Strangers in Their Midst

by Patricia H. Rushford

  While they waited for a report from Paul, the officers of Valley Trust and the board members talked openly with Kate about the case.

  Bennett said, “The feds have examined all of our bank records, and there is nothing to indicate that we have the stolen funds.”

  “That goes for all of your employees?” Kate asked.

  “Everyone. We have no idea where the money ended up.” The CFO rubbed his chin. “Ned Castile had been working closely with the FBI when he disappeared.”

  Kate looked around the group. “So you really don’t know where Ned is?”

  “We have no idea, Kate,” Ava said. “I told you that.”

  “Yes, but I sensed you knew he was okay. Your grief didn’t ring true.”

  She nodded. “You’re very astute. The truth is, I knew he was going undercover and was very close to finding the real embezzler. But we haven’t heard from him in five days.”

  “You think he got too close?”

  Ava closed her eyes. “I can’t let myself think that.”

  Jake leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “There’s no other answer. He’d have found a way to get in touch if he could.”

  Kate’s phone vibrated, and she picked it up. “It’s Paul again.”

  “Charlie is okay,” Paul told her. “So is the attorney. The car is totaled, but they were both wearing seat belts.”

  “Thank God. What happened?”

  “Some guy in a rusty old pickup ran him off the road. They didn’t get a good look at him, but they guessed he’d been drinking moonshine. They saw a couple of old jugs in the back.”

  “So it was an accident?”

  “Yeah, if you call drunk driving accidental.”

  “I’m glad they’re okay. I’ll tell the others.”

  “Others?”

  “Jake and the board members...I’ll explain later.”

  Kate told the group about the accident, and everyone seemed relieved.

  Shortly after the news about Charlie, they dispersed. Kate lingered to visit with Liz and Ava. They wanted to know more about the Faith Freezer Program and the plans to integrate the homeless into the community. Liz also wanted to volunteer and offered temporary shelter in their guesthouse.

  One of the doors down the hallway opened. Jake maneuvered a wheelchair toward them. The woman in the wheelchair was slumped over. She raised her arm in an awkward position and attempted a wave.

  “Oh, good, you’re awake.” Liz bent down to kiss the woman’s cheek. “There’s someone here we’d like you to meet.”

  Jake smiled. “Mother, I’ll let you do the honors. I need to run.” Jake bent down to brush his lips against the woman’s hair and squeezed her hand. This had to be Helen.

  Liz kissed her son on the cheek, then turned to Kate. “Kate, I’d like you to meet my daughter-in-law. Helen, this is Kate Hanlon, the lady I was telling you about. She’s developing the homeless program. Remember?”

  Helen peered at Kate and appeared to smile, though Kate couldn’t quite tell. Her mouth angled like that of a stroke victim. She spoke, but Kate couldn’t understand.

  “She says she’s honored,” Liz translated.

  Kate smiled and bent to shake Helen’s disfigured hand. “It’s wonderful to meet you. I’ve heard some very good things about you.”

  Kate wasn’t certain if Helen could understand anything they said, but Liz continued talking for her and acting as if she could. Finally, with assurances that the women would get together soon, Liz showed Kate to the door.

  Kate hesitated. “I heard about the attack on Helen. I’m so sorry...”

  Liz nodded. “For a while, after the attack, we thought we were going to lose her. In a way we did. She came out of the coma like this.” Liz glanced back at Helen and smiled. Turning back to Kate, she added, “We try to stay positive around here.”

  “I can see that.”

  Liz handed her a check. “For your projects. I read about them in the paper.”

  Kate took it gratefully and thanked God for these generous people. “Thank you.”

  Kate left Jake’s estate with a better understanding of their family dynamics. She could understand why Joe’s anger sustained itself. Still, Jake’s way of dealing with his wife’s disabilities made much more sense.

  Kate felt blessed. God had answered her prayers through people who had given the program much more than she could have imagined.

  Before long, her thoughts returned to Valley Trust. Who stood to gain the most by taking the funds? She still had her suspicions about Gerald Woods and William Bennett, but Jake seemed satisfied that they were looking for someone else. Maybe because he was involved?

  Why would Jake change his mind about Kate’s involvement in the investigation so suddenly? Why take her into his confidence? Was Jake conning everyone? Kate hated to think so. It didn’t make a lot of sense that a man could be so kind and still be a crook. On the other hand, maybe he wanted to look good so he wouldn’t be a suspect.

  At Pine Ridge Road, Kate was about to turn toward Copper Mill but decided that since she was closer to Pine Ridge, she’d stop there to try to catch Sheila at home and get caught up on the details of her upcoming wedding.

  Sheila, driving a red sporty-type car, pulled into her driveway in front of Kate. Just before the smile and wave, Kate thought she’d seen annoyance. Kate couldn’t blame her. Uninvited guests could be frustrating. Kate thought about Renee and smiled.

  “Kate! What a surprise.” Sheila exited her car and hurried back to greet her. “I was going to call you about getting together but we’ve been so busy.”

  The two women embraced. “I’m getting married on a cruise ship! Can you believe it?”

  Kate laughed. “That’s great. What does your mom think about all this? Is she coming on the cruise?”

  Sheila frowned. “No. I wish she could, but we got one of those last-minute cruise deals. Hal is just so romantic.” She hesitated. “That’s not quite true. Mom doesn’t know, and I don’t plan to tell her. Please, don’t you tell her either.”

  Kate frowned. “Why?”

  “She doesn’t want me to get married. You can’t believe how many boyfriends she’s chased away over the years.”

  “Your mother?” Mary had always talked about wanting Sheila to get married.

  Sheila sighed. “You don’t know her like I do. This is my chance for happiness. Please don’t spoil it.”

  Kate was uncertain. That didn’t sound like Mary. “I hope you’ll tell her after you’re married?”

  “Of course. We’ll be going to visit her and Dad after the cruise.”

  Kate didn’t feel right about it but agreed. “Okay, then. I guess I can keep your secret for a while.”

  “Did you want to talk to me about something?”

  Kate smiled. “I wanted to see if the rumor was really true that you were quitting your job at Valley Trust.”

  “It’s true. Hal doesn’t want me to work.”

  “And you’re okay with that?”

  “Of course. He travels a lot and wants me to travel with him.”

  “What does Hal do?” As she said the name, Kate remembered Ava’s comment about Cal, not Hal, being Sheila’s fiancé. An easy enough mistake to make.

  Sheila grinned. “He’s a computer analyst. He sets up computers for a lot of big companies all over the world.”

  “Really?” Sheila’s answer set off warning signals in Kate’s head. “Did he set up the computers at Valley Trust?”

  “He did. That’s where we met.” She bit her lip. “Oh, Kate, you don’t think Hal had anything to do with the embezzlement, do you? He’s bonded. Besides, he’s the one they called in to figure out what happened to the money. It was even too big a job for him.”

  Kate placed a hand on Sheila’s arm. “Sheila, Ava Castile said his name was Cal. I was just curious.”

  Sheila laughed and rolled her eyes. “The gossip grapevine, no doubt. It’s Hal.”

  Sheila glanced toward the
house. “I’d invite you in, but the house is a mess.”

  “Of course.” Kate apologized. “I should have called first. That invitation to dinner is still open.”

  “We’d love to come, but I’m not sure we can work it in before we leave.” Sheila gave her another hug, then reached into the backseat of her car to retrieve a large package. She held it up. “My wedding dress. I’d show it to you, but I don’t want to get it dirty. Maybe later. Thanks for coming by. And promise you won’t tell Mom...please?”

  “Sure.” Kate got back into her car feeling like a traitor. How could she not tell her friend? The only way Kate could keep silent was not to talk to her at all. This was not a good thing.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Kate made another stop in Pine Ridge—the hospital. Claire was doing better, and Kate invited Ellen to come home with her to eat, get a shower, and rest for a while. “I can bring you back whenever you want.”

  Kate didn’t tell her about Charlie being released. She thought it best to wait and let her be surprised. She just hoped that Paul, Charlie, and the attorney made it back to Copper Mill without any further incident.

  KATE WISHED SHE COULD HAVE captured the look on Ellen’s face when Charlie and Paul walked in with Sheriff Roberts, Skip Spencer, and two men in dark suits. A shower and change of clothes had changed Ellen’s appearance dramatically, but seeing her son seemed to shed years of age lines from her face.

  After much ado, with introductions flying and Ellen crying, things settled down, and everyone obeyed Sheriff Roberts’ request to have a seat.

  “Kate, Ellen,” Sheriff Roberts began, “agents Dawson and Malone are with the FBI.”

  Kate nodded. “Are you the agents working on the Valley Trust case?”

  “Two of many.” Dawson gave her a wry smile. “We’ve been trying to follow the money trail without much success. We’re actually here to make sure Charlie stays safe and maybe draw out the real embezzler.”

  Kate frowned. “So Charlie will be your bait.”

  “Yeah, too bad we didn’t have anything in place before the accident.”

  “What does that mean for Ellen and Claire?”

  “They’ll have to stay here in Copper Mill for a while,” Malone said.

  “How do you know the embezzler will come after Charlie?”

  “Let’s just say it will be impossible for him to walk away. The trap includes not only knowing that Charlie is out of jail but that he’s been found innocent of all charges. And that Charlie has evidence to prove who did it.”

  “So Charlie will get in touch with everyone involved...and what? Threaten to go to the police?” Kate thought it sounded like a plot for a Murder, She Wrote episode.

  “Exactly.”

  “It sounds dangerous.” Ellen gripped Charlie’s arm. “Isn’t there any other way?”

  “It’s okay, Mom. Once the real thief is caught, we won’t have to run anymore. My attorney says we can go back to our own house.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “Are you sure?”

  “I talked to Jake. He’s offered to get us caught up on our mortgage and help us refinance the loan. He’s even gotten my old job back.” Charlie frowned. “I’m so sorry I put you and Grandmother through this. I didn’t know what else to do.”

  “Don’t worry about your fees, Mr. Olson,” Charlie said to his attorney. “I’ll pay you as soon as I get things settled.”

  “I’m afraid I’ll need an attorney as well.” Ellen looked up at her son.

  “What for?” Charlie took hold of his mother’s hand.

  “I broke into Fred Cowan’s pharmacy to get medications for Mother. She lost the ones you bought.”

  “I won’t be arresting you, ma’am.” Sheriff Roberts flashed Kate a smile. “Fred says he doesn’t want to press charges. Once he got wind of who did it and why, he said he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He did say to tell you that the next time you need something, you go talk to him.”

  “Thank you.” Ellen closed her eyes to blink away fresh tears. “It looks as though I’ll be able to pay him back soon.”

  “Can we go now?” Charlie asked. “I’d like to see my grandmother.”

  THAT EVENING, after one of Aleeda’s wonderful meals, Kate and Paul drove to the Pine Ridge Hospital to visit Claire. Paul entered the room and, with a flourish, took Claire’s hand and kissed her wrist. “Countess, you are looking especially lovely this evening.”

  Kate chuckled.

  Claire waved her hand at him when he straightened. “Off with you, vicar.”

  Looking at Kate, she reached out a hand. “Kate, how good of you to come. Ellen has been telling me about my visits to your house. Did I really invite myself to tea?”

  “You did, but it was my pleasure.” Kate looked around. “Where’s Charlie?”

  “He’s gone to make reservations at the Hamilton Springs Hotel for Ellen and me for a couple of nights. Until this Valley Trust business is over.”

  Kate smiled. “Maybe now we can have a real tea at the Bristol.”

  “That would be wonderful. You and the vicar will join us?”

  “Be happy to,” Paul said. “In fact, you can be our guests for dinner as soon as you’re available.”

  “The doctor said I could go home tomorrow.”

  “Good. How is the wrist?” Kate asked.

  Claire raised the injured limb, showing off a bright purple cast. “To match my hat feathers,” she said.

  “The swelling went down enough to cast it,” Ellen told Kate. “The memory loss and confusion seem to have come from the infection and the medication, as I first thought, but Dr. McLaughlin wants her to undergo some tests.”

  “I don’t have Alzheimer’s, Ellen. My memory is as sharp as ever.” She gave Ellen a sly grin. “Just be sure to bring my hat and my fur cape to wear to the Bristol for tea.”

  Kate grinned. “They’re in your cabin. I’ll be happy to get them and bring them to you, after I get them cleaned.”

  She and Paul visited for a few minutes longer, and on their way out, they met Dr. McLaughlin. “I suspect you’re here to see our countess?”

  “We just did.”

  He winked at her. “I must say, Kate, if you ever leave town, I expect my patient population to decrease significantly.”

  Kate laughed. “It’s not that bad.”

  “At any rate, I’m glad I ran into you. I read the article in the paper and have heard about all that Faith Briar and the other churches are doing for the homeless. I’d like to do my share.”

  “In what way?” Kate asked. Jennifer McCarthy had done a great job with the article; it seemed to be reaching a lot of people.

  “By setting up a free clinic. I figure between the doctors and nurses here, we can staff it about three days a week. We’d just need a place to work.”

  “Great,” Paul said. “I have a hunch we’ll be able to find a place for you. You get things set up on your end, and we’ll make it happen.”

  ON THE WAY OUT to the car, Kate squeezed Paul’s hand. “Can you believe how great this is all working out?”

  “I never doubted it would. Like I said, if something is right, God will make a way.”

  “Oh, you.” Kate slipped an arm through his. “I trust God, but a couple of times I think I jumped in ahead of him.”

  “You need a little more patience, Katie.” Paul opened the door of the Honda, and Kate slipped into the passenger’s seat.

  They drove back to Copper Mill with Kate simply enjoying Paul’s company and the romantic music playing on the radio.

  With the FBI setting up a sting operation, Kate felt certain the embezzler at Valley Trust would soon be caught. Unless...Kate’s mind dove back into the conversation she’d had with Sheila. Were the agents expecting the criminal to be someone who worked at the bank? What if it was someone on the outside? Someone like Sheila’s fiancé.

  Kate set the thought aside. They assured her earlier that they’d checked all of the people connected with Valley
Trust. Besides, Sheila said the bank had hired Hal to track down the money. Kate leaned her head back and closed her eyes. There was another option here. Everyone believed in Charlie’s innocence. He’d been set up, he said. But what if Charlie had set himself up? Kate tossed that idea out as well. No way would Charlie force his mother and aging grandmother to live in a cabin in the woods unless he was in serious danger.

  She was getting carried away with suppositions that led exactly nowhere. Better to back off and let the authorities take care of it.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  On Sunday, Kate and Paul were both surprised when Joe Brainerd and his family showed up at church.

  After the service, Joe reached for Paul’s hand to shake it. “I want to apologize to both of you...Heck, I need to apologize to the whole town. What I did was pretty stupid.”

  Paul put a hand on Joe’s shoulder. “Grief is a complicated thing, Joe. If you feel like talking things through, I’ll be here for you.”

  Joe looked at Kate. “After what happened at the Bixby house and all, I thought you folks would want the sheriff to toss me in jail and throw away the key.”

  “I was sorely tempted,” Kate admitted. “The Bible says to love your neighbors, but to be honest, Joe, I didn’t see much to love about you.”

  “Can’t say as I blame you.”

  Cat nudged her husband. “The first thing Joe is going to do is make restitution.”

  “Restitution?” Kate frowned. “We’ve already cleaned up the Faith Freezer house. Are you planning to cook?”

  He sighed. “More like a return. I took a truckload of boxes home and stuffed them in my freezers. I’ll bring them back to you tomorrow.”

  “Freezers?” The word sent her brain whirling. “As in plural?”

  “Yeah, I got half a dozen. Use them for game and butchering for folks. They bring me what they catch or want slaughtered, and I take care of them. Some of them pay me with meat.”

  “Maybe you can store the food for a while. We can pay you in casseroles.” She grinned.

  He chuckled and looked downright human. “I’ll be happy to.”

  Lars, Marie, and Sophie approached Kate and Paul just as they were ready to go back to the parsonage. Lars was holding Sophie, who laid her head on his shoulder as if she belonged there. Kate felt embarrassed for being so determined to put Charlie and Marie together.