Willow (The Willow Series Book 1)

by Cheri Lewis

  Boyfriend

  Wants

  Your

  Phone

  Number

  What

  Do

  I

  Do?

  Too

  Late

  I

  My phone rings and it’s a number not in my phone. I slide the bar across my screen to answer. “Hello?”

  As soon as I hear his voice I know who it is. It’s hard to hide that slow southern twang even behind the disguise of the phone. “Hey… Hang on a minute…” I hear a muffled voice in the background and my phone beeps while I have it to my ear alerting me I’ve gotten more texts and I’m sure they are from the giant pain in my ass, Heath. “Sorry about that. Hey, it’s Wade. I asked Heath for your number. I hope that’s all right?”

  “Yes. That’s fine. I figured you already had it.”

  “I did at the office but since I’m off this week…”

  “How’s your back?”

  “Oh, it’s fine. Your doc did a great job.”

  “Even though he’s a pediatrician,” I say dryly.

  “Truce remember? We’re friends.”

  I smile, scan the area for Joe and spot him drinking at the concrete water fountain in the shape of a giant toilet. “Yes, thanks for reminding me. We are friends.”

  “Anyway, I’m calling to see if you’re available one day this week to come over and I’ll show you my gun.” I fight having a goofy smile. I’m trying to think of a good comeback but before I do he says, “Of course, I had to invite Heath along in order to get your number.”

  That turned my smile into a frown instantly. “You didn’t!” That asshole is dead.

  “I did. But what he doesn’t know is when you’re here, he won’t be. But when he’s here at a later date and time, you might be.”

  And I’m smiling again. “I might be? You’re assuming I’ll like your gun so much that I’ll have to come back and shoot it again?”

  “I have several guns and other toys that I think might interest you.”

  “Is that so? Now I’m intrigued.”

  “Good my plan is working. So one day this week sound good to you? My schedule is pretty open.”

  “I’ll have to check my books when I get back to the office. I have some paperwork I have to get turned in first thing in the morning. Can I call you around noon tomorrow and let you know?”

  “Sure, sounds good.”

  “Okay. I call you then.”

  We hang up and I immediately dial Heath without reading his texts. “‘Sup.”

  “What’s up? Did you seriously invite yourself to go shooting with me on my date with Wade?”

  “Boy, I just learned the hard way he doesn’t keep any secrets.”

  “You’re an ass.”

  “I’m not going to come on your date. I just asked him if I could shoot it sometime.”

  “Still, you’re an ass.”

  “You remind me daily.”

  I hang up and call Joe. I can’t help but smile when he runs wide open to me happy to be running free. I throw him the ball a few more times as a reward for not using the bathroom in the house. Well not that I’ve found anyway. He didn’t in his normal go to spots. Joe and I load up and head home as the sun begins to set behind the wall of trees. It’s a beautiful sunset today, oranges, pinks and purples twirling together. I don’t normally stop and take the time to enjoy them but for some reason today, I do.

  The next morning Joe and I go to my office. I go over my books and turn in all the paperwork five minutes before the deadline. I don’t normally cut it that close but I did this time and I don’t plan to again. That’s how I get paid and I like getting paid.

  My office phone rings and I wait for the caller I.D. to read who’s calling. It’s my lawyer. “Hey, Jim.”

  “No, it’s Janice. Jim’s in court today. He asked me to call you and bring you up to speed on your case. We’ve received your paperwork regarding your trial and since this is your first violation we’ve managed to get you pleaded down to community service. Once you’ve completed that your record will be clean. He also wanted me to convey this is a onetime deal. Take the deal or go to court?”

  “I’m fine with doing community service. How long and what do I have to do?”

  “Forty hours and normally it’s up to you to pick your own community service. But, this time it was mandated you work with the litter patrol.”

  I lean back in my chair. “Who mandated that? The judge?”

  “No, the assistant D.A. was handling your case.”

  I’m paying for Wade’s showdown I suppose. I might have not gotten just community service though without him taking up for me and my record will be clean so I’m coming out ahead. I was wrong for attacking Thomas even though I should have accidently kneed him in the nuts a few times. “It’s fine. You need me to come by and sign some paperwork?”

  “Yes. You have to have all forty hours completed within six weeks.”

  “Oh. Well, that’s not too bad, then.”

  “Willow, my advice, get it done and behind you.”

  “I will. I’ll be by this afternoon to sign the paperwork. I have a few more things to do here at the office this morning.”

  “I’ll have the information about whom you’re to report to for the litter patrol when you come by.”

  “Thanks.”

  I place the phone back on the receiver and move myself back and forth by my toes on the floor. Picking up litter won’t be so bad. I guess he’s letting me know I’m trash? I might save a bag of the trash just for him. I smile a smug smile just as the front door to my office opens. Joe comes from the back room to investigate who’s come in the door. An older lady with a clear cap protecting her curled white hair pulls back on the door. She slides a walker over the door frame. The wind pushes the door hard against her side. I jump up to help her as she struggles with the door. I push it open with my left arm stepping back out of the way.

  “Thank you so much,” she says as she shuffles into the room.

  I walk slowly behind her. Joe treads a wide circle easing up behind her to give her a sniff. I call him back and he comes to stand beside me. Once she’s seated I walk around my desk and sit across from her.

  “Yes ma’am, what can I help you with?”

  “I’m Deloris Wright and my neighbor, Wanda, said I should come talk to you.”

  I rack my brain trying to recall knowing a Wanda or work I’ve done for someone named Wanda but come up with nothing. “If you don’t mind me asking what’s Wanda’s last name? I have taken many cases over the years.”

  “Oh, I don’t think you’ve actually done work for her. I think she said you did a job for her boss a few years ago. Or it might have been her boss’s friend.”

  Well, that narrows it down. “That’s a good possibility. What brings you in to see me today?”

  “Well, I was in town getting my hair permed and I thought I’d stop by to see if you could help me solve a problem.”

  “I can try. What problem are you having?”

  “My cats are disappearing.”

  I try not to make light of her problem but looking for a missing cat is not exactly my specialty but here lately between Joe and the three legged cat I feel like the pet avenger. Plus, I already know I can’t take this woman’s money for a searching for a missing pet. It probably ran away, someone stole it or it’s dead. “Have you tried the local shelters? Or maybe it ran away?”

  “I live out in the county. The local city shelter has no reason to come pick up pets in my area. The county’s closed a few years back due to lack of funding. Besides Luanne at the shelter calls me when they have one they’re about to put down. It’s a kill shelter.”

  “No, I meant maybe somebody found it and turned it in.”

  “They happened upon twenty-six cats, caught them and turned them all in?” she asks, mocking me.

  I’m not even offended by her mocking because I’m in shock. How many cats does this woman have and how
does she know she’s missing twenty-six? “Twenty-six?”

  “Yes, I know how it sounds but they are all well fed and taken care of. I take them to the vet and have them spay or neutered when someone brings me one.”

  “So… you…are I guess like a personal humane society?”

  “My son and I look after them.”

  “Your neighbor can’t help you look for them?”

  “She has her own life and works a job. Plus she takes care of her father. I can’t ask her to add my problems on top of hers.”

  “And you don’t think it could be a wild animal?”

  “I don’t know. That’s why I’m here.”

  “Ma’am, I don’t know anything about wild animals. Have you contacted a wild animal service? I saw an article not too long ago that black bears are becoming more common in Alabama.”

  She sighs. “I’d rather not have the game warden prowling around my property.” That’s not a good sign. Why would you not want a game warden on your property? “And before you assume it’s because I’m doing something illegal. It’s not that. We had a property dispute with him a year or so ago. I won, he lost and believe me he’s bitter about it. I doubt he’d do any favors for me.”

  “It’s his job. That’s why we pay taxes.”

  “I didn’t ask for his help. I asked for yours. I’m more than willing to pay your price.”

  I lean back and rub my fingers over my chin. “I’m going to be bluntly honest with you. I’m not comfortable taking cases that I’m not sure I can help with and finding a cat, err cats. I mean is not exactly what I do.” And I’m also not comfortable taking money from a little old lady who rescues cats.

  The door to my office opens and a neatly dressed man carrying a clear vase full of white flowers with furry yellow centers enters and asks, “Willow Matthews?”

  I nod as I eye the vase and he comes closer. He places it on the end of my desk and holds out a clip board he had tucked under his arm for me to sign. I watch as the older woman begins to stand shifting her walker back in front of her. I stand and walk around my desk glancing at the card that has, “Thank you,” written in big bold green letters on the outside of the envelope.

  I look back to the woman and she seems so defeated and truly upset about this and I sit on the edge of the desk in front of her. “How about this? I know a few people that might can help. I’ll call them and see if they have any idea who can help you besides the game warden.” I can tell she’s not satisfied but she’s also in better spirits. “Ma’am, I promise before I leave my office today I’ll have somebody that can help try to solve your problem. I’ll call you later this afternoon with their information.”

  After she leaves I dive into finding her some help mentally kicking myself because my promise is turning into quite a feat. I find myself becoming depressed. I’ve made thirty phone calls, all of them directing me to someone else. I finally take a long shot and google ‘pet detective’. I come up with a movie which does me no good and four websites that reignite a glimmer of hope. One is overseas somewhere and the other three are here in the United States. I wish now I started with the internet search. A man named Corky Bronson who lives in Smallville, Kentucky is very interested in the job. I’m not sure if his interest is because there’s not much of a demand for a pet detective or he just really loves finding pets. I have to ask him to repeat himself several times because his southern drawl is unreal and I am southern.

  He has several testimonials on his website where he’s successfully completed jobs and they’re all satisfied. I call Deloris and go over his rates and travel expenses he requires to come. I’m floored when she doesn’t hesitate because I’d have to think twice or three times before spending four thousand dollars to find some cats. But now I’m also relieved because I’ve done what I said I’d do and helped her. She does have one more request and I really don’t mind once I hear what it is: Meeting Corky at his hotel and come with him to the initial meeting. She’s a little nervous at inviting someone “not from around here” to her home. I can see that. She’s in her eighties and her son is disabled.

  It’s now two in the afternoon and I’ve been eyeing the card during my hunt for a pet detective not sure how I feel about flowers and I don’t know if I want to know yet who they’re from. As I walk out the door my curiosity gets the best of me. I grab the card and look at it while I let Joe run free in the yard a minute before we load up and go over to my lawyer’s office. “Thank you for helping bring our little girl home.” ~ The Wachowskis’.

  I shove the card down in my pocket and even though I didn’t do anything really other than making a phone call after they wanted to be found, it is nice to get a thank you every now and then. I haven’t heard yet if it happened but Tank called and said Jacob was most likely going to the juvenile detention facility for harboring a runaway. Sasha’s in trouble too but the D.A. is looking into what they are going to charge her with. She just better thank her lucky stars she’s back home in Skeeter and not here where our D.A., Charlie, has control of her fate.

  When I’m done at the lawyers it’s almost four o’clock and I realize I haven’t called Wade yet, nor did I look at my schedule or check my email to see what I’ve got going on the next few days. But I call him on my way home anyway since we’re friends now, I think smiling to myself.

  The phone stops ringing but I don’t hear anyone so I call out first, “Hello?”

  “Hey, I’m here. I was beginning to wonder if you were going to stand me up on my offer.”

  “No, no, nothing like that. My day got away from me. I just left my lawyer’s office signing the paperwork for my community service.”

  “That’s good to hear. How many hours did you get?”

  “Forty.”

  “Forty for a justifiable assault and your first offense?” He sounds upset.

  “That’s what they said and really, Wade, I’m not complaining. I appreciate you doing what you did. I’m not used to people taking up for me like that, but it seemed to help.” He doesn’t respond so I look over at the radio to make sure we’re still connected. “Hello?”

  He clears his throat. “I’m here. Sorry, I was just taking a few moments to absorb your niceness. I don’t think I’ve heard it before.”

  “Ha ha,” I roll my eyes while shaking my head. “Anyway, I have to help someone in the morning and then I have to call my new supervisor, Chuck, and set up my time to pick up litter.”

  “Why on earth would you choose to do that? There’s a list a mile long of things you can do that’s considered community service.”

  “It’s part of the plea deal my lawyer says.”

  “That…low down dirty… scumbag—”

  “Don’t tone it down for me. I personally think he’s not just an asshole. He’s a whole ass. But, again, Wade, I’m cool with it. It’s forty hours of picking up trash. I’ve had worse jobs in my life and some were my choice to follow through with. Anyway I was thinking maybe Wednesday afternoon, if that’s good for you?”

  “Yes. Wednesday is fine.”

  He still sounds mad but there isn’t anything I can do about that. I’m the one who has to do the work and I’m okay with it.

  “Okay, I’ll call or text you Wednesday morning and we’ll go from there.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll speak to you then.”

  *****

  The next day Joe and I drive to the MoonStay Inn on the other side of town. I know it’s him as soon as I pull up. He looks like the man on the webpage and he’s dressed in full on jungle safari clothing that screams the name ‘Corky Bronson’. Tan hat, shirt, shorts, forest green knee-high socks and boots. I pull up beside his rental truck and park leaving Joe in mine with the air conditioning running.

  “Corky?”

  “Ms. Matthews, it’s nice to meet’cha.” I had forgotten how his accent takes it to the next level. I know I have a southern twang but this is straight something you’d see off TV. Backwards hillbilly. The only things missing to complete t
he hillbilly picture are: he has all his teeth and he’s not chewing tobacco.

  “Call me Willow, please. I see you made it here in one piece. Everything go okay?” His eyes dart around and I’m beginning to wonder what happened at the airport but I don’t ask. I imagine if he dressed as he is now he probably got a thorough pat down from security. I did get the feeling yesterday he hasn’t traveled much, flying wise. “Well, are you ready to go?”

  “Yes ma’am, I am. I needs to grab one more thing from the room then I’ll be ready.”

  I nod and watch as he walks slowly toward the hotel room staring at the ground the whole time. What an odd duck. He stops and squats down next to some shrubs then stands spinning around. “Hey Willer, come here a second.”

  I hear Joe bark as I walk away further from him to where Corky is. “This hotel here has a coon problem.” I cross my arms over my chest as I look at him when he bends back down. “See this here. This is a mess of raccoon droppings. I mean a big mess. They have a problem on their hands. I need to make sure they know about it.” He looks back up at me making sure I’m looking at the raccoon shit he’s poking with a twig. I lean over and nod my head. He stands wiping his hands on his shorts. “I’m going to the front office. I’ll be back.”

  “Uh, Mr. Corky, can we go see the Wright’s first? They’re expecting us shortly.”

  “Yes, yes. I’m sorry. I get sidetracked sometimes. Let me grab my bag then I’ll be right out.” I continue to watch him as he kicks around the dirt a little more at the shrubs then walks to his room still looking down.

  I plug the Wrights’ address into my GPS and off we go. We turn onto her drive. It winds back about a quart of a mile off the main road. It’s not quite what I had pictured. It’s a nice larger home and it looks to be taken well care of. Two people on the front porch are sitting in rocking chairs when I pull up to a stop. One I recognize as Deloris and the other I’m assuming is her son. Joe and I get out with him following behind me.

  “Good morning,” Deloris hollers from the porch.

  “Morning.”

  While waiting for Corky to get out of his truck and Joe sniffs around at our new surroundings. I smile at Deloris who is now standing at the railing as I continue to wait. What the hell is he doing?