by J A Whiting
Angie’s heart beat sped up. “You told the police about it?”
Cora shook her head vigorously. “No.”
Courtney’s eyes widened in surprise. “Why not? It could be an important break in the case.”
Cora’s eyes narrowed. “It could also be a message.”
The puzzled expressions of the four people around the table faced Cora.
“I don’t want the police to scare him.”
“Scare who?” Mr. Finch asked.
“Richard. What if he’s trying to contact me? What if it’s a message? What if using the credit card is his way of telling me he’s alive?”
At that comment, everyone’s mouths hung open.
6
“Alive? You think Richard is alive and using his credit card?” Angie didn’t know what to make of this.
“But it’s been four months since he’s been gone.” Jenna spoke gently. “Weren’t all of his credit cards cancelled when Richard disappeared?”
Cora’s eyes looked brighter. “Richard kept one card especially for emergencies. I told the police to keep that card open in case he needed to get home.”
“So you have your husband’s wallet and that one card is missing from it?” Courtney asked. “He must have had it with him when he went missing.” Courtney and the others thought this was important. If Richard had taken a credit card with him, he may have deliberately taken off.
Cora looked from one person to the next. “Yes. It was his emergency card.”
“How can you be sure that he actually had the card on him when he disappeared?” Angie asked.
“I can’t be completely sure, but I’m almost positive it was with him. Richard believed in being prepared.”
“He always had it with him?” Jenna was skeptical. Maybe Richard planned to take off and made up the story about needing to have an emergency credit card.
“Always. He slipped it into his back pocket every morning without fail.”
“When did he start doing this?” Jenna couldn’t help but think how odd this was.
Cora thought. “About ten years ago? He’d read about a big flood down South. People had to flee with nothing. Richard was darned sure he would always have his card with him as a means to pay for food or a hotel.”
Angie tilted her head. “Why would your husband use the card to let you know he was alive? Was it some prearranged signal that you two had worked out in case something happened?”
“No. We hadn’t planned a signal or anything.”
Angie pressed. “Then why wouldn’t your husband get in touch with you using common means? Like a phone call.”
“He might not think it was safe to do that.” Cora frowned.
“What was the purchase that was made on his card?” Finch asked Cora, thinking that whatever was bought might be a clue to what was going on. “Was it only one purchase?”
“He bought some new clothes.” Cora’s voice sounded hopeful.
Courtney realized something. “Where were the purchases made? That would tell us where Richard, or whoever used the card, was when the purchase was made.”
“The clothes were purchased in a mall in New Hampshire.”
“In one store?” Angie suspected that someone found Richard’s credit card and was using it.
“No, two stores.”
“Were there any other purchases made?” Mr. Finch asked.
From the expression on her face, it was clear that Cora was thinking something over. “There was one other purchase. The credit card paid for one night in a motel room in New Hampshire.” Cora leaned forward with a look in her eyes that Angie couldn’t decipher. “Richard could be in the very next state.”
Angie didn’t know how to respond to Cora’s statement. She watched the woman’s face when she asked, “Why did you want to meet with Jack?”
“I want him to look into whether or not someone has stolen Richard’s card.” Cora closed her eyes for a moment. “I need to know if someone is using Richard’s credit card or if it’s Richard who’s using it.”
Ellie returned home from getting coffee with Jack just as the family was moving into the family room at the back of the house so that they could talk freely and privately. The five people and two cats took seats on the sofas and chairs and settled in to talk over what they’d learned from Cora about the disappearance of her husband.
“Did Jack talk to you about Cora Connors and her troubles?” Courtney had snuggled into an easy chair with Euclid resting over her lap.
Ellie frowned. “He told me about her husband. I have to admit that I wasn’t thrilled to hear the story. It worries me that the man is missing and no one has a clue as to what happened to him.” A shudder ran over Ellie’s shoulders. “I suppose nothing will happen, but I worry that whoever did something to the man might turn up here looking for Cora … or us, if we agree to look into the case.”
Jenna sat at the end of one of the sofas with Angie’s legs stretched over her lap. “Did you tell Jack that we help the police sometimes?” Jenna wondered, as did the others, how Jack came to know that Police Chief Martin called on the sisters and Mr. Finch to help with difficult cases.
Ellie’s eyebrows went up. “I never breathed a word. Jack asked me about it on the ski trip. I was going to tell you once we got home. Somehow, Jack figured it out all on his own. He didn’t buy the tale we told about having counseling experience and that’s the way we help the police. He saw that newspaper article about us helping the police solve that first case and he thought we must help Chief Martin with suspect profiles and the like. I told him he was right. I almost died when he brought it up fearing that he would ask about our ‘special skills.’”
“He didn’t, though?” Angie asked.
“No. There was no mention or hinting about any of us having special powers.” Ellie looked sad. “I wish Jack knew about us. I don’t like keeping it from him.”
“I don’t like keeping it from Josh either.” Angie let out a sigh. “When do you tell someone? If you tell him early in the relationship, then he doesn’t know you very well and he might run away and besides, I want to be sure I can trust the person before I start blabbing about the things we can do.”
Ellie agreed. “Right. Then when do you bring it up? It never seems the right time. Then time goes on. I’m afraid Jack will be angry that we’ve been dating so long and I haven’t told him.” She groaned and rubbed her forehead. “What a mess.” She looked over at Jenna. “You’re lucky that Tom knows.”
Jenna’s fiancé was told several months ago about the sisters and Mr. Finch and their special abilities. Jenna nodded. “Yes, I’m glad that is done and out of the way and that Tom took it so well. It was a huge relief. I don’t know what I would have done if I’d lost him over it.”
Mr. Finch ran his hand over Circe’s soft fur. “If you lost Tom over it, Miss Jenna, then he wouldn’t have been the man for you.”
Ellie and Angie stared at Mr. Finch.
Angie tilted her head to the side. “You’re right, Mr. Finch.” She pushed up from her reclining position on the sofa and looked over to Ellie. “I think we should each talk with our men. Soon. I think it’s time.”
Ellie’s eyes widened in fear, but then she shrugged her shoulders and gave a nod. “I dread it, but Mr. Finch is right. If it’s something that is too difficult for Jack to accept, then Jack and I aren’t the right match.” Ellie brushed at her eyes and looked like she wanted to cry.
Courtney pushed Euclid’s orange and white tail out of her eyes. “Don’t worry, Sis. You and Jack are the right match. That leather business card holder that Nana left you had the initials ERF engraved on it. Ellie Roseland Ford. I knew the minute I saw that thing that you were going to marry Jack Ford.”
Ellie’s expression turned hopeful. “I hope you’re right.”
A round of teasing Ellie about her feelings for Jack ensued and the tall blonde pretended to be annoyed by the hoots and comments, but she actually enjoyed it and dished it right back t
o her sisters and Finch about their respective boyfriends and girlfriend. The topic ended with chuckles and giggles and then the group returned to the reason they’d moved into the family room.
Jenna stood up and walked to the desk by the windows where she started tapping on the keyboard of her laptop. “I’m looking for more stories on Richard Connors’s disappearance.” She stared at the screen. “There are tons of stories. A lot of articles are from early in the case.” Scrolling through the listings of news stories, she said, “The articles get fewer as time goes by.”
Angie took a seat next to her sister. “We have a lot of reading to do. Maybe we should split the stories between us and then we can talk about what we’ve learned.”
“Good idea.” Courtney yawned. “I’m getting sleepy. I didn’t think we’d be back on a case just a few hours after returning from our ski trip.” Smiling, she added, “But I like it.”
“What on earth happened to that man?” Ellie asked. “How does someone disappear without a trace?”
“And motive seems to be missing.” Courtney covered another yawn with her hand.
“I find that suspicious.” Mr. Finch’s forehead creased in thought. “Everything was wonderful in the Connors’s home. No one had any problems. Everyone got along with everyone they’d ever encountered. Nothing was wrong with any member of the family … so Mrs. Connors says.”
“You think she’s lying, Mr. Finch?” Angie asked.
“Perhaps, not lying. Perhaps, glossing over? Not seeing things clearly? Only seeing what she wants to see?” Finch rubbed the palm of his hand over the brass knob at the top of his cane. “As always, some digging is in order.”
“And we are just the group to do it.” Courtney winked at Finch. “But first, let’s all watch a crime show together before we go to bed.”
At that, Euclid trilled and Circe meowed as everyone settled comfortably in their seats trying to hold onto a few more hours of peace.
7
Coming down the staircase, Angie could hear Mel Abel’s voice booming away in the dining room where he and two other guests, along with Orla O’Brien, had gathered for breakfast. She successfully slipped unseen into the hallway from the foyer and made her way to the kitchen. Not knowing how late they would get in from their ski trip last night, Angie had arranged to take the morning off from the bake shop and her employee, Louisa, was handling the bakery duties.
Hurrying out of the kitchen carrying a tray of boiled eggs, toast, and jam, Ellie almost plowed into her sister. “Sorry.” She made a face as she edged through the doorway. “How is it possible that that man’s voice can be heard throughout the entire first floor of the Victorian? He’s only been downstairs for thirty minutes and I already have a headache.”
Angie smiled in agreement. Mr. Abel’s voice was like a big bass drum shaking the walls and ceilings and she wondered if his voice had been an asset or a hindrance to him during his working years.
Courtney sat at the kitchen table in her pajamas eating a bowl of cereal and Jenna and Tom were perched on stools at the kitchen island drinking coffee and eating scrambled eggs. They greeted Angie when she came in.
“How are you up before me?” Angie stared at her twin sister. “Did I oversleep?”
Jenna grinned. “No, you didn’t. I’m early this morning. Tom and I are heading to our house to get in a few hours of work before we tackle our real jobs.”
Tom pulled on his earlobe. “And to get away from that man’s voice.”
Angie chuckled and put two slices of bread into the toaster as Mr. Finch came in through the back hall.
“Look who I found outside.” Finch hung his coat on the rack and did the same with Chief Martin’s.
“Morning.” The chief nodded to the group in the kitchen.
Courtney looked up from her bowl of cereal. “Is there something wrong?” Her voice sounded almost hopeful.
“No, I just had coffee at the bake shop. Louisa said you were all in here so I came to say hello.”
“How about a second cup of coffee?” Angie held the pot in the air.
“I wouldn’t say no.” The chief and Mr. Finch took the two other stools at the island.
“I was going to call you this morning.” Angie placed a mug of coffee in front of the chief and a cup of tea on the counter for Mr. Finch.
“What about? Is something wrong?” One of Chief Martin’s eyebrows went up.
“No.” Angie buttered her toast. “Well, yes.”
The family told the chief about their B and B guest and the tale of her missing husband.
“I know that case. A strange one. The man was never found.” The chief held his mug aloft. “It’s like the man vaporized.”
Ellie heard what the chief said as she came into the kitchen and made a face. “Ugh. What an awful word. Vaporized. It’s like some science fiction story.”
“There’s been no trace of the man. Nothing.” The chief took a swallow from his mug.
“Maybe someone put a spell on Mr. Connors and he went poof.” Courtney spooned some cereal into her mouth without looking up.
Everyone in the room stared at her and sensing their gaze, she lifted her eyes. “Oh, come on. That isn’t possible. Is it?”
“Ugh.” Ellie shook her head and took a pot holder to remove a tin of blueberry muffins from the oven.
“I read some of the news articles online before I fell asleep last night.” Angie carried her plate of toast to the kitchen table and sat down opposite Courtney. “The case is so strange that I couldn’t stop reading. I stayed up way too late. Good thing I have the morning off.” She looked at Chief Martin. “Can you tell us anything about the Connors case?”
“That’s a case that sticks in the minds of law enforcement agents. It’s so puzzling. I know a detective in Mill City. The department worked like dogs to get a lead. Everything came up dry. They looked at the son, I don’t recall his name, he’d just moved back home.”
“What did they find out?” Jenna asked.
“The kid was mixed up with the wrong kind of friends. Drinking, probably some drugs, goofing off at school. The kid had to take a semester off in his freshman year because of his awful grades. Mrs. Connors claimed the son had recently come home to save money, but the officers down there wondered if the parents made him move home to keep an eye on him.”
“Was the son a suspect?” Courtney questioned.
“He was initially. I think everyone was a suspect at first. There wasn’t anything to pin on the kid. Of course, that doesn’t mean he didn’t have something to do with it.”
“Did your friend think the son was guilty?” Tom took the last bite of his eggs and washed them down with a swallow of coffee.
“He said there was reason to be suspicious, but like I said, there wasn’t any evidence linking the son to the disappearance.”
“What about Mrs. Connors?” Angie eyed the chief. “She was away for the weekend. She said her husband was missing when she arrived home. Did her weekend away with a friend check-out?”
The chief nodded. “She was at an inn on the New Hampshire coast with her friend. Trouble is, just because she checked in on Friday and checked out late on Sunday afternoon, doesn’t mean she was there all weekend.”
“True.” Courtney used her spoon to poke the air for emphasis. “That very thing happened on an episode of a crime show we watch. Remember, Mr. Finch?”
“Indeed, I do.” Finch got up to make some toast. “The friend of the criminal covered for him. Did the friend claim to be with Mrs. Connors the entire time?”
“I believe the friend told police that she and Mrs. Connors were apart for a few hours on Sunday morning. The officers didn’t think that it was enough time for the woman to go home, kill her husband, dispose of the man, and return to the inn.”
“What about friends, business associates, or other family members?” Tom wondered if there was some anger or resentment or whatever between Richard Connors and someone who might bear him a grudge.
> Chief Martin shook his head. “Nothing stood out. Minor things here and there, but people’s alibis were checked and validated.”
“One of Richard Connors’s credit cards was charged the other day.” Angie frowned. “Mrs. Connors won’t tell the police about it. She thinks Richard might be using the card to signal to her that he is alive.”
The chief stared at Angie. “Why does she think he’s doing that? Why not just pick up the phone and call his wife? Why the cloak and dagger act?”
Angie shook her head. “She didn’t really have an answer for that question. She said he might not think it was safe.”
Chief Martin’s face screwed up. “Not safe from what?”
“We didn’t get to that.” Angie put her dishes in the dishwasher.
“What was purchased with the credit card?” the chief asked.
“Clothes,” Jenna said. “Whoever is using that card bought clothes in two different stores.”
“Where were the charges made?”
“The clothes were purchased in a New Hampshire mall. There was another charge.” Courtney informed the chief. “A night in a motel room in New Hampshire.”
“Huh,” the chief grunted. “The most likely answer to this is that someone has Richard Connors’s credit card.”
“Yup.” Courtney shrugged. “But it seems Mrs. Connors is inclined to think otherwise.”
“Clutching at straws. Keeping hope alive,” the chief said. “We might do the same if we were in her shoes.”
“She’s asked for our help.” Angie eyed the big man sitting at the island.
“It couldn’t hurt.” Chief Martin nodded and smiled. “I have it on very good authority that the five of you have an excellent track record with difficult cases.”
“If we do try to help, could we run things by you?” Angie hoped to be able to bounce ideas and clues off of the chief.
“By all means.” The chief slid off the stool. “I’d better get back to work.” As he headed for the back hall to get his coat, he stopped and turned. “You know, I recall that the police brought someone in to consult on the case.”
