I take another deep breath to stop myself from getting annoyed. After all, Delilah is only trying to do the right thing. She can’t know we suspect Grandma was killed, and I’m not about to tell her. Or am I? “I understand your reluctance. And I appreciate your loyalty to my grandmother. It’s just that we’re concerned about some irregularities.” There, that sounded pretty detective-like, didn’t it?
Delilah’s head whips up. “Irregularities? You’re not thinking of fighting the easement are you.”
I groan. Seriously? Is that the only thing people worry about around here? I shake my head. “No of course not. If that’s what my grandmother wanted, then I will honor her wishes. But,” now my voice is turning more urgent, “we have concerns about her death.” Delilah gasps. “I’m not saying she was murdered or anything, but we need to investigate the possibilities.”
Delilah studies me for a minute before she responds. “Well, I guess it wouldn’t hurt anything if I gave you a bit of background.” I bob my head enthusiastically. She leans back in her chair. “Anna, your grandmother, came to me a few months ago. I guess it was sometime in April. She wanted to know what her options were to protect her land from mining companies.”
I nod. “Yes, I saw the letter from Ajax Mining offering Grandma three million dollars for the mining rights on her land.”
Delilah smiles in relief. Obviously I’m not completely in the dark. “She told me they sent several letters and that a rep from the company kept calling her and stopping by unannounced to talk to her.” I raise my eyebrows in surprise. Grandma wouldn’t have liked that one bit! “She told them no, but they kept pestering her, asking her questions about the land, who would inherit, stuff like that.”
“Wow,” I say. “They were really bothering her.”
Delilah nods. “Unfortunately, they were. She thought the easiest way to get rid of them would be to make it legally impossible for them to get the land. She talked to her lawyer and he suggested talking to us about an easement.” She shrugs. “And that’s basically it.”
I try to think of questions a real detective would ask. “Um, was she afraid for her life?”
“No,” Delilah shakes her head. “I don’t think so. She was always feisty and not scared of anyone or anything. As I’m sure you know.”
“And a troublemaker,” I add with a smile. I really suck at this detective thing. I can’t think of any more questions. “Well,” I say as I stand. “Thanks for your time.”
“Sure,” Delilah says, obviously relieved with my departure. “Anytime.” Such a liar. A sweet woman, but a liar, nonetheless. She never wants to see me again.
Jenny is waiting by the door to the conference room. “Did you find out everything you need to know?” She asks as she escorts me to the exit.
“Yep,” I say, but don’t give her any details. Jenny looks disappointed, but I don’t give into her pouty face.
I drive slowly back to my house. My mind is all over the place. It sounds like Ajax Mining was harassing Grandma, but why didn’t she tell anyone? It’s not like she could protect herself. Once her husband died, she got rid of all the guns in the house. What was she going to do – attack them with a rolling pin? Or maybe her knitting needles?
I park in my driveway and pull out my phone and keys. I need to call Jack before he starts blowing up my phone for information. The front door’s open. Guess Jack didn’t wait for me to call him back. “Jack?” I yell as I walk in the front door and stop in shock. My house is a freaking mess! “What the…?”
Chapter 25
"I’m a Mess” by Ed Sheeran
I stop and dial Jack. “Izzy! What did you find out?” He’s breathless with excitement.
“Be quiet for a second, will you!” I take a breath to calm myself. “Sorry, but my house was broken into.”
“What? Where are you? Get out of there! Someone may still be inside.” For once in my life, I’m listening to a man. I back out of the house.
“Okay, I’m outside.”
“Get in your car and call the police. I’m on my way.” Jack hangs up. I call the station and give my location.
I’m still sitting in my car when the police arrive. They tap on my window and I roll it down. “Yes,” I say in a small voice, which I’ll probably be embarrassed about later.
“What’s going on?” the officer asks.
I swallow loudly. “I came home and the front door was open.” I shrug. “I sometimes forget to lock it and it blows open. Anyway, I walked in and the house was a mess. It looks like someone destroyed everything.”
The officer nods. “Stay here.” He proceeds to the house with his partner. After a few minutes, they come out and stand on my stoop talking.
Jack arrives and runs to my car. He pulls me out for a big hug. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I say. The shaking has mostly subsided, but I’m not looking forward to going into the house.
The officers walk up to us. “The house is clear. There’s no one here. Can you go inside and see if anything’s missing? Try not to touch too much.”
I nod and grab Jack’s hand. Before we make it into the house, Noel pulls up and runs to me. “Izzy, are you okay? What happened?” He reaches out to hug me, but I squeeze Jack’s hand. Jack understands and shields me from him.
“What are you doing here?” I ask before shaking my head. “Never mind. I’m fine. Someone ransacked my house. I’m just gonna have a look to see if anything was taken.” Noel gives me a look I can’t interpret before he stalks off to talk to the other police officers. I turn and head into the house, dragging Jack behind me.
Jack and I reach the house and he gasps. “Oh my God, Izzy. Thank God you weren’t here when this happened.” He shivers.
By now I’m numb and only manage to nod in response. “I’ll check my office and bedroom. Can you check down here?”
Jack nods absently, but I’m already headed up the stairs. I check my office first. I don’t want to see what the maniac did to my bedroom. I gasp when I look in. Everything is gone. My computer, my tablet, my hard drive, everything. Shit. That’s gonna cost me.
I move onto my bedroom. It’s a disaster area. My clothes are strewn about the room. The sheets and blankets have been torn from my bed, the mattress overturned. The ensuite bathroom doesn’t look much better. The entire contents from my vanity have been removed and thrown everywhere. Who would do such a thing?
I walk back downstairs to find Jack and Noel conversing in low tones in the living room. The two police officers are sitting at the table filling out paperwork. I walk up to them. “All of my computer equipment is missing,” I tell them. “As well as my financial files.”
I don’t have many paper files as I keep most things electronically. Jack walks over and hugs me. “Oh Izzy, what are you gonna do?”
I shrug. “It’ll be fine. I have an online backup drive. I e-mailed the projects I finished over the weekend this morning so I didn’t lose any work.”
Jack hugs me tighter but doesn’t respond. The police officers start to ask a zillion questions. Do I have any enemies? Are my files worth money? Have I gotten into any fights lately? Blah, blah, blah. I answer their questions truthfully, but I don’t mention our investigations into Grandma’s murder. Since it’s not really a murder – yet – there isn’t much to tell and it’s not lying to omit something. Also, I’m afraid that they’ll think my elevator doesn’t go all the way to the top.
After thirty minutes of questions, the officers finally pack up and leave. I notice Noel doesn’t leave with them. “Can I help you?” I ask Noel in a cold voice.
Noel crosses his arms over his massive chest and nods. “You’re not staying here.”
I had already figured that much out. “No worries. I’ll stay with Jack.”
Noel shakes his head. “Nope. You’re staying with me. I can protect you better than Jack.”
“Hey!” Jack yells.
“Sorry Jack, but I’m a trained police officer. I can keep her safe.”
“You can’t tell me what to do!” I yell and stomp my foot for good measure. “Why in the world would I want to stay with you?” I turn on Noel. All the emotion I’m feeling about my house being violated turns into anger at him for running out on our date and then not calling.
Noel looks embarrassed. “Come on, Izzy.”
I raise my eyebrows at him. “Seriously, that’s all you got? Screw you!” I turn to Jack. “I’ll pack a bag and then we can be on our way.”
I turn to go upstairs, but Noel grabs my arm. “No, Izzy. You’re not listening to me. You need to stay with me so I can protect you.”
I look at Noel’s hand on my arm and raise my eyebrows until he releases me. “No, Noel, I don’t think I do.” With that, I turn and run up the stairs before I have a total meltdown.
It only takes me a minute to pack a bag with the bare minimum. I throw things in my bag haphazardly, uncaring of whether I’ve got the essentials or not. Looks like I’m going to be doing some shopping real soon, anyway. When I return to the living room, Noel’s alone. “Where’s Jack?”
“I sent him home.”
“Why would you do that? Who the hell do you think you are?”
Noel is standing in front of me in a blink of an eye. “I’m your man, and I’m going to protect you,” He grits out.
“Since when are you my man? Does a man run out on his woman? Does a man not call his woman?” I grunt. “You’re not my man.”
Noel lets his head fall forward before taking a deep breath and grabbing my face between his hands. “I fucked up, Izzy. I was embarrassed. I’m sorry.” He leans his forehead against mine. “Please forgive me.”
I can feel his sincerity, and I want to forgive him, but I’m just not ready yet. “I don’t have the energy to deal with this right now, but I guess I’m stuck staying with you.” I pick up my bag and head to the front door. I hear Noel sigh behind me, but I don’t bother looking back.
Chapter 26
"I’ll be Your Man” by James Blunt
I follow Noel’s GTO as it thunders away through the streets to his house. I’m surprised to find that he lives in a small ranch house just minutes away from Grandma’s house. He parks in his driveway and I pull up next to him. Before I can grab my bag, he opens the passenger door and snatches it. Not bad service at this hotel.
Noel motions for me to follow him through the back door. We walk straight into the kitchen. “I don’t use the front door. Follow me. I’ll show you to your room.”
I trail behind him through the kitchen into a small, somewhat formal living room. It doesn’t look like a typical bachelor pad, but maybe he’s hiding a man cave in the basement. There’s a hallway off of the living room, which leads to three bedrooms and a full bath. I stick my head in the bathroom and see that it’s tidy and clean. Noel’s house sure isn’t what one would expect from an alpha male detective who drives a GTO.
Noel drops my bag on the bed in the furthest bedroom. “You can use this room while you’re staying here.” I nod but don’t say anything. I’m still ticked at him for being Mr. Bossypants and everyone knows the silent treatment is one of a woman’s best weapons in her arsenal.
“Come on,” Noel says and heads to another of the bedrooms. He opens the door and it’s actually an organized office. “You can work in here. You can use my computer as well. I’ll text you the password.”
“That’s okay,” I respond. “I’m going to go shopping for new equipment tomorrow.” I look around the office and see a somewhat dated desktop computer. “No offense, but that computer won’t work for me.” I have very specific requirements for the equipment of my graphic design work.
Noel shrugs and shuts the door. “Well, the offer stands.” His next words are cut off by my telephone ringing.
“Hello!” I answer.
I hear someone huff on the phone. “What is going on?” Oh, it’s Betty. I should have known.
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t play coy with me little missy! There were police at your house, and now you’ve disappeared.”
I sigh. “I’ve hardly disappeared. I’m staying with Noel since my house was ransacked.”
“Your house was ransacked! Oh, this must have something to do with Anna’s murder. I’ll rally the girls and we’ll be right over.”
“Wait! I’m at Noel’s house. You can’t just come barging in here!” I don’t have the energy to deal with Betty and the gang at the moment.
“We’ll bring extra pie.” She says and hangs up before I can respond. Darn.
I look up to see Noel grinning at me. “I take it the troops are on the way.” I nod and close my eyes before slumping against the wall. I don’t have the energy for the old lady brigade today.
Noel rushes to me. “Are you okay?” He pulls me into his arms for a hug, and I let him. I only have so much strength to deny my hormones. Hormones basically take over your body at forty. Buyer beware.
Before I can respond to Noel’s question, which I have no idea how to anyway, my phone rings again. I sigh for like the millionth time, but before I manage to move, Noel grabs the phone out of my hand and answers for me.
“Oh, hi Jack,” Noel says. “Yes, we’re at my house.” Pause. Chuckle. “Yeah, they’re on their way.” Another pause. “See you then.” He hangs up and hands me the phone.
“Come on,” Noel says as he pulls me toward the kitchen. “I need to get some food into you before Betty and the rest of the ladies show up. You’re gonna need your strength.” Understatement of a lifetime.
He sits me in a chair at the table in the farm kitchen before he grabs two beers out of the refrigerator. He heats up bowls of leftover chili for us while I sip my beer. We eat in comfortable silence and are already finishing up when the doorbell rings.
“It’ll be fine,” Noel says to me as he goes to answer the front door. He returns to the kitchen with Betty and all the usual suspects. They’re each holding a Tupperware container. I guess Betty did feel a bit bad about invading Noel’s space. I’ve never gotten more than two containers at one time.
Betty plucks me from the chair I was sitting on and hugs me. I’m then passed around like a hot potato from one lady to the next. They all hug me and offer me words of comfort. I’m a bit dizzy by the time I manage to sit down again. Noel is grabbing plates and forks, and Ally is trying to figure out the coffee pot when the doorbell rings again.
Noel rushes off to answer it, and the ladies jump to take over his kitchen duties. Coffee mugs are found, plates and forks distributed, and the coffee started before Noel returns with Jack. Jack chuckles at the scene in front of him. “They’ve taken over your house,” he says to Noel. Noel just shrugs in response.
Once the ladies have everything arranged to their liking, they take the chairs leaving Noel and Jack to stand. Betty grabs her notebook, and I don’t even bother trying not to roll my eyes. The interrogation is about to begin.
“So,” Betty says as she clicks her pen. “Fill us in on everything that’s been happening since we last met.”
At this point, I can’t even remember what I was doing the last time I saw Betty. Noel responds on my behalf. “Maybe we should give Izzy a minute. She’s had a hell of a day.” Betty huffs, but puts down her pen and picks up her fork.
While we eat our pie, I tell everyone about my home invasion. Betty and Jack’s ears perk up when I admit the only items, which appear to be missing are my computers and files. “So,” Betty says, detective hat clearly perched back upon her head. “The burglar was looking for something.”
I shrug. “I have no idea what he could have possibly been looking for.” I stare Betty down. “I don’t see how this could have anything to do with Grandma’s death.”
“It’s quite the coincidence though, isn’t it?” That’s Jack. He’s bound and determined to make this into some kind of murder mystery. I think he needs a boyfriend. Or at least I need him to have a boyfriend to distract him from ideas of murder.
I hear Noel groan and
almost laugh. I can’t imagine what a real detective thinks of our ragamuffin group, but it’s probably not favorable.
“Anyway, did you find anything in Anna’s house? What’s happened?” Apparently Betty has decided to ignore the coincidence of my home invasion.
“Well, we discovered a mining company offered Grandma several million dollars for the mineral rights to her land.” I hear gasps around the table. Looks like I wasn’t the only one Grandma was keeping in the dark. “I talked to the conservation group as well.”
Jack pipes up. “Did you learn anything new this morning, Izzy?”
“Yes, Izzy, what did you find out this morning?” Noel adds in a dark voice. I hadn’t told him about my appointment, and I guess he’s not exactly happy about that. I shoot him a look of apology before answering.
“It seems that the mining company was really bothering Grandma. Some rep kept coming around and phoning her – being totally pushy.” I shrug. “Grandma was really bothered by it. That’s why she did the whole easement thing.”
“And you’re only telling me about this now?” Noel’s arms are crossed over his chest, and his face is thunderous. Oops. Someone’s mad.
“Uh oh, someone’s in trouble,” Jack sings out.
Betty’s all business. “What are you going to do now? Go after the mining company?”
Noel shakes his head. “No, Izzy is not going to go after the mining company. She’s going to leave this matter with the professionals.”
I turn on him. “What matter? What professionals? You’re convinced there’s no crime, remember?”
Noel merely shrugs, as if his previous opinion was irrelevant. “Things change. And you’re in danger. I’m not letting you go snooping around anymore.”
That wasn’t the right thing to say. “You’re not letting me? Who do you think you are?” I may be yelling at this point. I’m definitely standing and staring at Noel. The pissed off woman position has been assumed – hands on hips, feet shoulder width apart.
“I’m your man. And I’m keeping you safe.”
The Gray-Haired Knitting Detective Series: (Books 1 - 3) Page 11