Lia laughed, her face relaxed as she watched a parrot and a raven feed each other tidbits. “My mom would love it here too.” She turned her smile on him. “Go do your thing, Mr. PI. I am going to have to get used to your life, just as you have gotten used to mine.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. You help people. I get that. Anyway, I am looking forward to seeing you in action.”
“Then watch the master at work.” He crossed the street, and Lia followed. Threading his way down a narrow alleyway, they eventually stood outside a small house, with a front door in need of a new coat of paint.
“This is it.” Sam lifted his hand and knocked carefully, afraid he might put his large fist through the wood. There was no answer. He tried again. No answer.
Kneeling down, he lifted the brass mail slot and called. “Lenny. It’s me.”
“Maybe he is out?” Lia asked.
“Maybe he is.” Sam stood up, his face full of concern.
“Hey, what do you want to do?” Lia asked, laying her hand on his back, trying to comfort him.
“I might try around the back.” Sam smiled weakly. “If you want to wait here, I understand.”
“Does trying around the back mean we are about to commit breaking and entering?”
“I may try to get into the house. Just to check that Lenny isn’t lying injured on the floor.”
“Shall I get my broom?” Lia joked, trying to make light of her nerves.
“You might need it.” Sam winked at her. “Come on, the first time is always the worst.”
They walked further along the alley until they came to a narrow pathway leading to the back of the houses. Sam crouched down so that his head couldn’t be seen as they followed the fence, trying to figure out which was the back of Lenny’s house.
“This one,” Sam said, pointing to a dilapidated gate.
“How do we get in?” Lia asked.
Sam put his hand on the gate and rattled it. “I don’t think we’ll get over, so I’ll have to push the gate in.”
“You really did mean what you said about breaking in,” Lia replied.
“Yep.” Sam pressed his shoulder against the wood. “But I will come back and make good on the work as soon as I have solved your case.”
“Oh, so I am a case now. Does that mean we shouldn’t be seeing each other? You know, not mixing business with pleasure?” Lia teased, trying to hide her nerves.
“Since you are not a paying client, I think I can make an exception.” The lock gave way suddenly, but Sam used his immense strength to keep himself on his feet, and propped the broken gate open wide enough for them to squeeze inside.
“There are no lights on,” Lia said, as they made their way toward the house.
The garden surprised Sam: even in the dim light as the sun finally set, he could see that it was well tended. The grass was neatly cut, the borders filled with shrubs, and Sam could imagine the fall flowers would fill the garden with color in the shortening days. It was a well-loved garden. The kind a person did not simply leave.
An unease settled over Sam as he knocked on the back door, and waited for a reply. There was none. Framing his face, he peered in through the window. From what he could see of the kitchen it had not fared as well as the garden. Pots and pans filled the sink, the cupboard doors were left open, and were mostly empty.
“I think Lenny has been trying to look after himself,” Sam said.
“So his sister is still not home, and neither is he?” Lia asked, and then let out a yelp.
Sam’s hackles rose up, his bear threatened to burst out from under his skin to protect their mate. But then he felt a cat against his legs and realized the reason she had screamed. “Lenny?”
“This is Lenny?” Lia said, looking down at the tabby cat that was brushing against her legs and then rolling on the ground to have his tummy tickled.
“This is Lenny. He and his sister are cat shifters. Not your usual big cat, but a small domestic cat. You’ll never look at cats the same way now,” Sam warned.
“You are probably right.” Lia stroked the cat and tickled his chin. Lenny purred.
“Come on, enough fuss. We need to talk to you, Lenny,” Sam said firmly.
The cat sat down and looked at Sam with his big amber eyes, and then proceeded to curl himself around Lia’s legs. A wave of jealousy hit Sam, but he pushed it away. Although it was a struggle. The cat might look like your friendly neighborhood stray, but Sam knew there was a man in there, a man who was pressing his body against Sam’s mate.
“Lenny,” Sam warned.
The cat gave a meow and then stalked away, before the air shimmered and the cat disappeared, to be replaced by a man. “Sam, have you found her?” Lenny asked excitedly.
“No.” Lenny’s face fell. “But there is an ad running in the paper in a couple of days. I want you to be prepared for whatever information we might get.”
“She never left me willingly,” Lenny protested.
Sam looked at the garden, now shrouded in darkness. “I know.”
“I just need you to be prepared.”
“I…I can’t.” Lenny shook his head and the air shimmered once more. But before he had a chance to shift back into cat form and run away, Sam reached out and grabbed hold of the young man.
“Have you eaten?” Lia asked suddenly.
The static electricity in the air dissipated, and Lenny stood calmly, studying Lia. “I got into a house a couple of doors down and ate some cat food.”
“Nice,” Sam said, but Lia shot him a warning look.
“We were going to have dinner, do you want to join us?” Lia asked.
“They do really good fish and chips over at Rodney’s.” Lenny nodded.
“Then let’s go and get some. If that’s OK with you, Sam?” Lia asked, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
“Great idea,” Sam replied. It wasn’t exactly how he had planned the evening; however, he was proud that his mate showed such compassion when faced with the pitiful Lenny.
Chapter Thirteen – Lia
She’d invited a complete stranger to come and have dinner with them. What a fool. But she could have dinner with Sam at any time, and Lenny certainly looked as if he needed a good meal, and she didn’t mean one that came out of a cat food can.
“Do you have any news on Ophelia?” Lenny asked as he guided them to Rodney’s.
“None. I went over the sheriff’s report. He covered everything, Lenny. Ophelia did just seem to vanish.” Sam tried to keep his fears out of his voice. Lia cast a glance his way; he thought someone had taken Ophelia.
“Where was she last seen?” Lia asked. Had Ophelia let someone into her car? A hitchhiker maybe?
“She went to work. Ophelia works in the truck stop down on the highway. Worked there for five years,” Sam explained
“Mr. Jepson, he owns the truck stop and lets Ophelia bring home any leftovers.” Lenny grinned. “He’s been real kind, he’s come and brought me food five times since Ophelia vanished. He says she can have her job back if we find her in one piece.” Lenny turned and faced Sam, his face white. “She is still in one piece, isn’t she, Sam?”
“I hope so, Lenny.” Sam looked as if he might say more, but then changed his mind.
“It must be so frustrating,” Lia said. “Not knowing.”
“It is,” Sam answered as Lenny ran on ahead. He acted like a kid, skidding along the sidewalk and jumping over any cracks.
“Is there any hope?” Lia asked.
“There’s always hope.” He took her hand. “Thank you, this means a lot to Lenny.”
“I want to help. I know what it’s like to feel as if you are alone with your troubles. It’s good to do something for someone else.” She leaned her head on his shoulder. “I totally get why you do this job now.”
“You do?” Sam asked.
“Sure. It gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling. And you get paid for it.”
“Ah, the money.” Sam paused. �
��I don’t get paid a lot.”
“In gratitude you do,” Lia replied.
“And that sure doesn’t pay the bills,” Sam told her honestly.
“I don’t care. My job at the newspaper would allow us to live modestly.” All Lia wanted was for them to be happy, and for them to be together.
“You are a wonderful woman, Lia.” Sam kissed the top of her head.
“I wish I could wave a magic wand and everyone’s problems would simply disappear.”
“Me too. But that is not what life is about. It’s how we deal with our problems that allows us to grow.”
“Wow, aren’t you the philosopher.” She tugged at his arm.
“I learned that from my sister.” Sam’s voice was quiet.
“You have a sister, you never mentioned her. Are you close?” Lia asked.
“We were. Now, not so much. She has a family of her own.” Sam kept his eye on Lenny as two lions crossed the street, reminding Lia of just how different Cougar Ridge was to any other town she’d ever visited.
“But you were close. While you were growing up, just like Lenny and Ophelia.” Now she understood why this was so important to Sam.
“Kind of. Lenny and Ophelia only have each other. They don’t have parents. Or other family.”
“That is sad,” Lia replied.
“It is, which is one of the reasons I took this case, even though chances are I will not get paid.”
“One of the reasons?” Lia asked.
“My sister disappeared when she was fifteen,” Sam confided. Lia had guessed he had something to share, but had not expected this news.
“Oh my goodness. Just like Ophelia. What happened to her?” Lia held her breath, waiting for Sam to answer.
“She was forced to be a dancing bear.”
“No!” Lia could not think of anything worse than being penned up and then forced to dance.
“Yes. I found her eventually and brought her home. I can still remember the fear of not knowing what had happened to her, and the complete relief when she finally came home. That is what I want for Lenny.”
“So what else have you got to go on?” Lia asked.
“Very little.” He lowered his voice. “According to Mr. Jepson, Ophelia left work after her shift. She never made it home. No one saw anything.”
“That’s it? A young woman disappears and no one sees a thing?” Lia asked.
“I checked all the hospitals, but the sheriff had already done that. He interviewed everyone from Cougar Ridge who was on the road that night. And I mean everyone. He’s contacted all the other local sheriffs. He has been thorough. Which leaves me going down less conventional routes.”
“Which are?” Lia asked.
Sam shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know. I have passed the only photograph Lenny has of his sister to Nevis, and asked him to clean it up. I’ve placed an ad in the newspaper. Bear Creek News covers a wide area and I’m hoping we might get some fresh leads.”
They reached Rodney’s and went inside, ordering their meal before finding a table. Lenny was well known to the staff, and they all got extra-large servings.
“You are a popular guy, Lenny,” Lia commented.
“It’s Ophelia they like. She’s a good listener. That’s what Rodney always says.” Lenny ate his food fast.
“Hey, slow down, Lenny,” Sam warned.
Lenny looked sheepish. “That’s what Ophelia always says.”
“Sounds like Ophelia is a wise woman,” Sam said.
“She is, she kept us safe, kept us together.” Lenny paused, fork halfway to his mouth. “You will find her, won’t you, Sam?”
“I’m gonna try my hardest.” He sighed and stabbed a chip with his fork. “I’m just surprised they never found her car. Whether she drove it away or someone stole her, and it, I would have thought it would have been found.”
“I know where her car is,” Lenny said brightly.
Sam turned his full attention not Lenny. “You know where it is? Why didn’t you report it to the police?”
“Why would I?” Lenny asked.
“Because it’s a clue. If Ophelia’s car is found, there may be clues inside that help us figure out what happened that night.”
Lenny frowned. “Why would it have clues?”
Sam sighed audibly. “Someone might have taken her from the car. Or she might have left a note. Or the sheriff might be able to find evidence. Forensic evidence, things we can’t see with our eyes. Where was the car found, Lenny?”
Lenny frowned. “In the garage.”
“The garage? You mean someone put it in for repairs?” Sam asked. Lia could feel his sense of exasperation growing. “This is really important, Lenny.”
“It’s in Mr. Pritchard’s garage down the street. He doesn’t have a car of his own, so he lets Ophelia use it. He says if the car stays out in the rain and the snow it’s going to fall apart.” Lenny laughed and ate his dinner.
“Do you know who put the car in the garage?” Sam asked gently.
“Ophelia,” Lenny said as if it was obvious.
“So Ophelia came back here with the car the night she disappeared and then went out again?” Sam asked in disbelief. “That isn’t what you told the police.”
“She didn’t drive the car to work, the battery was dead.”
Sam was utterly silent for one long drawn-out moment as he tried to comprehend what Lenny was saying. Lia put her hand over his, trying to get him to calm down; she could sense his rapid breathing, and hear his heart racing.
“Lenny, why did you tell the police she went to work in her car?” Sam asked at last, once he had himself under control.
“They asked how she usually got to work.” He looked confused. “So I told them she drove her car.”
“But she didn’t that night?” Sam asked.
“No, I told you the battery was dead.” He looked down at his plate. “It was my fault, I left the lights on. I like to go and sit in the driver’s seat and pretend to drive.”
“It’s OK, Lenny, we all make mistakes,” Sam said, regaining his cool. “How did Ophelia get to work on the night she disappeared?”
“She ran.”
“Ran, as a cat?” Lia asked, her heart racing too as she saw the breakthrough in the case, and prayed they would find poor Lenny’s sister.
“Yes, she said she would be late, so she kissed me on the cheek, told me not to worry, and she might be a bit late back. Then she shifted into her cat and ran off. That’s the last time I saw her.”
“So she would have come home the same way. Running. Or would she have gotten a lift?” Sam asked.
Lenny shook his head. “She would run. Don’t get into cars with strangers,” Lenny mimicked what his sister must have taught him.
“We need to finish our meal and then I’ll head back to Bear Creek and go through all the notes on the case again,” Sam said. “There may be something we missed, or when the ad runs, we might need to ask different questions. Did anyone see a … What kind of cat is she?”
“Tabby, like me, only she has a white smudge on her nose.”
“Great. Do you have a photograph?” Sam asked, hopefully.
“Oh, yeah.” Lenny pulled out his phone and let them see the photograph of his sister, she really was a typical tabby cat, the kind you find sitting on numerous laps all around the world.
“She is beautiful,” Lia told Lenny.
“We play together, race around, and climb trees. Ophelia loves being a cat, that’s why we moved here. She said no one would bother us. We could run and play and chase our tails.”
“That sure does sound like fun,” Lia said honestly.
“Does this mean you will find her?” Lenny asked.
“I don’t know, but it does mean we have a lot more to go on,” Sam said, his voice filled with new confidence. So this was what it was like to have a break on a case.
“Maybe you have been looking in the wrong places,” Lia said suddenly.
“What
do you mean?” Sam asked.
“We’ve looked everywhere,” Lenny confirmed.
“But you looked everywhere a person might be found,” Lia said. “If she wasn’t human…and she got hit by a car…”
“Oh, wow,” Sam said, suddenly catching her train of thought. He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “You are a genius.”
He looked at his watch. “Do you think it’s too late to call the local veterinarians?”
“Who cares if it’s too late?!” Lia said excitedly. She pulled out her phone. “Let’s split down the list of veterinarians in the immediate area, and make some calls.”
“I don’t understand. If Ophelia was a cat, she would still come home. She could turn back to her human body and tell someone who she was.” Lenny looked even more confused.
“What if she can’t shift back?” Lia asked, not wanting to frighten Lenny. “She could have a broken leg, or lost her memory.”
“You mean she won’t know who I am?” Lenny asked, mortified.
“We don’t know, Lenny. But if we find her, we can help her, no matter what is wrong with her,” Sam promised.
While they ate, Sam and Lia took turns calling around the various veterinarians, apologizing for the late hour. A couple of the calls ended abruptly with advice to call back in the morning. However, after half an hour, there were three eaten meals and one lead.
“There’s an animal shelter over in Bear Bluff. They have taken in a cat with a broken leg, which matches our description. It was hit by a car and taken to the veterinarians in Bear Bluff. After they patched her up, she was transferred to the animal shelter while she recovered,” Lia said, getting up from the table. “The young woman over there, Ronni, is willing to open up for us to take a look.”
“They are?” Sam asked incredulously. “I was just about to suggest we leave this until the morning.”
“No, we can go now.” Lia stood up. “Damn, we still have to get back to Bear Creek and get a car.”
“We can use Ophelia’s,” Lenny suggested.
“I thought the battery was dead,” Sam replied.
“I charged it up,” Lenny told him. “I promised her I would, since it was my fault.” His face lit up with excitement. “She won’t mind if we borrow it, not if it means she can come home.”
P.I. Bear (Return to Bear Creek Book 7) Page 8