“No, no, no,” Kate said out loud. “I will not let him get to me. I will not bow down to fear or violence.”
The next day she’d go out to the campground again—this time she wouldn’t go alone. She’d make some initial assessments to determine the greatest needs and talk to influential members of the community. These folks needed help, and Kate was determined to make it happen. Maybe in the process, she could find the guy who’d robbed her.
Kate switched on the light at her bedside and picked up her Bible, turning to the book of Psalms. She read until she felt safe and settled, then turned off the light, snuggled down in bed, and rearranged the covers. It seemed strange not having Paul there beside her. She glanced at the alarm clock, remembering her plan to call him. Eleven thirty. She didn’t want to wake him and decided to wait until morning.
An unrelated thought stormed into her head as she was about to drift off. Claire and Ellen. The next day she would also try to work in time to research the mysterious countess and her daughter.
Sometime after midnight Kate finally managed to put her thoughts to bed and get some much-needed sleep.
Chapter Fourteen
Thursday morning went nothing like Kate had planned. She slept until seven thirty as a result of the previous evening’s trauma and ruminating half the night. Her head ached, and she felt the first stages of a cold coming on. And she missed Paul.
She needed coffee. Unfortunately she hadn’t set the carafe into the base far enough, and when she came back into the kitchen to enjoy her favorite brew, she found coffee all over the kitchen counter and floor. To top it off, her canister was almost empty.
Buy coffee!!! She wrote on her to-do list.
Kate settled for tea, and while she waited for the water to heat, she started a load of laundry.
When the teakettle whistled, Kate made her tea and shuffled into the living room to her favorite rocking chair. At least nothing could go wrong with her devotions. She’d just opened her Bible when the phone rang. Kate sighed and went to the kitchen to answer it.
“Hey, Katie. How’s my favorite minister’s wife?” Paul’s baritone voice soothed away her annoyances.
“I’m good.”
“You don’t sound so good. Do you have a cold?”
She sniffled. “’Fraid so. How’s the retreat?”
“Perfect, except that I was worried about you. I called last night, but you didn’t get back to me. Is everything okay?”
Kate tipped her head back. “You left a message? On my cell?”
“I did.” Paul hesitated. “Is something wrong?”
She remembered that her cell phone was still in her handbag, or worse, the thief might be using it. Something else she needed to add to her list. Call the cell-phone company.
“I’m sorry. My phone was stolen.” Kate debated telling him about her latest adventure. She didn’t want to keep anything from him, but she didn’t want to spoil his retreat either.
“Hmm. Sounds rather ominous,” Paul said. “Care to expand on that?”
“Okay, but it’s nothing to worry about.” She told him about her trip to the campground and her talk with Lars. “While I was out there, this guy stole my purse.” Kate hesitated and then told him the whole story.
“But,” Kate reassured him, “I’m fine, and you don’t need to cut your retreat short or anything. I took care of the credit cards last night, and I’ll call the cell-phone company later.”
He didn’t speak for a moment, his exasperation almost audible. She could visualize him running a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair or rubbing at the lines in his forehead. “Paul?”
“I’m thinking.”
“Okay, but let me tell you about my plan for the Faith Freezer Program so you can be thinking and praying about that.”
Paul chuckled. “The unsinkable Kate Hanlon.”
As much as she liked to think of herself that way, at the moment she felt as though she’d done battle with a truck and lost.
Kate filled him in on what she and Livvy had talked about.
“It sounds like a great plan, Kate. I like that you’re working with Livvy and are planning to include the entire town.”
“And you’re thinking it will keep me out of trouble, right?”
“I’m not sure anything can do that. You attract trouble like honey attracts bears.”
“Aw, what a sweet thing to say.” Kate was glad she’d told him the whole truth. She didn’t like secrets hanging between them. “So you’ll stay and enjoy the rest of your retreat?”
“I don’t know, Katie. Having my wife’s life threatened is a pretty scary thing. I feel like I should come home.”
Kate appreciated his concern, but he’d been looking forward to the retreat for weeks. “Please don’t cut your time with the guys short because of me. I promise, everything is okay now, and I’m fine. Livvy’s only a phone call away if I need her.”
He was quiet for a moment before agreeing. “I’ll stay for now. But, Katie, I mean it; if you run into any problems, call me.”
“I will.” They chatted for a few more minutes, said their I-love-yous, and hung up.
Kate pinched the bridge of her nose. “I cannot get a cold. Not now.” She started for the bathroom when a sneezing spell had her snagging the box of tissues off the end table. Box in hand, she went to the medicine cabinet and took zinc, vitamin C, and several other tried-and-true remedies to ward off a cold.
After brewing and drinking an herbal tea, consisting of garlic, ginger, lemon, Tabasco, and chamomile tea, Kate went back to bed. By noon she felt well enough to work in her studio for a couple of hours, but the work left her exhausted.
Kate blamed her achiness and sniffles on the previous night’s trauma. She hated being sick but had learned long ago to listen to her body. When it said stay home, she stayed or paid for it later. The one good thing about being sick was that the cold medication numbed her brain and made the trauma she’d experienced seem almost tame. Still, she woke up several times hearing that voice and feeling the pressure of what felt like a gun in her back.
UNFORTUNATELY KATE’S SUFFERING lasted all day. She vaguely remembered Livvy, LuAnne, and Renee bringing her sustenance. She also remembered Renee saying they needed to investigate as soon as Kate got better.
By Friday morning, Kate’s sniffles and aches had pretty much subsided. She awoke with a mostly clear head, a full schedule, and a determination to move ahead with all the plans she’d had for Thursday.
Once she’d had her tea, finished her devotions, and organized her day, Kate pulled up the Department of Motor Vehicles on her computer and, after several painstakingly slow minutes, managed to plug in the information to get a new license. She printed out the temporary one, folded it, and placed it in her pocket.
She then put in a call to Skip Spencer, thinking perhaps he or the sheriff would accompany her to the campground later that morning. She also called Sam Gorman about getting the mayor to organize a town hall meeting. Neither answered their phones, so she left messages.
Kate fixed another cup of tea and was hoping to open her latest mystery novel when she spotted Renee Lambert’s familiar pink Oldsmobile through her kitchen window. Kate shot a glance heavenward and groaned. “Oh no, not now.”
Seconds later, the doorbell rang.
Be nice. Kate chided herself for reacting negatively to Renee’s visits. Unfortunately, the timing was nearly always wrong.
“Good morning, Renee.” Kate stepped back to allow her friend to enter.
True to form, Renee wore her pink velour sweat suit and matching tennis shoes. A snuffling sound that could only be Kisses came from within her designer tote. Kate leaned down and spoke to the teacup Chihuahua. “Hello, Kisses.” His pink tongue emerged as he reached up to lick Kate’s chin.
“Harrumph.” Renee walked on in and plopped down on a chair at the oak dining table, obviously expecting tea. She set her oversized tote on the floor, and Kisses ventured out. Renee scooped him up and s
et him on her lap. “I see you’re feeling better.”
“I am. I just heated water. Would you like some Earl Grey?”
“Yes, please. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Excuse me?”
“About the pharmacy caper. That’s bad enough, but then you went out to the campground to investigate. You must have known I’d want to go along. If you’d had me with you, you wouldn’t have gotten your purse stolen—or gotten sick. I’d have maced the perp.”
“I’m sure you would have.” Kate tried to keep a straight face while she poured hot water into a porcelain teapot and filled the tea strainer with Renee’s loose-leaf tea. After the tea had steeped sufficiently, Kate added warmed half-and-half and dropped three sugar cubes into Renee’s cup. She set the cup and saucer in front of Renee, along with a plate of chocolate chip cookies.
“If I’d known you were coming, I’d have taken coffee cake out of the freezer.”
“Never mind that.” Renee blew into her hot tea. “What did you find out when you went out there?”
Kate sighed and took a sip of her own tea. “First of all, I didn’t go out to the campground to look for evidence or for a thief. Sheriff Roberts went out to question people Wednesday afternoon. I went out to see if there was anything Faith Briar and others in Copper Mill could do to help the homeless people.”
Renee frowned. “Help them with what?”
“Food for one thing.” Kate started to run down the list when the phone rang. She hurried over to the kitchen counter to answer it. “Oh, hi, Skip.” Kate could have sworn Renee’s ears twitched. “I was wondering if you’d have time to go out to the campground with me. After what happened Wednesday night...”
“Sorry, Mrs. Hanlon. No can do. There’s been another break-in. This time in Pine Ridge. He’s got me holding down the fort here in Copper Mill. I have a list of jobs a mile long.”
“Another break-in?” She sighed. “All right, thanks anyway.” She held her breath as she hung up the phone, waiting for Renee to pounce.
“You’re going out to Ash Grove again?” Renee sipped at her tea.
“Yes, but not to investigate. I’m sure the sheriff and Skip are doing just fine with that. I’d like to talk to a few of the homeless people and find out what we can do to help.”
“Good cover.” Renee grinned. “While you’re doing that, I can snoop around. I might uncover some important clues. Since you got robbed out there, makes sense the perp is staying there. And I’ll bet you’ll be able to pick up his vibes. From what I heard, you didn’t get a good look at him.”
Kate did not want to pick up his vibes or even encounter him again. “He may not be there. He may have been a transient passing through.”
Kate may as well have been wallowing in quicksand. No way could she get out of taking Renee with her to Ash Grove. There was no use fighting it.
The phone rang again as they were about to leave.
“I need to go home to change and pick up a few things,” Renee said. “You can follow me.”
“Go ahead, I’ll take this call and pick you up at your house.” Kate waved at Renee and picked up the phone.
“Mornin’, Kate. Sam here, returning your call.”
“Thanks. Did you get anywhere with the town hall meeting? I’m anxious to get the town motivated to help with our homeless agenda.”
“I like the way you think, Kate. A town hall meeting’s just the place to muster the troops.”
“Thanks, Sam. I’m going out to the campground now to see about specific needs we can be working on right away.”
“You be careful now, Kate. I heard about your run-in with that vagrant Wednesday night.”
“I will.” She hung up, then headed for the garage.
Seeing her Honda brought memories and fears of that night rushing back. She ran her hand over the slightly damaged front bumper; another item to add to her growing to-do list. She’d have to get a bid from Bernie and call the insurance company. It was a small dent, but it might mean replacing the entire bumper.
Kate would need to drive into Pine Ridge to replace her cell phone, and so she decided to wait until later that afternoon. She pulled into Renee’s driveway. The older woman had said she needed to change and pick up a few items. No doubt about it, Renee watched way too many cop shows.
When Renee emerged from the house, Kate couldn’t stop a giggle from escaping. “Lord, have mercy!” Renee wore a pink velour jacket and pants with gold-braid trim, and, of course, pink tennis shoes. She carried her photographer’s vest with its many pockets on her arm and set it in the back seat. As usual it was filled with sleuthing gadgets, a can of pepper spray, binoculars, and a few snacks.
Renee folded her slender self into the passenger’s seat and opened her designer tote, which, along with Kisses, contained her wallet. With Renee looking like the queen of Sheba, Kate wondered how they’d be perceived by the homeless.
At the campground, Kate parked at the end of the lot, closest to the first camping spot. Lars’ Jeep was gone, so Kate didn’t stop at the office.
Renee let Kisses down so he could walk on his leash. He ran circles around them, apparently enjoying his outing.
“It’s a baby Chihuahua.” A boy of about six ran out to greet them.
When Kisses barked, Renee scooped him up.
Several children joined the boy. One of the smaller girls reached up. “Can we pet him?”
“All right, but be careful,” Renee said. Kisses loved children and began licking the children’s hands and faces. The sound of their laughter echoed in the cool morning air.
Kate was surprised that the children looked relatively clean—not at all like the orphans in the heartrending movies she’d seen about homeless and orphaned children. She reminded herself that these families were probably newly homeless.
Several women came out of tents and travel trailers and eyed Kate and Renee warily. They called their children back, warning them not to talk to strangers.
“It’s all right,” Kate said to a young woman who was standing by a pop-up tent trailer. “I’m Kate Hanlon, the pastor’s wife at Faith Briar Church in Copper Mill. I was hoping to talk with y’all for a few minutes.”
“What about?” The attractive blonde stepped forward.
Kate guessed her to be in her mid- to late twenties. She wore her long hair in a scruffy ponytail. “I’d like to know how we can best help you.”
“You want to help?” The girl smirked. “Can you pay our mortgages so we can keep our homes? Can you bring my husband back and get us jobs? Can you pay for child care?” Anger flared in her blue eyes. “Let’s see. There’s insurance, food, medical supplies, clothes. Can you take care of all that?”
The other women inched toward Kate, surrounding her.
Kate went on alert. They wouldn’t attack, would they? She lifted her shoulders in a show of confidence. “Maybe not all of it, but...Look, I understand...”
“Oh, I doubt that.” Contempt. Anger. Fear. Kate read all of those things and more in the younger woman’s face.
“Marie.” A mellow voice echoed in the crisp morning air.
Kate didn’t know which of the other women had spoken, but the tone held censure as well as kindness. Marie looked in the direction of the voice, then back at Kate. Her fiery gaze softened a bit. She took a step toward Kate, who tried not to flinch.
Kate pinched her lips together and nodded. “You’re right. I can’t possibly understand what it’s like to lose everything. But I do want to help. I came out here to get a feel for what you need right now in order to survive. Maybe we can work on some of the other things in time.”
Kate talked to each of the women, listing their names and their most pressing needs. Formula, food, soap, toothpaste, shampoo, many of the items Kate took for granted. When she finished, she thanked them and gave each of them a hug. “I’ll round up as much as I can and bring it out tomorrow.”
Marie looked skeptical but thanked her anyway. Something about her touched K
ate’s heart. Her anger and wariness was probably due to fear. A thought shoved itself into Kate’s head. Could Marie be Troy’s wife? She was young enough.
No. You’re reaching, Kate. Plus, Troy had left for Chattanooga by now and had probably taken his family with him. Still, she had to ask. “Is your last name Eaton by any chance?”
Marie shook her head but didn’t reply.
“I’ll be back tomorrow.” Kate started toward the car and looked around for Renee, but saw no sign of her or Kisses. What she did see was a dark-haired woman, wearing jeans, a worn gray sweatshirt, and a baseball cap, carrying Kate’s handbag.
Chapter Fifteen
The woman wearing a baseball cap had been in the group of women with whom Kate had just spoken. She was either incredibly shy or didn’t want to be recognized, as she’d avoided eye contact and kept her face hidden the entire time. Even now, with her head down, the brim of the cap hid most of her face. She was shorter than Kate by about five inches, making it even more difficult to get a good look at her.
“Um...this is yours.” The woman extended her arm and handed the bag to Kate. “I found it in the Dumpster this morning.” She had a distinctive Spanish accent.
“Thank you.” Kate took the bag, thrilled to see that her phone, wallet, and credit cards were still in it. The only thing missing was the cash, which came to around fifteen dollars.
Kate almost felt sorry for the guy who’d gone to so much trouble to take it.
“You’re the one who spoke to Marie, aren’t you?” Kate’s gaze fastened on the woman’s cap as she willed the woman to look up.
“Yes. She isn’t usually like that.” Finally the chin lifted, and the woman made eye contact. “She’s been through a lot. We all have.”
Kate gasped. “Aleeda? Aleeda Wells?”
Aleeda ducked her head again, her coffee-brown eyes filled with tears.
Strangers in Their Midst Page 8
