For the Birds: Rose Gardner Investigations #2 (Rose Gardner Investigatons)

by Denise Grover Swank

  “Hey, Vi,” I said when I finally pulled myself together and walked into the living room. She looked thin and frail, huddled up on the sofa and surrounded by pillows and covered with a blanket. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m tired but so grateful to be home.”

  Of course, she wasn’t home. She and Mike had sold their house after separating, and Mike was renting this house. I worried that she wasn’t feeling settled.

  “Does it feel like home? You never lived here,” I said as I sat on the love seat.

  A soft smile lit up her eyes. “Oh, Rose. Home isn’t where you live. It’s where your loved ones are. And mine are here.”

  “Is that why you’re not moving back into Momma’s house?”

  Her eyes clouded over. “There’s nothing but bad memories there. You felt it too, didn’t you? That’s why you moved out when you finally saw Dora’s farm.”

  “Yeah.” I paused. “So it’s true that you want to sell the house?”

  “I don’t want to go back there, and I didn’t think you did either. Unless I was wrong . . .”

  I shook my head. “No. I never want to live there again. But what about rentin’ it out? It’s paid for, so you could make pure profit.”

  She made a face that hinted she wasn’t interested.

  “The nursery’s about to start makin’ a profit,” I said. “But there’s not enough to bump you back up to full time and keep payin’ Maeve, and it’s obvious you’re not ready to be workin’ full time. It could be a way to bring in more money for you. I’ll even manage it if you’d like.”

  Surprise filled her eyes. “I hadn’t considered that, but Mike was so set on sellin’ it.”

  “What do you want, Violet?” I asked, trying to hide my irritation. “It’s your house.”

  She gave me a sad smile. “I’ll talk to Mike.”

  Hearing my brother-in-law’s name made me think of Elijah Landry. I almost asked her about the Beagles, but I wasn’t ready to do that yet. Right now, I just wanted to be Violet’s sister.

  “I bet the kids are excited to have you back.”

  “Ashley barely leaves my side, but Mikey’s kind of forgotten me,” she said with tears in her eyes. “I suppose that’s to be expected.”

  “He’ll get used to you being here again,” I said. “Just give him time.”

  She smiled again, and I couldn’t help thinking that even her smile looked frail. “Time is a precious commodity, Rose. Don’t waste it.”

  “What are you talkin’ about?” I asked, suddenly afraid.

  She put her hand on mine. “Stop lookin’ so scared. I’m just bein’ maudlin. Come sit next to me like you used to when we were kids.”

  She moved a stack of pillows and I sat next to her, my hip pressed to hers, thankful I was sitting on her right side since my stitches had started hurting again.

  She snagged my hand and laced our fingers together. “I’ve missed you, Rose.”

  “I’m just so happy you’re back. I promise to make time to see you even when business picks back up this fall.”

  “I’m not talkin’ about just while I was gone. I miss us bein’ close. Like we were before Momma died.”

  She was right. Momma had kept me so cut off from the world. Until Neely Kate came into my life, Violet had been my best friend, my only friend. I’d been Violet’s best friend too, but it had all been one-sided—just like Momma, Violet had wanted to run my life, only in a different way. Still, she loved me and I loved her, and there was no denying we’d grown apart once I’d started asserting my independence. I wanted to trust that her brush with death had changed her. I wanted to be close again. “I’d like to work on that.”

  She rested her head on my shoulder. “Tell me about your life. How’d your date with that vet go? What was his name?”

  “Levi. And he’s nice. It was . . . nice.”

  She was silent.

  “There’s just something missin’.”

  “Do you still love Mason?”

  “Part of me does, but I’m not as sad. I’m ready to move on.” Memories of my night with James filled my head. Obviously I was ready to move on, just with the wrong guy.

  Violet softly squeezed my hand. “Who is he?”

  My body stiffened. “I told you. Levi’s the new vet at Henryetta Animal Clinic.”

  “That’s not what I’m talkin’ about, and you know it.”

  I hesitated, then finally said, “Someone I probably have no business bein’ with.”

  “Is he married?” She sat up and turned to face me, her eyes pleading. “Because Rose, if he is, end it now. I went down that road and nothin’ but heartache. For everyone.”

  I squeezed her hand. “He’s not married . . . not to a woman, anyway. He’s married to his job.”

  She pushed out a sigh and sank back into the sofa cushions. “Oh, that’s even worse. That means he’s giving you up for something that can’t love him back. Just like Mason. He ended up leaving you for a new job.”

  It was nothing like Mason. Mason had left because I’d hurt and betrayed him with my lies. With my life as the Lady in Black.

  The woman James had created.

  “But you’re still seein’ the vet anyway?”

  “No . . . well, I was. I knew nothing would come of my connection to the other man, and Levi’s so nice. I wanted to feel something more than I did. Last night I did something that wasn’t fair to Levi. This morning I’d made up my mind to end it with him, but Neely Kate accepted an invitation from him on my behalf.”

  “Even though you don’t want to go out with him?”

  “I suppose this is her way of making sure I end it with the other guy.”

  “She doesn’t approve either?”

  “No.” I considered listing all the reasons but decided the no was damning enough.

  “Then maybe you should listen to both of us—and your own logic.”

  They were both right, but why did my heart ache so much if being with James was wrong? “You’re not gonna ask me who he is?”

  “I don’t need to know. Unless you want to tell me.”

  “I don’t think you’d understand . . .” I said, which was more than I probably should have told her.

  “I’d probably understand more than you think,” she said quietly.

  We were quiet for a moment before I asked, “Do you still love Mike?”

  “There are all kinds of love, Rose.”

  I didn’t like the sound of that. “And which kind is the one you have for Mike?”

  “Not the fire and passion I had with Brody. What I have with Mike is more . . . comfortable.”

  “That doesn’t sound fair to you, Vi.”

  She released a tiny chuckle. “It’s more unfair to Mike. He loves me more than I love him. We both know it, and yet he still wants me.”

  “You could find someone else who gives you what Brody gave you.”

  She patted our linked hands. “Says the woman who has had two men love her like there’s no tomorrow. You’re luckier than you know.”

  I didn’t answer. What could I say? The truth was I’d had three men love me, and I’d lost them all. That didn’t feel very lucky.

  “I’m a realist now, Rose. And I’m grateful. Grateful that Mike still wants me despite all the pain I put him through. I have my family back, and I’ll never take it for granted again. And you have your own family too.” When I turned to look down at her, she said, “Your friends—Neely Kate, Bruce Wayne, Maeve. All of you are like a family.”

  “But you’re my family too, Vi.”

  “I know,” she said, sounding tired. “But I have Mike and the kids. You need to have other people too. I understand that now.” She paused. “Do you mind if I cut our visit short today? The kids are wearin’ me out, and I’m about to fall asleep.”

  “Of course. I’m sorry.”

  “No, don’t be sorry. I miss you so much. I hate that my body is betrayin’ me.”

  “When does Mike go back t
o work? I can come help with the kids.”

  “You have a business to run—two of ’em.”

  “The landscaping business is slowin’ down for summer. I’ll have slow spells until September. And Neely Kate’s learning even faster than I expected. She can fill in for me.”

  “Mike’s goin’ back next week, but I’m hopin’ to have more energy by then.”

  “But you know I’m willin’ to help. So if you need anything, ask me, okay?”

  “Yeah. It might be nice for us to just hang out in the afternoons . . . like we used to sometimes.”

  “We’ll even make cookies,” I said. “Only, this time you can be the one watchin’, even if it’s your own kitchen. Or maybe you and the kids can come out to the farm. They can chase Muffy around and wear themselves out while we sit on the porch drinking lemonade or tea and relaxin’. I’ll come pick y’all up.”

  A soft smile lit up her face. “Okay. Deal.”

  I stood but stayed next to the sofa because I still hadn’t gotten around to the business that had brought me here. “Vi, could I ask you a question about some people from the Henryetta Baptist Church?”

  She frowned at my seemingly out-of-nowhere question. “Yeah. Sure . . .”

  “Do you remember a Seymour and Mary Ellen Constant?”

  Violet’s frown deepened. “They sound vaguely familiar. Give me a moment. My memory hasn’t been the same since the chemo.” She was silent for several seconds; then she smiled. “I do. Mary Ellen was my Sunday school teacher. She used to give us peppermints when we recited our memory verses. She was sweet. I think she stopped teaching right after my grade, so you probably never had her. I haven’t thought of her in years.”

  “What about her daughter and her son-in-law, Pam and Timothy Beagle?”

  She nodded. “I remember Miss Pam. Seems like she had two sons who were older than us.”

  “Yes,” I said, trying not to get too excited. “Do you happen to know their names?”

  “I remember Paul . . . He was older than me, by about five years. He had an older brother who went to prison. I don’t ever remember meeting him. I just heard about him.”

  “I’ve tried to look up Paul Beagle, but he doesn’t seem to exist.”

  “That’s because he doesn’t,” Violet said. “Mr. Beagle’s not their father. Pam got divorced when Paul was a baby and remarried a few years later.”

  No wonder we hadn’t found any records of him. “So what was their last name?”

  Her mouth twisted to the side like she was concentrating hard, but then she shook her head. “I can’t remember. I’m sorry.” She looked close to tears.

  I sat on the coffee table and grabbed her hand. “No. Don’t be sorry.”

  “I just feel so stupid when I can’t remember things.”

  “It’s a whole lot more than I can remember. And I don’t have an excuse.” I grinned even though I was disappointed. “If it comes to you, will you text me?”

  “Sure.”

  I leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “You get some rest, and I’ll check on you tomorrow.” I paused. “I love you, Violet.”

  “I love you too, Rose.”

  I left the house even though I didn’t have a car. I started walking, hoping I’d get some brilliant ideas on how to handle this. Witt’s vision was prominent in my head, and I knew at some point I’d ditch Neely Kate and her cousin today. What if I had to separate from them so I could find Scooter? Maybe this was the time to do it.

  I grabbed my phone and called Jed.

  “How do you feel about breakin’ into a house with me?”

  Chapter 25

  I was two blocks away when Jed picked me up. I’d already texted Neely Kate an excuse—saying I was going to visit with Violet longer but I’d found out that Paul and Merlin had a different last name than their mother. I’d asked her to see if she could find out more about Elijah Landry without going to the rental house or the junkyard. We’d do that later.

  Jed’s car pulled up next to me, and I’d barely shut the door before he drove off. “What’s this about?”

  “I think I know where Landry and Paul Whatever-his-name-is and his brother took Scooter last Wednesday.”

  His eyes widened. “And how’d you find that out?”

  “The neighbor. She heard a commotion Wednesday when she was leaving for church, and I’m pretty sure the parrot heard them talkin’ and was repeatin’ what they said.” I told him the phrases we’d heard Squawker say. “They broke in and tried to snatch the bird, but Mr. Whipple caught them in the act and the parrot got away.”

  “Where’s Neely Kate and her cousin right now?”

  “They dropped me off to see Violet. She tired out before they were supposed to pick me up, so I texted you and sent them on a wild goose chase.” When he gave me a questioning look, I said, “It’s kind of a long story, but bottom line: Witt wants to appear neutral when this is all over, and when I forced a vision to make sure that happened, I saw that I’d ditched them. It must be because I involved you. Not to mention, in my vision I called Neely Kate to tell her I’d found Scooter. It makes sense that you and I can find him together.”

  He was silent.

  “This is startin’ to get dangerous, and right or wrong, I feel like you need to be part of it. Scooter was your friend too.”

  “Thanks for includin’ me. I do want to be part of it, especially since Skeeter’s shut me out.” He was quiet for several seconds. “Where do we need to go?”

  I gave him the address and a few directions to the neighborhood. “We have to be careful because we were makin’ the neighbor suspicious with all our questions earlier. We can’t let her find us snoopin’.”

  He nodded.

  “Neely Kate’s liable to be ticked at both of us,” I said. “I’m used to it, but you . . .”

  “I can handle it,” he said, but he didn’t look one hundred percent sure. “I’d prefer to keep her out of it. You and I both have a stake in this. She just wants to see the ‘case’ to completion.”

  “Still, I’ll take full responsibility, Jed. You and I haven’t discussed what’s goin’ on between you two—”

  He shifted in his seat, looking uncomfortable. “Rose . . .”

  “No. Let me finish.”

  He pulled up to a stop sign and didn’t move.

  “I’ll admit I was worried when I first suspected, but only for a tiny bit. I can’t think of two people more perfect for each other, and I know you’ll do everything in your power to protect her. This only proves it more. I have no idea what she faced in Oklahoma last week, but I want to thank you for goin’ with her.”

  “I did it for purely selfish reasons.”

  “And I know you got fired for it. That couldn’t have been an easy choice.”

  “It was surprisingly easy.”

  That gave me pause. “Well, in any case, you both have my blessing, not that you need it, but you have it all the same.”

  “Thank you, Rose.” He turned to face me and nodded. “That means more than you know.” He stepped on the gas and took off. “Now let’s go find Scooter, and we can face Neely Kate’s wrath together.”

  We parked a few houses down, and I kept an eye on the neighbor’s house as we approached Pam Beagle’s place.

  “So far, so good,” I said as we walked up to the front door. Jed had suggested it would be better to see if anyone was home before we started sneaking around the house.

  I realized I could learn a lot from Jed. Probably more than we were going to learn from Kermit the Hermit. I wanted to ask Jed about setting us up with him, but now didn’t seem the time.

  He had me stand behind him, on the bottom step, while he knocked on the door.

  “I have a gun, Jed,” I said quietly, my heart racing. “Strapped to my thigh.”

  “That’s good to know,” he said. “Let’s hope you don’t need it.”

  When no one had answered after ten seconds or so, Jed knocked again, then tried the d
oorknob. “Locked.”

  “Now what?” I asked. “If you weren’t here, I’d go around back to see if the back door was open.”

  “Me too.” I followed him around the side of the house and through the chain-link gate into the empty backyard. The back door was locked too, but Jed pulled out some lock-picking tools and had it open in no time. He walked in first and motioned me in, closing the door behind us.

  We stepped into a dated kitchen—complete with old Formica counters with metal trim—and I took a moment to catch my breath.

  “How’re you doin’?” Jed asked.

  “Okay. I feel like I’m in the big leagues doin’ this with you.”

  His answer was a half-grin. “Stay behind me in case we find any surprises.”

  “Okay.”

  The house was a small bungalow—just like all the homes in my neighborhood—so it didn’t take long to make our way through it.

  “Nothin’,” Jed said, scanning the bathroom. “No signs of a struggle. No blood.”

  “There’s no furniture,” I said. “Would there be signs of a struggle?”

  “There might be scuff marks on the floors or walls. Or even holes in the wall.”

  Disappointment washed through me. “I was so sure they brought him here.”

  “Just because we don’t see anything doesn’t mean they weren’t here. You said the neighbor told you they were working on the house to get it ready for renters. They might have repaired it already. Or maybe there wasn’t any damage at all.”

  He headed back to the kitchen and stopped in front of a narrow door. “I’ll be damned,” he said, opening it. “This house has a basement.”

  He found a light switch and flipped it on, and a dim light appeared at the bottom. “I hope you’re not afraid of basements.”

  “I never used to be—just closed-in spaces—but I might change my mind about basements depending on what we find at the bottom of the stairs.”

  The staircase was made of two-by-fours with no walls, and two bare light bulbs were attached to the floor joists above, shedding enough light for me to see the cinder block foundation and the dirt floor. But it was the folding chair in the middle of the room and the dark stain in the dirt beneath it that really caught my attention.