My mother turned away from the phone. “Martha, would you leave me alone? You’ve got your own phone, so let me be. Sandi doesn’t need – “ She hung up, still arguing with her sister.
I shook my head. My mother’s call had actually calmed me down, although I couldn’t explain why – maybe because it was so normal. Well, normal for my mother.
At two-ten, Joe and I climbed into the Jeep, ready to roll.
“Do you recall how to get there?” Joe asked.
“I do. My aunt kept pointing out landmarks on our trip out there. It’s etched in my brain.”
We made small talk while I drove. I asked how his wife, Kimberly, was doing.
“She’s fine. She’s not too excited about what I’m doing today, but she knew what she was getting into when we got married.”
“She’ll get used to it,” I said, hoping I was right.
The closer we got to our destination, the more Joe slid down in his seat. He wanted to appear injured and unable to take care of himself. He pulled down the brim of his baseball cap, hiding his face a little more, and leaned his head back against the headrest.
I finally made it to the dirt road leading to the scene of the crime and slowed down. If I’d really had Mateo in the car with me, I’d be doing everything I could to make him comfortable, and a bumpy ride on a road with pits and holes would have hurt him.
As we neared the location, Joe lifted his head a little and looked around. “I don’t see a black SUV.”
“Neither do I. Maybe he’s late. At least, I hope that’s all it is. Are you sure we’ve got back-up hiding in the trees?”
“Yeah, they’re there.” He’d brought a walkie talkie with him and spoke into it, making sure.
There was a hushed response.
I parked the Jee
p and we began the wait.
Glancing at my watch, I saw it was three-ten. No Pluto on the horizon.
Three-twenty and still no Pluto or Zasu.
By three-thirty I was ready to get out of the Jeep and go searching for them in the woods. I had to control myself. I was ready to crawl out of my skin.
“Where are they?” I said for about the tenth time.
“Maybe he’s not coming,” Joe said. “If he was scouting the area for cops, it wouldn’t have taken this long.”
I’d brought along my own walkie talkie, something Pete and I had used in the past. “Pete, are you there?”
“I’m here.”
“Have you or Redding seen anything?”
“No.”
“I wonder what’s going on. Pluto shouldn’t be this late unless something’s wrong.”
“Give it a few more minutes. Be patient.”
I turned to Joe. “Be patient, he says. Like I’m not on pins and needles right now. I hope this doesn’t mean something’s happened to Zasu.”
Joe didn’t reply and that worried me more than if he’d told me to stop worrying.
By four-fifteen we decided Pluto was really a no show. Redding called the whole thing off.
Pete approached the Jeep and five police officers, all wearing civvies, walked out of the forest behind Redding. Although I’d looked, I hadn’t seen any of them.
Pete and Joe traded places.
A couple of unmarked cars seemed to come out of nowhere, picking up the others.
“Let’s go home,” Pete said. “Something’s gone wrong.”
“Do you think he saw the cops?” I asked.
“No. He would have called you on your cell phone.”
I turned the car around and headed out of the area. “I just don’t get it, Pete.” My heart began to pound. I was afraid that the boss, whoever he was, had killed Pluto or Zasu, or both of them.
Things were out of control – at least out of my control.
I pulled over. “You drive, sweetie. I’m a wreck right now. Besides, I want to call my mother.”
“You want to call your mother now?”
“She’ll be worried. Too much time has gone by. If I don’t call her, she’s liable to call in Homeland Security. Or the FBI. Or the Mounties. “
We traded places and I called Mom, but it went straight to voicemail.
“She and my aunt must be busy looking for the ghost.”
“What ghost?” Pete glanced at me and then back at the road.
“They said they were hearing noises at the bed and breakfast and they were going to look for the source. They were waiting for Gloria to come home from the store.”
“There’s never a dull moment with those two around.”
“Joe said something that really struck me.”
“What was that?”
“He said my mother and aunt were phenomenal, and he was right.”
“What made him say that?” Pete asked.
“He said he’d been observing them and that they’re special women. He said he thinks they’d do anything to help someone in need, no matter how it might affect them.”
“He’s right.”
“But… You’ve never acted like you approved of them. And yet you agree with him?”
Pete reached over and laid his hand on my knee. “It’s not a matter of approving of them,” he said. “It’s their methods I have a problem with, not their desire to help. Sometimes they’re like two big bulls in a small China shop. Their intentions are good but they end up knocking everything over.”
I nodded. “I’ve been so wrapped up in wanting to stop their interference that I forgot about their intentions. I owe them an apology.”
Pete smiled. “I already apologized to them, and that’s all they get. One apology. I think maybe they’re smarter than we give them credit for, but the problem is they act first and think things through later.”
I nodded and tried to call my mother again. It went straight to voicemail, so I tried calling Aunt Martha’s number. Her phone also went to voicemail.
“Neither one of them is answering. I’m starting to worry.”
“You’re just overwrought because the goon didn’t show up. Your mom and aunt are probably having the time of their lives looking for Gloria’s ghost.”
“You’re right. They were going to do whatever they could to stay out of trouble. I can picture them going up to the attic and prowling the grounds, listening and watching for a spirit. They’ll probably be home by the time we get there.”
I had Pete stop at a coffee house and get me an iced tea to go, and we arrived home at a little after five.
My mother’s car was in the driveway and I heaved a sigh of relief. I hadn’t realized how worried I was until I saw her car.
We parked and I glanced up at the sky. It was warm, but cooling off, and the sky was full of charcoal grey clouds again. Yet another storm was moving in. I was okay with that because I enjoyed the sound of thunder. There was something exciting about the booming.
We entered the house and I called out to my mother. “Mom? Where are you? I was getting worried when you didn’t answer your phone.”
There was no reply.
“Aunt Martha?” I hollered.
No response.
“They’re not here,” Pete said. “I’ll go check with Stan and see if they’ve seen them.”
I nodded and he went back to the guesthouse while I fed the dogs.
“Have you seen my mother?” I asked, patting Bubba on the head. He attacked his food with vigor and ignored me.
I tried my mother’s number again but it still went to voicemail.
What’s going on? I thought. First Pluto didn’t show up with Zasu, and now my mother and aunt are missing. I put my hands up to my face almost prayerfully, covering my nose and mouth, and tried to make some sense out of things. I lowered my hands when I realized I was shaking.
I let the dogs outside so they could do their doggie business.
My cell phone rang and I figured it would be Pluto with some answers.
Without preamble, I said, “Listen, Pluto. I want to know what’s going on, and I want to know now.”
“This isn’t Pluto.” I didn’t recognize the man’s voice, although something about it seemed vaguely familiar.
“Then who is it?”
“You don’t need to know who it is. Pluto won’t be calling you anymore, understand?” It sounded like he was trying to disguise his voice while sounding threatening.
My eyes widened. This must be the boss and he’d disposed of Pluto. Was I jumping to conclusions?
“What have you done?”
“You’ll know soon enough.”
Chapter Forty
My voice shook. I could deal with Pluto, but I wasn’t sure about his boss, the killer. I didn’t want him to think he had the upper hand. Of course, he knew he was in charge no matter what I wanted him to think. He knew what was going on.
I didn’t.
“Where’s Pluto?”
“That’s not your concern. A better question is, where’s Delgado? Did you find out where he’s being kept?”
“I did, and he went with me to meet Pluto. We were supposed to trade Mateo for Zasu. Pluto didn’t show up.” I knew my voice sounded accusing, but it couldn’t be helped.
“Pluto was inept. So was his partner. They were idiots. Now you’ve got to deal with me. You give me Delgado and I’ll tell you where to find the girls.”
Something in what he said nagged at me. I couldn’t put my finger on it. Frustration set in.
“No. We meet and trade or it’s no deal.”
“You’re not making the rules here. We do it my way or you can kiss Zasu, and maybe some others, goodbye. Understand?”
Pete walked in the back door. I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote a quick note.
Call and get Joe back, in make-up.
Pete looked at me, apparently wanting clarification.
I mouthed
the words, the boss, and pointed at my phone.
“Kiss yourself goodbye,” I said. “If you touch a hair on her head, I’ll track you down. I’ll make you pay for taking a sweet young woman away from her child. Do you understand?”
Before he could reply, I set the phone down and pushed the speakerphone button.
In the meantime, Pete looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
I could hear the man sigh in frustration. “Just get your hands on Delgado and be ready to meet me.” He hung up.
I turned to Pete. “Now do you understand why I wanted you to call Joe?”
“I’m on it.” He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. “Oh, and Stan said he hasn’t seen hide nor hair of your relatives. He wasn’t even aware that their car was in the driveway.”
I dropped my head. Did this man now have three hostages? Was I going to be dealing with him for my mother and aunt, too? Maybe I shouldn’t have been so cavalier with my attitude toward him.
Wait a minute! He said he’d tell me where to find the girls, plural. I was right! My mother was in danger now, too. So was my aunt.
Pete hung up the phone. “Joe’s on his way.”
“Oh, crap, Pete. He’s got my mother and aunt again.”
“Hold on, Sandi, you – “
“Listen to me. He said he’d tell me where to find the girls when I turned Mateo over to him. Not girl, but girls. Why would he take my mother and aunt when he’s already got Zasu? It doesn’t make sense.”
The back door opened and the Hawks family walked in with the dogs following behind.
My face must have told a story because Felicity’s first question was, “What’s wrong?” She gently patted the baby’s back.
I had a feeling she probably felt like she should be patting my back.
“My mother and aunt are missing. I think they’ve been kidnapped again. I think they’re being held with Zasu.”
“Oh, Sandi. I’m so sorry. What can we do to help?”
“Unfortunately, nothing.”
I turned to Pete.
“I’m going to take the dogs back to the B&B with me. They followed Zasu’s scent, so maybe they can follow my mother’s, too.”
“I’ll wait here for Joe. Call me if you hear back from the… Bill. At least we have part of his name.”
