“I can’t thank you enough.” Dawn gave Rory a quick hug before heading over to help a customer.
Arika looked with concern at her daughter. “You don’t have to solve everyone’s problems, you know. It’s not your responsibility.”
“I can’t let her down after what she did for you.”
Arika patted her on the arm. “You have a good heart. Be careful.”
“You don’t have to worry about me.”
“I’m a mother. It’s part of my job description.”
Rory hugged her and headed out the door, armed with the new information.
Later that afternoon on a break from work, Rory walked into her kitchen for a diet Coke to cool herself down. As she took a sip of the cold beverage, she glimpsed movement out of the corner of her eye. She glanced outside and saw a streak of brown run across the lawn and disappear into the bushes along the side of her house.
Rory set her bottle of soda on the counter, opened the back door and softly called out Sekhmet’s name. A plaintive meow answered her call. She parted the leaves of the bush nearest the back door to find the chocolate Abyssinian staring up at her. Sekhmet cautiously sniffed the finger Rory held out, then gave an inquiring meow.
“I bet you’re hungry, aren’t you? Why don’t you come inside? I’ll try to find something for you to eat.” Rory walked to the door and held it open. The cat studied her for a moment before walking, tail high, into the kitchen, stopping when she was inside the door to survey her surroundings.
As soon as Rory stepped inside, the cat wandered across the tile floor and sat down next to the refrigerator as if waiting for food. Rory filled a cereal bowl with water and laid it on the floor. While the cat lapped it up, she searched her cupboards and refrigerator for something to feed her, unearthing slices of leftover turkey and a sample of dry cat food she’d received in the mail. She put the food on a plate and set it on the floor next to the water dish. Without hesitation, Sekhmet dug in, wolfing it down as if she hadn’t eaten in days. For a cat who usually spent her evenings tucked safely inside a house, the Abyssinian seemed none the worse for the nights she must have spent outdoors.
After she downed every morsel, the cat wandered into the living room, sniffing what seemed like every inch of the wood floor before gracefully jumping onto the sofa and curling up against a pillow. Rory smiled and left her new friend to nap in peace. She phoned Lance’s number to let him know she found Willow’s cat, but when the call went straight to voicemail, she hung up and texted him that she would keep Sekhmet safe inside until she heard from him.
Hoping the cat wouldn’t need to potty until after she got back, Rory drove to the grocery store and picked up cat food, litter and a litterbox. When she turned onto her block on the way home, she saw someone slipping through the side gate of Willow’s house.
She pulled into her driveway and, leaving her purchases in her car, walked down the sidewalk, ducked under the yellow police tape and traced the same path she’d seen the intruder take. She cautiously peeked around the corner of the Tudor-style home. The French doors leading into the kitchen were partially open, and she heard the sound of a chair scraping against the wood floor. As quietly as possible, she tiptoed up the steps and peeked inside.
Lance stood on a chair, rummaging around on the top shelf of a bookcase in the living area next to the kitchen.
Rory knocked on the door. “Lance, what are you doing here?”
The man jumped at the sound of her voice. He steadied a hand on the bookcase to regain his balance before turning around to face her. “Hi, Rory, what are you doing here?” He quickly hopped down from the chair and met her at the doorway.
“I saw someone going through the gate, didn’t realize it was you. Did the police finally release the house?”
Lance’s face reddened. “No, but I couldn’t wait any longer. I wanted to see if Sekhmet had come home.”
Rory glanced toward the bookcase, wondering what it had to do with the cat.
He followed her gaze. “Willow stashed a catnip toy behind the books after Sekhmet got a little too wild with it. It’s her favorite. I thought it might lure her out of hiding.”
“Didn’t you get my text? I found her an hour ago in my backyard. She’s inside my house right now sleeping.”
Lance ran a hand through his hair. “Sorry, I didn’t see it. That’s a relief.”
They stood awkwardly staring at each other. Rory sensed he wanted her to leave, but she didn’t think it right to let him stay inside the house without the police department’s knowledge.
“So, did you want to take care of Sekhmet?” she finally asked.
“I wish I could, but animals aren’t allowed in my apartment. Could you keep her at your place until I can make other arrangements?”
“Sure. It’ll be nice to have company. I bought cat food and a litterbox. Does she need anything else?”
Glad her view of the area where she’d found Willow’s body was blocked by the kitchen island, Rory helped the man gather some of the Abyssinian’s favorite items to help the cat adjust to her new surroundings.
They were heading out the back door when Rory said, “What about the toy?”
“Huh?”
“The one you were looking for when I came in. If it’s her favorite, we should get it. It’ll help her feel more at home.”
“Oh, right. I couldn’t find it. Willow must have hidden it somewhere else.”
Lance handed her the bag of items for the cat and locked the back door behind them. As she watched him drive away, she wondered what he’d really been looking for in the bookcase. She doubted it was a catnip toy. Whatever it was, she intended to find out.
Chapter 11
“Recognize anything?” Detective Green said.
Rory’s gaze swept the glass case filled with jewelry. A burly man waited nearby to see which ring, necklace or bracelet she would point out. She momentarily salivated over a diamond and sapphire ring before shaking her head. “There are one or two things I wouldn’t mind having myself, but nothing that looks familiar.”
The detective nodded at the pawn shop owner. “Thanks for your time.”
They left the shop and returned to his car. While she settled into the passenger seat, Detective Green sat behind the wheel and crossed off an item in his notebook. “One more to go.”
The two had spent the better part of Tuesday morning driving to pawn shops within a ten-mile radius of Vista Beach, looking for the jewelry stolen from Willow the night she was killed.
“What happens if we don’t find anything?” Rory said.
The detective put the car into gear and eased out of the parking space onto the busy street. “The pawn shops in the area have a description of what we’re looking for. The thief or thieves might be waiting for things to cool down before pawning the items. If they do, we’ll catch them.”
“Have you thought about online auction sites?”
“Someone’s looking at those right now, using the descriptions you gave me.”
“If you want, I can look at some of them myself. I’ll have a better chance of recognizing the jewelry than anyone at the police department will.”
He glanced over at her. “You sure you have the time?”
“I’ll make the time.”
He nodded and continued driving to their next destination. When they entered the last pawn shop on the list, the man behind the counter held his arms out wide and boomed a welcome.
“We’re looking for jewelry,” Rory said.
He cocked his head, studied the two of them and broke into a smile. “Ah, young love. I can spot it a mile away. You’re looking for an engagement ring, aren’t you? I have just the thing for you.” He selected a diamond ring with a stone of at least two carats and held it out. “This will look beautiful on your hand. Try it.”
Rory shook her head and av
oided looking at the detective. “We’re not together. Okay, we’re together, but we’re not a couple.”
Detective Green looked uncomfortable as he held up his badge. “Police business. We’re looking for stolen jewelry.”
The pawn shop owner replaced the ring and swept his hand around the store. “I can assure you everything’s on the up and up here. No shady business whatsoever. Please, look around all you want.”
Rory stared at the jewelry case filled with rings, watches, necklaces and bracelets. An amber ring attracted her attention, but when she looked at it more closely, she realized it wasn’t the one they were looking for.
“Sorry. None of it looks familiar.”
The detective thanked the man for his cooperation. As they were leaving, the pawn shop owner called after them, “Keep us in mind for those special occasions.”
Rory followed the detective out the door and to the car, not daring to look at his face. An awkward silence settled over them as he drove Rory home. Halfway there, he finally broke the silence. “How’s your friend? The one who’s in the hospital?”
“Kit? No change when I checked on him today. It’s touch and go, but I’m hopeful. Any leads on who hit him?”
“Nothing new. Unless he can tell us who attacked him, I doubt we’ll ever know. Has he said anything to you?”
“He rambled on about something odd. I’m not sure what to make of it.” She told him what Kit had said when she visited him the previous day.
“Could be something. Could be nothing. He sounds delirious.”
“I know, but I can’t help wondering if he saw something that night. He was out of the hospital the night Willow died.”
“None of your neighbors mentioned seeing him anywhere near the house on Friday when we questioned them.”
“Doesn’t mean he wasn’t there.”
“True.”
Rory’s phone quacked. She glanced down at its display and grinned when she read the text.
“What’s made you so happy?”
“Just a text from a friend.”
“A friend. I see.” He pulled up in front of Rory’s house and stopped. “Thanks for your help today. Let me know if you see anything on those auction sites.”
Rory nodded and got out of the car. As he drove away, her cell phone rang.
“What’s with you and Dashing D going to pawn shops?” Liz said without bothering to say hello.
“How did you know about that? I just barely got home.” Rory tucked her phone in the crook of her neck so she could unlock her front door.
“My spies are everywhere.”
Rory snorted. “He called me last night and asked if I would help him. We were looking to see if any of Willow’s jewelry had been pawned. He brought me along to see if I recognized anything.”
“Did you?”
“No. I’m going to check out some online auction sites next.” When Rory sank down onto the couch, Sekhmet hopped up on her lap and demanded her attention. She tickled the cat under the chin. “I got a text from Tripp when I was in the car with Martin.”
“Awwwwkward. What did it say?”
“Just thanked me for the date. What did you find out about the building Willow owns?”
“She bought it six months ago when she moved to town. Got a good deal on it, but it was still expensive. She put down a super hefty down payment.”
“I wonder where she got the money.”
“Maybe she inherited it.”
“Do you know what happens to the building now?”
“Not sure,” Liz said.
“Monica might know. I’ll stop by and ask her.”
“Was that a cat meowing?”
“Didn’t I tell you? Sekhmet’s my guest at the moment.”
“Willow’s cat? I thought Luscious Lance was going to take care of her.”
“His apartment doesn’t allow pets.”
“What are you going to do?”
Rory planted a kiss on top of the cat’s head. “I’ll take care of her for now. Maybe she’ll like it here and adopt me.” She frowned. “Lance was acting a little odd yesterday.”
“How so?”
“I found him going through a bookcase in Willow’s house.” The cat curled up on Rory’s lap and started purring as she stroked her fur.
“So? He did live there.”
“He said he was looking for one of Sekhmet’s toys to lure her out of hiding, but I’d already told him I found her.”
“In person or did you leave a message?” Liz asked.
“I texted him, but he said he never got it. Something about his behavior was very odd. What do you know about him?”
“He works as a personal trainer at the gym I belong to. That’s about it.”
“Why was he wearing a suit when I saw him get out of the taxi the day I found Willow, then? Doesn’t sound like something a personal trainer would wear.”
“Don’t know. You did say he was in San Diego on business. Probably had something to do with that. I swear some women at the gym have memberships just so they can watch him work.”
Rory wrinkled her forehead in thought. “With so many people watching him, maybe one of them can tell us something useful. When was the last time you went to the gym?”
Chapter 12
Rory left early for her appointment at the bakery that afternoon, giving herself time to stop by Monica’s Treasures. Before going inside, she studied the window display of the gift store. The Everything Must Go sign Liz had mentioned was nowhere to be seen.
She entered the store and made her way through the maze of shelves holding every kind of gift imaginable toward the sales counter where Monica herself was wrapping up a wooden Noah’s ark set for a customer.
“…perfect piece for your new grandson’s bedroom.” Monica placed the painted animals into a wood box shaped like an ark. “You’re lucky to get this. Dawn Ogden’s work is very popular. She’s local, you know…” The store owner looked up and smiled. “I’ll be with you in a moment, Rory.”
Rory nodded and studied the jewelry in the glass case next to the ancient cash register while she waited.
Monica wrote out a paper receipt and stuffed a copy in the bag along with the purchase. “Let me know how your daughter likes the ark, Kate. Have fun at the baby shower.” As the customer headed toward the front door, Monica turned toward Rory, a big smile on her face. “What can I do for you? Your mother tells me your birthday’s coming up. No better time to treat yourself.” She reached into the glass case and produced a tear-shaped necklace on a silver chain. “It’s said that whoever owns turquoise will never be without friends. Go on, try it on.”
Rory put on the necklace and stared at herself in the small mirror on the counter. “It’s beautiful. I’ll take it.”
While Monica wrapped up the jewelry, Rory pointed at the going-out-of-business sign propped against a nearby wall. “Are you closing the store?”
“Not anymore. I thought I’d have to for a while, but the good Lord answered my prayers.”
“What changed?”
“My rent was going to go up, but that’s not going to happen anymore.”
“Because of Willow’s death?”
Monica handed Rory’s credit card back to her. “You know about the lease?”
“The whole city does. There was an article on Vista Beach Confidential about Willow and the changes she was planning to make. Didn’t Veronica interview you for it?”
“Oh, that blog thing. Computers. Don’t have one, don’t want one.”
“Don’t you need one to run your business?”
“I’ve been running it the same way for thirty years. No reason to change now. Of course, that didn’t meet with everyone’s approval.”
“Willow?”
The store owner reached under the counter and
brought out a gift box. “Why would you say that?”
“She was your landlord, and she did love to tell people what to do.”
“That she did. She told me I needed to enter the twenty-first century.” Monica held up the bag with the necklace in it. “I added the matching earrings as a birthday gift.”
“Thank you, but you didn’t have to do that.”
“My pleasure.” She waved her hand as if it were nothing.
“What’s going to happen with the building now?”
“Dr. Wagner’s inheriting it, and he’s promised he won’t change the lease terms. Of course, that’s what Willow said six months ago, but he actually keeps his promises.”
“Any idea where she got the money to buy the building?”
“I got the impression she had some money socked away, but I never heard where it came from.” The store owner waved at a customer who was browsing in a nearby aisle. She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “What do you know about Willow’s death? Do the police have any leads?”
“I don’t know much, but I’m sure they’ll find out who did it.”
“You wait, it’ll turn out to be a home invasion. Probably the same people who have been causing all the trouble in those other cities.”
“Were the police here?” Rory said. “They must have questioned you since you’re one of her tenants.”
“They had the gall to ask me where I was when she died. I told them to mind their own business.”
“Bet they didn’t like that.”
“Not one bit. I’ve never even been to Willow’s house. Didn’t know where she lived until your mother told me. Of course, I could have just admitted I was here by myself, working in the back, but they annoyed me with their questions.”
“I’m glad things turned around for you.”
As Rory headed out the door, she wondered if the threat of losing her store could have made Monica angry enough to kill.
A Palette for Murder Page 9
