by Kieran York
“I can’t imagine.” Royce finished her oats in silence. “Gran, I can’t understand what’s going on with the Silver Wilderness Center. But I’m determined to find out.”
Chance had been on the kitchen floor, but the minute Royce stood, Chance went to her bowl. Royce fixed the hungry dog her blend of kibble and canned food.
“Royce, you be careful out there.” Gran gave her granddaughter a hug. “And I’ll check around and see if any of my friends know anything about Seth.”
There was a moment’s quiet before Royce thanked Gran. “This is strange that Seth would be missing. And Daisy escaped.”
Before Royce got to the doorway, Gran questioned, “Are things progressing with Hertha?”
Royce had hoped that conversation wouldn’t come up. “I stayed over here at the cabin because I needed to think. And I’m never certain of anything to do with Hertha. I’ve got a case I need to concentrate on now.”
***
After the morning meeting, Royce dismissed the deputies. She called Nick aside to ask him about the treatment of his father. According to all she’d been led to believe, the Center was fine. Nick reiterated that his father’s stay was excellent. In fact, he said that they treated his dad so well, that he’d commented that when his time came to find a nursing home, that would be the center he would select.
However, that might be the case, Royce considered, because Nick was Undersheriff of Crystal. They probably wouldn’t pull anything. Add to that, Nick’s father had previously sold his home, plus he was only there for rehab. His was not the same circumstance as Daisy’s.
Daisy had no one looking after her. And she had a large home that was probably worth a great deal.
Royce spent the next hour on the phone. She answered questions from adjoining counties about the BOLO on Seth Egan. There were a number of reports, but nothing substantive. Royce had pulled up Egan’s photo identification, and circulated it. The stats were on the BOLO, but there were calls describing a completely different man.
Royce also had a talk with D.A. Mike Parker. Mike had taken Lyn’s recommendation to put a stay on the entire transfer. He’d also attempted to get in touch with Daisy’s only living relative, Rick Durant. Mike reported that Durant had not returned his call. Royce told him that she had also made numerous calls with no response.
When things quieted down, Royce decided to go across the street to visit her mother. Molly was the proprietor of Molly’s Pantry. The bakery also had a small breakfast and lunch counter. Royce had grown up on the second story level of the Pantry. It was a wonderful home for a child.
She had lived there until she went to college. She had just started at the university when her father, the sheriff, had been shot and killed. Although she’d planned on becoming an enforcer before, after Grady Madison was gunned down, her determination was resolute.
“Morning, Mom,” she said to Molly Madison.
Molly straightened out the collar of the shirt she was wearing. Then she put on a fresh apron. Her short, stocky body was always clad in a neatly pressed shirt and skirt, and an apron. Her hair was beige and streaked with gray. Blue eyes were similar to her daughters. Her face was round, unlike her daughter’s oblong face. Royce had her mother’s dimples, and smile.
“Morning, Royce. Have you been to see Hertha this morning? You seem to be overlooking her.”
“Not yet. Things are just moving a little fast.”
“Royce, I know you’re worried about Hertha. But I also know you love her. Naturally, you’re thinking about moving in with her. And I know it scares you. You worry about her leaving again. But we’ve got to be the best version we can. It takes trust. Relationship vows don’t come with exclusion clauses.” Molly began chopping pecan.
“I’m sure you’ve heard all that I’ve got going on right now. I haven’t had time to stop by and see her yet because I’ve been busy.”
“Your Gran filled me in. And Gwen and Nadine also dropped by this morning.” Molly lowered her voice in secret. “They had some donuts, then took some sweets for Daisy.”
“I just dropped by to tell you about it.” Royce said, “But I guess you have all the info. The backstory. You’re up to date, Mom. We have nothing.”
“It’s a darn shame.”
“That’s why I need to take care of it as fast as possible. I’ll drop by Hertha’s, and then I need to go over and chat with Miss Daisy. See if she knows any more than she’s told me yesterday.”
Molly motioned for Royce to follow her from the front of the bakery area to the kitchen in the back room. “Both Gwen and Nadine verified that there’s not a doggone thing wrong with Daisy. They say since they’ve got her stashed over there. Undercover, they said they’d keep her undercover. Legally, they don’t want to get in any kidnap charges from the Center out there. That Eileen Austin is difficult.”
Royce’s eyebrows lifted as she grinned. Molly was what she thought of as a ‘mild’ person. When she said Eileen Austin was difficult, she was being mild. Molly and Gwen had been raised as neighbors from childhood, and were like sisters. As they grew, each developed different ways. Molly’s way was to describe folks with softened words. Gwen would call the same person a rotten witch.
And both amused Royce.
“Mom, I met Mrs. Austin yesterday. And I have a feeling she’s a great deal more than difficult. She all but threw me out of there. Said to meet with her lawyers.”
“What are you going to do?”
“After I see Hertha, I’ll go to the Times for a confab with Gwen, Nadine, and Miss Daisy. I’ll do what needs to be done. I’ll visit Silver Wilderness Center and interrogate the difficult Mrs. Austin.”
Molly chuckled. “You’re making fun of me!”
“Love you, Mom,” Royce said with a wave and a smile. Molly was laughing, so it was fine. “Come on, Chance. We’ve got lots of lawbreakers to bring to justice.”
***
Entering the High Country Animal Clinic, Royce saw Hertha leaning over a beagle puppy. “Settle down, Ellie, we’re just checking you out.”
“I don’t remember seeing her before,” Royce commented as she approached. She tickled Ellie’s ears. The markings on the primarily white beagle were brown ears, and one eye was covered. There were spots of brown and black on her body. “This little pup is magnificent.”
“Royce, please grab ahold of her while I give her the last of her puppy shots.”
Dutifully, Royce felt Ellie fill her arms. The pup whimpered as Hertha finished the injection. “There, girl, that wasn’t so bad,” veterinarian Hertha White said as she scratched the puppy’s topnotch.
With Ellie in her arms, Royce leaned down to greet a dog she’d known since he was a pup. Lukas was a curly, snowy-white cockapoo with bright, shiny, and insightful eyes. “Hey, Lukas, did you jump over, or squeeze through, your kennel play area? Maybe you just escaped to play with Ellie.” Lukas followed after Hertha.
“Let’s put Ellie back with the others. Come on, Lukas, time to join the tribe. I’ve got a little pen set up for them.”
Hertha had sold her mother’s home in southwest Colorado. She used the money to build on an addition to the animal clinic. First, she built a huge indoor facility, to shelter dogs and cats that were boarding there. Because that was a substantial part of the clinic business, the veterinarian was insistent that it be roomy, and pleasant.
Both Royce and Hertha made the rounds with the dogs inside. Lukas stayed right with them. His eyes gleamed with intelligence. Royce bent down and allowed the others to check Ellie out.
They all loved ear tickles, so the women made the rounds, petting and tickling. Pelle was a Shih-Tzu Maltese hybrid. Ida, the sweet dingo hybrid kept busy exploring the toys. The part corgi, and part Jack Russell, named Charlie, was what his owner called a cojack. Roommates were a beautiful old blonde Cocker spaniel named Cooper, and a sweet little pup named Lilly. She was a Chiweenie – her mother called her. A hybrid. The wire-haired terrier, Frankie, was a lovely little guy.
Hertha giggled, “I think they all approve of the newest patient in the gang.”
The outside shelters had just been installed. Hertha and her assistant, Carrie, tried to change out the group so that would each dog could get sunshine, and fresh air. Outside she had shelters installed giving the dogs a wonderful place to play.
“Ellie is definitely a hit with them all.” Royce was amused. Hertha’s laugh had been Royce’s special musical treat throughout the fifteen years they spent together. So many things to capture her love. With that, Royce felt the jab of heartbreak about her situation.
Hertha mentioned, “The outside group seems to be enjoying one another. Willow is the little Jack Russell and Pomeranian cross.” Willow ran through the yard. Hers was a barrel body with thick fur, and she had a Pom face. And Teddy, the small Maltese Terrier and Chihuahua mix was attempting to get Willow’s attention. “They all seem to get along fine.”
Royce noted, “I love Willow’s curly coat and the face of a Maltese. Adorable. And I know Hertta,” Royce leaned to scratch the head of the little Bichon Havanese, Tibetan Spaniel, Cairn Terrier, Russian Toy Terrier mix. “And the schnauzer Dreydl. I know Dreydl lives for her outings.”
Hertha planned, “I’ll put my little Louie out later. Louie always likes to say goodbye when the kiddos go off to school. It’s a ritual. He’ll enjoy being outside. It will be a long winter, and not all days will be sunny. So, they might as well appreciate it today.”
Royce asked, “I hope Vannie and Antero have their sweaters.”
Taking Royce’s hand, she squeezed it. “Parenting is so much more difficult that I’d imagined. I told them to take a jacket or sweater. They probably didn’t.”
Hertha and Royce walked through the small animal clinic, and opened the door to let Louie inside. He was Hertha’s recent rescue pup. The schnauzer-Kerry Blue terrier mix scurried to greet her pals in the back room. Royce opened the gate and allowed Louie in the kennel. Chance had stayed behind. She was impatient to get on the road with the sheriff.
Royce stopped a moment to watch the room Hertha called the Cat Den. It was screened, so that when the windows were opened, the cats could get fresh air. There were padded scratching trees, and small cubby holes. The cats were enjoying their den.
A multi-colored cat with a white nose, mouth and chest, was named Sweetie. And her suite mate was a lovely golden striped cat named Buddie.
Royce was also wishing she had gone to The Times before seeing Hertha. The sheriff had no reasoning behind her feelings. But she felt stifled. “I’ve got to see Gwen and Nadine. I’m sure you’ve heard that there are a couple new cases on my desk.”
“Molly told me about Daisy Barnaby, and said there was a missing man.”
“Yes, that’s why I didn’t drop by last night. Or call. I was late before I finished up documenting, and coordinating with the D.A.’s office.”
“I understand, Royce,” Hertha said gently. “I know you’re busy. I don’t like to harp, but I wish you would have called. You usually do, and the kids look forward to saying goodnight to you. Last night they asked me if they’d done something to displease you. I explained that you’re busy fighting crime. But in my heart, I was asking what I’d done to you. Is there something?”
Royce glanced away quickly. “No. No, I’m just busy. I keep wondering if Daisy will lose her house. And if Seth Egan is still alive.” Royce began walking toward the front, and to the street. “Besides, I hate leaving Gran at the cabin alone when we’ve got one senior displaced and hiding out, and another either on the run, or harmed.”
“I understand.” Hertha stepped inside the clinic. “Let me know if you’ll be able to stop by for dinner. If you’re working, I could bring some dinner over to you.”
“Thanks,” Royce replied. She then leaned down and kissed Hertha’s cheek. “I’ll let you know. And tell the kids I love them and they could never do anything wrong.”
Hertha’s eyebrows lifted. “Well, for starters they could do at least one thing wrong. Not take sweaters with them.”
“They’ll be fine. I’m not sure I even knew what a sweater was until I got into high school,” Royce joked. As she walked across the street, Royce felt a longing for Hertha. The woman she loved was always with her, was always a part of her. She could close her eyes and see Hertha’s shapely body, her bronze golden eyes, thick ebony lashes, and her dark hair with small streamers of silver at the temples. Her faint laugh lines around her eyes. She could feel the touch of Hertha’s burgundy full lips. Her warmth.
Royce realized that her feelings of love for Hertha had not changed. But some deeply buried emotion had. Was she too superficial to allow love? Too cold to forgive?
Even Chance’s proud stride was falling behind Royce’s rushed walk.
***
“I never realized Daisy had such a great sense of humor,” Nadine said as she greeted Royce and Chance at the door. “I always thought she was a straight-laced old schoolmarm.”
Gwen Ives and Nadine Atwell lived together in an elegant old home since their relationship began. Prior to that, Gwen had been born and raised in the refurbished Victorian home. It was directly behind The Timber City Times – with a walkway back to the home. Like most of the Timber City homes, it was built with the finery and charm of a historically important structure.
Royce walked on the maple-floor through Gwen and Nadine’s foyer and hallway. The egg-and-dart wood trim led to the parlor. Antique furnishings decorated the lovely room. Royce was glad to see that Gwen was watching over Daisy Barnaby. In case the woman did have issues of fading in and out of dementia. If Silver Wilderness Center had properly diagnosed her, Royce didn’t want her to wander away.
As the women sat in tufted, high-back chairs, Daisy quickly spoke. “This is so wonderful to wake up with clarity. I hated how the drugs made me woozy. And my mind felt cottony. It isn’t normal for me to feel as though I have a noggin full of nonsense. And even my steps were wobbly.”
Immediately Royce quizzed, “Miss Daisy, I’d like to question you about that. Which of the staff members actually administered the medication?”
“Why that would be the night nurses. Rhonda and Amber usually. But a couple nights ago, Alec Zellner came in at about midnight. He saw I wasn’t fully asleep. He must have suspected that I’d discontinued taking the pills. He muttered ‘naughty, naughty.’ Then he went away for a few minutes and came back with a syringe. I felt the needle was injecting what must have been a fairly good dose of tranquilizer, or whatever. It knocked me out.”
“Is Alec Zellner a nurse?” Royce inquired.
Daisy answered with distain. “He’s the director. He’s been a medic, and EMT. I think I heard he was a trained nurse. He wears a doctor’s lab coat. But I’m sure he isn’t a doctor. He also doesn’t work in the lab.”
“What about the other nurses on the night crew?”
“The two I know best are Rhonda Smith. She’s the night supervisor. And a young nurse named Amber. They’re both nice enough. Poor Rhonda got yelled at by Alec Zellner. Said she wasn’t watching me when meds were dispensed. I’m not so sure but what she overlooked my meds on purpose. She sure doesn’t like that Alec.”
“Do you have any recollection of when your house papers were signed?”
“None. Other than I saw my cousin’s child, Rick. Well, he’s fifty-five years old now. But I always think of him as young. He moved away after he finished schooling. I always loved him when he was a child. When he came into my room, he was condescending. Well, he patted my shoulder and spoke loudly and slowly about how I would be taken care of now. Like he was doing me a favor. I tried real hard to talk, but everything was locking up in my mouth. Words weren’t right.”
“And so, Rick believed that you were incapacitated?”
“Exactly. Sheriff, I loved him like he was my own.” She glanced away quickly. “He wasn’t to know I was drugged up. I couldn’t even hold my head up.”
Gwen comforted Daisy, “No, I do
n’t imagine he was in on it.”
Royce patted Daisy’s arm. “I’ve been calling him. I expect his call anytime.”
“Royce, you tell him I love him.” Daisy’s eyes flickered with sadness.
“I’ll tell him.” Royce stood. “No matter what, stay right here with Nadine and Gwen. I’ll keep checking in with you, but it’s important that you stay put.”
Gwen walked Royce to the front door. “Either Nadine or I am with her all the time. She seems completely normal. I believe every word she says.” Royce stood on the elaborately decorated front porch. She turned as she heard Gwen’s voice. “Royce, I’ve heard of this kind of thing happening. But I never believed it. Not here in Timber County.”
“Have you had any luck on the background of Eileen Austin? Or Alec Zellner?”
“I didn’t want to mention anything we’ve dug up in front of Daisy.”
“Yes, I don’t want her to know what we’re finding out. If the court were to order her returned, it would endanger her.”
“What I can tell you is this. Eileen is from Memphis, Tennessee. She met Larry Austin twenty years ago.” Gwen shrugged. “Hell’s bells, it’s been that long.”
“I know Larry had the property and the lodge at Silver Wilderness.” Royce pulled up from her memory what she knew about him. “His family owned the lodge. It became his when his parents died.”
“Larry is a hothead, a wannabe cowboy. Also, a wannabe ski bum. His skill as a skier, and a rancher were minimal. He always looks ropey with that scraggly stash. He should trim his hair and his mustache once in a while. Anyway, I don’t see what Eileen saw in him. They married when he met her at a western club down in Memphis. She was a backup singer. He was a decade older than Eileen was. Eileen Rogers was then a thirty-year old woman from Dallas. She had very little going for her. But she was bright enough to marry a meal ticket. Larry thought he’d won the lottery. She was joining him in a small growing community. No bright lights, but he did have enough property and a lodge to satisfy Eileen. They tried to fix the lodge up and for a few years rented space, and made a living.”
