CHAPTER
forty 
I THOUGHT ABOUT MA’S semiserious condition for my returning to work. Like she said, it would be nice and probably feel safer to have another pair of hands around. Especially if trouble sprang up again at my store.
I even had a willing applicant. But I also needed someone whom I could trust. What had Nicola been hiding in her apartment that she hadn’t wanted me to see?
In the early morning, I called her up to find out. “Why were you so cagey during my last visit? What are you hiding in your apartment?”
She sighed. “I thought you might notice I was acting suspicious. Don’t worry, I returned it.”
I recalled the banging noises I’d heard from the backyard when I’d discovered the plastic cap. “Did you happen to go into Russ Nolan’s the day I talked with Shirl to retrieve the bracelet?”
“Yes.” She hesitated. “I stole a memento from his old house. But I gave it back to Henry.”
Nicola seemed to be on the up-and-up. After all, how else would she know the new renter’s name unless she’d met him?
I should check out her story, though. I’d already taken the day off to recover, so I could fit in a visit to Henry.
With my car still stuck at Hollywoof, I asked Alice to drop me off at Henry’s house. It would be on her way to school, so my sister agreed.
When I knocked on Henry’s door, he answered right away.
I shuffled my feet. “Hello again. I’d like to check on something, Henry. I have a job applicant who took something from your house . . .”
Henry nodded. “Young Nicola? She came and apologized to my face. Turns out this was her old boyfriend’s home. Can you wait here a minute? I want to show you the item.”
He rummaged inside the house and returned with a fancy domed night-light. “This is what she brought back. I didn’t even notice it when I moved in. She found it in the bedroom closet. It’s a light that projects constellations onto the ceiling.”
In a soft tone, I said, “Nicola must have wanted to keep it as a reminder of her boyfriend.”
“A natural sentiment. I told her she shouldn’t have bothered to bring it back. I wouldn’t have minded if she kept it, but she said it was better for her to start fresh. She mentioned wanting to do the right thing from now on.”
The theme of beginning again, Nicola’s philosophy, echoed back at me. She was trying to be a better version of herself.
I heard a zooming from behind me. Looking over my shoulder, I saw a news van hurtling down the street. “Is something happening around here?”
Henry scratched his chin. “That’s right. I talked to that dog walker the other day. She told me her uncle had some interviews today. Something about rescued dogs.”
“Exciting.” There must be another puppy getting adopted. “Thanks for letting me know about Nicola,” I said.
He touched my shoulder. “Give the girl a break. She seems to want to turn over a new leaf. Goodness knows I did a lot of stupid things in my youth.”
“Ha. You seem like you were born a gentleman.”
He scoffed. “You’re seeing me in my current state. Trust me, I’m making up for lost time.”
I waved goodbye to him before jogging over to Magnus Cooper’s house to catch the breaking news. Journalists lined the street, but I managed to use my small stature to slip past people.
Magnus had just finished passing over a puppy to its grinning new owner. Reporters took turns asking Magnus questions. Some covered the adoption on live air. A few focused on the feel-good features story, while others emphasized the introduction of the groundbreaking technology used in PetTwin’s 4-D experience booths.
As Magnus answered, his eyes roamed the crowd before him. Spotting me nearby, he stopped in midsentence and waved me over.
“This is Mimi Lee,” he bellowed. “Owner of Hollywoof, the finest pet grooming studio in the Southland. Actually, she orchestrated the adoption of these puppies and handled the technology side of things.” Cameras clicked at me. Shocked at the sudden attention, I tried to grin and not look like the dazed zombie I felt.
After the hoopla had subsided, Magnus clapped me on the back. “Wonderful publicity event. Zel contacted the local TV stations. Said media coverage would help get the word out about my breeding business. And now maybe your business, too.”
My cell phone rang right then. I picked it up to hear the irritated voice of Detective Brown speaking. “Did I just see you on live news?”
“I have a free day, and I wanted to see the rescue dogs getting adopted.”
“You never rest, do you, Miss Lee?” But his voice held a note of admiration. “Well, if you’re done hamming it up for the cameras, I’d like to give you a ride back to Hollywoof so you can collect your car.”
Detective Brown picked me up from Magnus Cooper’s house in his unmarked car. On our way to Hollywoof, he summarized what had transpired in the police station the night before. Tammy had given the police her full cooperation, like she’d said she would, and had confessed to everything.
Relief flooded my body. Justice would be dealt, and my life could return to normal.
When we arrived at Hollywoof, Detective Brown placed a hand on my arm to stop me from getting out right away. “One moment of your time, Miss Lee.”
I froze. Was I in trouble again? But the detective handed me a small wrapped gift.
An enormous amount of tape kept the shiny paper on the box. “Let bygones be bygones. I’m sorry I pursued you relentlessly in the Nolan case.”
I nodded and ripped the sloppy wrapping. Opening the box revealed . . . my favorite mug, the one that said “Stay PAWsitive.” The detective had nestled it in soft tissue paper.
“Thanks for returning this, Detective.” I pulled the mug out, already dreaming of brewing a hot cup of tea. “Wait, what happened to the crack? There’s beautiful gold paint covering it.”
“Kintsugi,” he said. “I wrote down that term you mentioned when I searched your place.”
I’d first admired kintsugi at a local Asian museum. The art of ceramic repair revived broken pottery through lacquer and gold pigment. Detective Brown must have used his precious time, and possibly police contacts, to locate an artist skilled enough to create this ceramic transformation.
“Detective, I’m floored.” I fingered the gold line. “Thank you.”
He scratched behind his ear and nodded in the direction of my car. “Okay. You’re all set.”
I turned to go, and he spoke up again. “And, Miss Lee, try to stay out of trouble in the future.”