by Kathi Daley
“What?” I asked, holding out my hands in surrender. “I don’t know what it is you want me to find.”
“Meow.” The cat looked up.
I looked up in response. Suddenly, I realized there were fingerprints on one of the ceiling tiles. I pulled the storage cabinet over just a bit and climbed up on it. I pulled back the panel and found a large yellow envelope inside. I pulled it out and looked at Apollo. “I think we just found what we’re looking for.”
I replaced the ceiling panel and was about to go back out through the window when I heard voices. “Her car is still outside. She must be around here somewhere.”
“Do you see her? Because I don’t.”
“Check the bathroom.”
I picked up Apollo, ducked inside one of the stalls, and closed the door. I stood on the toilet so my feet couldn’t be seen. I saw a man’s feet. He opened the stall next to me. My heart was pounding as I waited for him to find me. Apollo squirmed out of my arms and ran out from under the door.
“What the… Where did you come from?”
The man tried to pick up the cat, who squirted out between his arms.
“What’s going on in there?” another man asked.
“There’s a cat in here. It must have gotten in through the window.”
The second man was standing in the open doorway. Apollo took advantage of that and scooted out the door. Both men took off after him. I used the diversion to go back out through the window. I snuck around the side of the building, but there were men standing in the parking lot between me and my car. I didn’t know who I could trust, so I headed into the nearby woods to wait for Finn to rescue me.
Luckily, I didn’t have long to wait. I was stepping out from behind the shrubs I was hiding behind when I felt someone grab me from behind.
“Don’t make a sound,” a male voice said as he put a hand over my mouth.
I nodded.
The next thing I knew, everything went dark.
******
“I’m fine, really,” I said to Cody, who was hovering over me.
“Someone hit you hard enough to knock you out. I don’t think you’re fine.”
I put my hand to my head. “It’s just a bump. It could have been worse.”
“Somehow, the fact that it could have been worse doesn’t make me feel any better. I thought we talked about you going off sleuthing on your own.”
“I did everything right,” I insisted. “Once I figured things out I called Finn and was about to head home when Apollo jumped into the window. Speaking of Apollo, did you find him?”
“Siobhan called. He showed up back at the cabin.”
“Back at the cabin? How on earth? You know what, never mind. I’m just glad he’s safe. Did Finn arrest Jared?”
“I don’t know. He was busy and texted to let me know he’d meet us at the cabin when we’re done here.”
“When will we be done here?”
“As soon as we see the doctor.”
I looked around the crowded waiting room and cringed. This wasn’t how I wanted to spend my Saturday evening. But as I’d said, it could have been worse. Apollo was okay, I was okay, hopefully Finn had what he needed to arrest Jared, and I had a feeling I was in for at least a week of sympathy foot rubs.
Chapter 16
Sunday, March 18
“Okay, let me get this straight,” Maggie said as I tried to explain what she’d missed while she was away. She’d never said when she would be back, but when I headed over to the main house for a cup of coffee early the next morning I’d found her sitting in the kitchen sipping a cup of tea. “First, Tansy told you the cats were leaving the hollow, so you went to investigate, only to find the water had been tainted. On your way out, you found a cat who led you to Thea Blane’s body, after which you got caught up in not one but two murders, and this all happened in a matter of days.”
“Yup.”
“Must have been a busy week.”
I smiled. “It was. But in the end things mostly worked out. The group from the university came to treat the water yesterday. It’ll take a couple of weeks before it’s as crisp and clear as it was, but Tansy is already feeling better and assures me the cats will return. I’m sorry Travis died. I never met him, but I think I might have liked him. Tracking down his killer was bittersweet given the fact that I think at his core Devon wasn’t all bad.”
“It’s hard when the bad guy isn’t completely evil.”
I took a sip of my coffee before continuing. “It really is, but at least in the case of Jared Pitman I can feel happy he’ll spend a good long time in prison. Finn told me the blackmail idea was his. He had some sort of dirt on Thea and coerced her into getting the files he needed. When she had second thoughts he killed her.”
“I didn’t know Thea well, but I think she was a bit of a lost soul after her divorce,” Maggie commented. “She was a good woman at heart, but I suspect she tried so hard to fill the hole in her heart that she made some bad choices. Love can really do a number on you when it goes wrong.”
“Speaking of love, how was your trip with Michael?”
A glow came over Maggie’s face. “Can I tell you a secret?”
“Of course.”
“Michael and I weren’t in Hawaii. We were in Ireland.”
My eyes grew big. “Ireland? Really? Why all the secrecy?”
“We wanted to return to our ancestral home to marry.”
“Marry?” I said a little too loudly.
“Shhh,” Maggie said. It was early and the rest of the household was still asleep.
I put my hand over my mouth. “I’m sorry. But wow. You’re married?”
Maggie nodded.
“Oh my God.” I opened my arms and hugged my favorite aunt. “Congratulations. I’m so happy for you.”
Maggie hugged me back. “Thank you. Michael and I are very happy. It was a long time coming but worth the wait.”
I wiped a tear from my eye. “I can’t believe you finally did it. But, again, why all the secrecy?”
“It was easier this way.”
I supposed Maggie had a point. When you fall in love with your high school sweetheart despite the fact that his family had promised him to the church, and then wait more than forty years to be with him while he honors his commitment, I guess things would become complicated.
“Does anyone else know?” I asked.
“No. You’re the first. I plan to have the family to dinner this afternoon and make the announcement. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t say anything until then.”
“Of course. Your secret is safe with me.”
“I knew it would be. You kept my other secret for much longer than anyone should have been asked to.”
I put my hand over Maggie’s and gave it a squeeze. “I love you. Your secrets are always safe with me.”
Maggie wiped a tear from her cheek. “There’s something else.”
“I’m listening.”
“Michael and I have decided to move to Puget Sound. We love you all and adore this community, but there will be those who’ll never understand why a man who committed his entire life to the church would leave it to marry. We don’t want our happiness to be a burden on others or cause dissention within the church.”
“Yeah, I guess I get that. And Puget Sound is close. You can come visit all the time.”
“Exactly.”
“When do you think you’ll make the move?”
“Immediately. We have an offer in on a house. We’ll stay in a motel until the paperwork goes through. I plan to announce this to the family this afternoon as well, but I wanted to speak to you first. I’ve decided to give the house to Finn and Siobhan. At one time I indicated I would probably give it to you, but things have changed. Siobhan has moved back to the island, is married, and is starting a family. She needs a nice big house like this for her growing family. And you’re engaged to Cody. I know Mr. Parsons made arrangements for his house and land as well as his money to go to Cody w
hen he passes.”
“It’s fine,” I assured Maggie. “I’m sure Siobhan will be thrilled. This house is perfect for them. And while I’m not quite ready to move out of my cabin, I will be getting married and eventually I’ll move in with Cody.”
“I’m glad you understand. I would have hated it if you felt slighted.”
“Not in the least. Really. I’ve been feeling like the family is going through a transition. You’re married and moving away, Finn and Siobhan are having a baby, Cassie is going off to college, and Danny and Aiden are buying a bar.”
Maggie raised a brow. “Danny and Aiden are buying a bar?”
“I’ll let them tell you about it. And Mom doesn’t know yet, so now you have to keep my secret for a few hours.”
“I may be moving away, but I’ll always keep your secrets as you’ve kept mine.”
I hugged Maggie again. “I’m really going to miss you.”
“And I’ll miss you all so much.”
I paused in response to a noise coming from above. “It sounds like Finn and Siobhan are up. I’ll head home so you can talk to them in private. I have to say I’m looking forward to dinner this afternoon. I think it’ll be very lively.”
“That it will be, my girl. That it will be.”
Chapter 17
Monday, March 26
It was just over a week since the team from the university had treated the water, and Tansy and I decided to make a trip into the hollow to check on things. While it was clear not all the cats had returned, we picked up on distant whispers as we walked the steep and rocky trail. Apollo had insisted on coming with us. Normally by this point the cats who show up to help me have moved on to other homes, but my intuition told me Apollo came from the hollow and it was to the hollow he intended to return.
Jared had been arraigned and moved to the larger jail on San Juan Island while he awaited trial. Finn had enough evidence that he felt a jury would put him away for a good long time. Most of the questions we’d set out to answer had been resolved, but I still didn’t know who hit me over the head and took the envelope I’d found in the bar ladies’ room or what was in it. Sometimes you’re forced to live with ambiguity despite your best efforts. I guess this was one of those times, although unanswered questions are never truly dead.
As I looked for the cats along the trail, I knew that although the battle had been won the war might not be over. The water in the hollow had been purified and the cats were returning, but it remained to be seen what would happen when the logging company brought their proposal to the island council. As a strong advocate for the cats, I was confused about where the best answer to the situation lay.
“I understand you’ll be visiting New Orleans,” Tansy said after a while.
“Yes. In May. Cody’s going to be on television to discuss his SEAL training program. Or at least the unclassified parts he can talk about.”
“I was wondering if you could do me a favor while you’re there.”
“Of course. Anything.”
“I have a friend, Jasmina. She has something I need. I hoped you could see her to pick it up for me.”
“I’d be happy to. I’ll just need the address.”
“She lives deep in the bayou, so her place isn’t easy to find. When you arrive in New Orleans go to the French Quarter. There’s a little shop that sells magic supplies. The owner’s name is Devalinda. She’ll provide you with what you need to navigate the journey to Jasmina’s place.”
“Okay. Any chance you can tell me what it is I’ll be picking up?”
“All in good time.”
“Of course.”
Our conversation stalled as we continued into the hollow. When we reached the fork in the road we went left, as we had before. When we arrived at the water hole we found a beautiful white cat. Apollo greeted her and started forward. When he was beside the white cat he turned back and meowed. I watched with tears in my eyes as he wandered into the dense forest. I wondered if I’d ever see him again. Most of the cats were gone from my life once the mysteries they had been sent to solve were over, but there were a few I continued to have contact with. I hoped Apollo would be one who would find his way back to me.
I didn’t know what the future held, but I was excited to find out. I’ve learned that life is but a tapestry woven over time. The picture that’s revealed will eventually become a representation of my life. Every time I think I know what my tapestry will look like when completed, life throws me a curve, and the image I thought I was weaving turns out to be something else altogether.
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Chapter 1
Sunday, March 25
The first thing I noticed upon entering the room was that the bedspread didn’t match the carpet, which was a totally different color than the drapes. Mismatched decor is an odd thing to have float past your consciousness when you’ve just been told that a man whose friendship you value is dead and your husband is missing. On an intellectual level I knew I was in shock and the emotions that any rational person should and would experience were waiting just below the surface, but in this moment I simply felt nothing.
“Zoe, are you okay?” Sheriff Salinger asked.
I looked away from the drapes and stared at him with what I was sure was a confused expression. I knew something was expected from me, but in that moment I had no idea what it was everyone was waiting for.
“This is too much for her,” my friend Levi Denton said. He put his hands on my shoulders, turned my body toward him, and stared into my eyes, a look of concern evident on his face. “She shouldn’t be here. There must be another way.”
“I don’t disagree that it would be best if Zoe didn’t need to be here,” Salinger said, “but the instructions left by the person or persons who have Zak were very specific.”
I averted my eyes from Levi’s concerned gaze and looked around the room. There was blood splatter everywhere. My mind began to feel fuzzy as the room seemed to fade in and out. I felt a wave of nausea as I struggled to accept what I’d witnessed with my own eyes. This couldn’t be real. It didn’t make sense. I put my hand to my face to try to wake myself from this horrible nightmare.
“Zoe?” Levi put a hand on my cheek and gently turned my head so I was looking at him again. He looked so scared. So vulnerable. In that moment I knew this was real and not a dream, as I had hoped. I glanced to the floor and then back to Levi. “How did he die?” I asked as I tried very hard to look away from the outline of Will’s body, which had been covered with a sheet.
“Shot in the head,” Salinger answered.
I cringed.
“He would have gone quickly, so at least he didn’t suffer,” Salinger added.
“When?” I asked in a voice so soft that I wondered if anyone had heard.
“The 911 call reporting the sound of a gunshot came through about thirty minutes ago,” Salinger answered.
I closed my eyes as a single tear slid down my cheek. Thirty minutes ago, I’d been at home feeding my three-month-old daughter, Catherine Donovan Zimmerman, while Scooter Sherwood and Alex Bremmerton, the two children who lived with Zak and me, chatted about the funny thing they had seen while in town with my parents that afternoon. Thirty minutes ago, I was making plans for the Easter celebration I planned to host the following weekend. Thirty minutes ago I hadn’t known that Will was dead or that Zak had been kidnapped by the monster who had killed him.
Levi put his arms around me and pulled me tightly into his chest. I closed my eyes and took comfort in the sound of his strong, steady heartbeat. I knew that giving in to the despair that threatened to overwhelm me wasn’t an option. I’d lost a friend today and my heart wanted to weep at the injustice of it. But if the note Salinger held was authentic, Zak was still alive, and it was up to me to save him. I glanced at the sheet on the floor and knew I must set the rage in my soul aside.
“I can take you home if you need s
ome time to process what’s happened,” Levi offered as I felt my tears soak into his sweater.
I dug down deep for the strength I needed, squeezed him tightly around the waist, and then took a step back. “I’m fine.” I turned and looked at Sheriff Salinger. “What do I need to do?”
I knew Salinger had found our friend and employee, Will Danner, lying in a pool of blood after receiving an anonymous 911 call. Will, a teacher at Zimmerman Academy, the private school Zak and I owned, had been staying in a motel near the Academy while his house was being remodeled. Zak had agreed to meet him that evening regarding a project on which they were collaborating. When Salinger arrived, he’d found a note in Will’s left hand and a burner cell in his right. The note detailed a very specific set of instructions stating that Zoe Donovan Zimmerman, and only Zoe Donovan Zimmerman, was to call the number provided on the piece of paper with the phone that had been left in Will’s hand.
“We need to call the number and find out what they want,” Salinger said. “There isn’t anything we can do to help Will. What we need to focus on is finding Zak.”
I swallowed what felt like a boulder in my throat, “I agree.” I held out my hand for the phone. Salinger handed it to me and I looked at it and frowned. “There’s blood on it. That doesn’t seem right.”
“Yeah, there’s blood everywhere,” Levi said.
“No, Zoe’s right,” Salinger said, looking at both the phone and the note. Salinger pulled back the sheet, causing me to look away as he did. “There’s blood splatter on the phone and the note but not on Will’s hands beneath the phone and the note.”
“And that’s important because…?” Levi asked.
“It’s important because it suggests Will was already holding them before he was shot,” I explained.
