Kappy King and the Puppy Kaper

by Amy Lillard

  “I don’t remember.” He frowned as if the thought process was making his head hurt. “I don’t remember.”

  “It’s okay,” Edie said, her voice reassuring. “But if you do remember or if you think about the name of who was coming to visit, you write it down with your coloring pencils, okay?”

  Jimmy nodded. “Jah. Okay.”

  “And it would be good if you could remember,” Kappy added.

  “It’s very important,” Edie said.

  “Very important,” Jimmy parroted.

  A soft knock sounded at the door only a split second before it opened and a uniformed deputy stepped inside. She was no bigger than Kappy herself but she had a tough look about her eyes.

  “Time’s up.”

  “You have to go?” Jimmy asked.

  Edie squeezed his fingers. “I’m afraid so. But I’ll come back. Real soon, okay?”

  “Do you want us to bring you anything?” Kappy asked.

  “No. That’s okay. Heather gives me anything I need.”

  Kappy shot him a quick smile. Thank heaven for Heather.

  * * *

  “I’m just saying,” Edie protested on the way home. “That’s who you need to find. This mysterious, important person who was visiting Mamm just before she died.”

  “And I’m just saying that we need a little more to go on than someone who’s important.” Jack held up two fingers, curling them down as he said the word important. It must have meant something because Edie stared at him, mouth open in shock.

  “This is a big deal. I’ve come to you with the clue,” Edie continued.

  “Sweetheart, if you think that’s a clue, it’s a good thing that you’re not in law enforcement.”

  “Then what would you call it?” Edie asked in a huff. She sat back in her seat and crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at Jack’s profile as he drove.

  Kappy slumped back against the seat. Being confined in the small space of the car with the two of them was not exactly safe traveling. Whenever they got together the atmosphere turned electric.

  “I call it a rumor. I call it hearsay. I call it the ramblings of a simple mind.”

  “Jimmy may be simple,” Edie started, “but he’s aware of what’s going on around him. He knows what Mamm said before she died.”

  “That may be,” Jack said. “But important people don’t exactly write that on their business card. Without that, we have no way of knowing who this important person is.”

  Kappy leaned forward, close to Edie. “Or if they own a blue shirt or a green shirt or maybe even a red dress.”

  “Would you be serious?” she hissed.

  Kappy shrugged and sat back in place. This whole ordeal had been a wild-goose chase from the get-go. Not that it made getting Jimmy out of jail any less urgent. But they didn’t have a lot to go on and each clue they found seemed to muddy the waters rather than give clear direction.

  “That important someone is Carlton Brewer, the younger,” Edie said with a self-satisfied nod.

  “Why are you so sure of that?” Jack asked.

  They were almost home and for that Kappy was grateful. Too long in the car with Jack and Edie was not a good idea.

  “I saw it in her appointment book.”

  Jack slammed on the brakes and swerved, taking the first turn off the road. Dust flew as they pulled into a graveled lane. Edie and Kappy were thrown against their seat belts as he braked and shoved the car into park. Jack turned, arm braced across the back of the seat as he pinned her with a hard stare. “You have her appointment book and you haven’t turned it over to the sheriff?” It was mostly a question.

  Edie gave a small cough and adjusted her shoulder strap. “It was in her office. The deputies came and took fingerprints and whatnot. I figured if they left it they didn’t want it.”

  Jack closed his eyes and exhaled out his nose. Kappy had the feeling he was angry, maybe even counting to ten or twenty to get his ire under control. “When we get to your house I want that book.”

  Edie shrugged. “Whatever you say.”

  Edie and Jack managed not to argue anymore on the remainder of the trip back to Ruth’s house.

  They stopped first at Kappy’s so she could feed Elmer, then on a hunch, she put him on his leash and led him back to the car. Now he squirmed on her lap, trying to lick her face as if he hadn’t seen her in years.

  “Are there more of them?” Edie stared out the window at the multitude of people crammed into the three feet on either side of the lane. A few still sat in lawn chairs and were forced to move back from the sides of the road as Jack came through.

  “I thought they would have given up by now,” Kappy said, staring out her own window. Well, what she could see of it over Elmer’s head.

  As if the protesters realized the owner of the so-called puppy mill was in the car, they began their chanting anew, pumping their signs up and down, their faces angry. For the most part, the two policemen still on the scene had managed to keep the crowd peaceful, but to Kappy it looked as if it was a slippery slope from where they stood to an out-and-out riot.

  “Can you make them go home?” Kappy asked. The whole situation was unnerving.

  “Afraid not,” Jack said. “As long as they’re peaceful, and they’re not on private property, they have the right to assemble and protest.”

  “I was afraid you were going to say that,” Kappy said, hating the way the protesters marched behind the car, shouting their slogans and flashing their signs.

  “Sorry to have to do this.” He pulled the car off the road and into the yard, somehow nudging the protesters apart. Then he drove to the back door and parked on the grass. That was when Kappy noticed a third police car waiting there along with a uniformed deputy standing guard at the porch.

  “Three policemen?” Edie asked. “Are we in that much danger?”

  The protesters started around the side of the house after the car. But they took one look at the policeman standing there and held their ground. They shouted and chanted, but didn’t come any farther.

  “It’s better to be cautious than sorry,” Jack said, and Kappy couldn’t help but agree. The officer came forward and opened the back door for Edie. Kappy slid out on the same side, keeping Elmer in her arms for safety. Jack strode up the porch steps and into the house as if it belonged to him.

  “Where’s he going?” Edie asked.

  The officer gave a grim nod. “He’s just making sure no one got in the house while you were away.”

  “In the house?” Edie’s expression turned to startled. “You think some of them might come into the house?” She swung her attention to Kappy.

  “Hard to say, ma’am,” the officer said. “But anything is possible.”

  Edie looped her arm through Kappy’s and directed her toward the house. “You’re definitely staying here tonight.”

  Chapter 13

  Jack stayed just long enough to look through the house and make sure no protesters were lying in wait.

  “I suppose you are going to want to see your brother again tomorrow.”

  That wasn’t even close to a question.

  Edie propped her hands on her hips and tilted her nose to the ceiling. She gave a derisive sniff. “Of course. I suppose you’ll come out to get us again.”

  Jack flashed her a quick smile that Kappy noticed didn’t quite reach his dark eyes. “It would be my pleasure.”

  Somehow she got the feeling he didn’t quite mean those words. Bah! Englisch! They never said what they meant and they never meant what they said. She wasn’t sure how they knew what anybody was going to do with the way they double-talked, avoided subjects, and antagonized one another. Or maybe that was just Edie and Jack.

  He got halfway to the door before he stopped and turned back around. “Where’s that appointment book?”

  Edie flounced into the living room where she retrieved the book off the coffee table. Several other volumes were stacked there.

  “What’s all that?”
he asked, waving a hand in the general direction.

  “Here’s her appointment book.” Edie pressed the book toward him, bumping the edge against his trim midriff.

  “I repeat, what is all that?”

  Edie tossed a look over her shoulder at the many ledgers stacked on the coffee table. “That? Just some stuff of Mamm’s.”

  Jack accepted the appointment ledger from Edie, then edged around her and into the living room proper.

  “What kind of stuff?” He plopped down on the couch like he wasn’t going to leave for a long, long time.

  “Boring stuff, really,” Edie said. “You wouldn’t be interested.”

  Kappy swung her attention from one of them to the other, though she was starting to feel a bit dizzy from whipping her head around so much. What was it with these two?

  “Humor me,” Jack said.

  “Breeding schedules, shot records, dog family trees,” Edie said. “Boring stuff.”

  He lightly fingered the pages of one of the open books. “Actually, I find it quite interesting.” He pulled the book closer, running a finger down the page as he examined it. “Looking for clues?”

  “What?” Edie’s high-pitched response was not confidence-inspiring.

  “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  Edie seemed to wilt under Jack’s dark stare. Kappy had to consciously stay in place or she would go over and offer her friend physical support.

  “I can’t let my brother stay in jail any longer than necessary, and if the police aren’t going to search for clues, I am.”

  Jack leaned back and gestured toward the many volumes on the coffee table. “How can they search for clues if you are withholding evidence?”

  Edie opened her mouth, then closed it again. She opened it once more, but ended up closing it before the words came out. She resembled a fish that had been thrown up on the bank of a creek, unable to do more than gasp for air as she searched for a solution.

  This time Kappy did move. She stood next to her friend and wrapped one arm around her waist, offering whatever strength Edie could siphon from her.

  “Take it,” Edie said. “Take all of it, if you think it’ll help.”

  “Do you have a bag or a box?”

  Edie nodded as Jack stood. She untangled herself from Kappy’s embrace and fetched the box from the other side of the couch. She set it on the coffee table and took a step back as Jack began to stack the ledgers inside. She crossed one arm over her middle while she chewed on the thumb of the other hand.

  “You’re doing the right thing,” Jack said, as he gathered the last of the books.

  Edie merely nodded while Kappy stood by.

  “I’ll return these as soon as we are finished with the investigation.” Jack nodded at each of them in turn, then let himself out the back door.

  “I certainly hope so.”

  It took Kappy a moment to realize Edie was talking about doing the right thing and not about getting the books back.

  * * *

  “Stand aside! I tell you, I’m welcome here.”

  Kappy looked up from the seed catalog to meet Edie’s gaze.

  After Jack left, the pair had sat down in the living room, doing their best to ignore the commotion continuing around them.

  Elmer ran to the back door, barking like the devil himself was waiting.

  The crowd outside didn’t look like it was going anywhere anytime soon, which meant she wasn’t, either.

  She stood and tossed the catalog onto her vacated seat. She should’ve picked up her sewing as well. She might not be quite as bored as Edie without television, but empty hours were just that, empty hours.

  “Edith Peachey!” a man called from outside. “Tell this Englischer to let me in.”

  “Oh, now he wants to talk to me.” Edie rolled her eyes.

  “Is that . . .”

  “Yup. That would be our friendly neighbor, Jay Glick.”

  So much for boredom.

  Edie and Kappy made their way to the back door. Kappy scooped up Elmer. Edie wrenched open the door just as the uniformed deputy nudged Jay back into the yard.

  Jay caught sight of her and flapped his arms like a wayward bird. “Edie, I need to talk to you. Tell this man I’m welcome in your house.”

  A mischievous gleam lit Edie’s eyes. She crossed her arms and shifted her weight to one leg. “I thought you weren’t speaking to me, Jay Glick.”

  Elmer wriggled and whined to get down. At least he had stopped barking. Maybe because he could see his mark. Kappy kissed the top of his head.

  “Now, Edie, let’s not be touchy. I have a business proposition for you.”

  “I’m sorry,” Edie said. She didn’t sound the least bit remorseful. “But I can’t have a business transaction with you. You know, because I’m shunned and all.”

  “Let’s don’t be hasty.” Jay flashed her an enormous smile.

  Kappy took a step back, somehow managing to keep her hold on the squirming beagle. Her breath was gone. Maybe it was because she had never seen Jay actually smile. Or maybe it was the sheer size of it alone. Whatever it was, the action seemed somewhat sinister.

  “There are ways around these things, Edie.”

  She gave him a quick smile of her own. “Only if the parties involved are willing to overlook such things.”

  Jay nodded. “That’s what I’m talking about. I’m ready to forget the technicalities.”

  Edie grabbed ahold of the edge of the door, her expression unreadable. “Well, I’m not.” She shut the door on Jay’s continued protest. Then she covered her mouth and giggled behind her hand. “That felt good.” She leaned against the door, eyes sparkling.

  Kappy chuckled and let Elmer loose. He ran to the door barking with all his puppy might. “I bet it did. But it wasn’t very charitable of you.”

  Edie straightened and headed back to the living room. “It might not be,” she said, “but I enjoyed every minute of it.”

  * * *

  “Do you think Jack will actually be able to find some clues in Mamm’s books?”

  Kappy smoothed her fingers over Elmer’s silky ears, then raised her gaze to Edie. “That is what he’s trained to do, jah?”

  “Jah,” Edie said, then shook her head. “I mean, yeah. But somebody graduated at the bottom of the class.”

  Kappy frowned. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  “It means just because he’s a cop doesn’t mean he’s any good. It’s not like we’re on NCIS or anything.”

  “I know I don’t know what that means.”

  Edie stood with a frustrated growl and started for the kitchen. “It’s a television show,” she explained. “I’m hungry. Are you hungry?”

  Kappy checked the clock above the mantle. It was almost time for supper. “I suppose,” she said. “Do you really want me to stay tonight?”

  “Of course I do.” Her voice grew faint as she left the living room for the kitchen. “I don’t want to face these people by myself.”

  Kappy stood and followed Edie into the kitchen. “You don’t have to face them. We’re avoiding them, remember?”

  Edie turned from examining the contents of the pantry. “I want you to stay. Okay? Is that what you want to hear?”

  Was it? Kappy couldn’t remember a time when anybody had invited her to just sit around and talk. Hang out, as the Englisch said.

  Don’t get yourself all excited. She only wants you because you’re one of the few people who will actually talk to her in this town.

  “Why do you suppose Jay Glick wants this land so bad?” Kappy mused.

  Edie pulled a jar of peanut butter and a loaf of bread from the pantry. “Strawberry or grape?” she asked. “I wouldn’t say he wants it that bad.”

  “No jelly. But I would love some honey if you have it.” Kappy eased down into one of the kitchen chairs and propped her chin in her hand. “He wants it bad enough that he’s willing to talk to you while you’re under the Bann.”

  Edie made a face
at the mention of the word honey, then took the jar from the pantry. She gave a small shrug. “Suit yourself.”

  “You don’t think so?”

  She shrugged and grabbed a butter knife from the silverware drawer before joining Kappy at the table. “I don’t know. He’s going to have to break the Ordnung eventually if he wants to buy the land from me.”

  Kappy cocked her head to one side as Edie began smearing peanut butter on one side of the bread. “Are you really thinking about selling?”

  Edie lifted one shoulder, the gesture looking more like she was shaking off flies than actually shrugging. “I don’t know. I mean, what am I going to do with it?”

  “Same thing that your mother did.” She watched as Edie started smearing the jelly on the other side of the bread.

  “What? Raise dogs?” She smashed the two sides of her sandwich together, then pushed the jar of peanut butter and the knife across the table to Kappy.

  “Among other things. She leases the farmland, you know.” Kappy raised the peanut-butter-and-jelly-covered knife, turning it this way and that before she got up, grabbed a paper towel, and wiped it clean with one swipe.

  “I don’t know,” Edie said. She took another bite of her sandwich and chewed thoughtfully. “I mean, I’m not sure I can keep up with all that stuff. I’ve looked at Mamm’s ledgers. That was a whole bunch of records.”

  Kappy returned to her seat and reached for the bread. “You don’t have to keep the same records she did. I would say most people don’t. I’m just asking.”

  “I don’t know,” Edie said. “I don’t think I can stay in a town where nobody will talk to me.” Her expression turned down with concern. “No offense, Kappy.”

  Kappy looked up from making her sandwich. “Why would I take offense to that?”

  Edie gave another of those rippling shrugs. “No reason. Just that I know a lot of people . . . Well, what I mean to say is . . .”

  What Edie didn’t want to say was that Kappy was odd and everyone in Blue Sky knew it. That didn’t mean people wouldn’t talk to her. Or did it? She only knew what she knew.

  Maybe it was better to just change the subject. “What about Jimmy?”

  “What about him?”

  “He’ll never survive in the Englisch world.”