She stuttered. “Mrs. Dalton found out that the bracelet is missing.”
“Oh no. How did she react?”
Nicola covered her eyes with her palms. “She’s going to fire me if I don’t bring it back by tomorrow.”
“Did you tell her where it is?”
“No.” She removed her hands from her face. “I did admit to borrowing it, but I said I couldn’t locate it in my home.”
“I can’t believe Lauren realized so soon. Your boss told me she had such a massive collection she could barely keep track of it.”
“She wouldn’t have noticed, but”—Lauren pointed at Sterling’s neck—“she put that on him today and wanted to match. She told me to take Sterling so I could remember what the bracelet looked like and find it ASAP.” The dog wore a gold-plated collar with a bone pendant, a larger version of the bracelet.
“Uh-oh.”
Nicola looked at me, clasping her hands together. “Please. You said you would help me.”
So I had. Why had I made such a rash promise? How could I get the bracelet from Shirl? She didn’t have any weak points, unless . . . That angle just might work.
“Come on, everyone,” I said. “Time for a road trip.”
CHAPTER
twenty-seven
ON OUR WAY to Shirl’s house, Nicola sat shotgun, though she was too distraught to take over the requisite navigational duties. Marshmallow and Sterling sat in the rear, chatting with each other. My cat summarized their conversation, saying that Sterling felt a lot better, thanks to his acupuncturist.
When we got to the neighborhood, I noticed a flurry of activity at Russ Nolan’s house. Both the main door and the side gate stood wide open. A gardener’s pickup truck sat parked at the curb in front.
“Time to get that bracelet,” I said, unlocking the car doors.
Nicola wouldn’t budge. Instead, she stared out her passenger’s side window and gulped in deep breaths. “I don’t think I can do it.”
Should I wait out her sudden panic attack? But she seemed to get more frightened by the minute. “Fine,” I said. “Why don’t you stay here? Maybe it won’t take me too long.”
Nicola’s breathing slowed down to a normal rhythm. I rolled down the windows and then handed her the keys.
I took Marshmallow and Sterling out of the car. Marshmallow matched my stride, while I carried the tiny pup over to Shirl’s home and rang the doorbell.
I heard slow, halting steps from inside. Then the door swung open.
“Why are you here, Mimi?” Shirl’s gaze flickered over to the two animals before it settled back on me.
Without preamble, I said, “Could you give the bracelet back to that young woman, Nicola? She’s going to get fired from her job because of the missing jewelry.”
Shirl grimaced at me. “Why should I care? That girl has no respect for her elders. She caused such a ruckus the cops had to come.”
“You don’t have to return it for Nicola’s sake. But you might want to show kindness to the real owner of the bracelet.” I lifted up Sterling for Shirl to inspect, and the little dog cocked his head at her. “See this Chihuahua?”
“I admit that dog’s pretty cute, but what’s the puppy got to do with anything?”
“The owner’s bracelet matches his collar.” I pointed out the gold-plated loop around Sterling’s neck. “Right down to the whimsical bone pendant.”
She reached out and touched the collar, and Sterling licked her arm before she could pull away. Shirl smiled at him. “You know me well. I won’t do it for the girl. Or her boss. But for this little guy, I will.”
I waited for Shirl to slip the bracelet off her wrist, but she said, “Come inside for a moment.”
The musty scent of potpourri assaulted my nose as I edged into her house. As a precaution, I remained hovering near the entryway in case she decided to play a trick on me. Sterling and Marshmallow stayed by my side as I watched Shirl go over to her doily-covered table. I saw the bracelet lying there.
“The clasp is broken anyway,” Shirl said. “It wouldn’t have lasted long.”
Once she’d handed the jewelry over, I said, “Thanks for returning it. You’ve got a good heart.”
She gave a noncommittal grunt. “I stayed mum when the police investigated, all for nothing. I don’t even get to keep it anymore.”
I opened my palm, admiring the gold chain as it shimmered in the sunlight. “So that’s why you didn’t say anything to the police in the beginning. You thought they might make you give the bracelet back to its rightful owner.”
“Doctor’s order was to get an ID bracelet in case something happens to me, since I live alone. It was a pretty find, though I didn’t have time to get it engraved with my health conditions.”
I then remembered the phone message I’d overheard on my prior home visit, about her needing a medical bracelet. “And is this somehow related to why you threw me under the bus to the police? You gave them my old library slip as evidence.”
“Sorry,” Shirl said. “You noticed the bracelet too much, and I didn’t want it getting reported as a theft.”
“Since you’re returning the jewelry, can you retract your statement to Detective Brown? He’s really on my case and trying to tie me to Russ Nolan’s death.”
She nodded. “All right, I’ll try.”
I slipped the bracelet into the inner pocket of my purse. “One more thing. Did you really see another lady go over to Russ Nolan’s house after Nicola left?”
Her forehead crinkled. “I did see a female figure stop by the backyard later that night. She leaned over Russ, who was sitting in his chair like usual. But it could’ve been his date again.”
A leaf blower started whirring from next door. “What’s going on over there?” I asked. “I saw a pickup truck parked near Russ Nolan’s old house.”
“Extra work is being done on it. Think there’s a new renter on the way. I’ve seen several vans coming and going.”
“So someone is finally moving in?”
“Any day now,” Shirl said. “I haven’t met them, but the new neighbor can’t be worse than the previous two.”
I thanked Shirl and showed myself and the animals out. When we got closer to the Prius, I noticed something strange that stopped me in my tracks. The car windows were rolled down, but Nicola wasn’t in the vehicle.
Where could she have gone? Looking around the street, my eyes strayed to Russ Nolan’s house and the nearby storage unit. I’d seen the container the last time we were here. In fact, I’d hidden in its shadow to eavesdrop on the strident conversation between Shirl and Nicola. I should’ve known then that someone would be moving in soon.
Glancing at the open side gate of the house, I wondered if it might be my last chance to explore the crime scene. Besides, I didn’t want to stand around waiting for Nicola any longer. Who knew when she’d come back?
Marshmallow saw me gazing at the gate. “Way ahead of you, sister,” he said before sprinting through the side entry.
I smiled. We made a pretty solid detecting team.
Then, cradling Sterling in my arms, I ran after Marshmallow. In the yard, two startled gardeners stared at me. The one carrying a leaf blower turned it off. He’d already driven a pile of shriveled-up leaves to the back of the fence. The other set a huge bag of grass seed on the small concrete patio.
“Cat,” I said, tilting my head toward Marshmallow, who stood on the back fence like a tightrope walker.
The gardeners nodded and continued with their business. Pretending to be recovering from the sprint, I took in deep breaths while surveying the yard. It remained the same wasteland as when Josh and I had pretended to be renters. Remembering that he’d called me his girlfriend on this very plot of dull dirt, I stood dazed for a few moments.
Marshmallow meowed at me. As I moved toward him with unhurried s
teps, I noticed the gardener who’d carried the grass seed retrieve a till and start loosening the soil. Click. It hit something. I stopped walking toward the back fence and watched him.
After digging in the dirt, the gardener retrieved a buried tennis ball. He tossed it to the side. As he tilled his way to the center of the yard, his tool snagged on another item.
He added the new object to the discard pile. At that point, Sterling jumped out of my arms and rushed over to the unearthed treasures. I followed him as the puppy scurried over to the latest addition.
I examined the new item, a clear cylindrical object about an inch long. It looked like nothing short of a cheap pen cap.
Sterling starting acting frenzied. He crouched down closer, and his nose touched the plastic. Would he eat it? A horrific image of Sterling choking flashed through my mind. I snatched the pen cap away and pocketed it.
All of a sudden, a banging came from within the house, like the frantic opening and closing of doors. Was the renter inside even now? I waited for someone to bust me for being on their private property, but nobody appeared.
Best not to take any more chances, though. I walked over to Marshmallow, cupped my hands, and called out, “Come here, kitty.”
He didn’t budge from his spot on the fence until the gardener finished tilling all of the dirt. Then he leaped with an elegant bound and followed me over to Sterling, who remained near the junk pile. The puppy had started chewing on the ratty tennis ball.
I pulled it out of his mouth after some struggle. Sterling would definitely need a bath when we got back. As we piled out through the side gate, I heard a thump-thump sound from the front porch.
I spied an older gentleman watching me, Marshmallow, and Sterling exit the yard. Thankfully, he looked like a friendly grandpa, all laugh lines and a sunny smile. He wore a long-sleeved shirt and suspenders, and the cap perched on his silver hair completed his newsboy look.
“Quite a troop you have,” he said, pointing at us with his brass cane. That must have been what had made the thumping noise I’d heard.
“They’re a handful,” I said, my thumb jerking over to the backyard. “Natural explorers. And quick, too.”
“It’s my fault,” the man said. “I left everything open while I went to eat lunch. The yard gate for the gardeners, and the house to air out since the carpets just got steamed.”
He leaned on his cane. “I’m Henry, by the way. Do you live nearby?”
“A pleasure to meet you. My name’s Mimi,” I said. “But I’m just visiting.”
“A shame you’re not close by. I want to get to know my neighbors in these original California Craftsman homes.”
“Come again?” I peered at the run-down houses around me.
He pointed out the different architectural features. “See those beautiful gabled roofs? And the beams made from local redwood? These houses are a slice of history, and they’re the perfect compact size.” He eyed the taller house next door. “Well, most of them are small.”
“Shirl lives there. Actually, she might be around your age.” I paused. “Just don’t go over to borrow a cup of sugar.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” He gave me a wink. “I’m the kind of person who brings treats to everyone else when I move into a neighborhood.”
“Then the two of you just might get along.”
After I’d said goodbye to Henry, I peered at my car. I was relieved to see Nicola seated back on the passenger’s side.
I headed over and said, “Where have you been?”
“Oh, I went for a walk. Had to get some fresh air.”
Her cheeks did look flushed . . . But was the scarlet color from exercise?
CHAPTER
twenty-eight
BACK AT HOLLYWOOF, I reached into my purse and handed over the bracelet to Nicola. “Like I promised,” I told her.
She breathed a sigh of relief. “Now everything will work out perfectly.”
I left her dreaming about her movie star future as I hustled Sterling into the back for a much-needed bath. In the sink, he seemed to luxuriate in the suds.
What a difference acupuncture had made. He didn’t yelp at me or tremble in pain. Though his knee still didn’t slip into the exact correct position, I could massage him in the bath without a struggle.
I dried his fur to silky smooth and gave him a quick cuddle. “I’m so glad for you, Sterling.”
He himself did a circle dance of happiness on the grooming table. Then, sniffing at me, he moved closer and nudged my jeans. He started to yip and didn’t stop.
Not understanding what he wanted, I called for Marshmallow. My cat sauntered in with slow strides, not bothering to walk any faster. “What’s up, doc?”
“Sterling’s worked up about something.”
Marshmallow spoke with Sterling and then turned to stare at my pants. “There’s something in your pocket he wants to see.”
I checked my jeans and pulled out the plastic cap I’d confiscated. I’d forgotten I had stashed it in my pocket. Bending over to Sterling, I asked, “Do you know what this is, boy?”
Marshmallow translated for me, but Sterling didn’t have a clue.
“Why’s he so frantic, then?” I asked.
“He’s excited because, he said, whatever it is, it smells like Sparky.”
I walked back to Nicola still reflecting on Sterling’s strange comment. When she saw him, Nicola clapped her hands in delight. “He looks so handsome. You’ve really saved me, Mimi.”
I gave Nicola a perfunctory wave as she left. My fingers reached for the piece of plastic I’d pocketed. I felt its contours. It didn’t seem like a good toy for dogs. Where would Sparky even have gotten the thing? Well, I could solve the mystery by asking the little guy himself.
I called Magnus Cooper and asked if I could visit. To my surprise, he seemed excited to hear from me. “Mimi,” he said, “you won’t believe what happened after you groomed the puppies for the Eiffel Tower photo shoot. My sales tripled. That’s never happened before, and it’s all because of you. I meant to call and tell you, but we’ve been so busy catching up on the additional orders.”
“That’s wonderful.” Somebody out there did appreciate my work.
“Can you come and do it again? I’ll make sure to give you a piece of the financial pie.”
I checked the time. “How about after I close up shop tonight? And do you think it’d be possible for me to groom a specific dog, the littlest of Russ Nolan’s Chihuahuas?”
“Anything you want,” he said. “I’ll see you soon.”
* * *
• • •
When I went over to Magnus Cooper’s house, I noticed he’d left the front door unlocked. Marshmallow and I arrived to find Sparky sitting in the penned area.
Magnus stood with his back to me and spoke to the puppy. “Now, what scene should I set up for you?” He lifted his camera and appeared to frame the shot.
“Right behind you, Magnus,” I said. He turned, and I held up my supplies kit.
“Great. You can start grooming while I select a good backdrop. I’ll return soon with some props.”
Marshmallow watched while I worked—not that there was much for me to do. Sparky already looked so cute with his wide brown eyes and diminutive size. I did add some extra sheen to his coat with a brief coconut oil massage of his fur.
After making sure neither Magnus nor Zel was around, I showed Sparky the plastic object.
He cocked his head at me and barked twice.
“Sparky’s wondering how you got that,” Marshmallow translated.
The tiny Chihuahua nudged my hand with his nose and whimpered.
“It smells like his owner,” Marshmallow added. “And something else . . .”
I petted Sparky while he and Marshmallow hashed out the details. The two looked almost comica
l as they nodded and tilted their heads to listen to each other.
Marshmallow summarized for me. “Sparky found that weird object wedged behind Russ Nolan’s back in the camping chair. Wanting his master to wake up and play with him, Sparky buried the plastic toy in the yard. But when Sparky nudged Russ Nolan, the man never woke up. Then Sparky was called in from the yard, and he had to leave with the other dogs.”
Poor Sparky. He harbored love for his master, not realizing what terrible conditions he’d grown up in. He’d had no comparison . . . until coming to this new place.
All of a sudden, Marshmallow hissed. “Put it away, Mimi. Magnus is coming back.”
I tucked the cap into my pocket as Magnus returned with a blue backdrop. Fluffy clouds were painted on the canvas. I watched Magnus set up a floor fan and plug it in.
“Give me a hand with his costume,” he said. “Zel’s out tonight with a few friends, and I need your help.” What a one-eighty from his prior suspicious attitude. Before, Josh had been worried about me even stepping into this home, and now, Magnus welcomed me with open arms.
It took a serious collaborative effort for us to squeeze Sparky into a muscle-enhanced superhero outfit. Magnus positioned the dog at just the right spot so that when the fan blew, the breeze made the cape billow.
“Perfect,” I said.
Sparky looked the part of a superhero pup, and he’d acted like one in real life. He’d found something the police had missed. An item lodged in the crevice of Russ Nolan’s chair. Maybe a significant clue to the crime—and to the killer’s identity.
CHAPTER
twenty-nine
IN THE EARLY morning, I brought over a pink bakery box of doughnuts to the police station. An assorted mix of a dozen scrumptious flavors: sprinkled, jelly, chocolate, and more unique, delectable toppings, like salted caramel.
I’d expected the police station to be extra exciting. Maybe some flashing sirens and criminals being led around in handcuffs. Perhaps I’d come at a quiet hour.
Mimi Lee Gets a Clue Page 21