by J. M. Madden
Becka settled in and yanked at the seatbelt. "I can't believe you drive this old bucket on wheels. Most people upgrade after college."
"Hey I have sentimental ties to this car. My parents saved it for me. It's fixed up and it drives like a dream." She started the engine and put it in first gear. The car stalled. "That was totally my fault."
Becka laughed. "Maybe you keep it cause it reminds you of your slutty years. How many guys did you park with in the Rabbit?"
"Hmm," Abbie replied biting her lip. "Just four. I was not super slutty, just a little slutty. Besides Clark and Jimmy, I only dated Ernie and Joe."
"Jimmy and Ernie were hot. Jimmy still is. Joe got fat and Clark is still a geek."
"True," Abbie agreed. "Joe is the only one that got pudgy like me."
"You're not pudgy. Both of us are curvy now."
"I like that." Abbie was glad she and Becka both were comfortable in their bodies.
It took less than ten minutes to reach Cissie's house. "This time one of us stays by the car. If Cissie is home, we'll keep going," Abbie said feeling better they had a plan.
"Looks like we're in luck. No Cissie." Becka leaned forward and studied the house. "I don't see Fugly in the window either. Maybe she took him with her."
Abbie drove a bit past the house and parked. "Okay stand by the car. Act like you're judging the yard. I'll go around the back and check if I can see anything through the window." She jogged up the driveway and around to the back. There was a wooden gate, which was not locked. After a bit of a hesitation, Abbie pushed it open and slipped inside.
The back of Cissie's house was impressive. There was a large paved covered sitting area with nice white wicker furniture. From the looks of it, she gardened, or had someone do it for her. The landscaping was gorgeous. Much better than her hodge-podge, wild growing one. She hurried through the back yard up to the back of the house and thankfully there were not curtains on the windows.
Abbie peered in and automatically hated Cissie. The interior looked like a combination of Southern Living and Martha Stewart. Not one thing out of place, not one speck of dust.
On the counter was a bouquet of roses and a card. Unfortunately it was too far for her to make out the handwriting. No parakeets, no mailbox and definitely not one hummingbird feeder. Just then she spotted something that looked out of place. Along the far wall were two large boxes. Both were taped up and on the side of one it "Clark" was written in bold print, on the other "Mine Now" with a heart. Abbie eyes rounded. It was possible all the stolen goods, except for the rocker fit in the boxes. Hopefully the parakeets were not suffocating in one.
Grrrr.
Abbie yelped. Fugly had a firm hold of the hem of her jeans and upon her yanking her foot back, he bit down harder and shook his head. She bent over and petted it's head. "Shoo!"
The little dog growled again. Finally it let go of her pants leg and dashed away through the back yard and out the open gate towards Becka who stood next to her car. Abbie ran after the dog. "Get the dog!"
Yap. Yap. The dog was obviously enjoying its new found freedom. It ran in a circle barking and wagging its tail. Becka lunged for it, missing by mere inches when the dog cut left and ran across the street.
"Damn it!" Abbie said as she ran past Becka. "The little shit is fast."
They gave up the chase when the dog seemed to disappear into thin air. Becka held her side and bent forward. "I am so out of shape." She groaned and lifted an arm over her head to stretch out the cramping. "I need a milkshake."
"Good idea," Abbie agreed and pulled her by the arm back to the car. "We can drive through Dairy Queen on our way back to the shop. I think Cissie might be the random thief."
Once in the car she drove slowly looking for the dog. "I feel bad, what if he gets hit by a car?"
When they arrived back at Sweet Magnolia, Jimmy and Mrs. Grundy stood outside. Becka and Abbie let out a collective groan.
"Well there you are. What kind of businesswomen are you that you abandon your business. The shop was empty when I walked in. Anyone could have robbed you blind."
Abbie looked to Jimmy who pretended a sudden interest in his cell phone. "Deputy Kiser was here. I don't think anyone would have robbed me with him here Mrs. Grundy."
"He was standing outside. I could have run out the back with anything I wanted." The old woman stomped away. "I don't want any tea now. You've lost a sale."
Becka went inside shaking her head while Abbie remained outside wondering how to approach Jimmy about her suspicions. "So Jimmy, I know you're not going to discuss an ongoing investigation with me. But I am very concerned about the thefts. I noticed a few strange things."
"Such as?" His gaze shifted from his cell to her.
"I saw some strange boxes at Cissie's the other day when I took her dog back."
Jimmy laughed. "You don't seriously think Cissie Bloom would take things do you? The woman is loaded."
"Theft is not about the stuff. Sometimes it's the thrill of not getting caught."
He pressed his lips together. "Wanna go out for a drink tomorrow night?"
"Sure," Abbie said then realized what he'd asked. "Uh."
"See ya at six. I'll pick you up." He walked to his patrol car and got in while she stood looking after him, her mouth open.
"Damn it," she exclaimed as she went into the teashop.
Becka held up a cup. "He didn't believe you huh? Want some tea?"
"No he didn't. Also he caught me off guard. Asked me out and I said yes."
Her girlfriend's laughter made her giggle. "Oh my goodness. You're going to end up naked with Jimmy."
"I am not!" Abbie exclaimed and wondered if she was. It had been a while after all.
Several customers entered. A couple of women lugging shopping bags sat and perused the menu on the wall while three teenagers approached the counter and in bored tones ordered a scone to split.
By three in the afternoon, the teashop was full, almost every seat taken inside and even the two tables outside had customers. Abbie walked through the doorway to place a cup of herbal tea in front of a woman when she spotted the hunky vet heading toward her.
"Hello Doctor Porter," she said, allowing him to open the door for her.
"Call me Logan," he said and settled into the last stool at the counter and ordered coffee and a scone. After donning glasses, he spread paperwork in front of him and began reading.
"He's like Clark Kent," Becka hissed. "Look how cute he looks with glasses."
Abbie slid a glance towards Logan and had to agree. The man was hot. "Hush, he'll hear you."
"How old are the scones?" Mrs. Grundy waddled in bumping into the back of chairs with her walker. "I don't smell freshly baked goods."
"You must have a sinus condition Mrs. Grundy," Becka said with a wide smile. "I'm about to pull pumpkin scones out of the oven."
The woman went to the table that was just vacated and plopped down. "Damn walker. I should have brought a cane. Abbie bring me some tea. That lavender mix you made. It seems to help my nerves." She pulled an oversized bag off the walker and shoved it under the table. "Don't try to sneak any fake sweetener in it either."
"Got a minute?" Logan said when Abbie returned from Mrs. Grundy's table.
"Sure," Abbie said eyeing the door when two more people walked in. Looked like they'd be open later than usual. "What's going on?"
Logan handed her a slip of paper. "Can you come with me to the mayor's reception on Saturday evening? I really need a date."
"Uh. Okay?" She looked at the paper. A phone number was scribbled in messy handwriting. "Wait, what?"
"I can pick you up at five-thirty. Dinner is at six. Call me if you need anything." He got up and grabbed his to-go cup. "Gotta go, see you." He kissed her cheek and strolled out whistling.
"Seriously?" Abbie said as the door jingled and two more people walked in. "What do you put in those scones? All of a sudden the men are acting as if they can't wonky," she asked Becka who grinned a
nd batted her lashes.
"Lots of love. I'm that good."
"I think my dry spell is over," Abbie whispered as she walked past to brew some tea for a customer. "I've got another date."
FIVE
On her way home after an exhausting and confusing day, Abbie drove around in case she spotted the terrier. She cut across town to Tall Pines Drive and turned left. There were no dogs, but she saw Cissie standing on the corner. In her bright pink skirt suit and black sunglasses the blonde looked more like an advertisement for a fashion magazine than a Whisper resident. "Hey Cissie," Abbie called out and pulled across the road to stop by where Cissie stood with papers and a staple gun. "What are you doing?"
The blonde blew her bangs out of her eyes "I think my dog was stolen. Either that or the little shit ran off on it's own again. The back gate was open so anything could have happened. Stupid lawn service was here, they may have left it open. Who knows." She lifted the papers in her left hand. "Can you put a couple up in your shop?"
Abbie hoped her guilt wasn't obvious. "I'm so sorry. I'm sure he'll come around."
"I've decided to put him up for adoption. I don't need the stress with everything else that I have going on right now."
Abbie pounced on Cissie's admission. "Goodness what is going on with you?"
By her eyes widening for just a second, Cissie realized her slip up. "Oh nothing major. Just house stuff. You know real estate is a doggie dog world."
"Right. So nothing else bothering you then? Like I mean sometimes people do crazy things when stressed out. You know?"
"Nope. Just work." Cissie looked across the street toward her house. "Oh look there's my neighbor. I better go ask her is she saw anyone sneaking around my house." Her heels clacking on the pavement, she dashed away.
Abbie's heart pounded. What if someone had seen her? How would she explain her skulking about Cissie's house to the woman? And why was Cissie acting so strange?
After driving down a couple more streets, she gave up and went home. At her front door, she picked up a package. The package was from an Esty vendor, her latest shopping addiction. Unlike most days when she couldn't wait to tear into the package, she put it on the kitchen counter.
The day couldn't have been stranger, the guilt over losing Cissie's dog battled against the giddiness of being asked out by two good-looking men. It was too much for a girl to bear at once.
She shuffled through the living room to her bedroom. If she had two dates, it was best to figure out outfits and make a nail and pedicure appointment. A woman had to have her priorities after all.
Tomorrow she'd worry about what to do about Cissie's ugly little dog.
MORNING CAME TO EARLY. Abbie took one last look in the mirror. It was a good hair day, without much more than a couple passes of the flat iron, it looked smooth and in place.
She picked up her planner and notebook and shoved them into her flowery canvas tote. If her hair was any indication, the day would go well. She'd call Cissie and ask about Fugly and then she'd attend the Whisper festival meeting and find out the random thief had been arrested.
She stepped outside and her heel clunked onto the bare wood flooring. "What the hell?" The floor was exposed; her new welcome mat was gone. She'd ordered it online all the way from California, personalized with her initials in curvy lettering font that took hours to finally decide on. Not only that, but the darn thing had cost a hundred dollars.
Abbie spun and looked at her front door. Her new beautiful wreath was also gone. She'd been lucky to get her order in on time for the Whisper festival. In bright rainbow pastels with a large wooden "W" hanging in the middle, it was beautiful. "Oh no." She looked up and down the street. The house across the way had a mat and wreath, so did her neighbor.
The day was officially in the toilet.
"I'M SO glad you're here!" Abbie called out when Becka trudged in later that morning.
"Good morning to you too." On Thursdays Becka came in later. She and Gary hosted bible study on Wednesdays, and she often didn't get to bed until late.
Abbie waited for Becka to come behind the counter. "I have the scones in the oven." "I've got the Whisper Festival committee meeting at ten. And you won't believe what happened to me this morning. I am the latest victim of the Random Thief." Her face flushed with anger, Abbie blinked to keep from crying. "He took my floor mat and Whisper Day wreath."
"Oh no! The mat you ordered from California? The one I told you, you were crazy to spend too much money on?" Becka shook her head. "And the wreath I told you Mrs. Grundy would hate you for buying because you got the last one?"
Abbie glared at Becka. "Focus on what is important here will ya? I'm a victim of a crime. I just lost over two hundred dollars worth of personal property."
"I'm sorry." Becka seemed to look concerned, but Abbie wasn't sure. "Call Jimmy, he needs to know right away."
As if conjured buy magic, Jimmy walked past the window. He hesitated at the door long enough that Abbie rushed around the counter to call him back in case he kept going. He opened the door and came to an abrupt halt at her heading to him. "Hey, you look like you're about to kick some serious butt."
She grabbed his arm and yanked him inside. "I've been robbed. I need to file a report."
To her chagrin, Jimmy looked longingly toward the counter before letting out a breath. "I am not sure I can concentrate on what you say unless I get something to eat. I'm starving."
"Ugh," Abbie trudged to the counter and took the coffee and scone Becka proffered. "Here, now sit down and take notes."
His handsome face brightened and he took a bite of the scone. "Wow, hadn't had this flavor Becka, it's great. You've outdone yourself."
"I made it," Abbie snapped and tapped her fingernail on his pad. "Now listen."
She went through the entire sequence of events, from picking up the package from the mat upon arriving the evening before. Jimmy nodded and in between bites scribbled a word here and there.
Jimmy finished the last of his coffee and glanced up with a grin when Becka headed over to refill it. Abbie let out a breath. "Will you two please stop acting like it's tea at Downton Abbey and at least pretend to be concerned for me?"
"Did you really pay a hundred and fifteen dollars for a door mat?" Jimmy asked after stirring creamer into this coffee. "That's crazy."
"I know right?" Becka exclaimed and scurried away when Abbie gave her a death threat look.
"Fourteen ninety-five of it was for shipping. It was ninety-nine dollars, so technically I paid one hundred and thirteen ninety-five."
Jimmy shook his head. "That's a lot of money for a mat. Almost asking for someone to take it."
"I don't think there are that many people with the initials AAA, and besides only people that came to my doorstep could spot it." She crossed her arms. "I have a right to put an expensive door mat out."
Jimmy burst out laughing; I would go check the Alcoholics Anonymous place, maybe they got it set out.
"Or the travel office, they have a triple a desk don't they," Becka added and both chuckled.
"I'm going to the committee meeting and speaking to the major." She glared at Jimmy and pushed her index finger into his chest hating how hard it was. "I am not going out with you and I'm complaining to the mayor about your lack of professionalism."
"Oh shit, is it ten already?" Jimmy got up ignoring her threats. "I'll walk with you."
"No you won't." Abbie went to her office and grabbed her canvas tote. "I am not speaking to you."
Jimmy walked along side as she hurried the two blocks to the library. It was easy to ignore him as she peeked between buildings and down side streets hoping to spot the ugly terrier. Mrs. Grundy sat on a bench, her walker beside her. When she spotted them she glared. "Wasting your time at the committee meeting. Everyone is a bunch of idiots."
"Good morning Mrs. Grundy," Abbie said waving at the woman. "Made a new scone recipe you may want to try."
"The last one gave me gas," Mrs. Grundy repl
ied already reaching for her walker.
ABBIE HATED TO ADMIT IT, but Mrs. Grundy was right, the meeting was a colossal waste of time. It seemed everyone was on edge. Instead of acting like a mayor and head of the committee, Clark kept clearing his throat and fidgeting in his chair. He flushed red and loosened his tie. "Does it feel hot to anyone else in here?" he asked and everyone shook their head.
"Maybe you're getting sick," Julie Milton the librarian leaned over and touched his forehead. "You do feel a bit warm."
"I have something to bring up," Abbie interrupted before they began CPR on the man who was obviously either hung-over or just stupid. "I'm the latest victim of the random thief." She waited allowing her words to sink in. Jimmy cleared his throat and she elbowed him.
"Ouch."
Mrs. Polanski was the only one who seemed concerned. "Oh dear. What did they take? Thankfully you don't have any pets, so you are spared from the pain the loss of it can cause. I haven't slept since Polly and Peter were taken. Everyday, Mr. Polanski goes outside with a handful of their favorite crackers hoping that by some miracle they are back." She continued on to tell them of the many feats Polly and Peter had done in their short five years of life, while everyone gave Abbie "now you did it" looks.
Finally when Mrs. Polanski paused for breath Abbie jumped in. "My welcome mat and door wreath are gone."
Compared to the obviously monumental achievements of two parakeets, her loss now seemed inconsequential. Abbie let out a sigh. "Anyway, I hope he's stopped before more people loose things they treasure."
"Yes of course. " Clark finally seemed to snap out of his hot flash to speak. "It's all very troublesome." He looked to Jimmy. "Any progress in the investigation?"
"Nope." Jimmy eloquent as always replied and pulled out his pad. "I'll talk to Abbie's neighbors today."
"Well if that's it. I have a full day," Clark jumped to his feet and everyone else remained seating. He looked at Cissie who had a soft smile on her lips. "Did you find Beauregard?"
Cissie pouted. "Not yet. But one of my neighbors said she saw Becka at my house. I'm going to go see if she stopped by and saw him."