by Teresa Trent
I was halfway to the bathroom when I stopped short. “Excuse me? I thought you said you didn’t know who called him.”
“Uh, did I? My bad. It was Mrs. Butler. You know, Miss Sarah.” Zach couldn’t hide the little smile on his face. He might have been angry with his brother for leaving, but there was also admiration in his eyes.
“Why did she want Tyler?”
Once again, the shrug. “Who knows? Maybe she thinks he’s sexy.”
I pulled out my cell phone. Tyler was about to be a senior in high school and had grown into a handsome young man, but he was still under eighteen. Sarah Butler might be flirting with him, but I’d be damned if she was going to try to seduce my son.
“Tyler?” I said when he answered. “Where are you?”
“Uh…”
“Are you with Mrs. Butler?”
“Yeah.” He seemed surprised I already knew. “How did you know that?”
“Zach told me. Why did you leave Coco alone?”
“I didn’t. Zach was watching her. It doesn’t take two people to watch Coco.”
“When you see what she did to the den, you may change your mind. You need to come home right now.”
“Can’t. I’m…uh…helping Mrs. Butler replace water bottles at the rest stations for the treasure hunt. I can’t leave until I finish the job.”
“Where is Mrs. Butler?”
“Right here. Did you want to talk to her?”
“Uh, no. Just finish the job and come directly home, do you understand me?”
“I’m not deaf, Betsy. I get it.”
When I hung up, I found Coco creating a mountain of colorful bubbles with the soap in the sink—bubbles that were floating and landing all over the bathroom counter and floor. I quickly got her into the tub.
“Are you mad at me, Mommy?”
“Some, but I am also very disappointed in your brothers.”
“Don’t be mad.”
When she looked up at me with those repentant brown eyes, it was hard to stay mad for long.
“I’ll work on it.”
When it comes to parenting, carrying a grudge doesn’t help anything. Actually, that could be said for life in general. I wondered if Bunny Donaldson’s parents ever told their three little girls that? My mind drifted to Tyler as I scrubbed paint off Coco. He should have been home reading a book, getting ready for the next school year. Didn’t he realize how much was at stake this year? He needed good grades to get scholarship money. He could be in control of his own destiny if he’d just put in the work.
After grabbing dry shorts and a t-shirt from Coco’s beautifully organized drawers, I returned to the bathroom and pulled Coco out of the bath and dried her off.
“Betsy, we’re here,” my aunt’s voice echoed from the front door.
“Hey Betsy,” Danny said.
“Danny’s here!” Coco started wiggling as I quickly dressed her and then made a quick escape and ran to her cousin to hug him. I picked up the wet towels in the bathroom and then joined the assembled group at the bottom of the stairs.
“Danny! Will you teach me how to ride my bike without training wheels?” Coco asked. Leo and I had both promised to help her make this big step but hadn’t followed through. I had more time than Leo, but every time I thought of letting go of that bike seat, I found myself stalling. Was she ready for this yet? She could crash and hurt herself. It would be my fault for pushing her into something she wasn’t prepared for.
“Oh, I don’t ride my bike that good, Coco,” Danny confessed.
“You don’t have to ride it, just stand behind me and hold onto the seat.”
Maggie cut in. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Danny gets distracted sometimes and might forget to keep you steady.”
Coco heaved a gigantic sigh and slapped her hands on her knees. “Okay.” She dragged out the word like she’d been denied an organ transplant.
“We could play a game,” Danny said.
“Or,” I said, “Coco could take a nap. Will you help Zach keep an eye on her?”
“Sure,” Danny said. He beamed, proud to take on the responsibility.
After all the commotion, it didn’t take much for me to convince Coco to lie down for a nap. Maggie left to join Ruby, and Tyler came tromping in after his impromptu job for Sarah Butler.
“Tyler, in here,” I said from the office.
He came up the stairs, and when he stood in the doorway, I could tell from his expression I had cramped his style.
His shoulders were rigid, and from the color in his face, I could tell he was angry. “Really? I’ve been trying to find work all summer, and when someone finally calls me for a job, you tell me to get home?”
“Yes, but you promised you would look after your sister. You could have at least called your father or me and told us what you were doing.”
“I left Zach here to watch her. I can’t help it that he didn’t do his job. You can’t blame me for this.”
On the one hand, he was right. He had thought to leave his brother in charge before dashing out the door to help a damsel in distress. “Fine,” I said. “Why did Mrs. Butler call you? She hardly even knows you.”
“Uh, I don’t know.”
“Uh-huh.” Considering he had just spent an hour out in the heat, Tyler didn’t even look sweaty. I still had my worried that the woman didn’t even think of asking for his help until she saw Tyler flex his muscles at the opening of the Golden Pecan Treasure Hunt. Why was Tyler so evasive about what he was doing with Sarah Butler?
“Were you really only carrying around cases of water?”
“Yeah. Sure. Well, we talked a little too. She’s really upset about the Maximum Muscle guy. I can’t believe you and Dad found him.”
“Was she friends with him?”
“I don’t think so.”
My cell rang on the desk. Tyler took that as his opportunity to run off.
“Hey, Bets. I’m done,” Leo said. “Can you meet me in the town square?”
“Sure.” We were back on the trail of the golden pecan and the three sisters. Not sure if it was a good idea, but I left Coco, the mistress of abstract painting, in the hands of three babysitters and wondered if they would be enough.
Chapter 8
One thing good about a small town is that the town square is nearby, no matter where you are. As I walked over, I noticed several of the contestants still wandering around with yellow clue sheets in their hands. From what I could tell, Leo and I had gained some time by figuring out the goal post clue, but Stan and Howard had been there too. How far along were they by now? Maybe they had already found the golden pecan and were inside somewhere enjoying the air conditioning.
I was anxious about telling Leo what had happened with Tyler and his impromptu job. I felt sure nothing had happened, but it was just strange that she would call Tyler when she had a perfectly capable husband who could have done the job. I could guess why she would want Tyler to do it. He had grown into a handsome young man who, based on physical appearance, could go on a television dating show and win it all. But his maturity level was typical for his age, and he was definitely not ready for a Mrs. Robinson affair.
As I strolled past the Pecan Bayou bank, Vic Butler came out, holding his cell phone. I debated telling him about his wife summoning my son and decided discretion was probably the better path at this point. Then my mothering instinct took over, and the discretion thing was shot.
“Say, Vic. Can I talk to you about something?”
He looked up, surprised at my presence, and then pocketed his phone. “Sure. Is it something about the treasure hunt?”
“Sort of. It’s about water bottles.”
“Water bottles?” He tilted his head forward.
“Yes. Sarah called my son, Tyler to help her replenish the stock at the various rest stations.”
“She did?”
“Yes. Tyler said it was a last-minute thing.”
He let out a sigh and as the sun hit his face,
he looked much older than usual. “I see. I find this very interesting. You say she called your son?”
“He’s about to be a senior in high school. He was the tall kid who offered to help your wife lift that box this morning.”
“Oh, yes, of course. She probably got a bit overwhelmed trying to keep up. I had to tend to some business and left her on her own, poor thing. Thank your son for us, will you?”
“Sure. He was happy to do it. I think he might have a little crush on your wife.”
Vic placed his hands in his pocket, his gaze drifting down the street. “She’s a stunning woman. Who could blame him?”
Could being married to the most beautiful woman in Pecan Bayou be a bit of a trial for the bank president? It was proof positive of the old saying, Be careful what you ask for. Vic Butler clearly had more than he could deal with.
“And I am the parent of a teenager who doesn’t always know the right path to choose.”
“Okay, I’m going to say something that that may be hard for you to understand. There are a lot of things going on with my wife, to say the least. Sarah sometimes feels like she doesn’t have any friends.”
“That may be so, but a seventeen-year-old boy would not be an appropriate friend.”
“No, you’re absolutely right. But Sarah is a lost soul. Something in your son must have appealed to her.”
“He’s a senior in high school, for goodness sake. If she is looking to become his friend, I don’t think that would be good for him. Like you said, she’s stunning. Tyler is a young man. Let’s do all we can to nip this blossoming friendship in the bud.”
He paled and then gulped. “You’ve made that very clear.” He took me by the arm and pulled me out of earshot of passersby. It was then I noticed a tear in his eye.
“I’m so sorry,” he said. “Sarah’s lonely.”
“That’s a lot to have to deal with. Thank you for letting me know what’s going on. It helps. I hope you get a handle on it.”
“For our marriage’s sake, I hope so too. I still love her, even after all she’s done. I’m just worried someday she’ll get herself in a situation she can’t get out of. She had recently befriended another gentleman in town. Of course, now—”
“Are you talking about Mark Valencia?”
His face paled. “I don’t want to talk about it.” Vic turned and walked away, his shoulders slumped.
After I left Vic, Leo was waiting for me in the town square. “You made it!” he said, kissing me. “I was beginning to think you’d given up treasure hunting for an afternoon nap.”
“Nope, but I do have a few things to tell you about.”
“Uh oh. I never like the sound of that.”
I quickly filled him in on Sarah and Tyler. Leo bristled. “Seriously? He’s just a kid.”
“Who looks like a man. The person I feel the worst for is Vic. He wants to help his wife but doesn’t know what to do.”
“I suppose you’re right. I just have a tough time believing all of this. You know, as a father, you think you are going to encounter this sort of thing with your daughters, not your sons.”
“It’s a new day, Leo. Boys can be as vulnerable as girls,” I said, linking my arm in his. “And now, Mr. Meteorologist, what’s going on with the weather?”
“Oh, around here, it’s clear, but elsewhere there are some storms coming up. The urgent call had to do with software problems.” Leo rolled his eyes.
“And you’re the guy they call, right?”
Now that the sun was really beating down, there were almost no treasure hunters on the street, most of them having given up or sitting somewhere cool trying to figure out whatever clue they might be stuck on. Not yet acclimated to the heat, I suggested we visit the library.
“Funny time to want to check out a book,” Leo said.
“Yes, but the perfect time to see if there are any other families with three sisters. They have the census records over there. There are also the fifty years of newspapers we can search through.”
“Fifty years? We’ll be there for the rest of the day.”
“Come on. You’re the guy whose head is in the clouds all the time looking for anomalies. You can handle it.”
When we entered the library, Maggie and Ruby were sitting at a table writing out notes.
“Well, here you are,” Maggie said. “We were beginning to think you gave up, darlin’.”
“Not quite. How are you doing?”
“We’re still struggling. We’ve been to every bar in town…”
Ruby smiled, looking a little uneven. “The best part of the treasure hunt so far.”
“Ruby had a few beers seeing as both establishments said treasure hunters had to purchase something,” Maggie said. “But we still can’t figure out the clue. How about you? Did you find it?”
Leo nudged me. “Um, can’t say.”
Ruby’s nose went up. “Okay. So that’s the way we’re playing it.”
“Ruby, don’t say it like that,” I said.
“You’re in the library with us.” Ruby tapped my shoulder. “So that means wherever you are in the treasure hunt, you’re stuck too. Right?”
“Maybe,” I scowled. Earl came out of one of the stacks holding a book about guns of the world just as Bosco entered from the street.
“How you doin’, brother?” Earl asked.
Bosco strode across the library, his long legs taking it in just a few steps. “How do I look like I’m doing?”
“Like your same old rascally self. Why is it we’ve been separated for years, but you never stopped being my big brother?”
He gave Earl a backhanded head bop. “Are you done looking at city maps? I’ve never found anything useful in a place like this. I’m all about hands-on. Why read about it when you can do it?” His gaze drifted toward me. “We meet again. I have to tell you I really enjoyed our little hug.”
Maggie and Ruby’s heads turned to me in whiplash fashion.
“Have you been questioned by the police yet for your business dealings with Mark Valencia?” I asked. “Is that where you’ve been?” Just how hands-on had he been with the supplement store owner?
I felt Leo’s hand on my arm. “Forgive my wife. She’s the daughter of the investigating officer, and sometimes she can’t help herself. When you grow up with a detective, you tend to think like one.”
Earl shrugged. Bosco gave me a sour look. I guess his memory of our little hug had just faded. “Whatever,” Bosco said. “I think you’ll find it’s better for your health if you keep it to yourself, lady. You get my message?”
His message was loud and clear. “But you told us you sold him things for his business. I should think any contacts with Mark would be a part of the investigation. Did he make you angry about something? Was he trying to cheat you?”
This time Bosco’s look hardened. “Who the hell are you?” He turned to his brother. “You never told me this town is full of soccer mom busybodies, Earl,” he said and then turned directly to me. “Mind your own business.”
“Well? Did you sell him steroids?”
“Betsy,” Leo whispered.
“And if I did, what of it? I suppose now you’re going to question anyone who ever set foot in that guy’s store? Ask me one more question…” Bosco clinched his fist and started to raise it.
I felt Maggie behind me. “Or you’ll what? Punch my niece out in the public library? Not while I have a breath in my body.”
“Or me,” Ruby said.
“Shut the hell up,” Bosco exploded, causing the librarian to issue a “Shhh.”
“Let’s go, Bosco.” Earl started pushing him to the door.
“Yeah, don’t want to be around these yocals anyway. I’m going to win your prize, suckers. You may as well go home,” Bosco said as he passed through the glass doors.
“Betsy? What was that all about?” Leo asked.
“I don’t know. There’s just something not right about that guy.”
“Good old Betsy.
She might look like a mild-mannered housewife and helpful hints columnist, but deep down inside, she has the soul of a G-Man,” Ruby said.
All these compliments had me feeling pretty good. No one had ever said I had a soul of a G-Man before.
Maggie pointed a finger at me. “So, do you think that Bosco the bully did it?”
Leo stepped up. “She doesn’t have time to speculate. We’re here to do some research for the clue that we’re on.”
“And what clue would that be?” Ruby could be persistent and wasn’t planning on giving up anytime soon.
Leo smiled. “Why don’t you work on your clue, and we’ll work on ours?”
Chapter 9
Once we were out of earshot of Ruby and Maggie, Leo let out a sigh as we walked along Main Street. “Now that the Donaldson sisters are out of the picture, I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out where we go next.”
I stopped walking. “I think we should go to Maximum Muscle.”
Leo nodded automatically, but then as my words sank in, he stopped. “Why would we want to go there?”
“Because we need to know more about what Mark was doing before he was murdered. Was it a deal gone bad? Was Mark trying to cheat Bosco, or was it the other way around? If we look close enough, will we find a motive for murder?”
I was almost sure that whatever was going on there with the investigation, I could get into the store. After all, technically, the crime scene was in the alley.
Leo ran a hand through his hair in exasperation. “Betsy! We’re in the middle of a treasure hunt. You are not a police detective. Did you forget that fact? We’re running out of time. How do we know there aren’t other teams ahead of us? Think about it, sweetie. Seven days. On the sea. You and me… alone. Please tell me it hasn’t been so long that you’ve forgotten what it’s like to be alone, free from the constant flow of interruptions from three kids?”
I put my hand on his cheek and gently pulled him closer. “I know. Think about the three sisters and no, I haven’t forgotten what it’s like to be alone without teen hormones and preschool capers.”
Leo drew closer, taking me into his arms. Seven days just might be exactly what we both needed.