The Case of the Stolen Art Work

by Karen Stillwagon

  “Then I’ll go get the release forms together.” He left the room for the last time and didn’t bother closing the curtain for them.

  “Do you have clothes to wear home?” Lorelei asked, realizing that Dee was in a hospital gown.

  “I’ll just put my clothes back on. It won’t be the first time I’ve had to put dirty clothes back on.”

  “That can be a story for a later time,” Lorelei laughed as she turned to find Dee’s clothes.

  “They are in a plastic bag on the counter.”

  Lorelei noticed the bag sitting on the counter for the first time. “Do you need any help?” she asked.

  “Only need you to hand me the bag. I can get dressed. I truly am fine. I’m just sore. Tomorrow will be a different story though. Do you have plans tomorrow or can you hang out with your old and yet new found friend?” Dee asked.

  “I have as much time as you need. My only request is that Bindi can come over and play with your Lily. I don’t want to leave her home alone. I feel bad leaving her as long as I have.” Lorelei handed Dee the bag, and not waiting for a reply, she stepped out of the room and closed the curtain to allow Dee privacy while she got dressed. The curtain opened back up and Lorelei went back in as Dee settled herself on the edge of the bed, waiting to be released.

  A nurse came into the room with some papers for Dee to sign. “I also have a prescription for you for pain. You may not think you need it now, but you will be feeling your fall tomorrow. And make an appointment with your primary caregiver to see him or her and get looked at.”

  Dee signed the papers and took the prescription from the nurse, which Lorelei then took, then folded up before putting them in her pocket.

  “I will get this filled for her tomorrow,” Lorelei promised the nurse.

  “You just get yourself healed and stay away from the bluffs,” he said before leaving.

  Once she was released, Lorelei helped escort Dee out of the hospital. She had Dee wait inside the emergency room lobby while she went and got her car. When she pulled up to the double doors, Dee got in and carefully put on her seatbelt before Lorelei pulled out of the parking lot.

  They drove in silence for a couple miles before Lorelei asked, “Want to tell me what really happened? What aren’t you telling the police?”

  Tension filled the air and Lorelei decided to wait out Dee.

  After another mile, Dee said, “I surprised a burglar, I think.”

  Lorelei did not say anything. She did not want to drag it out of this woman, she wanted Dee to trust her and tell her when she was ready.

  “Were you attacked?” Lorelei finally asked.

  “No, just startled. I ran to the trail and that’s when I slipped.”

  They drove the rest of the way to Charleston without speaking. Lorelei had questions, but thought it best to get Dee settled before pushing her any further.

  “Do you want me to stay with you tonight?” Lorelei asked before they got to the Charleston Bridge.

  “Yes, if you don’t mind,” Dee said.

  “Do you want me to take you home before I go to the Inn and get Bindi and some clothes?”

  “I don’t mind waiting in the car, or I can come in with you,” Dee replied.

  “If you don’t mind walking up stairs you are more than welcome to come inside.”

  “I can do stairs. I have stairs at my house I’ll have to climb.”

  “I just don’t want you to overdo it tonight,” Lorelei replied as she pulled into her parking spot.

  “I am not hurting, but I can’t promise the same thing tomorrow. I’d rather not be alone. So I’ll go with you.” Dee undid her seatbelt and got out of the car before Lorelei.

  “I’m upstairs, in unit 4, but the stairs aren’t too bad. They are split in two rises, with shallow steps.”

  Lorelei unlocked the door to the lobby and held it opened for Dee. She waited for Dee to start up the stairs and followed behind.

  “I’m at the top and to the left.”

  Dee took her time with each step. She moved slowly, holding the handrail as she made her way up. She turned left and waited for Lorelei to unlock the door. Once they were inside, Bindi jumped up onto the arm of the sofa and waited for someone to pet her; it turned out to be Dee. She started rubbing Bindi’s ears and then scratched her under her chin.

  “I cannot thank you enough,” she leaned over and kissed Bindi on the nose, “for staying with me while your mom went and got help.” Bindi looked over at her person before giving Dee kisses.

  Lorelei went into the bedroom and packed enough clothes for a few days. She didn’t know how long Dee would need her.

  “Are you looking for a place to rent?” Dee called from the living room. She was sitting on the couch with Bindi in her lap.

  “I am, but haven’t started looking yet.” Lorelei said as she stuffed her clothes into a small suitcase and then thought of the small apartment above Dee’s garage.

  “What are you looking for?”

  “Something that when I walk into it, I am comfortable, and can stay there for as long as I need to while my place is being remodeled.” She appeared back in the living room and set her bag on the kitchenette table.

  “Oh, so you’re staying in the area?” Dee asked.

  “My grandparents had a house across the street from you. It needs some work done before I can move in. They left it to me so I guess I’m staying forever.” Lorelei went into the bathroom and grabbed a few of her toiletries and put them in a smaller bag. She came out and sat in a chair next to the sofa.

  “I may have the perfect place for you,” Dee said as Bindi jumped off the couch and into Lorelei’s lap. Her smile lit up her eyes.

  “Do you want to tell me what you were keeping from the authorities?” Lorelei changed the subject as she pet Bindi.

  “Can I trust you?” Dee asked.

  “It’s kind of a silly question to ask now that I have you in my home,” Lorelei laughed.

  “I guess you’re right,” she smiled, “and I will tell you, but first, do you have anything to drink in this place?”

  “What did they give you at the hospital for pain? I don’t want to give you something that will be against doctor’s orders.”

  “I wouldn’t let them give me anything stronger than Tylenol. I don’t like prescription medications. I hate how they make me feel. And I am not getting that prescription filled so don’t worry about that either.”

  Lorelei got up and went to the kitchenette and opened a cupboard. “I have a bottle of whiskey, which I do not care for, but it was a gift from a friend, or I have a bottle of Cabernet.”

  “A glass of Cabernet would be lovely, if you will have one with me,” Dee replied.

  “If I’m going to have a glass with you, why don’t we take it to your house and then we can talk. I don’t want to start drinking before taking you home. I am guessing this story will be longer than just one glass of wine.”

  “You are correct,” Dee said, “and I have better stuff at my house.”

  “Then let’s go.” Lorelei found Bindi’s harness and leash. Bindi bounced until Lorelei could catch her and get the harness on.

  “She’s quite the companion,” Dee said as she watched the little dog wait patiently.

  “She truly is. I got her as a rescue when she was about five months old. The family that got her was not ready for a dog smarter than themselves. This little dog has a mind of her own and will use it. She is so full of spunk that if we don’t go for a run daily she lets me know by getting into anything she can find. Don’t you, Bin?” Lorelei kissed Bindi’s nose.

  “She was lucky to have found you,” Dee said.

  “I think we were both lucky to have found each other.”

  Bindi waited just long enough for her person to put on her harness and attach the leash before starting bouncing again. Once Lorelei stood up, Bindi grabbed the leash in her mouth and started tugging her toward the door.

  “Just a minute,” Lorelei said as she
pulled Bindi back so she could grab her overnight bag. “Let’s go!” Bindi started jumping, never letting her leash out of her mouth.

  “She is full of energy,” Dee laughed as she stood up to leave.

  “That’s why I nicknamed her Bouncing Bindi,” Lorelei said. “I hope she won’t be too much for you, at your place.”

  “Are you kidding? That much energy will make the house feel young again. Poor Lily, she needs the exercise and companionship this little gal will surely be giving her.”

  They made their way back down to the car. Once they were seat belted in, with Bindi in the back seat, her feet on the armrest next to Lorelei, and her head between the front seats, Lorelei pulled out and headed out toward the beaches, toward Dee’s home, toward Lorelei’s new home.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  AFTER MAKING SURE Dee was comfortable, sitting at the kitchen table, Lorelei looked through the cupboards for glasses. Bindi raced around the upstairs trying to get Lily, the golden retriever, to play with her. The sun had set, leaving the landscape dark. Lorelei could not see the view that Dee enjoyed daily. She found small glasses and brought them to the table.

  “What would you like to drink?” Lorelei asked.

  “I have some rum in the cupboard above the refrigerator. It’s from a local distillery, about two miles from here.”

  “There’s a local distillery?” Lorelei asked.

  “Yes, been here for about five years, and they make some of the best rum, even if you aren’t a rum drinker.”

  Lorelei opened the cupboard and saw a bottle of The Devil’s Own Spiced rum. She poured them each a half ounce and joined Dee at the table.

  “I wish there was still daylight so I could see your view,” Lorelei said.

  “You’ll see it in the morning when we have coffee, as long as the clouds don’t obscure it,” Dee said.

  “Your place sits higher than my grandparents’ home, I guess my home now, so I will get this view too,” Lorelei said as she took the chair across from Dee.

  Both women took a small taste of the rum. It was the best rum Lorelei ever had.

  They sat, nursing their drinks, while watching Bindi still trying to get Lily to play. Lily tried to keep up with Bindi but ended up just sitting and watching Bind run circles around her with one Lily’s stuffed toys in her mouth.

  “Let me refill our drinks,” Dee said as she stood. Lorelei was surprised to see her glass empty. She drank all her rum.

  “No, you sit there and I will refill our glasses.” Lorelei stood as Dee sat back down. She got the bottle and brought it back to the table. She refilled both glasses with about a half ounce again before putting the stopper the bottle. They sat for a few moments before Lorelei asked, “Are you ready to tell me what happened today?”

  “Someone was in the house. It was a cop, or at least I think it was a cop. I saw a face and a uniform. I know it was a uniform because of the patches sown on it.” Dee set her glass down and picked up a napkin. “I went over to feed the cat, and check the house. There was movement in the window and I saw a man and he was in a uniform, I know it was a uniform.” A single tear slid down Dee’s cheek. She wiped it away with the napkin. “I know about the old trail along the bluff because I’ve walked it many times with my friend, Fran. As I was trying to get to the neighbor’s house, I tripped over my own feet and fell flat, then rolled. I slid part way down the bluff, but caught myself on an exposed root. I held on, and I tried to be quiet, but when I looked up, the man was standing above me. I lost my grip on the root and slid the rest of the way.

  “I then I just laid there, in the sand, as still as I could be. What if he looked over the edge and saw me moving? He would come down and finish me off! I think maybe he thought the fall did me in. You showed up, it must have been a half hour later, but I don’t know. And then you wanted to leave me! I know it was to get help, but I panicked. I am so grateful you left your Bindi with me.” At the mention of her name, Bindi stopped trying to get Lily to chase her. “With Bindi, I didn’t feel as vulnerable.”

  “Did the man know you saw him?” Lorelei asked.

  “We locked eyes before I lost my grip, and he gave me this wicked smile that raised the hair on the back of my neck. All I know is I saw a man in uniform, so I’m not talking to any cops. He knows I saw him! What if he comes after me to shut me up?”

  “But if it wasn’t the officers who came down to the beach, why not talk to them?”

  “How do I know they aren’t in it together?”

  Lorelei thought for a moment before answering, “I can understand why you didn’t want to say anything in front of the police. But why were you wary of the EMT’s?”

  “Because they also wear uniforms.”

  Lorelei stared into her glass, thought for another moment before replying. “You’re right, I would never have thought of a first responder as someone to worry about.”

  “When you came back with help with someone in a dark uniform I didn’t know what to think,” Dee whispered, “and the cops in the area wear the same dark uniforms, so I didn’t know who to trust. But I was sure I could trust you.”

  “Why did you think you could trust me?” Lorelei asked.

  “At first, I thought I recognized you, but mostly because you left your most precious possession with me; your dog. People don’t leave their pets with strangers, unless they know there is no danger to their companion.”

  “How could I leave you alone while I went for help?” Lorelei asked.

  “And that is how I knew I could trust you,” Dee said as she reached out and placed her hand on Lorelei’s. Lorelei covered it with her own.

  “Now what do we do?” Lorelei asked.

  “First, if you are still looking for a place to live, I think my apartment above the garage would fit you perfectly. And the backyard is fenced so your Bindi would have a place to run and play while you are at work. And Lily would have someone to play with.”

  “I don’t work,” Lorelei admitted.

  “What do you do for a living?” Dee asked.

  “To be honest, nothing. I haven’t found what I want to be when a grow-up.” She upended her glass and finished off the last of the rum.

  “What have you been doing since you left high school?”

  “I have my Master’s degree but would need a Doctorate to be considered for employment in my field of study.”

  “What did you study?” Dee asked as she added another half inch of rum to their glasses. The rum was going to Lorelei’s head, but she wasn’t driving so she figured one more drink wouldn’t hurt, but it would have to be her last one.

  “My degree is in Literature, but dabbled in Art, and had fun with writing. So I don’t have anything that would help me land a job.”

  “So what are you going to do?” Dee asked.

  “I am going to find out who was in that house, and why. You feel up to an adventure tomorrow?” A hiccup escaped Lorelei. She felt her cheeks flush as she tried to hide a giggle with the back of her hand.

  “I am. Well, right now anyway.” Dee said enthusiastically. She let out a sigh, “I don’t know how I will feel in the morning. I do have to check on their cat since I wasn’t able to today. You still didn’t say what you do for money.”

  “Oh, that’s an easy one, after making plans after college, Mom won the lottery.”

  “How much are you worth?” Dee asked in disbelief.

  “I’m not worth anything. Mom won close to $4 million, after taxes. She deposits money into our accounts each month so Thomas and I don’t have to worry about whether we can pay our bills. Thomas and his wife both work, so I think they are putting the money away. But me, I’m taking advantage of it, and went to different places up and down the western coast. With my grandparents leaving me the house, it all worked out. This is where I chose to be.”

  “What house?” Dee asked.

  “The small one across the street and one driveway down, toward the cove.”

  “Your mom’s parents? I didn�
��t know that,” Dee exclaimed.

  “No, those were Dad’s parents. We would come down during the summer to visit them after we moved away. Mom’s parents retired in Florida.”

  “I lost touch with so many people when we sold that little store. Harry and I enjoyed our early retirement and became home bodies.”

  “I know how that goes,” Lorelei said, “I’d rather be a home body than have to deal with lots of people every day.”

  “And your mom, what is she doing now?”

  “She’s out traveling, having the time of her life. Dad died a few years ago. He was sick for years and prepared Mom for being without him. He made her promise to keep living. After he died, Mom’s way of living was playing the lottery every week. She told herself if she ever won, she would take the trip of a lifetime.”

  “Did she expect to win?” Dee asked.

  “No clue, Thomas and I thought she was delusional.” Lorelei took another sip before continuing, “Guess it paid off. She and her best friend are on a cruise to Europe. She rented her house out, packed up, and left. Her best friend is also a widow so they are just enjoying themselves. She calls as often as she can, when she is near civilization or when her cell phone works, to share her adventure, and to see how Thomas and I are doing.” Lorelei swirled her rum. She was always close with her mom, and being away at college, Lorelei stayed in constant contact. Now, she only hears from her mom every other week or so.“With the money she gives us, we can’t complain, though.”

  “And Thomas, how is he doing?”

  “He’s is married to a wonderful woman, Jessica, and they are having their first kid in about four months.”

  “Well, I’m glad you made your way here. Now, I need to get you set up with someplace to sleep.” She stood and went to the office that was just off from the kitchen, opened a closet and pulled out some blankets and a pillow.

  “What about your little apartment you were going to show me?” Lorelei asked.

  “I don’t think I can do anymore stairs tonight,” Dee said, rubbing absently at her knees as she sat back down. “Plus, I would feel better having you in the house with me, just for tonight.”