How to Fetch a Felon Page 6

  Jackson held his hand out. “May I?”

  Sadie handed him her phone. “Just scroll to the right. I took several.”

  He glanced at the photos. “You got good shots. How close were you?”

  She gasped. “If you’re asking if I was trespassing, I wasn’t. But I will say this, I think there may be someone camping out in the place. I heard rustling around when I was on the sidewalk.”

  “Mind if I text these to myself?”

  “Sure, go right ahead,” Sadie said, offering him a sugary smile sweet enough to give me a toothache.

  He swiped and tapped a few times and handed the phone back to her. “Thank you. And nobody’s accusing you of trespassing. I was only curious.”

  “Oh, okay. Well, at least I have your phone number now in my text messages,” she said. She twirled around and headed to her chair.

  Jackson leaned over. “I sent them and deleted my number.”

  I covered my mouth so only he could hear me. “But, won’t she be disappointed?”

  He smirked.

  Donny Thomas raised his hand. “Sadie, you think someone’s squatting in the vacant house?”

  She nodded. “Well, it sure sounded like someone was in there.”

  “Probably raccoons,” Mr. Peters said, nodding his head. “My hardware store backs up to the vacant house, and I’ve seen coons big as dogs back there gettin’ in the dumpster.”

  “It sounded enormous. I don’t think it was any kind of animal,” Sadie said, defending herself.

  “I’ll look this evening. I’m on duty,” Jackson said. He removed his small notebook and jotted down a few details.

  “Anything else?” I asked the group.

  Pop stood up. “I’d like to ask if anyone has seen Lloyd Madden around.”

  Somehow, I knew he’d get to Lloyd.

  “Why do you ask, Mr. Lamarr?” April asked, tucking her bobbed hair behind both ears.

  A concerned expression darkened my father’s face. “I think he’s stalking my daughter. My older daughter, Stoney.”

  Kit gasped. “Oh my goodness, do you think he’s the one leaving the Secret Santa gifts for her? I heard about them in town. It sounds terrifying!”

  “Pop, we need to wait and hear from the chief or Jackson before we assume anything.” I tried not to sound condescending. I respected my father, but he had a short fuse with Lloyd Madden. He had good reason to be skeptical of the guy, but not to accuse him until there was more evidence. If Pop continued his accusations, Lloyd being Stoney’s Secret Santa would be the talk of the town by morning.

  Pop shot me a look telling me I’d overstepped.

  “I mean no disrespect, Pop,” I said, shrinking in my chair.

  “Speaking of Madden,” Jackson said, saving me and addressing my father. “We have tried to reach him but haven’t been successful yet. We’re thinking maybe he left town.”

  “What makes you think he’s out of town?” Pop asked.

  “Well, the gallery is all closed up, and the mailbox at their house is full of unchecked mail,” Jackson said. “We didn’t get any prints off the bear, mittens, or rattles.”

  In case some of them hadn’t heard the news, I recalled the incidents of finding the creepy Secret Santa gifts for Stoney.

  “It’s so horrifying,” Sauren said, her eyes wide.

  Kit clutched her chest. “Well, if Lloyd Madden is anything like his wife, I’d be leery myself. What she did to Petunia, and then to Steely, will go down in Buckleville’s history.”

  “I don’t know what’s happened to this town.” Donny Thomas clicked his tongue. “We’ve had two murders in the past six months.”

  “And now Ziggy’s dead,” Mr. Peters said.

  “Yeah,” Gertie added.

  It surprised me the two of them were actually listening and not playing Words with Friends on their phones, a common occurrence with them at inappropriate times.

  “We’re still looking at Mr. Wood’s death as natural, at this point.” Jackson attempted to harness the pack and gain control before they went wild with accusations.

  “I heard he was mixed up in drugs,” Kit Fisher said.

  Gertie pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow in my direction. “Told ya.”

  “Well, I overheard Ziggy sold a bad car to a customer and refused to give the guy his money back,” Mr. Peters said.

  “Wasn’t there alcohol involved?” April asked.

  “A lot of alcohol,” Donny Thomas said.

  “Vivienne Peacock said Trudy told her he hung himself with a bungee cord,” Sadie said.

  “Nah, a bungee cord has too much give in it,” Mr. Peters said, shaking his head.

  “Y’all! Can we please try to focus on the facts here?” I said.

  Squeaky voice, Chiquita.

  “All right, folks. Steely’s right. We need to avoid rumors and hearsay. It’s our job to stick together and to the facts. Which is why this group is so important to the community,” Jackson said, standing up and making his way to the coffeepot. He poured himself a cup. “I believe it’s important we don’t get too worked up until we figure out what’s going on with the strange gifts left for Stoney. And, as far as Ziggy Wood’s death, we’re fairly certain he died from alcohol poisoning. We’ll know more when the autopsy results come back.”

  Kit Fisher scoffed. “How does someone die from drinking too much?”

  “Yeah?” Donny Thomas chimed in.

  “It happens,” Jackson said.

  “Look, we’re not being productive. I agree with Officer Jackson and Steely,” Daniel said, raising his steaming mug to Jackson and me. “Help gather the facts and report back to the department.”

  Jackson raised his cup back to Daniel and took his seat next to mine. “Someone’s been listening in class.”

  Jackson referred to the past couple of months of COW training with the police department.

  “You can count on me.” Daniel winked.

  I narrowed my eyes. “Teacher’s pet.”

  And he blew me a kiss.

  “Okay, anything else?” I glanced about the room.

  “What’re we gonna do about all these stray dogs running around?” Sauren asked.

  And this is how our meetings get off topic, I thought. Stray dogs weren’t the sort of thing the COW concerned themselves with, but this was her first meeting.

  “Are they causing trouble, Sauren?” I asked.

  “They’re constantly digging in the trashcans outside the studio, and the other day, two of them picked a fight with Lotus behind the building. I had to turn on the water hose just to break them up.” She wrinkled her perky, tiny nose. “One was a scruffy little mutt and the other a big lab mix like Lotus.”

  After another thirty minutes, it was time to bring the meeting to a close. “All right, I’ll call the city tomorrow. Maybe they can send someone out to look for the dogs. I bet Buckleville Rescue will help too,” I said, letting Jackson know this matter was none of his or the department’s concern. “Okay, if there’s nothing else, I’ll call this meeting to a close. Remember Citizens on the Watch, be vigilant, make observations, and report back.” The last part was our usual closing motto. “Until next week, my friends!”

  The members mingled for a few more minutes and slowly made their way out the door. Daniel bade us farewell and escaped out the back. Pop gathered Gertie and Mr. Peters and ushered them out for pickleball practice. Jackson hung around until everyone left. He approached the counter where I busied myself shutting down the computer and organizing the clutter.

  “So, I checked with some guys down at the station about this Kramer person,” he said, leaning his elbows on the wooden surface.

  I stared at him, studying his handsome face.

  “Steely, did you hear me?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, I’m admiring how sexy you look in your uniform. Sorry, it’s distracting. About the Kramer dude, you checked with the guys. What’d you find out?”

  “One, he’s no good. Two, he’s
a suspected dealer. Three, there’s a good chance Ziggy Wood owed him a large sum of money, probably something regarding drugs. And four—”

  “Holy cow, there’s more?”

  “If you’d let me talk, I was in the middle of telling you. And four, he’s been arrested twice for assaulting his live-in girlfriend.”

  “He sounds like a winner.”

  “Steely, I feel you’re not taking this seriously. The man is dangerous. I don’t want you on his radar. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, you don’t have to mansplain. I get it.” I bristled with defense.

  “Look, I’m not trying to be an ass. I’m trying to keep you safe,” he said, his dark eyes glowing under the lights.

  “Fine.” It wasn’t worth an argument. I knew he meant well.

  Cuff whined from his bed. Chiquita, I gotta pee. Can you let me out? He tried to stand, his tiny legs trembling.

  I rushed over and scooped him up in my arms. “Poor little guy. I need to take him out.” I called for Taffy.

  Jackson followed us outside the front door. I set Cuff down carefully on the sidewalk. He ambled over to the lamppost and lifted his leg.

  “What’s wrong with him?” Jackson asked.

  Taffy squatted next to Cuff’s puddle.

  “I don’t know. We have an appointment tomorrow for him. I’m worried.”

  Cuff padded back. Okay, I am done, Chiquita.

  No chasing birds or watering all the trees?

  I am too achy.

  I opened the door and let everyone inside, locking up behind us. Cuff went straight back to his bed and curled up. Taffy trotted over to him and licked his face.

  Jackson took my hand in his and pulled me close. “I’m serious about this Kramer character. Until we track him down and question him, I do not want you getting mixed up with him. Please promise me you will not go looking for Kramer.” Worried eyes met mine.

  “Okay. But will you let me know when you find him?”

  “That depends.”

  “On what?”

  “On whether you keep your promise to stay away from him.” He pecked me on the forehead, the nose, and the lips. He lingered at my mouth, his kiss soft. He pulled back. “I gotta head back to the station. Remember the white sedan I mentioned seen leaving the car lot?”

  “You mean the driver banging on the trailer door before you discovered Ziggy dead?”

  “Yeah. We’re bringing him in this evening. Just to see what kind of issue he may have had with Ziggy.”

  “Let me know how it turns out,” I said.

  “Will do. I’ll talk to you soon.” He snapped his fingers. “Let’s go, girl.”

  “She can stay if you need her to.”

  “Nah, I’ll drop her at the house before I head in. It looks like Cuff needs his rest. I love you,” he said and blew me a kiss.

  I caught it. “Love you, too.”

  I locked up behind him and switched on the string of Christmas lights in the front window and the front porch. I flipped off the overhead light, picked up Cuff, and checked the back door lock. Thankfully, Daniel had remembered to lock it behind him. We headed up the stairs to the apartment. Halfway up, my phone rang in my pocket. Pop’s house phone scrolled across the screen. I swiped to answer it, fear hitting me square in the guts.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, I wanted to call and tell you about my evening,” Stoney replied.

  She’d spent the evening learning how to crochet with Ms. Stella.

  “Sorry. I’m a little on edge with everything going on. How was your crochet lesson?” I flipped on the dining room light inside the apartment and sat at the table.

  Cuff hopped onto the sofa and settled down.

  “It was wonderful! Ms. Stella is such a sweet person. She came over, brought me supper, and we started on a baby blanket. We picked a soft teal, yellow, and mint green for the colors. I think those will be the colors of the baby’s room,” she said, her voice quiet and calm.

  “Sounds beautiful, Stoney. I love the color choices, and I can’t wait to see it!”

  “And Steely, try not to worry yourself over all of this stuff with me. I’m doing okay. Pop is doing enough worrying for both of us. Besides, you have your own life and business to concern yourself with. Okay?”

  Easy for her to say, I thought. How would she feel if the roles were reversed? If it was me being stalked, I bet she’d react the same way and make it her mission to help me.

  “All right. But, if you need anything, call me.”

  “Good night, Steely.”

  “Night.” I swiped the screen to disconnect the call and felt my stomach rumble.

  Kicking off my tennis shoes, I padded into the kitchen. I opened the refrigerator. Nothing but half and half, a head of lettuce, and a few apples. I pulled a package of ramen noodles out of the pantry and set water to boil.

  “Hey, buddy? You need to come eat dinner.” I poured kibble into Cuff’s bowl as he limped into the kitchen.

  I am not hungry, Chiquita.

  “I know, try to eat anyway.”

  After we both picked at our food, we piled up, and binge-watched Law and Order reruns until we dozed off on the couch.

  THE FOLLOWING DAY, Daniel and I were bustling around the shop, when Pop, Stoney, and Gertie arrived. Stoney and Gertie’s solemn expressions coupled with a grumpy look on Pop’s face informed me it’d been a rough morning already. I retrieved my reindeer antlers from the counter and slipped them on my head. Someone needed joy and cheer.

  “Good morning!” I said, shaking my antlers at them. “Who’s ready for a little Christmas spirit?”

  Gertie, wearing an emerald-green Christmas sweater embellished with snowflakes, performed the knife-cutting motion across her neck.

  Daniel breezed into the lobby, his antlers already in place. “Me!”

  Cuff followed, wearing a tiny pair of his own. Me too, Chiquita! He pranced around the room.

  “I need to have a word with my two daughters,” Pop barked, turning and facing the window. “Alone.”

  Ugh, I thought.

  Gertie rolled her eyes. “C’mon, Danny Boy, let’s go grab a coffee from Baker’s Bliss. Cuff, you’re so damn adorable, you come too!”

  And, before I could say anything, she reached into her purse, pulled out a dollar bill, and chucked it into her swear jar. She grabbed her antlers off the counter, stuck them on top of her silver head, and they were out the front door lickety-split.

  “Well, that was awkward,” I said, catching Stoney’s brow-raised glance.

  Pop whirled around with a fiery expression. If he were a dog, he’d raise his hackles.

  “I’ve got a bone to pick with you two.”

  Oh Lord, what now? I thought.

  Chapter 7

  “Ladies, for my peace of mind, I need you two to go to the range with me and practice shooting. Starting tomorrow. I’m installing cameras this morning, but this crazy business of the baby gifts and the peeping Tom is dangerous, and I need to know you’re both protecting yourself when I can’t be around.”

  His rapid-fire speech shot from his mouth like bullets. Pop peered over his wire rims, his head bouncing between me and Stoney.

  We’d both positioned ourselves behind the safety of the counter, perched on stools, and presented a united front.

  Stoney’s head immediately shook side to side. “I can’t. I won’t. Not while I’m pregnant, Pop. I’m sorry. I don’t think it’s a good idea for the baby.”

  Pop set his sights on me, his jaw clenching.

  I gulped.

  “Steely Sue?”

  “I agree with Stoney. Her shooting can’t be good for the baby, not this late in her pregnancy.” I clasped my palms together and set my folded hands on the table. “And we talked about this. About me. You know I don’t feel comfortable with the whole gun thing,” I said, my voice shaking. “I’m not trying to be a pain about it. I promise.”

  “Where is it?” he asked.


  “What?”

  “Your pistol,” Pop said, his nostrils flaring.

  Shame triggered my stomach to flip over. I hated disappointing my father.

  “In a box, in my closet.” I dropped my chin to my chest.

  Pop shook his head, ripped his keys from his jeans pocket, and marched out the front door. We watched in silence as he fumbled around inside the back seat, slammed the door, and strode back inside. He tossed a square white box on the counter in front of me.

  “This was on the back porch. I’m guessing since they parked a police unit outside all night, the maniac left it out back for your sister. Open it.”

  I lifted the top of the box off and set it on the counter, the tension so thick in the room, you’d have to saw through it. A card sat atop four tiny baby hats. I set them aside and read the card.

  On the 4th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, four baby hats, three baby rattles, two tiny mittens, and a teddy bear in an oak tree. Love, your Secret Santa

  “I’ve already stopped in and shown it to Chief Becker. No sense leaving it with them since they haven’t gotten prints from anything else.” He tossed his hands on his hips. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’ve gotta see a hardware man about purchasing home security cameras,” he said and left without another word.

  “If it wasn’t such a serious situation, I’d laugh,” I said, observing him trip on the sidewalk.

  He raised a fist to the heavens, jumped in his Jeep, and drove away.

  Stoney nudged my arm. “Remember when we were young, and he used to get so mad when we’d do something wrong? He’d yell and storm off like a two-year-old having a fit.”

  “Oh my gosh, yes! And then we’d die laughing at how silly he acted!”

  “He hasn’t changed, has he?” she asked.

  I shook my head. “Not one bit.”

  We cracked up laughing. We were still laughing and sharing memories when Gertie, Daniel, and Cuff, the three reindeers, strolled back into the shop.

  “What’s so funny?” Gertie asked, her antlers wiggling.

  “Too much to tell,” I said, hopping down from my stool. “But we’ve got a ton of work to do before the Cookie Crawl today. Let’s get busy!”