‘One of the Gradys almost ran you over? Thank God you didn’t have Millie with you.’
‘He didn’t mean …’ Glen Manning’s face was fire red as he glared at John. ‘Of course we’re glad you didn’t get run over.’
John stared at Glen, then at Mary. ‘Oh, I didn’t mean … it’s just that she sometimes tries to run ahead and …’
Mary laughed. ‘I know what you mean. I thought the same thing. Something else we’ve got to work on.’
Mary was perched on the stool in front of the cash register. Millie lay quietly on the floor beside her as the humans talked. She’d finished her extravagant greeting and seemed content to rest before she and Mary left for home.
‘I hope you don’t mind Millie visiting so often. I feel we’re imposing but she loves to come and I know she’s safe here.’
‘We don’t mind in the least. We love having her, and since you’re always helping us out when we need someone to watch the shop when we’re called away, it’s the least we can do.’ John wiggled his fingers in Millie’s direction. Since ear scratching wasn’t involved, she closed her eyes.
Glen didn’t seem to be paying attention to Millie or John. ‘I’ve seen that van come roaring out of the alley exit before. I think it’s Gabe driving but it’s hard to tell at a distance. They look alike and they both wear those huge cowboy hats, but Gabe seems to be the reckless one. Heath is all business, at least when he’s in the bank. He knows to the penny how much they have and watches it like a hawk. The way he looks over his accounts you’d think we made a habit of shorting him every month.’
‘Most folks are careful like that these days. Money doesn’t go as far as it used to.’ Mary didn’t add she was one of those who watched her money carefully. It would be easier as she learned to use the computer more efficiently.
Glen snorted. ‘He doesn’t need to be all that careful. That business of theirs is a lot more lucrative than I’d have ever imagined.’
‘How much is he worth?’ John’s eyes gleamed. He loved gossip and sensed he was about to hear something really interesting. He wasn’t.
‘I can’t tell you that. It’s privileged information, and besides, it’s none of your business. However …’
John practically licked his lips in anticipation of the next piece of news.
‘Heath is a good businessman and knows how to diversify his holdings. Financially, they’re as solid as anyone in this town.’ He gave John an almost wicked grin. ‘Yes, I’d say G and H Enterprises is doing just fine.’
Mary almost laughed. Glen got his point across and hadn’t really told them a thing. But all this didn’t solve the problem of Gabe – if it was Gabe – driving like a madman.
‘I suppose I could tell Dan but I don’t think he can do a thing about it unless he, or someone, sees him. I’ll tell him to keep an eye out.’
She slid off the stool, leaned down, snapped Millie’s leash on her harness and picked up her purse in preparation to leave.
Glen seemed to have other ideas. ‘Speaking of Dan, has he any leads as to who killed that man? The word is out he was a special agent for California’s major crime unit. Is that true?’
‘Uh, yes.’
‘Was he really here looking for jewel thieves?’
‘Put like that, it sounds sort of romantic, doesn’t it?’ John grinned at Mary as if they’d shared a joke.
Mary didn’t think it was romantic to get shot in the back and that Miller had been poking around her town made her more than worried, but she smiled back at John anyway. ‘Gossip didn’t fly around this town this fast when we had a party line. Where did you hear that?’
‘My dear Mary, it’s all over town.’ John’s smile got broader.
Glen’s frown got deeper. ‘Heidi, over at Harmony Ranch, was in the bank and she told me. Said they turned the murdered man’s – Miller, was that him? – room upside down. She had no idea what they were looking for but all they found was his laptop and some dirty underwear. And a dog bed and dishes.’
‘Oh, good. Does Dan know that? Ranger – that’s the dog – is staying with them.’
‘Dan was there so I guess so.’ Glen paused. ‘You know that man with Dan? The other state policeman? He’s been in town before. Do you know why?’
‘Why he was here? I have no idea. How do you know he was?’
‘He wanted to cash a check and the only branches we have are in San Louis Obispo county, so getting a check cashed was a bit of an ordeal. I finally got it done for him.’
‘Why didn’t he use his ATM? There’s a fee but they work anywhere.’ John looked a little confused, as if such a simple thing shouldn’t be a drama.
‘You can only get so much cash at any one time with your card. He wanted more. Why he couldn’t use it for whatever he wanted to buy, I don’t know. But we got it done. He got his cash and was on his way. When I saw him with Dan yesterday, I remembered him and wondered. I had no idea he was a policeman.’
Mary was a little breathless. First Milt said Miller was skulking around in the alley behind Lowell’s and now Glen said he’d wanted to get a large amount of cash but didn’t want to use his ATM card. What was all that about? What was he doing here, anyway? The whole thing was confusing. She glanced at the clock on the register and gasped. Mr Black would be pulling into her driveway any minute for her second lesson. She felt like the white rabbit as she called out ‘I’m late’ to John and Glen and, with Millie trotting rapidly beside her, made a dash for her car and home.