I find myself in the wilds of North Mississippi in a town called Mercy. Odd name for a town. Perhaps I will discover why it is called that during my visit here. Or perhaps not. The origin of the name is of no importance. It appears to be a quiet sort of place. One where I can take a bit of a rest from sleuthing activities.
Lily Gayle Lambert held up the beautifully enameled egg, admiring the gorgeous colors outlined in gold in the morning sunlight streaming in through her kitchen window. Her grandparents had purchased this egg in Paris fifty years ago. It wasn’t a Fabergé, but the style was a good copy.
It held so many fond memories for her from her childhood and beyond. Her grip tightened just a bit in unconscious protest with what she was about to do with the egg. She pushed the memories away. She and her cousin, Ben, who was also her only living relative, had agreed that since neither of them had children it would be nice to pass this egg along to a child in town to love and create their own happy memories.
She jerked in surprise, nearly dropping the egg, as knocking on the back door pulled her from her thoughts. She glanced up to see her best friend, Dixie, peering through the glass section in the upper part of the door.
Waving Dixie in, she carefully set the egg back on its three-legged stand. Dixie swerved to the kitchen counter, pulled a coffee filter out of the cabinet along with her favorite coffee and proceeded to set up the old-fashioned drip coffee maker.
“I don’t know why you don’t just go ahead and buy a Keurig,” she said as she slid into a chair at the kitchen table.
“I don’t drink coffee. Why would I buy a fancy coffee maker?” Lily Gayle responded.
“You can make tea in them too, you know.”
Lily Gayle rolled her eyes. “My favorite flavor of my favorite brand of tea does not come in those little pre-packaged pods.”
“Shows what you know.” Dixie gave her a superior look. “You can buy reusable plastic pods that you can put your precious tea into and make it in the Keurig.”
Lily Gayle shrugged. “You’re just annoyed that you have to wait for the drip coffee whenever you come over here.”
“You might be right about that,” Dixie answered as the sounds coming from the coffee maker indicated her coffee was now ready. She rose, pulled a coffee cup from a nearby cabinet, filled it, and returned to the table, as comfortable and familiar in this house as she was in her own. And no wonder. She’d been visiting it since before she could walk.
As she watched Dixie’s eyes close with the first sip, Lily Gayle resisted the urge to make a negative comment. She couldn’t fathom how her friend could drink that stuff at all, much less black.
Having reached some stage of personal nirvana, Dixie opened her eyes, reached out and gently touched the egg. “I feel like your granny is going to come into the room any minute and kill us for taking this thing off the mantle.” Her eyes got a faraway look. “Remember how we’d plot ways to just touch it for a second and she somehow always knew? I swear she must have been a witch.”
Lily Gayle laughed. “Not a witch. Just wise in the ways of young girls.”
Dixie’s fingers trailed over the raised gold work on the egg. “So, you’re really going to put it in the Easter egg hunt as the grand prize?”
Lily Gayle sighed. “Yes. I hate to let it go because of all the memories. But I’ll have those with or without the egg. Ben and I agreed that something so beautiful deserves a home with a new family and new memories.”
Dixie looked thoughtful.
A black furry head with pointy ears and bright green eyes popped up and peered over the edge of the table.
“Yikes!” Dixie exclaimed. “What’s that?”
Lily Gayle laughed. Trouble was eying the egg closely from the kitchen chair next to her. “He belongs to my friend Tammy Lynn who lives down in Wetumpka, Alabama. Tammy’s traveling and didn’t want to take Trouble on the road for an extended trip, so he came to Mercy to stay with me.”
Yeow, Trouble said.
“Do you see that?” she asked Dixie. “I do believe that cat understands everything we’re saying.” She reached over and stroked Trouble. “Handsome and smart. A winning combination.”
It seems this stay in the wilds of Mississippi may prove to be more enjoyable than previously anticipated. The biped called Lily Gayle has demonstrated a highly perceptive personality by noticing not only my handsomeness, but also my acute understanding of their language. I am utterly unable to understand why she keeps a feline that is possibly the silliest cat I have ever encountered. I cast a disdainful glance at said cat snoozing away in a nearby sun puddle completely oblivious to everything.
On Saturday morning, Lily Gayle wrapped the egg carefully in bubble wrap, placed it securely in her tote and headed off to church. She was meeting with Brother Ralph to discuss the egg and the egg hunt in general. The Saturday before Easter seemed a bit late to be planning to her, but Brother Ralph had assured her it would be plenty of time.
She’d never been involved in the planning of the annual egg hunt at the church before, so she’d taken him at his word. Her own participation consisted of bringing two dozen of her special Wicked Chickens Deviled Eggs for the dinner in the church kitchen following the Easter service. Between which the children of town whirled around the church property looking for the eggs hidden early in the morning by the planning committee.
The girls looked like exotic birds in their Easter dresses in all the colors of the rainbow. While the boys, stiff and uncomfortable in sports coats and button-down shirts, pretended to be above that sort of thing, but secretly milled around and managed to find some eggs themselves. Everyone turned out in their finest for Easter services.
The wheels of her red ’65 Mustang convertible crunched gravel as she pulled into the church parking lot. Brother Ralph poked his head out the door and motioned to her to come in.
“Glad to see you, Lily Gayle. There’s a lot of excitement about the special prize this year,” he called to her as she got out of her car.
She grabbed her tote, checking to make sure the egg still rested securely within, and walked to the church porch. “Hey, Brother Ralph. I’m happy to be bringing joy to someone for Easter this year.”
With a smile, he motioned her inside. “Let’s go back to my office where we can be comfortable while we talk.”
Lily Gayle walked quietly at the pastor’s side through the hushed church. Empty of its usual bustle of town folk, it almost felt strange to her. The strip of burgundy carpet up the middle aisle muffled their footsteps. The wooden benches on either side glowed with fresh polish. She caught the heavy scent of lemon furniture polish and, for a moment, was whisked back to her childhood home. Her mama had favored lemon polish.
They turned right at the carved lectern, walked across the front of the church. and entered a door at the side. Brother Ralph’s office held a big wooden desk in front of a small window, a leather executive chair and two visitor chairs. All sitting on a worn oriental style rug that had a path worn where feet had trod upon it for many years.
Lily Gayle took a seat and waited for Brother Ralph to circle the desk and settle in his own chair.
At the pastor’s expectant look, she removed the egg from her tote, placed it on the desk between them and carefully removed the bubble wrap. A stray beam of sunlight caught the goldwork of the egg, making it glow like magic. Brother Ralph reached out one finger and lightly touched the egg. Then, he reached into a desk drawer and brought out a beautifully embroidered velvet bag.
Blushing just a bit, he said, “I found this online. I thought it would be nice to put the egg in a fancy package to jazz it up a bit.”
“It’s beautiful,” Lily Gayle commented. “And a great idea.”
Quiet rustling and whispering caught Lily Gayle’s attention and before she could place what it was, Brother Ralph spoke.
“Who’s out there? Come on. Show yourself.”
A small face surrounded by blonde curls peeked around the door frame. When the little girl’s gaze landed on the egg sitting on the desk, her blue eyes went wide with wonder.
“What are you doing sneaking around out there, Sarah Jane Henderson?” Brother Ralph questioned.
The little girl’s cheeks flamed red.
“Come on. Come in here and explain yourself.”
The child reached back, wrestled with something out of sight for a moment, and then another little girl stepped around the door frame. Thick brown hair framed a chubby cheeked face with freckles and friendly brown eyes.
Brother Ralph made an annoyed sound. “You, too, Emily Anderson?”
The second child looked at her feet and scuffed worn tennis shoes on the rug.
“What am I going to do with the two of you?” Brother Ralph leaned back in his chair, eyeing the two girls. “I know your mamas taught you both better than to be spying on grown-ups.”
“Oh gosh, Brother Ralph!” exclaimed Sarah Jane. “Please don’t tell my mama. She’ll be so mad. And I can’t get in trouble again. I just got off restriction yesterday!”
Tears trembled on the young girls’ lashes and Lily Gayle shifted uncomfortably.
“Please, Brother Ralph. I have the most beautiful dress for Easter.”
Her partner in crime remained silent. No doubt hoping to escape notice.
Brother Ralph steepled his fingers and rested his chin on them. “What do you think I should do?”
Sarah Jane’s eyes rolled wildly. “I...I could...” She looked around the office as though seeking inspiration. “I could dust your office and sweep the floor for you,” she offered.
Brother Ralph remained silent.
“For a whole month,” Sarah Jane added, her eyes pleading.
“What about you, Emily?” Brother Ralph asked. “What do you think I should do about the two of you?”
Emily squeaked. Her mouth moved but nothing came out.
Before Lily Gayle could come to the girls’ defense, Brother Ralph leaned back and smiled.
“I will take your offer, Sarah Jane.” His eyes moved to the other girl. “And you will help her, Emily.”
Both girls nodded vigorously, obviously relieved that their conduct would not be reported.
“Go on with the two of you for now. I have a meeting with Ms. Lambert about the Easter egg hunt tomorrow.”
The girls stood rooted. “Is that the egg for the grand prize winner?” questioned Sarah Jane.
Lily Gayle hid a smile behind her hand as Brother Ralph frowned. That child was her own worst enemy. And reminded Lily Gayle of herself as a youngster.
“Yes, it is. Ms. Lambert has generously donated it to us for tomorrow.”
Sarah Jane looked at Lily Gayle. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my whole life.”
Emily nodded eagerly.
Both girls turned and left the office.
“Now, let’s get down to business.”
Just as Lily Gayle opened her mouth to comment on the two girls, the church secretary popped her head around the door frame.
Looking as though he could lose his temper at any moment, Brother Ralph motioned her into the room. “What is it, Mrs. Healey?”
The woman’s eyes were glued to the egg that still glistened on the desk.
“Mrs. Healey?” the pastor prompted.
“Oh. Yes.” Mrs. Healey took her eyes from the egg. “I just wanted to verify that the egg was here for tomorrow.” Her gaze shifted to it again. “And I see it is. So, I’ll leave you two to your discussion.”
Mrs. Healey backed from the room, looking at the egg the entire time.
Brother Ralph stood, went to the door, closed it and turned the lock.
“We’ll probably be the talk of the congregation because of the closed door, but otherwise we won’t be able to get a thing accomplished.”
Bright sunshine flooded through her bedroom windows as Lily Gayle dressed for the Easter Sunday service. She’d chosen a royal blue dress with a full skirt that made her feel feminine but was still appropriate for church. Nude wedges elongated her legs and made her look taller than she really was. With a final touch to her makeup and spritz of hairspray she deemed herself ready for the day.
As she turned away from the mirror, she spotted Trouble sitting regally in the upholstered chair she kept in the corner of her room.
“You don’t miss much, do you?” She asked.
Yeow. Trouble stretched luxuriously before jumping down from the chair and preceding her out of the room.
He went straight to the kitchen. Almost as though he knew she would head there. She gave a mental headshake. Impossible. Most likely he was hoping for some delicacy to eat.
Opening the refrigerator, she carefully removed the two dozen deviled eggs from the shelf where she’d placed them last night in their special carrier. Ready to be transported.
She picked up a small cooler she’d left on the counter overnight, pulled the ice tray from the freezer and dumped the ice into the cooler, placing the trays of eggs on top and snapping the lid securely shut.
Trouble gave her a thoughtful look as she walked to the front door. Elliot, her own cat, snoozed in the sun in the living room.
“Bye, Trouble. You boys be good while I’m gone. I’ll fix you a really special treat when I get home.”
Yeow! enunciated Trouble.
She could have sworn it was a cat cuss word. No doubt he was annoyed at the postponed treat. Smiling, she locked the door behind her, headed down the porch steps, got in the car and drove off.
She enjoyed the feel of the leather wrapped steering wheel beneath her fingers and the purr of the well-maintained engine. Nine years ago, after her husband had been killed in a traffic accident, she’d developed a deep-rooted fear of driving. Her beautiful vintage Mustang had sat in a storage building fifty miles away in Oxford, Mississippi waiting for her to get a grip on her fear. Last year she’d finally removed the car from storage and begun driving again.
As she circled the town square to head out to the country north of town, she admired the charming courthouse and locally owned stores that ringed the square. When she’d graduated from high school almost forty years ago, she’d been in a rush to leave. With no plans to come back. But, when tragedy had struck, she’d run back to the haven she’d known she’d find here.
Living in the house her grandparents had built and left to her in their will, running an online genealogical research service and an online store for reproduction clothing that catered to reenactors, she had plenty of money to live simply without worries. The fast-paced corporate life she’d thrived on in the past seemed like a distant memory.
The road out of town turned to gravel a couple of miles outside the city limits. She topped a hill, rounded a curve and there stood the church. Unlike yesterday, the parking lot was filled to the limit with cars. She parked beneath the branches of an ancient oak, barely off the road. Hoping no one would sideswipe her precious car, she hefted her tote to her shoulder and locked the door. She’d come back after the service to retrieve her deviled eggs, safe in their cooler for the time being.
Brother Ralph stood at the door greeting parishioners as they came up the concrete steps to the covered porch leading to the double church doors. On this beautiful spring day, the doors were propped open in welcome.
“Lily Gayle.” The pastor greeted her, encasing her hands in his own. “I’d begun to worry that something had prevented you from coming today.”
She grimaced. “My apologies. I’m running late, but I’d never let you down today.”
He smiled in return, motioning her through the doors. “I didn’t truly think you’d let me down.”
She followed him in, nodding in greeting to lifelong friends as she went. She waved a greeting to her best friend, Dixie, and her octogenarian friend, Miss Edna, and headed up the aisle to sit with them, but Mrs. Healey motioned to her to sit. She motioned to Dixie, sitting further toward the front of the church to indicate she intended to sit there, but Mrs. Healey shook her head and, again, motioned her to sit with her. Lily Gayle didn’t want to create a distraction so close to the start of the service, so she took the seat next to the church secretary.
“I’m so sorry about interrupting you and Brother Ralph yesterday afternoon,” Mrs. Healey whispered.
Lily Gayle patted the older woman’s hands. Good grief! Was this such a big deal that she needed to sit back here instead of up closer to the front with her best friend? “No worries, Mrs. Healey,” she whispered back.
“I admit I wanted to get a look at the egg before all the excitement today,” the other woman admitted. “Mrs. Grange told me your grandparents had bought it in Paris a long time ago and that it was incredibly beautiful.” Mrs. Healey’s eyes closed for a moment and reopened. “And it is. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I always wanted to go to Paris, but I reckon it’ll never happen for me now.”
Lily Gayle shifted in the pew, uncomfortable with the look on the secretary’s face. Before she could comment, Brother Ralph asked for everyone’s attention and the moment was lost.
Just as well, she thought to herself. What could she say that wouldn’t dash the woman’s longing? And it had been a longing look in those eyes. But the egg was the prize for the child who found the most colored eggs carefully hidden around the church property by the church members early this morning. Before prying young eyes could spy on them.
At the end of the traditional Easter service, the moment Brother Ralph made the announcement of the egg hunt, and the special prize for the winner, every child in the church bolted toward the front doors. Lily Gayle hid a smile at the frustrated look on the pastor’s face. He should have known asking for decorum and restraint from a bunch of children had been wasting his breath.
Once the aisle had cleared of excited children, the adults began making their way outside to watch the fun.
Lily Gayle waited on the porch for her friends to exit.
They came out together with Miss Edna right in the middle of complaining. “Land sakes,” she said. “Those children should have better manners. Someone could have gotten hurt in that stampede.”
Dixie’s eyes met Lily Gayle’s. “Now, Miss Edna. They’re just excited because of the special prize Lily Gayle is offering this year.”
“Hmph,” Miss Edna said, gripping the handrail and making her slow way down the steps. “I wished you’d consulted me before you decided to do such a harebrained thing, Lily Gayle.”
Lily Gayle hid a grimace behind her hand as she pretended to cough. She ought to be immune to the old woman’s digs and opinions by now. But, somehow, she’d never discovered the antidote to those.
“Ben and I decided it would be a good thing to do. Since neither of us have any children of our own, we’re the end of the line for our family. It’s time for the egg to create new memories with another family,” Lily Gayle replied in a calm voice, handing Miss Edna the cane she used to walk when outside the house.
Lily Gayle spotted Ben across the parking lot, near the cemetery. When he looked in her direction, she waved and motioned him to join them. He might as well be over here to help her with Miss Edna. The bright sunlight reflected off the aviator sunglasses on his face, so she couldn’t tell if he was glaring at her or not. But he ended his conversation with a young couple she didn’t recognize and made his way over to them. She took her own sunglasses out of her tote and put them on. Ahhh. Relief from the bright sunlight. As though in a chain reaction, Dixie put her sunglasses on, and Miss Edna removed a pair of huge, black glasses that looked like something someone on a motorcycle might wear to block the wind.
Miss Edna noticed Dixie and Lily Gayle staring. “They fit over my glasses and really block the sun. I’m too old to worry about how they look on me.”
“Lily Gayle. Dixie. Miss Edna.” Ben greeted each of them. “Fine day for the egg hunt. And for dinner on the grounds, too. I hope you brought your deviled eggs, Lily Gayle.”
“Of course,” she replied. “I got a dozen phone calls this past week from people making sure I was bringing them.” She laughed. “I don’t understand why everyone makes such a big deal out of them. But they’re pretty simple to make, so I don’t mind bringing them.”
Dixie snickered.
“What?” Lily Gayle asked.
“Look, hun. I love you to death, but everyone knows you can’t cook worth a darn. Your eggs are pretty good, and everyone wants to make sure you bring them so that you don’t bring something else that might put folks in the ER with food poisoning.”
Ben guffawed.
Before Lily Gayle could think of a suitably scathing reply, Mrs. Healey walked up with an older woman.
“Lily Gayle, this is Angela Grange. She’s the one I told you about that knew your grandparents and had seen the egg lots of times.”
With a vague sense of recognition, Lily Gayle took in the older woman. Very tall, at least six feet and stick thin with a nose that hooked a bit at the tip. Lily Gayle bet the woman would make a great witch at Halloween. She was also wearing those odd black sunglasses like the ones Miss Edna had on. Maybe they were de rigueur for the current elderly generation. Lily Gayle made a mental note to have Dixie smack her upside the head if she ever wore those herself.
She extended her hand. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Grange. I think I remember seeing you some time in the past, but I can’t put my finger on it.”
The other woman touched her fingers and dropped her hand. “You used to see me from time to time at your grandparent’s home when you were a small child.”
Letting her own hand fall back to her side, Lily Gayle wondered why the woman had even come over. Mrs. Healey didn’t leave her confused for long.
“I insisted Angela come over here and meet you now that you’re all grown up and back in town.”
Glancing at the tall, unsmiling woman standing across from her, Lily Gayle didn’t think Angela Grange had been very enthusiastic about the meeting.
A shrill whistle interrupted the awkward moment.
Children with bags and baskets stampeded to Brother Ralph in a kaleidoscope of color and laughter. Two little girls peeled off and came over to Lily Gayle.
“Look, Ms. Lambert!” exclaimed Sarah Jane Henderson. She swung a basket full of colored eggs so that Lily Gayle could see inside. “I think I may have won first place! I’m so excited!”
The little girl jumped up and down a bit, her pink gingham hairbow jostling in her hair. Emily Anderson, smiling wide, stood next to her friend. Emily sported a big white bow that contrasted beautifully with her dark hair.
“What about you, Emily?” Lily Gayle asked. “Did you find a lot of eggs?”
Emily swung her basket. “I found some. But I wasn’t trying for the grand prize. I know Sarah Jane wants it bad. So, I didn’t want to compete with her.”
“Sarah Jane! Emily!” called Brother Ralph. “Come on over here for the counting.”
The girls ran off giggling.
“I swear that Sarah Jane Henderson is a real little madam,” groused Dixie. “Emily better be careful or she’ll end up with Sarah Jane running her life.”
Miss Edna gave out a cackling laugh. “You’re a fine one to be talking, Dixie Newsom. Those little girls remind me of you and Lily Gayle when you were young. Lily Gayle was forever getting the two of you in trouble and you were always the one to explain your way out of it. Doesn’t seem to have done the two of you any harm over the years.”
Ben laughed and clapped them both on the shoulders. “She’s got the two of you pegged.”
“I don’t know why you’re acting so smug, Ben Carter.” Miss Edna interrupted Ben’s mirth. “You were quite the hellion yourself back then.”
A scream shattered the air. Heads swiveled looking for the source and Lily Gayle saw Ben reach for a gun that was not on his hip.
“Nooooooooooo!” came from the church porch and every adult present rushed toward the steps where Sarah Jane Henderson lay crumpled and crying as though her heart would break.
An hour later, sweaty and exhausted, her feet killing her despite the comfortable wedges she’d put on that morning, Lily Gayle sat with Brother Ralph and Ben in the church office.
Sarah Jane Henderson had indeed won the Easter egg hunt, but she had not gotten the antique egg grand prize. The egg, along with the offering from the morning service, had been taken from Brother Ralph’s desk at some point during the egg hunt.
Ben, as county sheriff, had interviewed everyone who was there, including the children to see if anyone had seen anything suspicious. But no one had. There’d been so much activity with so many people milling around that nothing seemed out of place. Lily Gayle had stood at his side the whole time taking notes for him. Ben hadn’t wanted to disturb any of his officers on Easter Sunday, so he’d let her help him. She had a good idea that he regretted it already.
“I feel like a total fool,” moaned Brother Ralph. “I should have locked that desk drawer.”
Ben leaned back in the visitor chair next to Lily Gayle. “Do you usually lock it?”
Brother Ralph ran a hand through his hair, pushing it into a mess. “No.”
“Well, then, why should you have done it today if it’s not your usual routine?” Ben asked.
Brother Ralph sighed. “I know. I know. But, today was different. I knew we had this egg hunt and then were going to have dinner on the grounds. And there are always people here for the Easter service who aren’t regular attenders. Not strangers, but still. I should have made sure everything was safe.”
“Brother Ralph,” Lily Gayle put in, “don’t beat yourself up. Ben and I will find the egg and the money, and everything will be fine.”
Ben cut his eyes at her when she included herself in the mission to find the missing items, but she ignored him.
“We live in a small town where everyone knows everyone. Why in the world would you think someone would steal from the church?”
“How much money was in the offering today? Since it’s a bigger attendance than usual I’m assuming there was quite a bit more in the baskets,” Ben said.
Brother Ralph looked away. “Yes. There was more. But as to the amount, I don’t know. I just shoved it all in the bank bag without counting it because of the activities we had planned. I usually go home right after services and take the money with me, count it, and make out the deposit slip so I can take the money to the bank on Monday morning.”
Ben sighed. “It doesn’t really matter, but it would have been helpful to have an idea. Cash is easy to spend. That’s the tough part about this. Whoever took it can spend it without any kind of worry.”
Brother Ralph looked sick. Lily Gayle’s heart went out to him.
Ben stood and stretched. “This isn’t helping us solve the theft. I’m going to walk a perimeter outside and see if I spot anything.” He turned to Lily Gayle. “And, since I know it’s useless to tell you to go home and let me handle this, I’m going to assign you an area to go over.”
Lily Gayle hid her grin. No point in rubbing his nose in it. He knew her well. If he hadn’t given her a part in this, she would definitely have been sneaking around looking for clues without him.
“Brother Ralph, you go on home. Try to relax and let us handle this.”
Brother Ralph looked like he was about to protest and Ben held up his hand. “I know you want to help, but you aren’t trained in investigative techniques. As much as it pains me to admit it, Lily Gayle is and can be a real help out there to me.”
Brother Ralph sighed and stood. “You’re right, Sheriff. I would be like a bull in a china shop out there and probably trample clues. I don’t know that I can get any rest, but I’ll go on home and get out of y’all’s way.”
They watched in silence as the man walked with slumped shoulders and dragging steps out of his office.
“Oh Lord, Ben. We’ve got to find that money and the egg soon. He’s going to waste away to nothing worrying about it. I just know it,” Lily Gayle moaned.
Ben caught her arm and pulled. “Let’s take a look around the office now and see what we can find. Then we’ll go outside and split up. I’ll take one side of the church and you take the other. If we don’t find anything, I’ll bring in Todd tomorrow to help with the case.”
Todd was Ben’s top deputy. Lily Gayle knew he’d work the case hard, but she sincerely hoped they’d find something now.
“Oh, Dixie!” Lily Gayle exclaimed. She had gotten home after a futile search of the church and the church grounds, collapsed into her favorite overstuffed chair, dialed her best friend and put her on speaker. “It would just about break your heart to see Brother Ralph so down. I thought he was going to cry at one point. I just cannot believe someone stole the offering money and the egg right there when everyone was at church. And no one saw a thing! That’s the most exasperating thing about it.”
“I wish Ben hadn’t insisted on me leaving. You know I wanted to stay there and help,” said Dixie in a frustrated tone.
“You did help. By getting Miss Edna out of there, and out of Ben’s hair. You know she was dying to get involved.”
Dixie laughed. “That’s true enough. She complained all the way home about how Ben knows she’s an experienced crime solver and she couldn’t understand why he insisted she go home right when a new case popped up.”
Toeing her wedges off, Lily Gayle slid further down into the comfort of her chair. The movement caused her dress to ride up her hips, but she was beyond caring. Besides, there was no one to see her anyway.
Except that darn cat.
He sat on the floor near her feet, eyes steady on her face, ears cocked. For all the world looking like he was taking in every word she said.
She looked away in an effort to signal the cat to leave her alone. That was the cherry on top of this awful day. Having a cat sitting there staring.
“So, you and Ben didn’t find anything?” Dixie interrupted her dark thoughts.
“Not one darn thing. It’s hard to believe someone got in there and out without leaving evidence. But we didn’t find anything that looked odd.” She sighed. Should she open a bottle of wine? Glancing at the time display on her phone, she decided against it. But she needed something to drink. Or maybe she just needed a distraction. Picking up the phone, she padded in bare feet to the kitchen at the back of the house. She had a pitcher of sweet tea in the refrigerator. That would do for now.
Laying the phone on the counter, she got a tall glass from the cabinet and poured tea. No ice. The tea was cold enough just as it was.
“Are you pouring something over there?” Dixie inquired in an arch tone.
“Not what you’re thinking,” she answered. “Although I’m tempted.” Picking up the phone and her tea, she moved to sit at the big kitchen table. Not as comfy as her chair in the living room.
“What’s the plan now?” Dixie asked. “Is Ben going to keep you on the case? You know Miss Edna will just die if she thinks you’re involved and she’s not.”
Lily Gayle sighed. “I think he’s going to try and nudge me out. As usual. I was pretty helpful today though.” She sipped her tea. “You’d think he’d know by now that trying to stop me from helping with cases is a waste of his time.”
“Maybe he enjoys the arguments.” Dixie put in. “You two have fought like cats and dogs your whole lives. Why should it be any different now? I don’t know how y’all’s mamas put up with it. And I remember your Granny Waddell threatening to knock your heads together if you didn’t act right.”
Lily Gayle laughed. “That’s the truth. They were all saints, I guess.” She noticed Trouble had followed her into the kitchen and now sat in the chair across from her, eyes level with the table as he gazed steadily at her.
“This cat is driving me nuts,” she told Dixie.
“Elliott?”
“No. Trouble,” Lily Gayle corrected.
“Oh. I forgot you were keeping him. I thought you liked him. Smart and handsome is what you said before.”
Lily Gayle made a shooing motion with her hand. Trouble squinted his eyes but didn’t move.
“That was before he started following me around the house watching me like a hawk. I think he’s taking in our entire conversation.”
Trouble’s ears twitched.
“I think you’re tired and need to get some rest,” Dixie responded. “Call me if you find out anything new. Otherwise I’ll see you Wednesday for your hair appointment.”
Lily Gayle sat at the table sipping her tea after the call. She mentally replayed everything she could remember from the day, trying to see some connection she’d missed earlier, but nothing clicked. At last, she pushed back from the table. Knowing she would get absolutely no sleep tonight, she came to a decision. She had to go back to the church and go over the grounds again.
Trouble jumped down from his chair and followed her out of the kitchen. He sat down at the foot of the stairs when she climbed up. Once in her bedroom, she changed into jeans and boots to protect her feet and legs from sticks and brambles in the woods. A long sleeve shirt to protect her arms completed her outfit.
I have been quite annoyed. Sitting on the windowsill with dark thoughts in my heart. Lily Gayle has been gone far longer than she implied upon leaving and I have missed my promised afternoon snack. When I see her arrive, I begin to marshal my thoughts and merge them with a plan of action to demonstrate my annoyance. However, when she emerges from her vehicle, I can sense that something is amiss by the expression on her face and general air of dejection. I decide to hold my vengeance and assess the situation. And, after listening to her conversation with her biped friend regarding activities at her church today, I immediately revise my mood. What she needs is an experienced detective of the four-legged variety. Namely me. Now I will formulate a plan by which I will assist her in solving this mystery.
As soon as she opened the front door, Trouble shot between her legs and ran to the car.
“Trouble!” Lily Gayle shouted. “You get right back to this house.” She glanced behind her to the cat bed by the fireplace. Her own cat, Elliott, snoozed comfortably. Like a good cat should, she thought. Clearly Tammy Lynn had spoiled her cat far too much.
Trouble sat next to the car, ignoring her continued commands that he come into the house. Frustrated, she closed the door, stomped down the steps, and headed for the rebellious cat. She did not have time to deal with this on top of trying to solve the current mystery.
As soon as she got close, Trouble slunk under the car. He squatted like a furry Buddha and calmly ignored her flailing hand trying to grab him.
Defeated, she tried to stand and realized that her knees locked up on her while she knelt in the gravel driveway. Fifty-seven-year-old women were not meant to be kneeling on the ground. She made it halfway up and found herself in a very unladylike half squat and couldn’t seem to rise any further.
As she began to wobble, she reached out and grabbed hold of the door handle, putting her weight on the chilly piece of chrome and silently praying it held until she got her legs under her. Slowly, oh so slowly, her legs straightened, and she released the handle.
Testing her weight, she found she could move easily. Thank goodness. She reckoned as long as she didn’t squat while she was out looking for clues, she’d be fine. Which left out peeing in the woods. Maybe she shouldn’t have drunk that big glass of tea. She’d never live it down if she got stuck with her pants down on church property.
“I’m regretting allowing you to stay with me,” she said to the cat still hiding under the car. “I can’t leave the house with you under there. I’m scared I’ll run over you. You are interfering with an official crime investigation with your shenanigans.”
Trouble strolled nonchalantly out from under the car on the side away from her. Dang it. This was still not working. She couldn’t just leave the cat out here. He was a stranger to the area. If he wandered off and something happened to him, she’d never forgive herself.
She walked around the car to the driver’s side. Trouble watched her closely, his body language telling her he was poised to run if she came closer to him. On the other hand, she rationalized, Elliott often wandered around out there and came to no harm.
Decision made, she opened the car door and, before she could even sit down, Trouble shot past her into the car. She made a grab for him, planning to put him in the house, but he scooted under the seat and glared at her with bright green eyes. She stared for a moment, then shrugged. To heck with it. She’d just lock him in the car when she got to the church.
As she drove along, Trouble emerged from hiding and made himself comfortable on the passenger seat.
“I swear, you are the most annoying cat I have ever met,” Lily Gayle commented.
Yeow!
“I don’t know why you feel that I’m insulting you. You are making a nuisance of yourself when I’m trying to solve a crime.” As she passed the courthouse, where the sheriff’s office was located in the basement, she noted Ben’s cruiser parked outside.
“My cousin, Ben, is the county sheriff,” she informed Trouble; who looked bored in response. “I hope he’s not looking out the window and seeing me drive by. If he is, he’ll be calling any minute wanting to know where I’m going. All suspicious-like.”
Trouble cocked his head and, if a cat could have, Lily Gayle would have sworn he was smirking.
A mile outside of town, she informed Trouble, “Well, I reckon he wasn’t looking out the window since my phone hasn’t rung yet. For once, luck is on my side.”
She parked close to the church, turning off her headlights. “Now look here,” she said to the cat. “I’m fixing to get out of the car and do some looking around for clues. I need you to sit right here and wait like a good kitty.”
She pulled the door latch as she watched Trouble. He sat calmly with his tail wrapped neatly around his feet. Maybe he’d understood what she said. Pushing the door open, she twisted in her seat to exit the car. And the cat sailed past her head, landing light as a feather in the gravel parking lot a few feet away.
“You are a complete menace,” she informed Trouble. “Do you understand me?” She slammed the car door. “I believe you do understand me. And you are just cantankerous. I’ve got business to take care of here and you better not get yourself in any kind of mess. Because, right now, I’m mad enough to leave your furry little butt out here all alone. Capisce?”
Yeow!
“Good. We have an understanding.”
She opened the trunk and took out the heavy-duty flashlight she kept there. It was mostly in case she had a breakdown after dark, but tonight it would be handy for searching the wooded area surrounding the church. Earlier today she and Ben had not gone beyond the church grounds and cemetery. Tonight, she intended to take the search further.
Pressing the on switch, she was relieved when the light came on. She hadn’t replaced the batteries lately. It would’ve been the cherry on top after every annoying thing that had already happened if the dang batteries were dead.
She turned to have one more conversation with Trouble only to discover he wasn’t there. Her heart accelerated, then she told herself to let it go for right now. If the cat wasn’t by the car when she was ready to leave, she’d look for him then. At the moment, she had other things to look for.
Aiming the light at the ground, she began carefully combing among the trees.
It appears Lily Gayle does not understand my prowess at detecting clues. After a quite harrowing time getting to the scene of the crime, I shall endeavor to prove my skill to her by finding a significant clue in the case. Having overheard her conversation with the biped called Dixie, I feel I am fully informed as to what has occurred. These woods will not prove an obstacle in my search.
Lily Gayle nearly screamed as she felt something grab at her pant leg in the dark woods. Heart pounding, she swallowed the scream and swung the flashlight to illuminate her feet. Trouble pawed at her jeans, hooking his claws in and pulling.
She stepped back, dislodging the cat. “You dang near gave me a heart attack, you furry little annoyance. Tammy sure named you right. You’re definitely trouble on four legs. Leave me be. I’m looking for clues.”
Yeow! Trouble said, moving forward to claw at her jeans again.
Lily Gayle sighed. “Are you trying to get me to follow you?”
Yeow!
She nodded. “Okay. But I’m warning you, it better not be some kind of dead animal that you want to show me.”
Trouble trotted off to the left. Training the light on his retreating rear, tail a black exclamation mark in the bright light, she followed.
As she crunched through dead leaves left over from winter, she began to question her sanity. Was she so desperate to find a clue that she was actually thinking this cat was leading her to something significant? Giving a mental shrug, she continued to follow Trouble. At least she felt like she was doing something positive.
Trouble eventually stopped at a small clearing in the trees.
Yeow! He pawed delicately at something on the ground.
Edging closer, she shone the light where Trouble indicated. There, lying half covered by leaves, was a pink gingham hairbow. Exactly like the one Sarah Jane Henderson had worn in her hair this morning. How had it gotten out here?
Reaching into her purse, she pulled out a pair of disposable gloves and a gallon size zip lock baggie. She kept them in her bag at all times in case she stumbled into a case or a clue. Laying the flashlight on the ground pointed at the hair bow, she pulled on the gloves and unzipped the baggie. She carefully lifted the bow and zipped it into the baggie.
Yeow! said Trouble, pawing at the ground a short distance away.
Puzzled, she used a finger to push aside leaves in the place Trouble indicated. A bank bag lay revealed in the glow from the flashlight. She picked it up. It didn’t seem to have been out there very long. The green canvas didn’t show signs of weather or dirt. Good grief! Could this be the bank bag Brother Ralph had been talking about this morning? The one he’d place the offering money into? She pulled another zip lock baggie from her purse and placed the bank bag in it.
“Good work, Trouble. I’m sorry I was mean to you earlier.”
Yeow!
“I don’t understand how Sarah Jane’s hair bow got here,” she told the cat. “You’ll never convince me in a million years that that child stole the money and the egg.”
Trouble tilted his head as though questioning her statement.
“I know. I know. You heard me talking to Dixie about Sarah Jane. I admit she’s a bit adventurous and high spirited. But I’ll never believe she’s a thief. There has to be some kind of reasonable explanation for these two things being out here so close to each other.”
Realizing she hadn’t seen Sarah Jane after her breakdown about the missing egg, Lily Gayle felt a shiver go down her spine. Had the child been out looking for the stolen egg and come across the thief? Pulling her phone from her pocket, she dialed Enid Henderson.
“Enid? It’s Lily Gayle. I was just checking up on Sarah Jane. Is she recovering from the egg being stolen this morning?
“Lily Gayle, I’m so glad you called. I was just trying to decide if I should call you.”
“What’s happened?” Lily Gayle’s heart rate accelerated.
“It’s Sarah Jane. She has the egg.”
“She stole it?”
“No. No. She claims someone gave it to her in the woods behind the church.”
Lily Gayle glanced at the two zip lock baggies. This did not look good for Sarah Jane.
“I caught her with it in her bedroom a few minutes ago. She didn’t realize I’d opened the door.” Enid sounded upset.
“Do you mind if I come by and talk to Sarah Jane tonight?” Lily Gayle asked.
“It’s a bit late and tomorrow’s a school day,” Enid hedged.
“I won’t take long. I promise.” As silence stretched, Lily Gayle added, “This way we might not have to bring Ben into it.”
“Okay,” Enid finally said. “It’s not that I don’t want her to talk to you. I know she has to give an explanation and I’d rather her talk to you than Ben. I think it might be too upsetting for her if the sheriff came out here and questioned her.”
“I’ll be there shortly. And I promise to take it easy on her.”
Lily Gayle disconnected the call and looked around. Trouble was waiting for her a few feet away. At least she wasn’t going to have to chase him all over creation tonight. She headed to the car and Trouble walked beside her.
Lily Gayle pulled up in the Henderson’s driveway and turned to Trouble. “You’re going to have to wait out here. I know you think you’re a professional detective. And I admit you helped me this evening, but I can’t take you in the Henderson’s house. She’s allergic to cats.”
Trouble seemed to understand, but she kept a close eye on him as she exited the car. He sat in the passenger seat looking annoyed but made no move to exit the car.
Well, this is a fine thank you for my work this evening. Allergic, indeed. Me thinks the lady doth protest too much, as the Bard would say. However, I feel confident that the child did not steal anything and am content to wait comfortably here and get the details when Lily Gayle returns.
Enid Henderson answered Lily Gayle’s knock. The expression on her face said she regretted agreeing to this visit but couldn’t quite bring herself to say so. Chalk one up to Southern manners.
They walked to the living room where a big screen tv mounted on the wall murmured in the background and lamps shed subdued lighting next to a couch and recliner. “Evan’s at work so it’s just Sarah Jane and me tonight,” Enid said.
Sarah Jane looked up from the tv and blushed as her eyes met Lily Gayle’s. “I promise I didn’t steal the egg, Ms. Lambert. You have to believe me.”
Lily Gayle sat on the couch next to the young girl, noticing the egg was tucked safely between the youngster and the side of the couch. “I don’t think you did, Sarah Jane. But I found something of yours out in the woods behind the church tonight. I need you to tell me how it got out there.” She pulled the zip lock baggie with the hair bow from her purse.
Sarah Jane’s eyes widened.
“This is yours, right? It’s the one you were wearing at the Easter service this morning.”
Sarah Jane nodded. Enid made a shocked sound and stood, hand to mouth.
“Where did you say you found that?” she asked.
Lily Gayle transferred her gaze to Enid. “In the woods behind the church.” No need to mention that Trouble had actually been the one to find the hair bow. Or that a bank bag had been on the ground nearby.
“In the woods behind the church,” Lily Gayle repeated.
Enid turned on her daughter in a fury. “Sarah Jane Henderson. What were you thinking sneaking off into the woods by yourself? We don’t know who stole that money and that egg. You could have been kidnapped or killed.”
Sarah Jane refused to meet her mother’s eyes. “I just wanted to help find the egg.” She looked up, tears swimming. “The egg is mine. I found the most hidden eggs and I won it. So, it’s mine.” She slid off the couch, egg clutched in her hand, and ran from the room. A door slammed a moment later.
Enid fast walked in the direction her rebellious daughter had taken. “Sarah Jane Henderson. You open this door this minute. I will not tolerate this kind of behavior. I know you’ve had a rough day, but that does not excuse rudeness. You get yourself right back on the couch and tell Ms. Lambert everything you know about that egg.”
Silence.
A doorknob rattled.
“Sarah Jane! I know you hear me. You get yourself out here right this minute.”
After a few minutes, Lily Gayle heard the squeak of a door opening and scuffling footsteps coming toward her.
Sarah Jane stood in front of her with a mulish expression on her face. Lily Gayle bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling at the expression she’d seen on her own face quite often as a child.
“I left the egg in my room.” Sarah Jane announced. “It’s mine and I’m keeping it.”
Lily Gayle had to bite harder to keep her expression stern. If only the egg were the only concern here.
“Yes. The egg is yours, honey. I’m not going to take it away from you permanently.”
Sarah Jane’s eyes narrowed to a squint.
“But I do have to take it with me so the sheriff can fingerprint it and try to catch the criminal.”
“Sarah Jane,” Enid said.
The girl turned to look at her mother.
“Go get the egg and give it to Ms. Lambert. She’s told you she won’t keep it.”
Sarah Jane moved with slow steps out of the room.
“I swear. Sometimes I don’t know what I’m going to do with that girl. She’s hardheaded as a mule.”
Lily Gayle smiled. “It’s nice to see a girl with some spirit. She reminds me of myself at that age. No one could tell me anything. My mama was a lot like you. She despaired of me ever becoming a lady.” Lily Gayle laughed. “I guess I missed the mark on the lady part, but I don’t think I’ve turned out too badly.”
Enid smiled in return. They both looked up as Sarah Jane stepped back into the room, the egg cradled in her hands. She handed it slowly to Lily Gayle.
“I promise I’ll take good care of it and make sure the sheriff doesn’t hurt it when he’s checking for fingerprints. The sheriff is my cousin. Did you know that?”
The girl shook her head.
“Well, he is. And that means I can be there the whole time while he’s working on this and make sure it’s safe.”
Sarah Jane sat next to her on the couch. “You promise?”
“Cross my heart.” Lily Gayle used her fingers to match the words. “Now. Why don’t you tell me how you came to find the egg?”
Sarah Jane settled against the back of the couch, legs dangling. “I wanted to find the egg because it’s mine.” She hesitated for a moment, and, when no one commented, she went on. “I knew you and the sheriff were looking for clues inside the church and in the cemetery and the parking lot. So later, after we got home and mama was busy, I snuck out of the house and walked back to the church.”
Enid drew in a breath. “Why it’s three miles to the church from here.”
Lily Gayle gave her a slight shake of the head. Enid could take care of disciplinary issues after the story.
“Go on,” Lily Gayle urged the little girl. “What happened when you got to the church?”
Sarah Jane’s face took on a serious expression. “I tried to think what I would do if I stole something and didn’t want anyone to know I did. There were lots of people around at church, so it would have to be hidden in a place where no one could see.” She glanced at her mother and went on. “I decided if I was the thief, I’d bury my treasure in the woods and come back later when everyone was gone and dig it up.”
“That’s some very smart thinking, Sarah Jane.” Lily Gayle gently encouraged her.
The girl smiled. “So, anyway, I walked into the woods looking for something that might be a good place to hide a treasure. Then I saw someone digging in the leaves and knew I’d been right. I marched right up to the person and told them to hand over my egg. I didn’t care about the money. That’s not mine. And I knew I could tell the sheriff what I saw, and he could get the money back for Brother Ralph.”
“What did the person look like? Was it a man or a woman?”
“I don’t know,” said Sarah Jane.
“You don’t know?” Lily Gayle questioned, puzzled by the answer.
“Nope. Whoever it was had on an outfit like grandpa used to wear when he was working on cars. It’s one piece and zips up the front. And also gloves and a ski mask.”
Lily Gayle leaned back, flummoxed. The only witness to the identity of the perpetrator couldn’t say if it had been a man or a woman. Not good.
“Was the person tall or short? Fat or thin?” She tried.
Sarah Jane thought for a moment. “Taller than you and mama, maybe as tall as my daddy. And skinny. Definitely skinny.”
That was better than nothing, but it could be any number of people in town. “What about shoes? Did you notice them?”
Sarah Jane closed her eyes, then scrunched up her nose. “They were black.” She said in a confident tone. “Black old lady shoes.”
“Black old lady shoes?” Lily Gayle questioned. “What made you say old lady shoes?”
Sarah Jane looked thoughtful. “They looked like the shoes my grandma used to wear because she had feet problems and those were comfortable.”
Hm. That was a good piece of information. Would a man be likely to wear shoes that could be mistaken for old lady shoes?
“What else happened? What did the person say to you?”
“Whoever it was didn’t say anything to me. When the person saw me, they raised a finger to their lips in the shushing sign. You know.” She demonstrated holding her index finger to her own lips.
Lily Gayle nodded. “Then what?”
“Then the person showed me the egg. I nodded and the person put the egg on the ground and then put something else in the pocket of their outfit and walked away. Whatever it was looked red, but I bet it was the money. Then, when the person was far enough away, I ran over, grabbed my egg, and came home.”
The girl fell silent.
“That’s all? Nothing else you can remember about the person?” inquired Lily Gayle.
Sarah Jane shook her head.
She hugged the girl. “Thank you, Sarah Jane. You’ve been a big help.”
Enid stood, startling them. “That’s it then. Off to bed with you. You have school in the morning.”
Sarah Jane got her mulish look but went quietly enough.
“Thank you for letting me talk to her,” Lily Gayle said to Enid. “I’ll pass along everything to Ben.” She patted her tote. “And I’ll bring the egg back as soon as it’s been fingerprinted.”
“I could care less if I ever see that thing again,” Enid replied.
On the ride home, Lily Gayle filled Trouble in on everything that had been said in the house. She felt a bit foolish talking to a cat. But every time she looked over, Trouble sat at attention, head cocked as though he was taking in every word. Besides, it helped her to organize her own thoughts to talk out loud.
“So now I’m trying to figure out who’s tall and skinny and wears those shoes Sarah Jane noticed. At this point I’m thinking a woman. But I suppose a man could wear those shoes too.”
Her mind spun off in another direction. How big were the shoes? Why hadn’t she thought to ask Sarah Jane that question? If the shoes had been really big, then maybe it had been a man. But, if a woman was really tall, she’d probably wear a pretty big shoe.
Yeow, Trouble said from the passenger seat.
She looked over and saw the cat had put one paw on her tote bag.
“Hey. Careful with the claws. That’s Italian leather.”
Ignoring her, the cat hooked a paw over the top of the bag and pulled it open, then stuck his head inside. He pulled his head back out and looked at her.
Somehow, she knew what he was asking.
“Yes. The egg is in there. I persuaded Sarah Jane to let me take it to the sheriff to see if any fingerprints are on it that we can use to solve the crime.”
Trouble seemed satisfied and curled up on the passenger seat, tucking his head under one paw.
She turned into her driveway, headlights sweeping across the lawn. She stepped hard on the brake as something large and dark was illuminated. Trouble rolled into the floorboard, yowling the whole time. She sat still in the car; the headlights trained on the shape. It looked like a body wearing black. It didn’t move.
She rolled down the window and shouted. “Hey! Get off my lawn!”
Trouble climbed up on the passenger seat giving her an offended look. She didn’t have time to sooth him right now.
Whatever was on the lawn still didn’t move. Convinced it was a person, she stayed in the car. It could be someone playing possum. And her running days were long behind her. That didn’t mean she had any intention of just driving off into the night, though. Slipping her cell phone out of her pocket, she called her cousin, Ben.
“What kind of trouble are you in?” Ben asked the minute the call connected.
“What makes you think I’m in trouble?” she asked, offended.
“It’s after dark. You’re usually relaxing in your club chair with hot tea and a fuzzy throw about now. So, you calling me right now means something has gone wrong.”
She couldn’t argue with his logic. Dang it. He knew her well.
“As a matter of fact, something has gone wrong. I’m just getting home from questioning Sarah Jane Henderson about where she found the antique Easter egg.”
“What!” he shouted.
She held the phone away from her ear and hit the speaker option. No point in having him blow her eardrums out. And, this way, Trouble could hear both sides of the conversation.
“How did you know she’d found the egg?” inquired Ben.
“Can we discuss all of that later?” she asked. “Right now, I’m sitting in my driveway with my headlights trained on something in my yard. I think it’s a person. I don’t know if they’re unconscious or dead. I hollered and the body didn’t move.”
“Are you sure it’s a body?” asked Ben.
“Pretty sure. I can’t say positively unless I get closer.”
“Don’t do that,” Ben said quickly. “Stay in the car with the doors locked. I’m on my way.”
While she waited for Ben to arrive, Lily Gayle found a handkerchief, wrapped her hand in it to avoid smudging any evidence and took the antique egg from her purse. Examining it in the dim light from the dash, she didn’t see any apparent damage. Trouble eased over and sniffed the egg thoroughly.
“Do you think you could smell out the person who handled it before Sarah Jane?” she asked him.
His look said he thought she might be a fool. She wasn’t sure if that was because he could, or he couldn’t do it. From the way he usually acted though, she’d put her money on could.
I am quite insulted that this woman would ask me such a question. As though I’m one of those horrid blood hound dogs. However, I must admit, I am quite good at sniffing out things. And I actually could locate the person who handled the antique egg. Should the opportunity arise I shall certainly make use of my exquisite sense of smell to apprehend the criminal.
Headlights raked across the lawn from behind, then settled in her rear-view mirror effectively blinding her. With a quiet curse, she adjusted the mirror toward the roof of the car, then waited a few minutes for her vision to adjust.
When it did, she saw Ben cautiously approaching the body in her yard, flashlight shining, gun drawn. You couldn’t be too careful even in a small town like this one.
“Show me your hands!” Ben shouted.
No movement.
“Person on the lawn. Show me your hands!”
No movement.
Trouble and Lily Gayle looked at each other. In silent agreement, she opened the car door and both of them slipped quietly out.
Trouble, with his black fur, blended easily into the murky light. Lily Gayle stood out a bit more, but there was still no movement from the body on the lawn, so she ventured closer. Ben turned his head slightly and gave her a look that said to stay back. But when had she ever let Ben tell her what to do?
Ben eased closer and knelt. When there was still no movement, Lily Gayle eased up beside him. On the ground lay Angela Grange wearing a dark coverall and black old lady shoes.
Ben reached over and felt her neck, then shook his head. “No pulse.”
He glanced up at Lily Gayle. “Do you know her?”
She nodded. “I met her at church this morning. Mrs. Healey brought her over to speak to me, but she didn’t seem very friendly. She claimed she was a good friend of our grandparents. And I vaguely remember someone like her from when we were kids.”
He stood. “I’ll call Doc Johnson to come on over and declare it official and take her to the morgue.”
Trouble padded up on silent feet and Ben swore. “Where did that cat come from?”
“He’s the one I told you I’m keeping for my friend, Tammy Lynn from Wetumpka, Alabama. His name is Trouble.”
“What’s he doing wandering around out here?”
Lily Gayle laughed. “Believe it or not, he’s been out investigating with me. He’s the one who found Sarah Jane Henderson’s hair bow in the woods behind the church.”
Trouble sniffed the body and arched his back. He looked up at Lily Gayle and said, Yeow!
“What’s that all about?” Ben asked.
Lily Gayle squatted next to the cat. “Does she smell like someone who handled the egg?”
Ben snorted. “You’ve got to be kidding me. The cat is a detective?”
Lily Gayle ignored him. Trouble touched the body with one paw. Yeow!
“He says she touched the egg.”
“Right.”
“I’m serious. This is one smart cat.”
Trouble circled the body, sniffing and looking. Then he paused near one outstretched hand. Yeow! he said and pawed the ground near the lifeless hand.
Lily Gayle duck walked over to the spot. “Ben! Look. There’s something scratched into the dirt right here.”
Ben came closer and shone his flashlight on the spot. The word Clara was scratched into a bare spot on the lawn.
“Does that mean anything to you?” Ben asked Lily Gayle.
She shook her head. She couldn’t think of anyone she knew named Clara. “I’m going to give Dixie a call. She knows just about every woman around because most of them come to her shop to get their hair done.”
When Dixie answered the phone, she asked her friend about anyone in town, or the county, named Clara. With a smile she disconnected the call a minute later.
“Dixie says that the church secretary’s first name is Clara.”
Ben frowned. “Is that the only Clara that Dixie knows?”
“Yep.”
Another set of headlights lit up the yard and they saw that Doc Johnson had arrived. Explaining the situation, they left him to his work.
“I’m going to go over to Clara Healey’s and see what information she may have.” He eyed her and sighed. “You might as well ride with me since I know you’ll just follow me if I tell you to stay here.”
“Good idea.” Lily Gayle strolled to his cruiser with Trouble at her heels.
“The cat isn’t invited,” Ben said from behind her.
She opened the car door and Trouble jumped in. “If you think you can make him stay, you’re welcome to give it a try. My advice is to give in to the inevitable, save yourself some time and frustration, and go with the flow.”
Ben turned into a driveway next to a mailbox with HEALEY painted in faded black letters.
“What do you know about her?” Ben asked Lily Gayle.
“Clearly I don’t know her well at all. I didn’t even know her first name. She’s just Mrs. Healey the church secretary. I think she’s a widow.”
“That’s it?”
She sighed. “Yes. I wonder if anyone in town knows her well? Oh. Wait. I do know she always wanted to go to Paris.”
Ben glanced over, his face washed green in the dashboard lights. “How do you know that?”
“She busted in on Brother Ralph and me when we were meeting about the egg and the hunt in his office.” She paused. “That was Saturday. The day before yesterday.”
“Did you get any kind of odd vibe from her?” Ben inquired.
“Not really. I just thought it was sad that she clearly fell in love with that antique egg on sight and that she’d never had a chance to go to Paris.”
They walked to the front door of an older ranch style house with Trouble trailing along behind them.
“I don’t think Mrs. Healey is going to want that cat in her house,” Ben commented.
Lily Gayle pressed the doorbell. “Well, I’m pretty sure he means to come in. He’s pretty sneaky. She may not even notice him.”
The inner door opened to reveal Clara Healey with her hair in rollers and wearing sweats. Not something Lily Gayle would have associated with the church secretary.
She spoke to them through the security door. “What can I do for you, Sheriff?”
“I have some questions for you about Angela Grange. I know you were with her at church this morning and I’m hoping you can provide me with information about any plans for the day she might have shared with you.”
Mrs. Healey shook her head. “There’s not anything I can tell you, Sheriff. We’re not close friends. Just acquaintances, really.”
“Maybe you can let us in, and we can all talk together. Maybe something you think isn’t important will turn out to be.”
Slowly Mrs. Healey reached forward and unlocked the security door. As Ben opened it, Lily Gayle noticed Trouble slip quietly inside. Mrs. Healey never looked down. She hid a smile.
The doorway opened directly into the living room and they seated themselves on the couch while Mrs. Healey sat in a recliner.
“I’m sure I don’t have any information for you, Sheriff. I saw her in church today and she hasn’t been in attendance in quite a while. So, as the church secretary, I took it on myself to make sure she felt welcome.” She glanced at Lily Gayle. “And she made it a point to tell me that she used to be great friends with Ms. Lambert’s grandparents, so I introduced them. I guess they’re your grandparents too since y’all are cousins.”
“You’re correct, Mrs. Healey. Lily Gayle and I are cousins, so we do share grandparents. I don’t remember the woman myself. But Lily Gayle says she has some vague memories from childhood. I guess boys don’t remember things like that as much.”
The other woman visibly relaxed.
“That’s nice that you have each other. I don’t have anyone local myself. My husband was from here but not me. Since he passed a few years ago, I don’t have any family to count on.”
From the corner of her eye, Lily Gayle saw Trouble slink along the wall and disappear behind the recliner. A soft scrabbling sound came next.
“What’s that?” Mrs. Healey jumped up and looked at her chair.
Trouble’s rear end came into view. He appeared to be struggling with something.
Mrs. Healey screamed. “What is that animal and how did it get in my house?”
Lily Gayle leaped from the couch as Mrs. Healey’s foot swung toward Trouble. Diving to the floor, she scooped the cat into her arms just as a foot connected with her rib cage.
“Oof!” she muttered.
She looked at Trouble only to see the strings of a red velvet bag hanging from the cat’s mouth. Gently, she scooped up the bag. It was much heavier than she anticipated. It must have taken all of Trouble’s strength to drag it out and hold onto it.
Mrs. Healey began screaming. “That’s mine! You can’t have it. I went to a lot of trouble to get that.”
Ben grabbed the woman’s flailing arms and secured them behind her back in cuffs. “Clara Healey, you’re under arrest on suspicion of murder.”
“Suspicion!” Clara Healey spat. “You may as well know I did it. That weak woman was useless. She let that kid see her and then gave up the antique egg I wanted. That was my part of the heist. She was going to keep the money and I was going to get the egg. She ran up a big debt gambling online. She came to talk to Brother Ralph about it but he wasn’t there and she told me. When I decided I had to have that egg, I knew exactly who to involve so I could keep my own hands clean.” Mrs. Healey panted. “But when she gave away my egg and I told her what was what, she decided she was going to give the money to Ms. Lambert to give to you. I begged her not to be such a fool, but she wouldn’t listen. So, I watched her close and I tracked her all the way to Ms. Lambert’s house and begged her again to just split the money. But no! She wouldn’t. So, what else could I do?”
Lily Gayle opened the red velvet bag. She realized it was the one that Brother Ralph had bought to put the antique egg into for safe keeping. The bag now held a large amount of cash in small bills. She showed it to Ben.
He escorted Mrs. Healey to the cruiser and put her in the back. Lily Gayle and Trouble rode up front back to her house. Trouble seemed very pleased with himself.
I have solved the crime. As well I should, being the expert detective that I am. This visit has turned out to be far more interesting that I thought it would be when Tammy left me here. I am pleased. I might even come back here to stay another time. It appears there are quite a few criminals about in Mercy, Mississippi.