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I slipped behind my chair just as two ladies approached the display. “Hi!” I set the mini houses out for them to peruse and straightened out the table items as they looked at them. “Fun, isn’t it?”
“It is. I never knew I was interested in history until right this minute,” the younger of the two women commented. “Look at all the furnishings from the Madison to the Lincoln, all the way through to the Roosevelt’s.”
“I loved Dolley. The cakes were named after her, or so I was told growing up.” The other woman added. She appeared to be in her thirties, about my age.
“Are you two sisters?” I looked at them. “You two are so similar in looks.”
“We are.” She smiled. “Got a card? I’d like to see your store.”
“If you say, ‘Bully’, you’ll get a discount!” I handed them both a card.
“Thanks.”
They left, leaving me to my thoughts. I began the search for the name the owner of Pracna, but found him under a different last name. His full name was Paul Vasek, which fit the area since the first settlers came from the Slovakian countries. John Muir’s real name was Ed Parsons, which sounded more Scandinavian. Name change or different father? I wasn’t sure if the search brought me any closer to revealing either men’s biography. I clicked out of the site.
My next search was Annie Oakley, and I discovered her true name and origin. She lived near Look Out Mountain in Golden, Colorado, near the gravesite of Buffalo Bill. That could explain her interest in the Wild West Show. I didn’t find much about her, but I learned her name, Sarah Page. I wrote her name on the phone’s notepad for easy access, as well as Pracna’s owner’s name. I closed from the site, and let my mind drift.
I wondered about Max and if he’d be able to discover any information for me about the man. I took out my phone and sent him a question. Next, I turned my attention to the nearby line of hungry people. Wrangler Jean sure did one heck of a lot of business. I reached for my water bottle just as Aaron strode toward me.
“Hi hon.” My eyes met his. “I missed you. Are you working here?”
“Yep. Undercover.” He thrust his chest out. “Like my duds?”
“Of course.” My eyes trailed from his smile to his patriotic Tee-shirt down to his blue khaki camp- shorts. “Every bit.”
“You look perplexed. Let’s hear it.”
“Nothing, really, it’s just that....” I went on to tell him about the connection and then names of the two men in question.
“Ahh, huh.” Aaron nodded. “What else do you have to tell me?”
“Sunflower. She cried and was scared. Said something about someone watching and then she had to get in the queue for the dancers and the show. I also thought I saw the back of the man who threw the shoe at me, but didn’t find out who it was.” I shrugged. “Have you heard anything else about Gina?”
“It does seem a little more than suspicious, doesn’t it?” I watched as he crossed his arms and stared into space before looking back at me. “I’ll see what I can find out. I’ll let you know. No more questions to anyone. Got that?” He narrowed his eyes and bore down on me. “I mean it! No snooping, either. I don’t want any trouble.”
“Promise.” I watched him walk away as my heart pounded. Why didn’t Bambi attend the memorial? Had she not been told or purposely excluded? It made me curious.
The day flew past. Just when I thought about going for a short walk to stretch my legs, someone stopped by and asked enough questions I gave up on that idea. As I closed for the day, Aaron sent a message stating that he had a late shift for his regular police job. Sadly, I had to go home to an empty house again. I’d hoped that wouldn’t happen.
After packing and locking up the houses for the night, I headed toward the elevators. A crowd formed ahead of me, so I decided to walk across the street. I didn’t have to wait long for the light to change, and I walked across and entered the parking complex I chose to ignore the elevator because I could see my car from a distance.
As I opened my car door, I happened to notice Annie Oakley climb into the car behind me. I did recognize the car from previously, so I stared closer at the person through my rearview mirror. Why was her hair down and swept back with a bow? Why had she worn spiked heels and a flowered a dress? She’d certainly changed in a hurry because the final show had ended a half-hour before the public doors closed.
I waited as she backed from her spot, and then followed her out onto the main drag. The interstate entrance wasn’t far from the location, but, of course, I had to stop at every stoplight along the route. I entered the interstate and finally turned onto Main Street. It wasn’t until I’d stopped at the light near the former Grain Belt Brewery, that I was again, right behind Annie Oakley. Curiosity got the best of me. I didn’t want her to know that I followed, so I pulled into the other lane so a car could be between us. I was wondering where this tail would take me when she pulled around the back of Pracna and parked. I stopped at the end of the block and watched as she went inside.
If she was from Golden, Colorado, how did she know about this place? I really wanted to go inside to snoop but decided it was a bad decision. I drove a few more blocks until turning down my street and into my garage.
Aaron called the moment I stepped into the house. “I just walked in the house. Where are you?” I locked the door behind me and headed toward the refrigerator where I took out a bottle of soda and leftover spaghetti and meatballs to warm in the microwave.
“I’m working in the station for a while. Tim’s wrapping up a case, then we’ll go back out.”
“Have you found out anything about Gina?”
“The lab testing is being done. This all takes time, and there are new drugs on the street all the time.”
“Do me a favor?” I asked.“I told you no more asking questions.”“I haven’t. Please, just listen.” I glared straight ahead. “I followed Annie Oakley’s impersonator all the way to Pracna where Gina worked. Isn’t that odd?”
“No. Maybe she just knows the guy. Maybe she’s related.” I heard him sigh. “Aaron? Can you look the guy up for me, and her?”
“Liv. One of these days you’ll either get me in trouble, or you won’t be able to get yourself out of a mess and then land in the hospital with something serious.”
“Never mind,” I grouched, ready to disconnect. “Oh, okay. Give me the names.”I knew he sat poised with a pen and notepad in front of him. “Bill Smith and Sarah Page. I know she’s from Golden, Colorado. I believe that he’s related to Ed Parsons, the John Muir impersonator. See what you can find out please.”
“I will.” I heard him writing through the silence. “Love you.”
“You too, and thanks.” We disconnected. I went ahead and heated my dinner, carrying it out to the living room where I turned on the TV and found an old movie to watch. Something told me it wasn’t a coincidence that the movie, “Annie Oakley”, with Doris Day was the featured network movie. I ate, lost in thought, as the background sound filled the void.
My phone rang, and I answered it. “Grandma, I’m home.”
“You didn’t call, dear. I was worried.”
“Don’t be. I’m tired. I went to Gina’s memorial, then worked at the ‘X’. Max wondered if you’re working tomorrow, and I said you were. Right?”
“I’ll be there,” Grandma said. “By the way, I answered your note and circled that I don’t have chicken soup made, but will when I have the chance to spend time in the kitchen.”
“Thank you, Grandma, I’ve been so busy,” I said. “To your knowledge, did anyone pick up Alice Roosevelt’s purse or the Native American figurine? The jingle dancer.”
“Not that I’m aware of.”“Okay, Grandma.”“Good night.”We disconnected. My thoughts went back to the
purse. Had someone moved it, or was I imagining it? I couldn’t decide. I almost felt like going to the store and bringing the figurine home right then. I was tired, so I finished my meal and brought the dirty dishes to the kitchen and loaded the dishwasher.
In a few minutes, I was in and out of the shower, then jumping into bed.My husband’s snore woke me. The moonlight
streamed in through the window, inviting me. I got up and took a look out. The stars lit the sky and were a backdrop to the multi-colored northern lights. Yawning, I went back to bed, curling up beside Aaron.
When the alarm woke me at seven, I felt ready for the day. I dressed quietly in a lightweight sundress, pushed back my unruly hair with a band, and brushed my teeth. In the kitchen I poured coffee and made myself a slice of toast. When finished, I grabbed my bag and headed over to the Xcel Convention Center for the last time. I smiled as I left. It’d been a good week, albeit, a busy one. By the sounds of it and the number of folks dropping by my booth, I reckoned that my sales would increase.
In just a few minutes, I was inside the building with a fresh cup of coffee in hand and heading toward my booth. With so few people around, I took a moment to speak to the three gals in the First Lady booth.
“Good morning. Are you happy the show is over today?”
“Oh my yes,” Belle answered. “We’re taking a flight back this evening.”
“Yes, I’d like to spend another night and see your store, but it won’t be possible.” Ruby glanced at the other two women.
“Why not just change your reservations?” I asked. “We’ll come back another time.”“We can’t be gone that long. We all have families,” Alice replied. “We’ll keep in touch.”I nodded and went for my locked up minis, and then hurried to my booth. When the doors opened, my booth was ready for spectators to enjoy.
The morning sped by quickly and it was almost noon when my phone rang. It was Aaron. “Hi hon.”
“Liv, I’ve got news that you’ll want to hear.” I pictured him smiling.
“Well?” I held the phone tight against my ear.
“Gina was poisoned. The lab results came in late last night.”
“Oh my God,” I whispered, my eyes opened wide. “What took so long?”
“The drug isn’t well known in the U.S., and also, it’s almost impossible to trace.”
“What are you saying?”“That’s all I can tell you. I’ve got to run.”“That’s incredible,” I murmured, leaning back into my chair. My heart raced, and my thoughts were firing just as fast. I focused on the crowds and when that didn’t slow my thoughts, I stared at the line for Wrangler Jean’s. Finally, it subsided and I pulled my thoughts back to the present.
I thought over the past week. No one person stood out. Each person had a bothersome quirk, such as Harry and Sunflower. They definitely were hiding something, and Sunflower was scared. Was she scared of him? Both Ed Parsons and TR wished to see the Alice purse for unknown reasons. Who sneaked into Gina’s house? Why hasn’t it been cleaned out, and why hasn’t anyone come around? Why did Annie go into Pracna last night? I wondered if she knew how close I lived to it? My thoughts kept spinning, through to the end of the day.
Carefully I boxed up the minis and grabbed my purse. I’d hoped Aaron would help me with the chairs, and was just about to leave with a load of them when he walked toward me.
“Just in time,” I said. He reached over and took the padded folding chairs from home. “Thanks.” I picked up a box and followed him out the door. “I see you’re still on duty?”
“I have a few hours left. It’s my break,” he said. I followed him out. “Where’re you parked?”
“First level. It’s easy to find,” I said. “We’ll cross at the stoplight.”
As we stood, someone came up from behind and before I realized what was happening, pushed me into off the sidewalk and out into the traffic.