by Lynn Cahoon
Lisa shook her head. “She said she had to meet up with her roommate today. They had something that she needed to deal with.”
“Danielle? I hoped Jessi would be able to separate herself from her normal life this week.” Cat sighed. She’d been worried that the girl wasn’t taking the week seriously. She nodded to the front door. “I guess we’re ready, then.”
Dropping the group off with Miss Applebome took all of three seconds once they reached the library. The librarian still hadn’t completely forgiven Cat for taking a book without checking it out a few months ago. It wasn’t like Cat would have kept the stupid thing, but Miss Applebome still tried to peek into any bag Cat brought into the library.
By the time she got to the police station, she wanted coffee and sugar. She glanced at the bag she held in her hand. Maybe Uncle Pete would share. She could smell Shauna’s fudge brownies through the paper bag and the plastic wrap. Or maybe it was her imagination, but her stomach was rumbling.
Katie sat at the front desk, reading a book. Apparently, crime in Aspen Hills was quiet for at least the morning. When she saw Cat, she flushed and pushed the book into a drawer. “Hey, Cat, your uncle isn’t here. He was called out to Outlaw.”
“Outlaw? That’s funny, we were just there.” She pointed to the drawer. “What are you reading?”
“I don’t understand.” Her face lost all color.
“Seriously? I saw you reading when I came in. I’m only asking because I’m curious. So, what are you reading?”
Katie’s gaze darted back and forth. When she determined the empty front office was truly empty, she leaned closer to Cat and slipped the book out of the drawer. “I’m reading your book. I can’t believe you wrote this. It’s so good. I know it’s not really meant for women my age, but I love reading Young Adult. Tammy at the bookstore is always ordering in a book or two for me.”
“Glad you’re enjoying Tori and the gang.” Cat held up the bag. “Mind if I put this on Uncle Pete’s desk?”
“Only if you do me a favor.” She handed Cat the book and a pen. “Sign it To Katie, my best friend in the world, and then your name. When you’re rich I’ll sell it on the black market.”
Cat signed the book and then moved it back toward Katie. “I’m heading into Uncle Pete’s office. I’ll be right out.”
She waved her through.
When Cat reached her uncle’s office, she slipped through the door and set the bag on his desk. She glanced through the contents of the bag and realized Shauna had only sent one brownie. Cat sighed. She would have to wait. About to leave, she noticed a new picture on the bookshelf. There, next to the photo of her taken in front of the house was a picture of Shirley and Uncle Pete on what looked like a charter boat. He had his arm around her and they both looked happy.
Cat picked up the frame and studied the picture. Uncle Pete had been widowed for years. Was Shirley going to change his status from single to part of a couple again? And would that also mean a move to Shirley’s Alaska, or would she move here? So many questions, and all of them weren’t any of her business, but selfishly, she hoped her uncle would stay around Covington. Her parents had made the move to Florida, running away from the bitter winter season. If Uncle Pete left, she wouldn’t have any family here. Well, except for Seth and Shauna, who if they weren’t related by blood or legal decree were just as much her family as the blood relatives.
She smiled as she made her way back to the front of the station. Seth and Shauna were a lot more like family than some of her cousins that she never saw or talked to anymore.
As she stepped out onto the street, Uncle Pete pulled his car into his parking slot in front of the building. She waited for him to get out and onto the sidewalk. “Hey, I heard you got called into Outlaw. Anything wrong?”
“Someone tried to break in last night, so they of course are blaming the school for the young hooligans we’re harboring.” Uncle Pete gave Cat a quick hug. “What are you doing here?”
“Shauna wanted me to drop off some snacks. And I had a question, speaking of the college.” Cat pointed to a bench. “Sit down, I won’t take up much of your time.”
“This doesn’t sound good.” But he followed her to the bench and sat, turning toward her with an arm draped along the back of the bench. “What do you want to know?”
“What do you know about Jessi Ball?”
Uncle Pete eyed her curiously. “I thought you were doing background checks.”
“I was, but I don’t do them on the Covington kids, but maybe I should with the look you’re giving me.” Cat rubbed her neck. “Go ahead, tell me the worst.”
“Jessi comes from a wealthy family. Before you ask, no, she’s not connected. I’ve heard her mother was friends with Dante and Michael.” Uncle Pete took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair. “Don’t look so shocked. Aspen Hills is a small town. And legacies like sending their kids here mostly because they know it’s safe.”
“Speaking of safe, are there houses around Outlaw?”
“Weird question, but no. The town shuts down when the doors lock. None of the staff live on-site. In fact, once the snow falls, the place will be unreachable until first melt. Why?” He studied her, concern showing in his face.
“I saw a cat up there. I’m not sure if it was just lost or if it lived there, but if there aren’t any homes nearby, I’m going to assume it’s lost.” She keyed in a note into her phone. “I’ll call the vet clinic and see if anyone’s reported a cat missing.”
“It won’t last long up there. We’ve been having problems with coyotes taking down small animals near town. In Outlaw, the cat wouldn’t survive a winter.”
Walking home, she thought about life in a small town. No matter what you did or who you wanted to be, the past was always there to remind you about who you were before. Sometimes she missed the anonymity she had in California. She’d been just one of the crowd then.
Here, she wasn’t just an author, or even the retreat owner, she was also the police chief’s niece, and with that came a responsibility to make sure Aspen Hills stayed safe, and that included seeing if she could bring home a lost cat.
CHAPTER 3
The group wasn’t back from the library yet. It was after four. Cat glanced at Shauna. “Are you sure they said they could find their way back?”
“When Cora called, she said they were doing lunch in town, then heading back to the library. She wanted me to give Kelly the message in case she wanted to go into town and eat with them at Reno’s.” Shauna glanced at the board. “I’ve set up the after-lunch snacks, but I don’t think Kelly’s left her room, and Jessi’s not back from wherever she disappeared to.”
“This retreat is so different than any others we’ve had. Typically we can’t get rid of the guests. Now they don’t want to come back to the house.” Cat decided to change the subject. She leaned over the table, closer to Shauna. “So I found a picture of Shirley in Uncle Pete’s office.”
“A sexy picture?”
“Eww, no. Not a sexy picture, but one of him and her out on the fishing boat. They both were grinning like fools.” Cat grabbed a brownie from the pan on the counter. “I think they are serious.”
“What does that mean? They’re going steady? Or he gave her his class ring?” Shauna shook her head. “I think it’s different with older folks. I read an article that said people who date in their advanced years seem to know what they want, so they get serious faster than younger people because they don’t have to worry about spending the rest of their life with this one person.”
Seth came in from the backyard. He’d been working on a project near the old oak tree out in what she called the pasture. Cat had tried to get him to tell her what it was going to be, but he was keeping the final product a secret. He’d sworn them both to stay away from that part of the yard until he finished. “Uh-oh, did I come in at a bad time?”
“We’re talking about Uncle Pete and Shirley. And I don’t want to talk about it anymore. It’s kind of
freaking me out.” Cat watched as Seth washed up at the kitchen sink. “How’s the secret project going? Please tell me it’s an indoor swimming pool. I’d love to be able to do laps in the morning.”
“If I answer all the what it’s not questions, you’ll be able to guess what it is, so, I’m not answering that question either.” He dried his hands on a towel and glanced at the clock. “Do you mind if I eat with you this week? I’m a little strapped for cash.”
“Of course. It’s part of your amazing benefit package as our part-time houseboy.” Shauna considered him as he walked across the kitchen. “Although we may need to get you a better uniform. Houseboys don’t typically wear dirty jeans and a T-shirt.”
“That’s good, because I’m not a houseboy. I’m a domestic engineer.” He grinned at her. “Or something like that. What are we eating?”
“I’m making chicken tacos and Spanish rice unless someone objects.” Shauna turned the page on the magazine she’d been skimming for recipes.
“Sounds great to me.” He gave Cat a squeeze as he went by. “I’m running upstairs to make sure the air-conditioning is working in the attic. I set up a little workstation for me up there for my laptop during retreat weeks, if that’s all right.”
“I’m not sure why you’re being so polite and charming right now, but I kind of like it.” Cat waved him off. Seth had started the renovation on the other wing, but Cat liked the feel of the smaller retreat groups. “I’m surprised you don’t set up a room just for your office somewhere. We have enough rooms we aren’t using.”
“I don’t want to impose.” And with that, he disappeared from the kitchen.
Cat looked at Shauna. “Is it just me or is Seth being weird?”
“He’s always been a bit off.” Shauna opened the fridge. “Do you think Pete will be joining us for dinner?”
“He didn’t say anything. Hey, you’re not still mad at Seth, are you? You know he feels bad about everything that happened.” Cat watched for Shauna’s reaction.
“Sometimes things can’t be just taken back. I wish he would have talked to me about it, but instead, he went to you.” Shauna started chopping vegetables for dinner. “I’ll get over it. It’s just going to take some time.”
Cat wished Shauna had never met Kevin, not for the pain he’d caused her friend. But if wishes were horses . . . She wondered if Paul was around this week. Maybe Cat would just have to make a drive out to the ranch and see if she could get him to sell the horse. It was a small thing, but Shauna would be so much happier.
“Look, I’m going to go check on our guests and see who is back. Do you want me to refresh the snack center in the dining room?”
“Just let me know if it needs anything. I don’t think it’s been touched since I set it up this morning. This is a totally different group.” Shauna smiled, and for the first time in a long time, Cat thought the action touched her eyes. “I may need to slow down on my baking this week. I might even find time to start reading again.”
As Cat made her way through the house, it felt empty. Shauna was in the kitchen, Seth was up in the attic, and apparently Kelly was holed up in her room, but other than those three, Cat had the house to herself. She breezed through the lower-level rooms, adjusting a chair or a pillow here and there, but mostly, the house was ready. Now the retreat guests just had to come back.
Cat chose a book from the bookshelves and settled into one of the wing chairs in the living room. That’s where she was when Jessi came into the room almost an hour later.
Jessi had a bottle of water and a cookie from the dining room. She plopped down into a chair next to Cat. “Where is everyone? I ran back from Outlaw so I wouldn’t miss dinner at Reno’s.”
“They haven’t come back from the library yet.” Cat glanced at her watch—almost six. “I’m sure they’ll be back soon. You know how absorbing researching can be.”
“I guess I’ll give Cora a call.” She stood and started to leave the room.
“Hey, hold on a moment. I thought you weren’t working this week?” Cat set the book down on the table. “You know you have to make time to write. It doesn’t just happen.”
“I know. I don’t know what happened. Danielle was there for the first couple hours of the shift, then she poofed. I’m going to give her a piece of my mind when I see her. She lost all of my shifts because the manager doesn’t trust her now.” Jessi smiled and held up her hand with the cookie. “I’ve dealt with the rest of the week. And I told my manager I couldn’t work anymore until next Sunday. So I’m clear. And I promise, I’m taking this very seriously.”
“I’m not your keeper, but I want you to have a good experience.”
Jessi started to say something, then the room filled with the other women who had arrived back from the library.
“Sorry we’re late. We’ll just run upstairs and change and then we’ll be ready to head to town for dinner.” Cora shook her backpack. “You won’t believe how much work I got done today. The library is a gold mine of historical recordings. You are so lucky to live here.”
“I’m not much into that old stuff. I want to write a serious story about life and loss.” Jessi stood and joined her group. They strolled out of the room, leaving Cat alone with her book again.
“They come, they go. It’s kind of like having kids,” Cat said to the empty room. Shauna would have dinner ready at six and the three of them would eat in the kitchen. Hopefully, she’d get some conversation going at dinner.
Cat was wrong. Shauna was lost in thought, pushing her food around her plate. And as soon as Seth wolfed down his food, he turned to Cat. “Hey, I’m going to go back to the apartment for a few hours. I want to get my stuff ready for the fishing trip next week.”
“It’s just you and the boys, what do you need to get ready? I’m sure you can buy beer anywhere on the way there.” Cat grinned. Seth and several of his high school friends had been going on this June trip for years. Or at least since Seth had come back from his time in the service. A week in the wilderness with a bunch of men and no shower? Cat wouldn’t go if Seth begged her. Besides, she had a deadline coming up, and she had to be seriously writing next week, once this retreat was in the books.
“You’d be surprised. I have to go through my lures and make sure I have the right ones for rainbow trout. And those suckers keep changing their minds on what they like to bite on.” He took his plate to the sink and stopped to kiss Cat. “Thanks for dinner, Shauna. If you need me before I get back, just call and I’ll come right back.”
As he went to the door to leave, Uncle Pete came inside. He looked at Seth and his keys. “Going somewhere?”
“I was.” Seth tossed his keys in the air. “Getting ready for the guys’ trip. You still thinking about coming with us?”
“I believe that’s off the table now.” Uncle Pete closed the door. “If you wouldn’t mind staying around for a while, I need to talk to you all.”
“Uh-oh, that doesn’t sound good.” Cat took her plate to the sink. “Can I dish you up some dinner while we chat?”
“I don’t think so, but if you’d put some aside, maybe I can take it with me. I need to go up to Outlaw again.” He took his hat off and ran a hand through his thinning hair. “Sometimes I think retirement wouldn’t be such a bad thing.”
“I’ll make you a couple of sandwiches and pack a bag for you so you can eat and drive.” Shauna stood and went to the fridge. “Unless you can’t eat in the car.”
“Brenden’s going with me, so he can drive while I eat. Tuck another meal in there for him, if you don’t mind. I think it’s going to be a long night.” Uncle Pete poured himself a cup of coffee. “So if you all are in here, I suppose your guests are out to dinner?”
Cat glanced at the clock. “They left about an hour ago. I would expect them back in a few, but with this group, who knows. I’ve hardly seen them today.”
“Including Jessi? Or is she here?” Uncle Pete pulled out his little notebook and set a pen next to it.
“Maybe. I need to talk to her. Has she said anything about her roommate?”
“Danielle? I met her Sunday. She seems like a normal kid. Don’t tell me she’s in trouble.” Cat relaxed a little. At least Uncle Pete’s visit wasn’t about the retreat guests.
“Actually, she’s missing. She left her station today and never showed back up after lunch.” Uncle Pete sipped his coffee.
“I know.” Cat shook her head when Uncle Pete choked on the sip he’d just taken. “I mean, Jessi told me that she got called in to work because Danielle was supposed to take her shift and then bailed. Why on earth would they call the police over a girl skipping out on work?”
“There’s a witness who says she saw Danielle getting into a black car. She says she told her manager about it, but he thought she was making up stories to keep Danielle from getting into trouble. I guess the witness isn’t the most trustworthy employee they have.” He paused and took another sip of coffee.
“Wait, there was a witness to a kidnapping and they thought she was just telling stories? Who are these people?” Shauna paused in wrapping several cookies and stared at Pete.
“She didn’t say Danielle was forced, she just got into a car. The girl said she thought she was meeting a guy on her break and then got sidetracked. They’re kids. They don’t make the best decisions.”
“Why do they think something has happened now?” Seth had poured his own coffee and sat next to Uncle Pete.
“Her folks called in a missing person report. She was supposed to have dinner with them tonight and she didn’t show. When they called her supervisor at Outlaw, he’d told them she took off around ten.” Uncle Pete sighed. “They are swearing that their daughter wouldn’t leave work like that. Of course, that’s what all parents say. Except this time, I believe them.”