Alien Allure: A Garden Girls Cozy Mystery (Garden Girls Christian Cozy Mystery Series Book 23)

by Hope Callaghan

  Brian pointed at his eyes. “You don’t see the dark circles? The twins are up half the night, and they sleep half the day.”

  “Whenever you’re ready for a break, the grandma gang is ready and willing to jump in and spend some time spoiling those pumpkins,” Lucy said.

  “Andrea and I were talking about hiring a sitter so we could go out.”

  “Hiring a sitter?” Gloria wagged her finger at Brian. “Don’t you dare think about hiring a sitter.”

  “You can’t do that,” Lucy chimed in. “Not when you have a half dozen friends champing at the bit to babysit.”

  “You’re serious?”

  “Absolutely.” Gloria warmed to the idea. “We can pick the babies up in the morning, giving you and Andrea time to nap and rest and then later in the evening, go on a real date.”

  “I have Wednesdays off,” Brian said.

  “Wednesday works for me,” Gloria grinned.

  “Andrea is on her way. We’ll run it by her when she gets here.”

  “Is she bringing the babies with her?” Lucy clapped her hands.

  “They’re staying home with Alice.”

  “Oh.” Lucy’s face fell. “Rats.”

  They didn’t have long to wait for Andrea to arrive. She made a beeline for the back. “Hello, Gloria, Lucy.”

  Gloria hugged her tight and took a step back. “We were talking about twin sitting to give you two a break. Since Brian has Wednesdays off, we wondered if we might take the twins for the day so you can rest, relax, and even give Alice some time off.”

  “Do you have any idea what you’re getting yourself into? I…” Andrea shot her husband a questioning glance.

  Brian shrugged. “Sounds good to me.”

  Gloria could see Andrea was on the fence. “Wouldn’t you like to spend some time alone with your husband?” she asked softly.

  “Okay. We’ll take you up on your offer.”

  They agreed on a time for Wednesday morning, after breakfast when the babies were up and ready, and then Lucy and Gloria headed out. “Let’s stop by Dot’s place.”

  They made their way to the other end of Main Street and stepped inside the restaurant. The place was packed. Gwen, one of the part-time employees, smiled as she hurried past.

  “Maybe this isn’t a good time.” Gloria tentatively peeked into the kitchen.

  Dot was darting back and forth. Ray, who was also in the kitchen, caught Gloria’s eye. “C’mon in. Welcome to Dot’s wild kitchen.”

  “You guys are busy,” Gloria said.

  “It’s Elvis’s fault,” Dot replied breathlessly. “The Elvis special is selling like hotcakes. We’re running out of supplies and had to send Johnnie to Green Springs to buy bananas and bacon.”

  “What can we do to help?” Lucy asked.

  “We could use a tray of side salads if you don’t mind.” Dot pushed a stray strand of hair from her eyes.

  Gloria rolled up her sleeves and reached for a clean apron before slipping on a pair of gloves. “We’re on it.”

  “How is your investigation going?” Dot asked.

  “We’re at a standstill.” Gloria placed a clean cutting board on the counter. “We stopped by the hardware store to talk to Brian. No one matching the abductor’s description was in there buying stuff.” She laid out her theory, how someone who was attending the convention but not necessarily staying on the grounds, was responsible.

  “Ryan couldn’t remember anything else?”

  “No. You should have seen the look on Jill’s face when I told her what happened.”

  “You can’t blame yourself.” Dot plated two Elvis specials. Ray added sides of coleslaw, small dishes of melted marshmallows and eased pickle spears onto the side before setting the plates in the window.

  Gwen appeared at the pass thru. “I need two more Elvis specials.”

  “Good grief. I hope Johnnie gets back here soon.”

  Lucy and Gloria made quick work of chopping and assembling a tray of salads. Gloria covered each bowl with plastic wrap while Lucy arranged them on a tray and slid them inside the fridge.

  They had finished cleaning up when Gloria’s cell phone chirped. It was a text from Ruth, asking her to swing by the flea market when she had time, that she had new information.

  “Great.” Gloria hung the apron on the hook and grabbed her purse. “Maybe she’s onto something.”

  “Thanks for the help,” Dot called out as the women hurried out of the kitchen.

  They reached the flea market and found Ruth’s van parked in its usual spot.

  “Looks like the spymobile survived the search.” Lucy slowly circled the van.

  “I bet Ruth is a happy camper.”

  Ruth wasn’t around. The women found her in the pavilion, talking to Leonard, Bernadette and Cliff.

  “Gus brought the spymobile back,” Lucy said. “It appears no worse for the wear.”

  “Not exactly. They left a dusting of powder on the dashboard and doors.”

  “Fingerprinting,” Gloria guessed.

  “I hope the boy is able to help nail the guy with a good description.”

  “The Bearney boy?”

  “No. The one they found wandering around downtown Grand Rapids a couple of hours ago. The boy who was abducted from Lakeville.”

  Gloria’s heart skipped a beat. “The boy was found alive?”

  “You haven’t heard? It’s all over the news.”

  “We’ve been too busy tracking down clues.”

  “We better get back to work.” Leonard, along with Cliff and Bernadette, excused themselves.

  Ruth waited until they were gone. “Poor kid. I heard they brought in a counselor.”

  “In the meantime, this monster is still out there roaming the streets, searching for his next victim.” Gloria’s blood boiled. “I still think there’s a link to this place.” She told her friend her thoughts, how perhaps the abductor was part of the group but not necessarily staying on the grounds.

  “When I got here after church, this place was swarming with cops,” Ruth said.

  “Did they impound any vehicles or haul anyone off?”

  “Nope.”

  “I’ve been thinking about the back gate,” Gloria said. “That has to be how the person managed to slip out without being caught last night. I was wondering if you could show it to us.”

  “Sure.” Ruth, Lucy and Gloria zigzagged past the campsites, made several turns and then walked along the property’s fence line. The Giese family compound was off in the distance, high on the hill.

  Ruth followed Gloria’s gaze. “Helena is having a ball. If I host the event next year, we might add preppers to the mix.”

  “That would be an interesting trio – spies, alien enthusiasts and preppers.”

  They reached the corner of the fence and a large metal gate, one large enough for vehicles to drive through.

  Gloria’s eyes scanned their surroundings as she made her way to the rusted gate. She shaded her eyes and studied the road on the other side.

  Ruth stepped in next to her. “They busted the padlock clean off. We found it in the field.”

  “What about tracks…footprints or tire tracks?”

  “I didn’t see anything. I’m sure the investigators were back here searching the area with a fine-tooth comb.”

  Gloria crossed her arms. “My theory is whoever it was, drove in through the front gate and parked in the overflow lot before hunting for their next victim.”

  “If he did manage to sneak out through this exit, he won’t be going out this way again anytime soon.” Ruth tapped the locks. “Helena and I double padlocked this baby.”

  Gloria ran a light hand over the top of the fence. “Ruth, you just gave me an idea. You got your spymobile back just in time.”

  Chapter 20

  Ruth rubbed her hands together. “I finished a thorough inspection of all of my spy stuff, making sure the police didn’t mess anything up. The spymobile is ready to roll. Whatcha got?”r />
  “I want the spymobile to keep an eye on the entrance and exit.”

  “Setting up the surveillance will be a piece of cake. Positioning is key.” When they reached the front, Ruth scooted in through the van’s side door and began fiddling with the dials. “I have enough juice to run the recorders for six hours before recharging the batteries.”

  Gloria hovered near the side, watching. “What if we need more than six hours of surveillance?”

  “There’s a backup charger. I’ll have to remember to switch it out.” Ruth slipped her reading glasses on. “The only problem is someone will have to go through all of the footage.”

  “Fast forward will be our friend,” Lucy quipped.

  “Even so, it will still take some time.” She finished adjusting the dials and then crawled to the driver’s seat. “Now that I have everything dialed in, I need to turn the spymobile around.”

  Gloria and Lucy waited on the sidewalk while Ruth turned the van around. She shut it off and then returned to the control panel. “This will be perfect. No one will even know they’re being watched. Check it out.”

  There was a whirring sound as a set of heavy drapes slowly moved across the windshield.

  “Where’s the camera?”

  “It’s mounted inside the rearview mirror.”

  Gloria’s eyes squinted as she studied the mirror. “I don’t see anything.”

  “That’s the whole idea. Only a handful of the NASCA members even know about this. I’m testing out a company prototype. It’s the same company that created my bulletproof coating. This surveillance exercise will be a great way to gauge the camera’s capabilities. The selling point is the camera’s clarity. We’ll be able to get license numbers, tag expiration dates, you name it.”

  “Even if it’s dark?” Lucy wrinkled her nose.

  “As clear as a bell, as if it was the middle of the afternoon.” Ruth exited the vehicle and pulled the door shut. “Now…all we do is wait.”

  “I’ll be back later to check the recordings.” Gloria thanked her friend, and she and Lucy headed to her car. She dropped Lucy off before returning home. It was her turn to make the Sunday rounds visiting the shut-ins.

  Deciding to switch things up, she began working on a batch of homemade chicken noodle soup. While she worked, she thought about the boy from Lakeville, thanking God he was found alive.

  After the soup cooled, Gloria portioned it into separate containers and carefully placed them inside an empty box. She had almost finished when Paul returned from the workshop.

  “Homemade chicken noodle soup.” He patted his stomach. “It smells delicious.”

  “I decided to switch it up and deliver homemade soup this week.” Gloria pointed to a container on the counter. “I saved some for us for dinner.”

  “You’re on your own today?”

  “I am. With everyone pitching in to help Ruth during the convention, I was the only one who had time.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Paul offered.

  “You mean you’ll chauffeur me around?”

  “If you want.”

  “How thoughtful.” Gloria hugged him. “I would like that a lot.”

  Their first stop was Maxine and George Ford’s home. The Fords were the previous owners of Brian and Andrea’s hardware store. Maxine was wheelchair-bound, and her health steadily declining. George resisted putting his wife in an assisted living facility and was her only caregiver.

  Gloria wondered how much longer George could continue caring for his wife since he was struggling to get around too. Paul and Gloria visited with them for a short time, until Maxine started to doze off in her chair.

  The couple made their way down the list until there was only one person left. It was Sally Keane, a local who worked at the Quik Stop and had a penchant for gossiping.

  Gloria consulted Dot’s handwritten note. “Sally has a bad bug and has been down for several days.”

  “You should probably leave her soup at the door.”

  “I agree.” Gloria grabbed the final container and made her way to Sally’s backdoor. She rang the bell and waited for several long moments, but no one answered. She turned to go when a pale and disheveled Sally appeared in the doorway.

  The woman pulled her robe around her and eased the screen door open. “Gloria,” she croaked. “What are you doing here?”

  “Delivering homemade chicken noodle soup.” Gloria handed her the container and took a step back. “You look awful.”

  “I feel awful. I’ve been down with the flu for almost a week now.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Thank you for the soup,” Sally said. “Joe was gonna come by earlier to bring me something to eat, but he’s working overtime trying to catch the sicko who took the Lakeville boy.”

  “I hope they catch whoever it is,” Gloria said. “I believe the same person tried to take my grandson, Ryan, last night. Thankfully, he was able to get away.”

  Cough. Cough.

  Gloria took another step back and waited for Sally’s coughing fit to end. “I hope you’re feeling better soon.”

  “Thanks.” Sally reached into her pocket, pulled out a tissue and wiped her nose. “What the poor boy from Lakeville went through is horrific.”

  “I…hadn’t heard what happened to him,” Gloria said.

  Sally’s bloodshot eyes widened as she realized she’d let information slip. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I…my brain is foggy right now. I shouldn’t be talking to anyone.”

  “My lips are sealed.” Gloria made a zipping motion. “I need to get going, but the boy…what happened?”

  “I’m sorry, Gloria. I can’t. I need to keep my big mouth shut.”

  “Was he molested?” Even voicing the words caused Gloria to feel sick to her stomach.

  Sally shook her head, but the look on her face told her that she’d hit the nail on the head. “The man is a terrible monster. I’m so sorry to hear this.”

  “You didn’t hear it from me.”

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “Thank you for the soup. I think I’ll eat some and go lie down.”

  Gloria told her she hoped she was back on her feet soon and then returned to the car. She was quiet as she climbed in and pulled the door shut behind her.

  “Sally looks terrible.”

  “Yes, and she sounds terrible. She has the flu.” Gloria started to tell Paul what Sally had said, but remembered her promise. Besides, Sally hadn’t confirmed what Gloria suggested and suspected.

  Back at the farm, Paul parked in front of the garage. “I’m going to check on the deer stand. What are you up to?”

  “I think I’ll run back to the flea market. Ruth is using her spymobile to keep an eye on the entrance. We’re able to track everyone coming and going.”

  “You know how I feel about you getting into the middle of this,” Paul shook his head.

  “I think we’re close to figuring out who it is.” She hurried on. “I’ve been mulling this over in my mind. Why would the abductor abruptly release the boy – and in Grand Rapids of all places?”

  She didn’t wait for him to reply. “Because the authorities were getting a little too close for comfort last night. He panicked. He must’ve decided the boy was a liability and the best way to handle it was to drop him off in the city.”

  “If the authorities are closing in, perhaps you should stay out of it.”

  “The connection is the flea market,” Gloria insisted. “Keeping tabs on who is coming and going isn’t hindering an investigation.”

  “I suppose there’s some truth to that.” Paul sighed heavily as he exited the car. “I can see I’m wasting my breath. Just be careful.”

  “You worry too much.” Gloria gave her husband a quick kiss and ran inside to grab her keys. She coaxed Mally into the house and pulled the back door shut when the crunch of tires on the gravel drive caught her attention.

  A black SUV coasted into the driveway. Gloria watched as the driv
er flung the door open. “Here we go.”

  Chapter 21

  Liz tottered across the driveway. She slid her sunglasses onto her head and peered down at her sister. “Surprise! Are you surprised I’m here already?”

  “I couldn’t be more surprised if the Easter Bunny climbed out of the car. How did you get here so fast?”

  “My new set of wheels made zipping down the highway a breeze.” Liz shifted the designer handbag to her other shoulder.

  “You sold your house and bought a vehicle.”

  “Not just any vehicle. This is a 2020 Mercedes Benz GLE 350. It has automatic temperature control, an emergency communication system, power moonroof, wireless phone connectivity, not to mention parking sensors and a rear parking camera.” Liz motioned excitedly. “Come check it out.”

  Gloria reluctantly trailed behind.

  Liz opened the door. “Smell the richness…the new car smell.” She breathed deeply, closing her eyes.

  Her sister stuck her head inside and sniffed. “Yep. Smells like an expensive new set of wheels. How much did this set you back?”

  “This will give me dependable transportation for years to come. I figured since I had to sell my fabulous Florida home, I might as well return to Michigan in style.”

  “No one twisted your arm. You didn’t have to sell your Florida home.”

  Liz pretended not to hear. “You should think about getting rid of Annabelle and investing in a new vehicle.”

  “I love Annabelle. She’s family.” Gloria gave the exterior a once-over. “Is this four-wheel drive?”

  “It’s rear-wheel drive.”

  “A rear-wheel drive vehicle for Michigan winters?”

  “Maybe I don’t plan to spend my winters in Michigan.”

  Gloria brightened. “That’s the best news I’ve had all day.”

  “Stop being mean.” Liz whacked her sister’s arm.

  “I’m kidding.”

  “Where are you going?” Liz pointed to Gloria’s purse and car keys.