by Emmie Lyn
“For you to get dressed?”
I looked down at my cartoon jammies and felt my cheeks heat up. While sitting here with Hitch, eating and bickering like… well, brother and sister, I grudgingly admitted to myself that I’d completely forgotten I’d jumped out of bed and rushed downstairs half-dressed.
“Feed the kittens while I make myself presentable?” I said.
“I never said you weren’t presentable, Sunshine.” And there it was again, that mischievous grin that melted my heart.
I was in deep trouble.
24
I managed to shower and get dressed in ten minutes flat. Sure, I didn’t take any time for make-up—over rated in my opinion—or a fancy hairdo—a quick twist of my wet hair in a ponytail worked just fine—before I took the stairs down two at a time. At the bottom, Tilly’s voice came from the kitchen.
“What’s the plan for today, Hitch?”
Please, please, please, figure out a way to keep her from coming with us. I sent the strongest silent plea to Hitch that I could manage. I loved Tilly with all my heart, but sometimes her enthusiasm caused a layer of problems I didn’t need.
“We’re planning a surprise drop-in on Gina,” he said. I heard liquid pouring.
I walked into the kitchen and gave Tilly my usual gushy greeting, then turned to Hitch. “Don’t we have to pick up supplies for the Kitty Castle, Hitch? We want to get there before the crowds.” I stood behind Tilly, gesturing with raised eyebrows, making cutting motions with my hands, and shaking my head. Please, Hitch, don’t let her tag along.
“That sounds like fun,” she said and accepted the mug of coffee he had just offered her. “You can snoop around Gina’s yard while Sunny and I distract her. Should we bring along some donuts or something?”
My shoulders sagged. I was no match against these two when they got started on a mission. I’d have to make the best of it. “Yes, we’ll bring donuts and Jasper. She’ll be a good excuse for that walk around outside.”
Tilly put her half-finished mug on my counter. “I’d best go get changed. Can’t be seen in my jogging outfit if we’re going visiting.”
With Tilly out of earshot, I unleased my frustration. “Why are we taking her? You know she’s a loose cannon at best. Do we want Gina to clam up and kick us out when Tilly asks some personal question like… oh, I don’t know… where’d you hide the bonsai tree? We need a little subtley on this operation.”
Hitch waved away my concerns. “I admit that Tilly can be in your face, but sometimes her pointed questions get good results. Besides,” Hitch said, “she doesn’t take no for an answer. You know that better than I do. If she’s determined to come with us, she’ll come regardless. Here’s what we’ll do.”
I sighed knowing Hitch was right. Again. I loved Tilly, but sometimes she drove me crazy.
Hitch folded his arms on the table and explained his plan. “You go to Gina’s door, and I’ll wait in the car with Tilly and Jasper. Tell her you’re just checking on her after what happened yesterday. You’re making sure she’s okay and hope nothing else has happened. How does that sound?”
“Fine, except Tilly won’t stay in the car.”
“We’ll play that by ear. I might have to lock her in.” He grinned. “Are you ready?”
“I guess so.” I glanced at the kittens eating, pleased that Hitch had fed them. “See you two later,” I said wishing I had more time to spend with them. Once we had the Kitty Castle finished, maybe they’d prefer to live there.
Hitch, Jasper, and I waited next to his truck for Tilly. It wasn’t long before she arrived, decked out in a mid-calf length tie-dyed skirt and white gauzy blouse. She had a bright pink scarf tied around her gray hair. The transformation was... well, a Tilly-like imposter.
She twirled around with her arms out to the side, sending her skirt twisting around her legs. “What do you think? Friendly but not too formal? I don’t want to scare that poor girl after what she’s been through. I call this my grandma’s-come-for-a- visit look.”
I whispered to Hitch. “She’s never going to agree to wait with you in the truck after she put her visiting skirt on.”
“Looks perfect, Tilly.” Hitch opened the door of his truck and offered his hand. “Hop in.”
“I have to sit in the back?”
“With Jasper,” he said making it sound like the best seat in the vehicle. “You can have the front on the way back.”
“No thanks. I’ll take my own car and follow you. Here.” She handed me a walkie talkie. “So, we can coordinate our strategy.”
I should have known she’d add another dimension to our plan, but I took it without arguing.
We finally managed to leave while the queen followed us, dictating specific instructions for the type of donuts I should get.
Her voice came through the walkie talkie over some background hissing. “Nothing too unusual. Maybe a couple honey-glazed, a couple chocolate-glazed, and maybe a couple powdered. That way, there’s something for everyone.”
I scowled at Hitch, not that any of this was his fault, and picked up my walkie talkie. “Those are all your favorites, Tilly.”
“Well, no one likes cinnamon except you, so I guess you could get one of those.”
Hitch tried his hardest not to laugh. Without much luck. “Maybe Gina doesn’t even like donuts. What then?” he asked.
“I heard that, Hitch. We’ll eat them all,” Tilly said without missing a beat. And, I didn’t doubt that she would.
Donuts were the least of our problems at this point. Finding answers topped my list. After a quick stop for the donuts, Hitch drove to Gina’s house. She lived on a quiet, tree-lined street outside of town.
Her driveway was empty when we pulled up.
“Well, what do we do now?” Tilly asked, pulling to a stop behind Hitch’s truck and still talking through the walkie talkie.
“Wait in your car,” I said. “I’ll knock just in case she’s here.”
I walked to the front door, glancing in the front windows for any sign of activity. Just as I was about to knock, Tilly pushed me out of the way and did the honors.
“I didn’t get all dressed up to sit in my car, Sunny.”
I glanced at Hitch who shrugged his shoulders as if to say, well, I tried.
The door opened.
“Hello?” a tiny voice greeted us.
“Good morning,” Tilly said in her best cheerful tone, but I could tell she was caught a little by surprise, too. “Is Gina home?”
“Are you Gina’s friend? Please come in. I was getting a little lonely here all by myself.”
I hated leaving Hitch in the truck wondering what was going on, but I couldn’t very well wave him in now. This poor woman might think it was some kind of home invasion.
We went inside and she closed the door.
“I’m Mildred and this is Sunny,” Tilly said. Great, she used her incognito name but outed me.
“I’m Charlotte,” our hostess said.
Harry’s wife? I almost fell over.
When I looked at Tilly, her eyes bugged wide open. I’m positive the tiniest of a breeze would have toppled her.
What was going on?
25
Charlotte led us into a comfy living room. “Would you like tea?” she asked, giving us a friendly smile.
“Oh,” I handed her the bag from A Donut A Day shop. “We brought this, but if Gina’s not here… ” I left my thought unfinished hoping Charlotte would insist that we stay anyway.
She did. “Don’t be silly. Sit down, and I’ll make the tea.”
Tilly, having recovered from her initial shock, said, “We’ll help you.” She took Charlotte’s elbow, chatting as if they were long lost friends as we headed to the kitchen.
This would be interesting. Tilly, who could barely boil water helping in someone else’s kitchen.
“Where’s that young girl who lives here?” she asked as I tagged along letting Tilly take charge.
Charlotte turne
d toward Tilly with her brow wrinkled in confusion. “I’m not sure, dear.”
Charlotte stopped as if she couldn’t walk and think at the same time. “She left a little while ago in a big rush and said she’d be right back.” She laughed. “My memory isn’t what it used to be. To be honest, after living in that other place, I don’t like to be alone anymore so I’m glad you’re here.”
Now, I felt like a heel. This kind woman was just lonely for company, and we were digging for information.
“Have you lived here with Gina for long?” Tilly asked.
“Oh, no. I’m a little confused about everything, but for some reason I couldn’t stay in that other place anymore. I liked it there. We had games and painting, but that young girl said I had to go with her.”
Charlotte put the tea kettle on the stove but forgot to turn on the burner. Maybe she had a bit of dementia after all, but nothing like Conrad had led me to believe.
Her hair was nicely combed, and she wore a stylish dress with a cardigan sweater buttoned all the way to her neck, and she had on sensible shoes. Glasses hung from a chain around her neck. She was, at least from my first impression, a friendly grandmother, happy for a bit of company.
“You sit down, and I’ll fix the tea,” Tilly said, gently leading Charlotte to one of the kitchen chairs. She turned on the burner and asked, “Which cupboard has the cups?”
“I’m not sure, dear. Just hunt around. I don’t mind.”
“Is Gina at work?” I asked.
“Gina? I don’t think that’s where she said she was going.” Charlotte looked off into space like she was trying to recall something important, like who the heck was Gina.
Tilly handed me a plate for the donuts as she bumbled her way from cupboard to cupboard finding cups, tea, spoons, and sugar. I was impressed. She managed better in this stranger’s kitchen than she did in her own. Maybe it was the role-playing that she was so good at.
Just as the kettle whistled, the front door opened.
My heart jumped into my throat. How would we talk our way out of this awkward situation?
“Grandma? Are you making tea? I told you not to turn the stove on while I was gone.” Gina walked into the kitchen and stopped dead in her tracks. “What’s going on?” she said when she saw us.
Her face told me nothing except for registering shock.
“We have company, dear,” Charlotte said beaming with delight. “They brought donuts.”
Tilly hugged Gina and kissed her on both cheeks. “It’s so good to see you and your Charlotte is adorable. We didn’t know she’s your grandmother. Would you like some tea, too?”
“Okay.” Gina looked at me, but it felt more like she’d like to shoot me than share a cup of tea with us. “We’ll be right back.” She pulled on my arm. “I want to show you something outside.”
This was getting weirder and weirder but I followed her. What choice did I have?
“We’ll save the cinnamon donut for you, Sunny. Which one do you want, Charlotte?” Tilly asked before Gina slammed the door closed behind us.
“What are you doing here?” she hissed at me. “You have no right to barge in on my grandmother.”
“We came to see you, and she invited us in. She’s lonely,” I said. It was the truth even if it was a lame excuse.
“Your grandmother was Harry’s wife?” I blurted out.
“Was is right. That horrible man had her locked up in that nursing home and wouldn’t even let me visit.”
Tears streamed down Gina’s cheek.
“He taunted me and had me banned from the premises. Until he was dead. Then he couldn’t stop me because I’m her next of kin.”
I stroked her arm. “Why would he do that?”
Gina sniffled and wiped away the tears with the sleeve of her shirt. “He convinced everyone that he was a wonderful, caring husband and only wanted the best for her. But, you know what he did?”
I shook my head.
“He tried to steal her blind. All the money for that posh apartment in New York? That was hers. He sold all her heirlooms. She told me that a while ago. All that was left was her bonsai tree and orchid collection.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. What a twisted mess. Poor Gina. Poor Charlotte.
“Did you kill Harry?” I blurted out without thinking. Who in their right mind would admit to murder?
“Believe me, I would have if I’d had the opportunity.” She sagged against her front door. “I haven’t dared to say this out loud… but I’m glad someone killed that man.” Her eyes begged for compassion, or something. “I need your help.”
I couldn’t say no.
Hitch opened the door of the truck and Jasper bounded up to us, wagging her tail.
“Gina!” Hitch said. I didn’t hear much compassion in that one word. “I found Harry’s bonsai tree in the trunk of your car. It doesn’t belong to you.”
“You’re right.” She stood tall and stared at Hitch and held up her phone. “I could have you arrested for trespassing,” she threatened.
She had a good point, but I didn’t think either one of them would be heading to the police any time soon. This was a show down if I’d ever seen one.
Gina sighed and looked away. “It belongs to Charlotte, my grandmother. She’s inside.”
Hitch, normally cool, calm, and collected, blinked, then blinked again. “Harry’s wife is your grandmother?”
“Yes. And I’m trying to save what’s left of her possessions from that thief that you worked for.”
I could tell something was going through Hitch’s mind from the way he chewed on his bottom lip. Probably the same things I was trying to sort out for myself. If Harry and Conrad had been in cahoots to fake the theft of the bonsai tree in order to scam the insurance company, they were really stealing from Harry’s wife.
If Gina’s story was true.
The big question still remained: who killed Harry?
26
“Let’s go inside,” Hitch said, taking Gina firmly by the elbow.
That sounded like a good idea to me. “But what about the bonsai tree?” I asked. “If you broke into Gina’s trunk so easily, someone else might, too.”
“Conrad.” Gina said, her voice filled with accusation. “All I heard while I was working at Maxine’s house was ‘Let’s do this or let’s do that with the bonsai tree.’ They couldn’t agree about anything. That’s why I think Conrad took it and put it in my car. That way, he could convince Maxine to just sell the tree when he stole it back from me.”
Hitch scanned up and down the street. “Have you seen him around here?”
“I haven’t noticed, but I’ve been busy moving Grandma and getting her settled in here. If he did come around, I didn’t see him.”
“It’s only a matter of time, Hitch. Maybe you should stay out here with Jasper, just in case he does come around and that way, Jasper won’t scare Charlotte.” I added. My big gentle giant could be intimidating.
“Oh, that’s okay. Bring Jasper in. Grandma loves dogs and it will be good therapy for her.” Gina opened the door. Jasper must have sensed she was needed inside. She wormed her way through the door and made a beeline to the voices in the kitchen.
“Gina,” Hitch said, “you need to make a decision about the bonsai tree. You should just come clean with the police and explain the whole history before you get arrested for stealing it. Turn the table on Maxine and Conrad and put them in the hot seat. Can you prove it belongs to Charlotte?”
I guessed Gina didn’t handle stress very well from the harried look on her face and the hesitation in her voice. “I don’t know,” she said. “It’s probably grandma’s word against theirs, and who’s going to believe an old lady with a failing memory? I told Sunny I need help. I know I can’t keep it safe from Maxine or Conrad or someone else who might discover its value. That’s why I left it with you yesterday. But I took it back once I decided to sell it. I want grandma to have enough money to live comfortably for the rest of he
r life.”
“Does she know your plan?”
She shook her head, her drab hair swinging around her shoulders like a veil. “I’m not sure she’ll understand what’s going on. I had a lot of trouble convincing her to move out yesterday. She said she didn’t want to leave, but I had no choice. Harry hadn’t paid her bills for the past month, and I don’t have the money to keep her there. Selling the bonsai tree will give her options I can’t provide.”
This was a tough situation for Gina. She wanted to do the right thing, but was it right to take that choice away from Charlotte?
“Listen,” Hitch put his hand on her shoulder. I had a flash of how comforting that gesture could be. “Try not to worry. First, you need to find a safe hiding place for the plant. It only takes two quick twists to pop your trunk open. Besides, driving around with it in your trunk is only asking for broken branches and then the value plummets.”
Gina’s eyes filled with worry. “I hadn’t even thought about that. I’ll bring it inside and put it upstairs. Grandma can’t do the stairs, so I won’t have to worry about her seeing it and getting upset.”
Hitch walked toward Gina’s car. “I’ll get it. You can keep your grandmother occupied while I take it upstairs. Later, we can discuss possible names of people who might want to buy it. While I was working for Harry, I heard him talk about some people who’d love to own it.”
“What about Maxine?” Gina asked. “I know she wants it. I was all set to ask her before Conrad ruined everything by stealing it and putting it in my car.” She dropped her head into her hands in despair. “I think he killed Harry, and I’m afraid he’ll try to kill me next.”
I wondered if Gina was right. Conrad was involved in every step of that bonsai tree’s movements. What was he up to?
I pulled her inside the house. “Hurry up,” I said to Hitch, and he showed off his speed and agility, getting the tree into the house and up to the top floor in a flash. The last thing we needed right now was for Conrad to drive up the street and see Hitch with the stolen bonsai. Or, worse than that, Officer Walker. Gina didn’t seem capable of talking her way out of a paper bag at the moment.