The Case of the Stolen Art Work

by Karen Stillwagon

  “Okay,” Dee finally agreed, “but first we need to find their cat, I can’t leave without knowing he’s okay.”

  “We will find him,” Lorelei said as she started walking through the house again, calling the cat. Dee followed her, calling out too.

  After a few minutes, Lorelei said, “I’ll go back outside and call him. Maybe he escaped when the door was open.” She went back out the kitchen door and started calling.

  “Mr. Kitty, where are you?” She walked around the house and kept calling. After a few minutes she heard a quiet mewing.

  “Mr. Kitty, come out, Mr. Kitty.” Lorelei felt silly calling a cat by that name but kept calling. The mewing got louder as she walked to the front of the house. She looked around and saw a large black cat on the garage roof. “Mr. Kitty, come on down.”

  Dee came outside and was calling the cat.

  “I think he’s here,” Lorelei called out to her. Dee came around the corner and looked in the direction of the noise.

  “Mr. Kitty, how did you get up there?” Dee said as she found the source of the noise.

  “Is there an upstairs? Or maybe a ladder so we can get him down?” Lorelei asked.

  “There’s a ladder in the garage, the house has an attic but no windows to open to get to him.”

  Lorelei went to the garage at the back of the house. She pulled on the door but it wouldn’t open. She tugged one more time before giving up. She went back to where Dee stood, calling the cat. “I can’t open the garage door, I think I need to go back into the house and get in that way. I’ll get the ladder and meet you here.”

  Back inside, Lorelei looked around until she found a door that led in the direction of the garage. Once inside she found a ladder and then went to the door and looked for a way to open it. There was a keypad but she didn’t know the combination. She grabbed the ladder and dragged it through the house and out the door. She carried it to where she had left Dee, who was still talking to the cat. She leaned it against the wall and started climbing up to the garage roof.

  “Mr. Kitty,” she called as she got level with the roof. The black cat mewed at her before coming toward her. When he was close, Lorelei reached out and grabbed him. He yowled at her as she pulled him toward her. Lorelei tucked him under her arm as he protested before she started back down the ladder. Once she got to the last rung, Dee took the cat from her and carried him inside the house. Lorelei followed her, dragging the ladder once again. Mr. Kitty went straight to his food and started eating.

  “He didn’t eat yesterday,” Dee said as she watched him.

  “It’s not your fault,” Lorelei said as she put her hand on Dee’s shoulder. “He’s home and safe. Let’s go back to your house and figure out what we’re going to do next.”

  As they left the house, Dee double checked to make sure the door was locked.

  CHAPTER SIX

  BACK AT DEE’S house, Bindi and Lily bounded out of the house as soon as Dee opened the door. Bindi ran off in search for a toy, with Lily trailing after her. The two women made their way upstairs to the living room.

  “What’s your plan?” Dee asked.

  “I think I’ll head to the casino tonight and take pictures. We can regroup in the morning and go through the photos.”

  “Sounds like a solid plan,” Dee said. “Would you like something to eat? I was planning on making some pasta for dinner.”

  “That would be great, would you like me to run to the store for anything before I head out tonight?”

  “If you don’t mind, I would love some french bread. Do you like mushrooms?”

  “Chicken, mushrooms and broccoli,” Lorelei said.

  “I’ll give you a list,” Dee said as she made her way to her desk. She found her note pad and wrote out what she needed. She handed it to Lorelei who looked it over.

  “Can I leave Bindi here while I get this?”

  “Of course you can. Lily will be happy to play with her while you’re gone.”

  “Then I will be back soon,” Lorelei said as she headed for the door. “I wouldn’t let Bindi out, otherwise she will bark until I get home. It’s why I never leave her outside.”

  “She doesn’t bark inside?”

  “No, she knows she needs to behave inside. We use to live in an apartment and our neighbors were petty. Complained about everything, even if I walked across the floor before their alarm went off. So, I worked with her like the devil, to teach her she had an inside voice while I was gone. It took about a month and so may complaints, but we persevered. I think the manager liked Bindi and me better than the tenants who constantly complained.”

  “Then have no worries!”

  Lorelei ripped a small piece of paper from the list Dee handed her and wrote her cell number on it, handed it to Dee, “In case you need to get a hold of me.” She looked at the grocery list as she headed for the stairs that would lead her outside. “Bindi, you need to be a good girl, and I’ll be back.”

  Bindi’s person scratched her ears and rubbed under her chin before leaving her in this new place. Bindi ran to the window so she could watch her person leave. She knew not to bark, her person would be back. Lorelei climbed into her Honda. The car was old but started on the first attempt.

  She made her way into town and went to Safeway. She pulled out the list before entering the store, looking to see what Dee needed for dinner. She went in and picked up the few things that were needed for the pasta, dog food, coffee and creamer. One her way back home she went the long way so she could drive past the casino, wondering how best to implement her plan.

  Lorelei thought on the way back home that she needed to go through the little apartment and make a list of what she would need to get through the next few months as her place was being remodeled. She hadn’t brought anything with her when she moved to town. She was hoping to find a little furnished house to rent, but this new arrangement would work out better for her, being her home she inherited was right across the street.

  Back at Dee’s, she grabbed the groceries and carried them upstairs.

  “I need to figure out what I’ll need for the apartment,” Lorelei said as she helped Dee with the food.

  “The apartment is furnished, you only need to buy yourself some groceries. And whatever personal touches you want to add to it. My husband and I lived in it for a couple years while the house was being built. It just made more sense to keep it as it was and buy everything new for the house.”

  Lorelei looked up at the clock on the wall and saw it saw already after one. “Are you making dinner now?” she asked Dee.

  “I like having it ready but I usually eat early anyway. It will be here for you when you’re hungry.”

  “I need to go empty out the place I was renting and let them know I’ll be moving out today. I’m also going to pick up groceries on my way back from the casino. I can’t keep coming over here to eat. Though it is nice having company.”

  “You do what you need to do,” Dee said as she set water on to boil.

  “Bindi, let’s go!”

  Bindi bound down the steps and waited for her person at the door.

  “Let’s go check out our place,” Lorelei said as she reached the door. She was carrying the bag that held the dog food, coffee, and creamer. As she opened the door, Bindi led her to their new place.

  In the small apartment, she set the dog food and coffee on the counter and put the creamer in the refrigerator. Lorelei looked around, wondering what she should get to make this place her own. She had clothes, all of Bindi’s belongings, and her toiletries. She couldn’t think of anything else she would really need until she moved into her own home. She gathered Bindi and went to pack up what she had left behind

  Back at the Charleston Inn, she started packing her suitcase with all her belongings. She emptied the closet and dresser, went into the bathroom and emptied it as well. Once she finished, she looked at what she had. Such a minimal existence, but that was okay. She didn’t need much.

  She called th
e manager and made arrangements to leave the key with the neighbor since she would not be coming back here. She loaded the little Honda and left, taking her stuff back to her new little apartment. After unloading the car, she set up Bindi’s bed, toy box and food bowls. She filled the water bowl with fresh water and filled up the food bowl. Bindi ate when she needed to, and didn’t over eat.

  Lorelei took her suitcases to the bedroom and opened them on the bed. She pulled out a pair of Levi’s and a sweatshirt. After changing, she pulled her long hair into a ponytail, and pulled it through the back of her baseball cap. She looked in the mirror. Pretty sure she was would be carded since she looked more like a twelve year old rather than her twenty-six years.

  “I’ve got to go out now, you stay here and be a good girl.” Lorelei picked up Bindi and gave her a hug. She placed her on the couch before locking up and leaving. She needed to remember to get a set of keys made and return the extra to Dee.

  She left, wondering how she was going to get pictures inside the casino. She needed to figure out a way to take pictures of the security guards and not get caught. And she hoped Dee could identify one of them.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  THE MILL CASINO’S parking lot was full. Cars filled most of the parking lot and she noticed that the motor home parking was full as well. She looked up at the marquise and saw that it welcomed a Motor Home convention. It also welcomed people to a Jazz festival. The place would be packed. Hopefully she wouldn’t be noticed taking pictures.

  The first thing that struck her, as she walked in, was the cigarette smoke. The casinos were exempt from the indoor smoking ban. The air system kept the fresh air circulating, but if you weren’t a smoker, the air smelled like a stale ashtray.

  Lorelei pulled a twenty from her wallet and found a machine to play. She bet small so her money would last while she looked around the casino, trying to make up her mind on how best to take pictures and not be noticed. She kept hitting the minimum bet button as she scoped out the place. Bells started ringing around her. She looked to see who had won before realizing it was her machine. She hit a $4500 jackpot!

  Great, Lorelei thought. She was doing what she could to be inconspicuous and now she was drawing attention to herself. Her machine stopped, the words “Wait for attendant” flashed across her screen. In a few minutes an attendant and security guard came to her side. She slipped out her phone and tried to get a picture of him, but had to put it away with all the people coming around.

  “Congratulation, you hit the jackpot!” a spunky blonde said. “You need to follow me to cash in your winnings.”

  “Wait, I want to get a picture of this.” Lorelei pulled out her phone and started taking pictures of the machine’s screen, showing the jackpot. She then changed the direction of her camera and started taking pictures of those who were surrounding her. She was able to capture the image of the security guard. With the security guard following behind them, the attendant walked Lorelei to one of the cash windows.

  “We have a winner!” the blonde said to the attendant. The security guard just stood there.

  The attendant pulled out a form and filled it out. “You need to fill out your information and Milt here,” she motioned to the big man still standing behind Lorelei, “can escort you to your car, if you need.”

  “I think I’ll keep playing,” Lorelei said. She took her cash and stuffed it in her sweatshirt’s front pocket, but not before she handed the attendant a forty dollar tip and then gave the security guard another forty dollars. She hoped tipping was appropriate.

  This was not going how she wanted it to. She wanted to stay under the radar and not be noticed. That was going to happen now.

  She went back to the same machine and put in another twenty.

  “I didn’t picture you as a gambler,” a deep voice said behind her.

  She turned in her seat to see a tall man standing behind her. She recognized his face but couldn’t place him.

  “Am I that memorable?” he laughed.

  “I’m sorry,” Lorelei gave him her best smile that could light up a room, or so she was told.

  “Michael Smith, one of cops that helped your friend,” he said as he stuck out his hand.

  “Oh,” she said as she hesitated for a moment before grabbing his hand to shake it.

  “Lorelei,” she said, “Lorelei Silence.”

  “I remember,” Michael stood there for a few awkward minutes.

  “You look different out of your cop’s uniform.”

  “I’m here visiting my parents. They are part of the motorhome convention. Since they retired, they travel all over the states for these conventions.”

  “Kind of like having a party everywhere they go?” she asked, stifling a laugh with the back of her hand.

  “I guess you could say that. They are taking me to dinner here at one of the restaurant. I’m just waiting for them.”

  Lorelei stared into his blue eyes, wondering if she should continue talking with him. After all, she was here helping Dee, and not calling the police, to let them know what she learned.

  Michael stared back. He wanted to spend some time with her, get to know her, but wasn’t exactly sure how to make that happen.

  “I’m not meeting them for another hour. Would you like to hang out for a bit, maybe see if some of your luck will help me at the Black Jack table?” Michael finally asked.

  “I can do that,” Lorelei replied, thinking this would give her a better opportunity to get more photos if she was with someone, instead of lurking around the machines on her own.

  A smile spread across Michael’s face, he was not expecting her to accept.

  “So, you’re a player,” she said.

  “No,” he laughed. “The only time you’ll catch me in the casino is when the convention brings my parents to town. I see them every few months. And by that time I forget about my losses at the tables and am able to enjoy myself.”

  “I’ve never gambled before,” Lorelei said.

  “Don’t let beginner’s luck keep bringing you back,” Michael said as he gently placed his hand at the small of her back, directing her to one of the Black Jack tables. He took a seat and placed a hundred on the table in exchange for some chips.

  “Maybe my beginner’s luck will bring you some good fortune tonight,” she said as she took her place standing just behind his chair. She pulled her cell phone out and held it at her midsection. She looked down making sure she hit the camera button. She kept her finger in place to take pictures as she moved around. There were four other men at the table playing with Michael. She turned her body slightly, trying to take pictures of the dealer and the security who were walking around.

  Michael won three hands in a row, tripling his money.

  “I think you just may be good luck,” he said as he pulled the last pile of chips to him.

  “Maybe you can be my good luck charm,” the elderly gentleman to Michael’s right said. Lorelei noticed his pile of chips was quite small compared to Michael’s pile.

  “She’s my good luck charm, and I don’t share,” Michael laughed as he placed another bet. Lorelei absentmindedly let her hand drift from the back of Michael’s chair to his shoulder. He could feel the warmth of her through his shirt, and liked how it felt.

  “Guess I’ll have to find my own,” the older gentleman laughed as he pulled more money from his wallet and exchanged the bills for more chips.

  “I don’t need lady luck,” the burly man to Michael’s left said. “I don’t come in expecting to lose.”

  Lorelei kept her phone in front of her and kept taking pictures.

  “What is that clicking noise?” Michael asked as he looked around.

  “Oh, sorry, it’s my text message alert. Let me put my phone on silent.” She checked her phone as she turned it over. She was bumped by a couple who were making their way to one of the poker tables. She flicked the button to silence on her phone before she continued to snap pictures.

  Michael won two more h
ands before he lost one.

  “I need to use the lady’s room,” Lorelei leaned down to whisper in Michael’s ear, “I’ll be right back.”

  “Don’t be gone too long, this is my best winning streak.”

  As Lorelei looked for the restroom, she took more pictures. She took the long way around, trying to get as many snapshots as she could, keeping her phone down out of sight.

  “Ma’am, I have to ask you not to take pictures.” A tall man in a dark suit said as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

  “Pictures?” She tried to act surprised but what came out was guilt.

  “Yes, we don’t allow pictures in here.” He kept his heavy hand on her shoulder.

  “I’m sorry…” she trailed off, trying to think of what to say. “I just, my boss is sure a few of his employees are gambling and he asked me to take some pictures, I didn’t know I wasn’t able to.”

  “Just put your phone away. And don’t let him send you to snoop on his employees. If he has any questions, he needs to come down himself.”

  “I’m sorry,” Lorelei said as she shoved her phone into her sweatshirt pocket with all the cash.

  “Thank you,” he said, then turned to leave.

  Lorelei made sure she was hidden from view in the restroom before pulling her phone back out. She then stuffed it back in her pocket and decided she would look at the pictures when she was back home. She found an empty stall, went to the bathroom, washed her hands, and then left. She made her way to a small bar and grabbed a beer on tap to help steady her nerves before making her way back to the Black Jack table. Michael still had a large pile of chips in front of him. The man to his right was gone and replace by another. The man to his left was still there and his pile of chips had grown. Lorelei couldn’t tell how much he had but she was sure it was more than Michael. She ventured to pull out her phone and get a few more pictures. She held her beer, trying to hide the fact she was taking more pictures. She especially wanted one of Michael, to see if Dee would recognize him, so she went around the table and took a few photos from the dealer’s view. She slipped her phone in her back pocket and went back to stand behind Michael, resting one hand on his shoulder again. She finished her beer and placed the empty glass on the tray held by a waitress who passed by.