Beatrice Lulu took the bag from him. “How many did you give him?”
Russell shrugged. “I don’t know a few, why?”
“Don’t you know chocolate could make them sick? In fact, it has made them sick. It could kill them.”
“I didn’t know. Honest. I’d never want to hurt them. Please don’t tell Ms Jensen. She’ll fire me. I promise I’ll never do it again. Scout’s honor.” Russell held up three fingers.
Beatrice Lulu sighed. She didn’t want to get him into trouble, and he promised never to do it again, so no more dogs would get sick. “Okay, I won’t tell.” She turned around and ran back to find Ed. He was walking with Ethel and Delores.
“I did it. I found out what’s making the dogs sick.”
“Hey, slow down before you hurt yourself.” Ed grabbed her and steadied her. “Take a breath.”
Bea bent over, put her hands on her knees, took a breath, and blew it out slowly.
“Okay, so what’s making them sick?” Ethel, the ever impatient one, waited and tapped her foot.
“This.” Bea held out her hand.
“Chocolate. Of course, it would make them sick. Enough of it could kill them. How did you find out?” Ed took the bag of chocolate from her.
“Russell was feeding it to one of the dogs who just came back from the vet. He thought he was giving them a treat.” Bea took another deep breath. “He didn’t know it was poison for a dog. I talked to him, he promised never to do it again.”
“Are you going to tell Louise?” Delores looked concerned.
“I told him I wouldn’t. He’s afraid she’ll fire him, and he loves these dogs.”
“Still, Louise should know about it. Explain it to her. Maybe she won’t fire him.” Ed put his arm around Bea and walked with her. “Do you want me to go with you?”
“But I promised Russell I wouldn’t tell.”
“Maybe it would be better if Russell told her himself,” Delores said. “They say confessions good for the soul. You can go with him, help him explain.”
“That sounds like the best thing to do. Come on, I’ll go with you to talk to Russell.” Ed handed his leash to Delores. “You’ll put Samson away for me, won’t you?”
“Sure, go on.” Delores took the leash. “I feel sorry for the kid, but it’s better if he owns up to what he did and takes responsibility for it.”
***
Delores looked in the mirror. Not bad for her age, if she said so herself. Okay no raving beauty either, but she’d kept her shape all these years. More than she could say for some of her friends. She smoothed down the navy dress, added a pearl necklace and earrings. Ready to go and right on time. Phineas should be here any minute. She kissed the top of Thor’s head. “I won’t be late. You be a good boy while I’m gone.”
She hurried down the steps, wanting to be at the door as soon as Phineas arrived. She had no intention of inviting him in or introducing him to Mavis, let alone Harry. They hadn’t spoken since the conversation about Thor.
“Where are you going?” Mavis looked up from her book.
“Out.”
“Out where and with whom?” Mavis set the book aside and stood.
“I’m over twenty-one. I don’t have to answer to you.” Delores found her jacket and purse. “Don’t wait up.” A car pulled in the drive, and she left. As if she needed to tell her daughter where she was going. She hadn’t answered to anyone in almost twenty years, she wasn’t about to start now.
“You look lovely, my dear.” Phineas took her hand and led her to the car, opened the door for her, and closed it.
“Thank you, you look pretty good yourself.” And he did. She hadn’t been so attracted to a man since her husband passed away. She’d dated a few times over the years, but no one interested her as much as Phineas. What was it about him? He certainly hadn’t made a good first impression, yelling at Louise the way he had. Changed his tune quick enough when she interrupted, though. The thought of it made her giggle.
“Tell me about yourself,” Phineas said. “How is it a beautiful woman like you isn’t married?”
“Well, I was, but my husband passed away.”
“I’m sorry. How long ago?”
“Almost twenty years. How about you?” Not that she needed to ask, Lulu had filled her in about him, but she had to be polite. Besides, she didn’t want him to know she’d been talking about him.
“That long and you’re still single? How can that be?”
Delores shrugged. “Never met anyone to take his place. Tell me about you?”
“My wife passed away about a year ago. I’m afraid I’ve become a recluse and a grouchy old man.”
“I understand. It’s hard to accept the loss of a loved one. What was your wife like?”
“Like no one I’ve ever met before. Emma was the sweetest, kindest, gentlest woman. Never said a harsh word to anyone. I’m afraid she wouldn’t approve of the man I’ve become.”
Chapter 17
Ed stared at the note. Something about it niggled at him. What was it? Millie. He didn’t know anyone named Millie, never had. Yet, something about that name. It kept running through his mind. Something from a long time ago.
“I don’t suppose you want to share those thoughts with us?” Bea hated when Ed got that thoughtful look, but wouldn’t tell her what he was thinking. “Is something ringing a bell with you?”
He shook his head. “Shh. I’m thinking.”
“I can see that.” Unfortunately, she didn’t know about what. Delores sat across the table, staring.
Bea got up, poured another cup of coffee, held the pot up toward Delores. She shook her head. At least she had a nice time with Phineas last night. Even planned to see him again. Looked like she was as smitten with him as he was with her. She even talked him into coming to the shelter today. Bea giggled. She couldn’t help it. Seeing Phineas in jeans and old boots hosing out the pens, looking about as comfortable as a cat in a bathtub. She had to give him credit, though. He didn’t quit and even walked some of the dogs.
It was cute watching him follow Delores around. But what really got her was when he picked up Chico, the Chihuahua, and said he wanted to take him home.
“What are you laughing about?” Delores tapped Beatrice Lulu’s shoulder.
“Just thinking how Phineas looked working at the shelter.”
“What’s so funny about that?” Delores sounded defensive.
“Not a thing. He was cute. Especially when he picked up Chico.” Beatrice Lulu laughed again. “There he is, a giant of a man with a tiny little dog and tiny little you with that big monster. It tickles my funny bone.”
Delores laughed. “I guess that did look funny. I can’t believe how he took to Chico.”
“You really like Phineas, don’t you?”
Delores smiled. “I’ve never met a man who moved me the way he does. Not since my Jacob died. There’s something about him. I can’t explain it.”
“Do I hear wedding bells in the future?”
“Goodness, we’ve only known each other a couple days.” Delores blushed. “Although you never know. Heck at our ages, we can’t afford to wait.” She giggled like a school girl. “You probably think I’m crazy.”
“Not at all. I understand. It was the same way with Ed and me. What will Mavis say?”
“She won’t approve, she doesn’t approve of anything I do. Not that I care. She’ll probably say Phineas is after my money. Thing is, he doesn’t know I have money, and he probably has more than me.”
“I think I’ve got it!” Ed jumped up and shouted.
“Good grief, you startled me. Got what?” Bea wiped up the coffee she spilled.
“Mildred Ludwig is Millie. Remember, Elmer called her that sometimes. He’s the only one who did.”
“I knew there was something familiar about that note. I do recall hearing him call her that a few times. Don’t forget Ed, we weren’t married yet when he passed away. I’d only seen him a couple of times.”
Mark and Stanley came in the kitchen.
“Can I have a snack?” Mark rubbed Beatrice Lulu’s back.
That boy had a way about him, Beatrice Lulu chuckled. “Yes, you may have some cookies and milk.”
“Hey, what’s that?” Mark picked up the note. “Stanley, look at this.”
“You shouldn’t be snooping in other people’s business.” Stanley took the milk out of the refrigerator.
“I know, but look at this.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a note. My love, Look under workbench, behind the stair. There’s a boxload of money and gems so rare. Just remember, I did it for you.”
“Where’d you get that?”
“It was laying here on the table.” Mark laid it back where it was.
“Does that mean something to you boys?” Ed picked up the note.
“Where’d it come from?”
“Mrs. Bather-Schmidt found it under a drawer in her room. Why?”
“Tell him, Stanley, tell him.” Mark could barely contain himself, dancing around the room.
“Remember when we were staying in the shed?”
“Yes,” Ed said.
“Yes,” Beatrice Lulu said. “Get to the point.”
“There’s an old workbench in there. We were laying there one night, and Mark noticed something attached to the bottom shelf of the workbench. It was a box. It slid in tracks, so we pulled it out and it was full of money and jewelry.”
“The workbench. Of course, now I remember.” Ed slapped his forehead.
“Where are you going?” Bea asked.
“To the shed, where do you think? Don’t you remember, Mildred asked if I wanted the workbench before she moved out. I took it and put it in the shed.”
“What are we waiting for, let’s go.” She made a beeline for the door.
Ed, Mark, Stanley, and Delores followed right behind.
“Mark, can you get the box for me?” Ed stooped down, but couldn’t see it.
“Sure.” Mark laid down, slid the box out, and handed it to Uncle Ed.
He lifted the lid. “Holy cow! Let’s take this back in the house.”
“Why do you suppose it was there? Why would Elmer hide it?”
They hurried into the house and gathered around the dining room table. Ed took the money out and counted it. “Almost five thousand dollars.”
“Wow, that’s a lot of money. Where do you think Elmer got it, and why hide it like that? Wouldn’t he have put it in the bank?” Bea picked up a diamond ring. “Ed, look at this. How many carats do you think it is?”
“At least three I’d say.” Delores took the ring from Lulu and held it up to the light. “I’m not a hundred percent sure, but I’d say it’s real.”
“Look at this stuff. Pearls. An emerald necklace. I think it’s emerald. I don’t know a lot about jewelry, but I think Delores is right. This stuff is real.” Bea picked up each piece. Emerald earrings, ruby bracelet with matching necklace and earrings, and two diamond hat pins. At least that’s what Bea thought they were.
“And you boys knew this was there, the whole time?” Ed looked at Mark and Stanley.
“Yeah, but we couldn’t touch it. I mean what would we do with the jewelry, and where would we spend hundred dollar bills without causing suspicion?” Stanley said. “But we forgot about it when you rescued us.”
“I guess we should try to contact Mildred. It’s her money.” Bea put the jewelry back in the box.
“If she even knows about it. Obviously, she never found the note,” Delores said. “I’m not saying you should keep it. But I wonder where it really came from. Look at the note. It says ‘I did it for you’. What did he do for Millie?”
Ed sat down. “I seem to recall Elmer being out of work for a while. Times were hard. I often heard them arguing about money. It was summer, the windows were open. You couldn’t help but hear. Do you suppose he stole this stuff?”
“But from where? And why hide it?” Bea sat next to Ed.
“Well if he stole it, he couldn’t very well walk in the house and give it to Mildred. And the jewelry, what would she say about that? Surely, she wouldn’t wear it. Mildred was a plain woman, she’d never wear this fancy stuff. Besides, they never went anywhere for her to wear it.” Ed tapped the table.
“So, what do we do with it? We can’t keep it. It’s not ours.” Bea put her hand on top of Ed’s to stop his tapping. It drove her nuts when he did that.
“Seems to me Elmer did some side work when he lost his job. Painting and stuff like that. If we can find Mildred, maybe she’ll remember the names of the places he worked. I don’t think he did many. Thing is, how do we find her?” Ed moved his hand from under Bea’s and started tapping again.
Bea jumped up. “Internet. Let me get my laptop.” She hurried to her room, grabbed her laptop, hurried back, and set it on the table. “Okay now, let’s see.” She turned it on, typed in Mildred’s name. “Great. Do you remember where she moved? There’s about a dozen here. Let’s see if I can narrow it down. How old do you think she is?”
“I don’t know. Maybe in her late seventies, early eighties.”
“Okay, let’s see. That’s better. Only one. Give me a pencil and paper. Lives in Centerville. I thought you said she moved out of state?” Bea copied the address and phone number.
“Hey, that’s where Uncle Otto lives,” Mark said.
“I wonder if he knows her,” Stanley said.
“Nah,” Mark said. “I don’t think he knows too many people. He’s always working.”
“Do you want to call her, Ed?”
“Should we call her or go see her?” Ed looked at the address. “It’s only a couple of hours away.”
“I don’t see any reason to go there.” Delores went and poured a cup of coffee. “I mean more than likely this stuff isn’t hers. I don’t want to sound mean, but if she sees it or knows how valuable. Well…”
“She’s right, Ed. We need to think of an excuse to ask who Elmer worked for. Something plausible that won’t arouse her suspicion.”
“How about some guy came asking for Elmer, said he did some work for him a long time ago and left some tools there. They just ran across them because they were in the garage and wanted to return them because they might be valuable,” Delores said. “And before you gave her name or number to anyone, you wanted to make sure it was legitimate.”
“That might work, but what if she says she doesn’t want them?” Bea said.
“But if she thinks they’re valuable, she might want them.” Delores sat at the table and sipped her coffee.
“Yeah, but then she’ll expect to get some valuable tools. I just want to return this stuff to the proper owner,” Bea said, “There’s got to be a better way.”
“The only other way I can think of is to put a picture in the paper of a piece of jewelry. Say it was found and if the owner will call your number and describe it, you’ll be happy to return it. You’ll probably get a lot of crank calls, but the real owner might call also. If he can describe the other pieces of jewelry, you’ll know he’s the owner,” Delores said.
“We could do that.”
“Or,” Mark piped in, “you can look to see if anyone reported a robbery with these items stolen. That’s a lot of money, you’d think there’d be a police report, maybe even an article in the paper.”
“That’s true. I can do some research at the newspaper office, see if there’s a story, that would have been how many years ago, Ed?”
“For now, we’d better find a safe place to put this.” Ed put everything back in the box.
“Why not back where it was? It’s been safe there for how many years?” Mark said.
“I’d rather not have it in the house, but I don’t want it outside either. Tomorrow, we’ll get a safety deposit box at the bank.” Ed picked up the box. “I’ll figure something out.”
The next morning Ed took a picture of the emerald necklace in case Bea didn’t have any luck finding a st
ory about the theft. He took the box and headed to bank. Bea went off to the local newspaper office to research.
After an extensive search through articles about reported robberies, Bea gave up. No point in looking further, she headed to the front desk. “I’d like this photo and ad be included in tomorrow’s edition if it’s not too late.”
“You just made the deadline. I’ll get this over to the printers right away.”
Bea paid for the ad and was on her way. Hopefully, the ad wouldn’t generate too many crank calls.
After a short stop at home to pick up Delores, they headed to the shelter. Phineas met them as they pulled into the parking lot. Beatrice Lulu chuckled to herself. Those two had it bad. Not that it was a terrible thing. In fact, she hoped something more would come of it. Phineas was a changed man. Gone was the grouchy, rude, insensitive man. He even apologized to Louise, who graciously accepted, which anyone in her right mind would do.
“I have to tell you, after those dogs started barking last night, I got up and looked around.” Phineas held the door for Beatrice Lulu and Delores. “You’ll never believe what I discovered.”
“Well, are you going to tell us, or keep it to yourself?” Only Delores could get away with being that blunt.
Phineas laughed. “Straight and to the point. That’s another of your endearing qualities. Of course, I’m going to tell you. But, I want Louise to hear it, too.”
“Then why didn’t you wait until we were inside to even start the story?” Delores’s impatience showed.
“Just be patient. I’ll get to it.”
“Get to what?” Louise looked up from her desk.
“Phineas checked out why the dogs were barking last night, but he won’t tell us.” Delores hung up her jacket and put her purse in the drawer.
“I said I’d tell you. Good grief, woman, you’re so impatient.”
“I’m getting a bit impatient myself,” Beatrice Lulu said.
“Okay, okay. It must’ve been around one thirty, two o’clock they all started barking, just like every other night, so I got up and looked around. I saw shadowy figures behind the kennels, couldn’t tell what they were, though, at least not at first. But I’ve got me one of those new-fangled flashlights, you know the ones they advertise on TV, and it throws a beam of light in the distance.” Phineas sat on the edge of the desk.
Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained Page 19
