by Emmie Lyn
Conrad ran his fingers through his thinning hair. Stubble sprouted on his face and a sadness filled his eyes. “I need your help,” he said.
We stared at each other for what felt like much too long. Then, Mama Cat wove in and out between my legs, purring, and head butting me. I picked her up. “What is it, Mama Cat?”
“Mama Cat?” Conrad asked. “That’s her name?”
“Well, for now.”
“And the kittens? Have you named them, yet?” He squatted down and groaned a little. “These knees aren’t what they used to be,” he said and picked up the tiniest one that he’d rescued from falling off Maxine’s lap. The one with sapphire blue eyes, rimmed by white and set in mostly gray fur, soft as down.
What was he doing with all this friendly kitty behavior? I didn’t want to like this man and be disloyal to Hitch’s feelings. But he seemed to really care. What would it hurt just to listen to him?
Conrad held up the kitten and grinned at it, eye to eye. “How about Razzleberry? Someone has to give you a name.”
He was talking to the kitten but seemed to be waiting for a reply from me. What should I do? Jasper woofed, breaking the tension. Both Conrad and I laughed.
“Razzleberry it is, then,” I said.
“So.” Conrad tucked Razzleberry between Mama Cat and my arm. “Will you help me?”
“If I can,” I said brightly, even though it was a lie. Hitch’s motivational speech was kicking in. I’d help Hitch in a heartbeat. This guy? Not so much.
Conrad sat on the floor and folded himself into a cross-legged position, surprising agility for his age, I thought.
I sat down, too, but kept Jasper between us. I had to find out what he wanted.
It was the least I could do to satisfy my curiosity.
I hoped I wasn’t making a terrible mistake.
19
“I’m not the enemy,” Conrad said.
He wasn’t a friend, either, I told myself. What was the something in between called? Frenemy?
“I noticed how much you liked these.” He handed me a waxed paper bag.
I had an unhealthy weakness for cinnamon-covered donut holes. The aroma was intoxicating, and the taste was to die for. What? Not the best thought but I popped one in my mouth anyway. I hoped this craving wasn’t going to get me in trouble.
“Conrad, why do you need my help?” I mumbled around the mouthful of deliciousness. “You’re the reason Hitch was shot.”
While I waited for his denial or flimsy excuse about that disaster, the kittens decided that Jasper was a mountain to be conquered. They climbed over her paws and up her side, even tackled her fluffy tail. Jasper tolerated all of it. No, I think she enjoyed the attention.
Conrad ignored the kittens and said, “That was never part of the plan.”
“What plan?” I looked at him, sensing there was a lot hidden behind that comment.
“Our plan,” he answered as if that clarified anything.
“Yours and Maxine’s?”
His eyebrows jumped up and he let out a harrumph.
“Listen, Conrad. I think your words were, ‘I need your help.’” I was getting tired of his cat and mouse game, and my survival instinct told me to get rid of this con man.
“Okay. I’ll level with you, but don’t tell Hitch. Deal?”
I paused for effect before I crossed my fingers and lied right to his face. “Deal.” This poker face stuff was getting easier. Hitch would be proud. I think. Or else, he’d think I’d put myself in a dangerous situation—sitting on the floor with a cat in my lap while this suspected killer I barely knew plied me with my favorite snack and got me to make a stupid promise. Where was Hitch, anyway?
Conrad leaned toward me in a time-tested sincerity ploy. “Harry came up with a plan. I didn’t want any part of it, but if I hadn’t agreed, he would have found someone else. And that would have been much riskier. He could trust me.”
Right. Trust me. I didn’t think so. That sounded like a con man’s famous last words. I nodded my head so he’d continue.
“Harry needed money,” he said. “No one else knew this, but his wife was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. He took care of her for as long as he could, but when it became impossible for him to do it alone, he found the best care money could buy. I suggested a facility in the Blueberry Bay area, and I think that’s where Charlotte is.”
That tugged on my heart strings. If it was true. I ate the last donut hole, found a tissue to wipe my sugary mouth, and waited for him to continue.
“In hindsight, his plan sounds terrible, but I can’t go back and change what’s already set in stone.” He dragged his hand along the stubble on his chin and sighed deeply. “Harry wanted me to steal his bonsai tree so he could make an insurance claim.”
“What?” I glared at Conrad. “Hitch got shot over an insurance scam? Are you here to finish the job? One arm wasn’t enough?”
I knew I wasn’t making much sense and Mama Cat scooted away when I raised my voice, but I couldn’t stop my ranting rage. “Now, I suppose you’re going to insist it was just an accident that he got shot.”
Conrad’s voice took on a pleading tone. “It was an accident. Harry never told me he had a gun. Let me back up. When Harry took out the insurance policy, he had to prove he had enough security to protect his assets. He installed alarms and hired Hitch to be the security guard. The gun was never part of the plan.”
I shook my head to rid it of the cobwebs, or whatever was making Conrad’s story so confusing. “Explain the plan, Conrad, because I’m lost except for the part about you helping Harry scam the insurance company. Why didn’t he just sell the bonsai tree to the highest bidder?”
Conrad was becoming agitated, as if the memory of recent events was stirring up his feelings. “He couldn’t bear to part with it. He wanted to have his cake and eat it too, which, as we all know now, didn’t work.”
I barked out a sardonic laugh. “And, never does. So, now what? I don’t see how I can help you. I don’t know who killed Harry.”
“I need you to help me get the bonsai tree back.”
Well, that rocked my socks. “Back? From Maxine?” I certainly wasn’t going to let him know that Gina dumped it on me and ran.
“I took it out of Maxine’s house while she was getting her hair done. She’s a creature of routine so I looked at her calendar and picked the best opportunity. I acted on impulse because I was afraid she’d contacted a buyer.”
“You took the bonsai tree and now you don’t know where it is? Come on, Conrad, I wasn’t born yesterday.”
“I didn’t time it all very well. Maxine came back sooner than I expected, and I didn’t have time to put it in my car, so I put it in the trunk of Gina’s car. I don’t want her to find it before I retrieve it.”
Ha, too late for that. What kind of thief was this guy? “The solution sounds simple enough. Take it out of Gina’s car when she shows up for work. You don’t need my help for that, Conrad.”
Did he have an ulterior motive to find out what I knew? Was he framing Gina like she suspected? “What are you really doing here?”
“There is the possibility that Gina already found the plant and has it hidden somewhere. You know Gina. Maybe you can talk to her. That’s all. Just see if you can find out anything.”
“You seemed obsessed with that bonsai tree. Why? With Harry dead, are you planning to sell it and keep the money?”
Conrad bristled at my question. I’d hit a nerve, and he didn’t like it. Jasper shifted closer to me, and I saw Conrad’s hand slip inside his jacket. Was he going to shoot me?
“Here.” He handed me a business card. “Call me if you learn anything. The bonsai tree belongs to Harry’s wife, and the least I can do is save it for her. It will provide money for her care. Like I told you already, Sunny, I’m not the enemy. Think about what I’ve told you. I trust you’ll do the right thing.”
Well, he shouldn’t trust me. I’d do what I thought was right and that most likely
wouldn’t line up with his wishes.
Conrad patted Jasper and stood up. “Nice dog you have. Good luck with your Kitty Castle. I’d love to help if Hitch changes his mind.”
He walked away, shoulders sagging, and his hands hanging limp at his sides.
I wish I knew what to believe.
Between Conrad, Gina, and Maxine, there was enough confusion to keep me guessing for the rest of the year.
20
Hitch arrived while I was still sitting on the floor with Jasper, Mama Cat, and the kittens. I’d tried to make sense of everything Conrad told me, but the question remained. Did I believe he was telling the truth? I just didn’t know.
“Hey, Sunshine.” Hitch strode across the floor like he owned the place. Which he actually did. He hunkered down next to me and said, “I see you’re busy working.” He ruffled my hair, something he’d been doing since we were kids. I twisted away, never liking that gesture that made me feel like a child.
“Hitch?”
He sat down next to me and cuddled one of the kittens. “What’s on your mind?” he said cheerfully. Somehow, he always managed to keep a positive outlook during this catastrophe. Something I failed at. Miserably.
I had plenty on my mind, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to jump in headfirst.
So, I deflected. “Do you have a plan for the renovations?” I asked. That was a safe enough topic. “I mean, you threw out the one contractor who had time in his schedule to start right now.”
One of the kittens tried to crawl up on his knee, and he tickled it under its scruff. “How about your friend, Dani Mackenzie’s husband over in Misty Harbor?” The kitten began sucking on his finger.
While my heart melted at Hitch giving the kitty some love, I managed to stay on point. I said, “He has other obligations. Even if he can help us, it won’t be full time. We need this Kitty Castle set up like, right now.”
The kittens tumbled over each other and Jasper. The truth was, they probably couldn’t care less what their surroundings looked like, but I cared. Seeing all the dead plants, broken clay pots, and crushed plastic trays mixed with dirt, leaves, and discarded papers was no way to live.
Hitch stood up. “Let’s get started then. There’s nothing on my schedule. I might not be the best carpenter, but I can measure, cut and nail. Between the two of us, we can get it done. What do you think about that plan?”
I clapped my hands, startling two of the kittens. “That’s a plan I can wrap my head around,” I said, laughing at the strange trajectories of this day. I stood up next to Hitch, anxious to get started. “First, we need brooms and garbage cans to make this spotless before we start to build.”
“I planned ahead for that, Sunshine.” Hitch shot me his killer grin. “I went home for my truck and picked up supplies already. Do you want to sweep or pick up piles of trash?”
We headed outside to his pickup to get the brooms and pans. I remembered my garden.
“Before we get started, do you think we should move the bonsai tree?” I asked. Leaving it out in the open, especially after Conrad’s visit, seemed like a disaster waiting to happen.
Hitch shook his head as he lowered the tailgate. “Tilly’s keeping her eagle eye on your yard. She’ll go out with guns blazing to scare away anyone who starts snooping around,” He turned my face toward his, and I diverted my eyes away from his intense gaze. “Is something else going on you need to tell me?” he asked, his voice now soft with concern.
Great, my emotion-lined face gave me away again. With a deep inhale and slow exhale, I gave him the news. “Conrad was here before you arrived.”
I thought his eyebrows would fly off his forehead when I dropped that bombshell.
“What did he want? I hope he didn’t try to convince you that he only has Harry’s best interest in mind. Because you can’t trust anyone who’d break into their friend’s apartment. Never, Sunny.” His jaw clenched and his brown eyes turned to the color of coal in a stony glare. Hitch made zero effort to hide his feelings about Conrad.
“Does Harry have a wife?” I asked. Coming at this information from the back end might be easier.
Hitch shrugged. “He never mentioned having a wife. Why?”
“Here’s the thing. Conrad said Harry needed money to pay for his wife’s care. She’s in a nursing home somewhere around here. He—”
“Was going to sell the bonsai tree?” Hitch asked. “That doesn’t even make sense. Why hire me to protect it if he planned to sell it?”
“Not sell it, Hitch. Conrad was going to steal it but it was Harry’s plan. Then he’d make an insurance claim. Was it insured?”
Hitch thought about that, then nodded. “Yeah. Harry hired me because insurance required that he have security.” He laughed bitterly. “He needed me for security so he could scam the insurance company? I can’t believe it. What a piece of garbage. I bet he shot me, so I didn’t shoot Conrad.”
“Conrad didn’t think Harry’s gun was part of the plan.”
A sneer crept across Hitch’s face, marring his rugged features. Can’t say I blamed him, though, when he said, “I still don’t believe that snake. What other whoppers did he tell you?”
Hitch gripped my arm a shade too tightly. I rubbed his hand, and he relaxed his hold. He was angry, and it was my fault. Well, not exactly my fault, except that I told him all this stuff that Conrad dumped on me. Isn’t that what partners should share?
“Here’s the real clincher,” I said. “Conrad stole the bonsai tree from Maxine’s house and put it in Gina’s car. He wants me to find out if she still has it.” I felt my lips twitch. “At least we have the upper hand on that part of Conrad’s story.”
Hitch’s face fell. “And you told him that it’s planted in your rock garden?” He held his head in his hands. Apparently, Hitch didn’t see the irony the way I did or think I could keep a secret.
“No! Come on Hitch. Don’t turn me into your enemy. I’m only telling you what Conrad told me. We have the tree and the only person who knows that is Gina. But she doesn’t know what we did with it. Just in case she has a change of heart, I think we should move it somewhere else. I don’t want it out there in my garden. Someone will see it.”
“Yeah. Sorry for sniping at you. I just don’t trust Conrad and what you just told me is really upsetting. Forgive me?” His eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and anger and showed me a rare window into his emotions.
“Of course.” And I meant it with all my heart.
Instantly, though, he was full of energy again. “You’re right about the bonsai. We need to move it now. And then I want to find out if Harry’s wife exists, where she is. Did Conrad tell you her name?”
I had to think about it for a couple of seconds. “Yes. Charlotte.”
Cleanup forgotten, we jumped into Hitch’s truck, with Jasper in the back seat, and made it to my house in record time.
“Do you see Tilly in her window?”
My heart sank. Tilly’s head rested on the back of her chair and her mouth hung open. I could almost hear her snores. When I looked for the bonsai, all I saw was a flock of pink flamingoes scattered in my yard.
Our eagle eye guard fell asleep on the job leaving an opening for someone to steal the bonsai.
This was bad.
21
“Tilly!” I yelled as I barged inside without knocking.
“In here, Sunny,” she answered, wiping drool from the edge of her mouth and trying to sound like she hadn’t just woken up.
I’d seen this act before.
“Where’s the fire?” she asked like I was overreacting “I haven’t seen anything happen on our street.” She blinked several times, giving me her innocent look.
What could I say? At this point, I supposed it didn’t matter.
She looked at me, then out the window. “Oh. Did I fall asleep for a minute?”
“Probably more than a minute.” I sank onto her couch. “The bonsai tree is gone.”
“And, my flamingoes?” I kne
w she was trying to lighten up my mood.
“All dead.” I tried to grin but couldn’t manage.
“I’m so sorry. The warm sun caressing my face and Pinky’s loud rhythmic purring must have made my eyelids heavy.” She stroked her big orange cat who was a constant fixture on Tilly’s lap. “Any idea who stole it?”
Hitch stomped inside with Jasper at his heals. “Jasper was nosing around the area and found this.” He held up a watch with a broken band. It was practical and plain, but the gold trim made it look expensive. “I think that whoever stole the bonsai tree, lost it in their rush.”
He handed it to me, and I turned it over to find a heart engraved on the back. A gift? Someone would want it back I bet. I slipped it into my pocket.
“One of my flamingoes must have put up a valiant struggle,” Tilly said. She shrugged when we both looked at her. “Maybe?”
The absurdity of her comment plus the image of a pink plastic flamingo yanking on someone’s watch band finally made me laugh.
Hitch shook his head, but he laughed, too. “Yeah, that’s probably exactly what happened,” he said. “I’ll go interview all of them to get the identity of the thief.”
Tilly and I fell into uncontrolled giggles. It was ridiculous, but sometimes laughing is absolutely the best medicine when a situation hits rock bottom. Or, in this case, bonsai bottom. I giggled again.
Tilly’s expression turned serious. “Why did you come back? Did something happen to make you think the bonsai wasn’t safe?”
“One of the flamingoes told us,” I said, unable to end the silly flamingo conversation.
Hitch groaned. “Enough is enough. This really isn’t a laughing matter.”
“You’re right, Hitch, but I have one important observation to add.” Tilly leaned forward. I slid to the edge of the couch cushion wondering what was coming next.
Tilly narrowed her eyes at me, then at Hitch. With a deadpan expression, she said, “Those birds look innocent and artificial but… you never know what they’re up to when no human is around watching.”
