by Carol Cox
“We don’t know that we’ve found it yet,” Kate cautioned. “We’re just going to go check something out. I’ll call you as soon as—”
“You won’t have to call me. I’ll be right beside you.”
“Now, Renee,” LuAnne began.
Kate patted LuAnne’s arm and shook her head. She knew Renee well enough to realize that attempts to dissuade her would be useless.
The three women scooted out of the booth and paid for their drinks. LuAnne took off her apron and told Loretta she was leaving, and then all four hurried out to Kate’s Honda.
LuAnne pulled Kate aside while Livvy and Renee got into the backseat. “Are you sure it’s a good idea for Renee to go along? She’s a drama queen at the best of times, and this isn’t one of them.”
“I know,” Kate whispered, “but think about it. Who would know better than Renee whether this tote is the right one? It’s a good thing she’s going along, really.”
“I hope you’re right about that. You’ve seen what she’s like when she decides to pitch a fit.”
Kate smiled at her friend. “That’s why I’m glad I have you as backup. If she does explode, you’ll be there to help me handle the situation.”
LuAnne squared her shoulders and planted her hands on her broad hips. “I’ll keep an eye on her. You can count on me.”
The two women climbed into the Honda, and Kate started the car. The radio was tuned to a Harrington County oldies station, and Patsy Cline’s voice warbling “I Fall to Pieces” filled the car. Kate lowered the volume and followed LuAnne’s directions to a home on Hamilton Road, not far from the park. She turned the motor off, and they sat staring at the house.
Kate felt a momentary twinge of doubt. Here they were, ready to accost a perfect stranger at dinnertime.
“How do you want to handle this?” LuAnne asked.
“You’re the master sleuth around here, Kate,” Livvy added, “so if you want us to hang back, we can do that.”
Kate knew exactly what Livvy was hinting at. If Renee came along, anything could happen. “Well—”
“No way.” Renee blurted. “If there’s a chance of finding my Little Umpkins, I want to be in on this.”
Livvy looked at Kate and gave her a rueful grin. “One for all and all for one, I guess. Lead on, Sherlock.”
They piled out of Kate’s car and walked up to the door. Kate knocked, smiling when she saw the way LuAnne and Livvy bracketed Renee off to her left.
A gray-haired woman holding a Yorkshire terrier opened the door and seemed taken aback at the sight of the four women clustered on her front porch.
She reached up to grip the edge of the door, as if she wanted to be sure she could shut it in a hurry. The tiny dog yapped at the strangers, and she shushed it gently. “Yes? May I help you?”
She looked over each of her visitors, her eyes lingering on Kate. “You’re the pastor’s wife at Faith Briar, aren’t you? If this has something to do with trying to get me to come to your church, I’m already a member of First Baptist.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Kate saw Renee open her mouth. But before the older woman could get a word in, Kate stepped forward. “No, this isn’t church related. We’re here about your online auction.”
She held up the page Livvy had printed. “You did put this up on eBay, didn’t you?”
The woman’s pale blue eyes bulged when she saw the sheet in Kate’s hand. “Yes, that’s mine. But you’re not supposed to contact a seller in person.”
“We’re not buyers,” Kate said. “Not exactly, anyway.”
“We just want to know where you got the tote, Ardith,” LuAnne put in. “Is it one of those garage-sale things you’re always pickin’ up?”
Ardith put one plump hand on her hip in a gesture that reminded Kate of LuAnne. “I’ve had some strange requests before, but in all the time I’ve been selling online, I’ve never come up against anything like this.”
She shook her head. “No, it didn’t come from a garage sale. It’s mine, and I have every right to sell it.”
Renee stepped forward before LuAnne could stop her. “How long have you had it? I own one just like it that was stolen recently.”
Ardith bristled. “Well, I didn’t take it, if that’s what you’re implying.”
Kate exchanged glances with Livvy, then jumped in before things got out of hand. “Please, we’re not accusing you of anything. We thought perhaps you bought the tote somewhere, then decided to sell it. We were just hoping it might somehow be the same tote that was stolen along with Renee’s little dog, Kisses.”
That bit of news seemed to defuse the situation. Ardith’s eyes gleamed with sympathy. “That’s terrible. I don’t know what I’d do if someone took my Little Honeymuffin.” She cuddled the Yorkie and nuzzled the top of its head with her cheek.
Kate heard a sniffle beside her. She didn’t dare look at Renee.
“I guess I can tell you about the tote,” Ardith said. “My sister in Atlanta sent it to me as a birthday gift, but I just didn’t like it.”
“Didn’t like it?” Renee burst out.
Ardith cast a nervous glance at Renee and shrugged. “It just isn’t me. I didn’t want to hurt my sister’s feelings by asking her where to return it, so I thought I’d just sell it online and use the money to buy something I’d really like. Is that so wrong?” she asked defensively.
“Of course not,” Livvy soothed, then she shot a relieved look at Kate.
“Just a minute.” Apparently Renee wasn’t ready to give up so easily. “May I see the tote?”
Ardith shrugged. “Sure. Hang on.”
Leaving the door ajar, she retreated into the house.
As soon as Ardith had left, Renee addressed the group in a rasping whisper. “I’m not sure I buy that story. Why would anyone want to get rid of an expensive tote like that?”
Ardith returned with Honeymuffin trotting along at her feet. She held up the bag in one hand and a greeting card in the other. “This is the card from my sis. I hope that satisfies you.”
Renee grabbed the tote and turned it over in her hands. The manufacturer’s tag was still looped around the handle. She pinched her lips together and held it up to show the rest of the group.
“All right, I can see that’s brand-new. Someone trying to get rid of evidence wouldn’t be able to put that tag back on.”
Ardith glared at Renee and sniffed indignantly. “It’s mine, no doubt about it.”
“Thank you very much,” Kate said. “We’re sorry to have bothered you. I hope we didn’t interrupt your supper.”
Ardith’s genial smile returned. “Not to worry. I was just going to pop a TV dinner in the microwave. I’ve got an auction ending in twenty minutes, and I want to be in front of my computer to watch the last-minute action.”
She started to swing the door closed then pulled it open again. “By the way, I haven’t had any bids on that tote yet. I don’t suppose you want to buy this one to replace the one that was stolen?”
Kate saw Renee’s stricken expression and hurried to say, “Not now. But thanks for the offer. We’ll keep it in mind.”
“Well, that was a bust,” LuAnne said on the way back to the diner.
Livvy sighed. “I so hoped it might prove to be something helpful.”
“Don’t feel bad,” Kate said. “It was a good lead, and it was worth—”
“Hush!” Renee snapped.
Kate stared at Renee’s reflection in the rearview mirror. “Excuse me?”
“Turn up your radio!”
“What in the world?” Kate murmured but did as she was told.
The announcer’s voice crackled through the speakers. “...missing from the Copper Mill area. The dog was wearing a jeweled collar. Answers to the name Kisses. The dog’s owner is offering a reward for her Little...Umpkins?”
The announcer cleared his throat and continued. “The owner would also like to make the public aware that a dognapping ring may be at work in the area and
begs all pet owners to keep their...precious...animals safe.”
Dead air followed for a few beats before the announcer went on. “In other local news...”
“You can turn it down now.” Renee’s voice held a satisfied note. “That should get some response, don’t you think? I talked to the station manager this morning. They’re going to run the announcement at regular intervals until Kisses is found. Between the radio spots and my newspaper ads, everyone in the county should be on the lookout for him.”
Chapter Fourteen
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Kate laid her Bible in her lap and took a long sip of coffee. She leaned back in her rocking chair and studied the cup in her hand. She had purchased the delicate china cup from Eli Weston on a whim during one of her visits to Weston’s Antiques.
Kate traced her finger around the gold-edged rim, admiring the delicate floral design that formed scallops along the upper edge. She had often wondered if she loved antiques because they spoke to her of a time when life was less hectic. She took another sip and set the cup on its matching saucer with a soft click.
Closing her eyes, Kate rested her head against the back of the rocker. A less hectic pace was just what she needed after the events of the previous day.
“Lord,” she breathed, “I need you to make my path straight right now. I don’t know where to turn next.”
Her eyes flew open. Or did she? Something she had heard the day before had been dancing on the edges of her mind, but between the altercation with Lisa Phillips and checking out Livvy’s lead on the tote, her mind hadn’t been clear enough to focus on it.
Brenna had admitted to being on the bridge the day Kisses was stolen, but she had refused to give them any other information. She’d insisted that it had nothing to do with the case, but Kate wondered if there might be some connection Brenna didn’t know about.
Kate closed her eyes again and thought, trying to remember exactly what Brenna had said and what she’d heard from Stephanie Miller in Abby Pippins’ living room. She felt certain she was holding several pieces of the puzzle in her hands, but she didn’t know how they all fit together.
By midmorning, the breakfast dishes were washed and put away, and Kate had some salmon steaks marinating in the refrigerator for their supper that night.
Kate’s thoughts returned to Brenna. Even on a hot summer day, the ice-cream shop wouldn’t be busy in the morning. It was a perfect opportunity for the two of them to have a little talk. Kate grabbed her keys and headed out the door.
“HI THERE, KATE!” Emma Blount called when Kate stepped inside. The shop’s owner jutted her chin to indicate the large cardboard box she held in her chubby arms. “I wish I had time to chat, but a new order of cups and cones just came in, and I’ve got half a dozen boxes to sort through while Brenna mans the counter.”
“No problem. I’m sure Brenna can take care of me.”
The dark-haired girl behind the counter gave Kate a tentative smile but eyed her warily. Kate couldn’t blame her after their last encounter.
“What would you like, Mrs. Hanlon?”
“Two cones, please. Make the first one a double scoop of mint chocolate chip.”
Brenna wielded the ice-cream scoop with ease and handed the cone to Kate. She reached for another cone. “What about the second one?”
“A double scoop of anything you’d like. My treat.” Kate smiled at the look of surprise on Brenna’s face. “Consider it a peace offering for stirring things up at your house the other day.”
Brenna hesitated a moment, then grinned. She dipped the scoop in a container of water and served herself a combination cone of triple fudge and chocolate ripple. She rang up the order, accepted Kate’s payment, and slipped the money into the register. “Thanks, Mrs. Hanlon.”
“You’re welcome. Do you think we could chat for a few minutes?”
Brenna looked around the otherwise empty shop and shrugged. “Might as well.” She grabbed a handful of napkins and chose a seat at one of the round tables.
“Are you going to keep working here after school starts up again?”
Brenna bit into the scoop of chocolate ripple. “Mmm. You’d think I’d get tired of ice cream from working here, but it hasn’t happened so far. Uh, I’m not sure what I’ll be doing once school starts. My mom isn’t convinced I can keep my grades up and work too.”
Kate sampled her mint chocolate chip and gave a happy sigh. “I see what you mean. I don’t think I’d get tired of this either.” She tilted her head to take another lick of ice cream and observed Brenna from under her lashes. “You said the other day you wanted a job to prove to your mom that you’re responsible?”
“Yeah.” Brenna paused to lick an errant drip of triple fudge that had made its way down the side of her cone. She spent a few more seconds swirling the cone against her tongue to pick up any other stray drips. “I’ve been wanting a dog for ages, but my mom said no.”
Kate felt a shiver of excitement, but she kept her voice steady. “Your mother doesn’t like dogs?”
“It isn’t that. She said we couldn’t afford one. I thought if I got a job, she’d see I could make enough money to take care of the food and shots and license—all that sort of thing—and she might change her mind.”
Kate sensed that she might be onto something, but she reminded herself to tread with caution. She finished the top scoop of mint chocolate chip and started on the second scoop. “Do you have any particular type of dog in mind?”
Brenna shook her head. “Not really. I like big dogs, but Mom says we don’t have enough room for one. Besides, I don’t know if I can make enough money to feed a big one. Maybe I’d better go with something smaller.”
She looked around the shop. “This is a good place to talk to people about it. When I find out a customer has a dog, I try to ask a few questions and see what they suggest. Everybody always seems happy to talk about their pets.”
Kate smiled. “Like the mayor’s nephew?”
Brenna’s face brightened, then took on a mask of indifference. “Yeah, his aunt has that little dachshund. Micah seems to like it.”
“Lucy Mae introduced him to me the other day.” Kate nibbled the edge of her cone. “He seems like a nice boy.”
“He’s okay.”
After raising three kids of her own, Kate recognized the overly casual tone. Micah wasn’t the only one who had a crush. “Do you see much of him, or does your job keep you too busy?”
“I only work three days a week, so we can get together pretty often.”
Kate blotted her lips with a napkin, then crumpled it in her hand. She squeezed it tight while she asked gently, “Was it Micah who was on the bridge with you?”
A light flush tinted Brenna’s cheeks, and she looked down at the table. “Yeah. I guess it doesn’t matter if I tell you now. The bridge is a good place to talk without anybody seeing us. My mom doesn’t think I’m ready for a boyfriend yet.”
Kate knew all too well the kinds of things a love-struck adolescent boy might do to win the favor of a girl he liked. And Micah must have known that Brenna had her heart set on owning a dog.
She took a deep breath and leaned forward. “Brenna, I have to ask you this. Did Micah take Kisses so he could give him to you as a gift?”
Brenna shook her head emphatically. “No, that would be an awful thing to do! I know how much that little dog means to Mrs. Lambert.”
Kate settled back but kept her eyes fixed on the girl’s face. “So it wasn’t Renee Lambert’s bag I saw fall into the creek?”
“No! I told you I didn’t have anything to do with that. Micah didn’t either.”
Kate felt reasonably certain that Brenna was telling the truth, but she didn’t want any more unanswered questions to come back and haunt her later. “Then what did you and Micah throw off the bridge?”
Brenna’s eyes took on a shut
tered expression, and she scraped her chair back. “I have to get back to work. Thanks for the ice cream.” She tossed the last of her cone into the trash and went back behind the counter, studiously ignoring Kate’s gaze.
PAUL HUNG UP THE PHONE and crossed the last name off his list. Years before, when he became the assistant pastor at Riverbend Community Church in San Antonio, he’d developed the habit of contacting members of his congregation on special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. He’d continued the practice even after he became the senior pastor.
Over time, Riverbend grew to a size that made it impossible for him to stay in touch with each member that way. Now that he was back in a small church setting, he embraced the opportunity to enjoy that kind of personal connection again.
He glanced at the clock on his office wall. Almost time to leave for lunch. He straightened the papers on his desk and pushed them into the upper-left-hand corner.
A quick rap on his office door was followed by Millie stepping inside. “Lisa Phillips just phoned,” she began without preamble.
Paul tented his fingers and waited. There was no point in trying to hurry Millie. She would get around to giving him the details in her own good time.
“That car of hers has broken down again. She said it makes a terrible grinding noise when she turns the key in the ignition. She thinks it might be the starter.”
Paul shook his head. At the rate Lisa was purchasing new parts for the rundown vehicle, she would have enough to build a new car from scratch before long.
“She can get something for lunch there in Pine Ridge,” Millie went on, “but she won’t be able to get home after work unless someone comes up and fixes the car or gives her a ride. She was wondering if she could get some help from the car-care clinic.”
Millie sniffed. “I don’t know why she keeps putting up with that old rattletrap. It’s nothing but trouble.”
Paul pushed back his chair and stood, ignoring her comment. “No problem. I can grab a quick sandwich at home and run up to Pine Ridge myself.”
“Lisa said she didn’t want you.”
Paul’s mouth dropped open. “What?”
