Bunny Elder Adventure Series: Four Complete Novels: Hollow, Vain Pursuits, Seadrift, ...and Something Blue

by J. B. Hawker

  The two prowlers scrambled on all fours out of the bushes and ran across the driveway just as Rosamund’s car pulled in, narrowly missing Ljuto, who leaped clear and continued to run away into the darkness.

  Scott walked up with Reacher straining at his leash just after the men disappeared.

  “What the heck was that? Did you see anyone?”

  “Two men in dark, hooded sweatshirts ran out of the side yard and I almost hit one of them! What were they doing here?” Rosamund asked indignantly.

  “Oh, no!” Bunny moaned in the seat beside her.

  “Come on, you too, we’d better get inside and call the Sheriff.”

  No one got much sleep that night. After the deputy took their report of the prowlers he walked around the house and made note of the crushed grass beneath the shrubs, but since there had been no official crime, other than possibly trespassing, there was little that he could do.

  “Do you think these were the same guys who have been chasing you for the flash drive?” Deputy Baughley asked Bunny.

  “How do you know about that?”

  “I was the fellow assigned to try to decrypt the dang thing. I’m afraid I didn’t have much luck, though. If the Sheriff hadda been willing to swing for the price of some good decoding software I might have had a chance, but none of the shareware I found could do the job.”

  “Well, that’s alright, deputy. I suppose I should have let you know, sorry, but my niece gave a copy of the drive to her professor at the college in Seattle and he unscrambled it for us. It was just meaningless numbers and names, though. I’m sorry I wasted your time. We will probably never know why that information is so important to these people. I just wish I knew how to make them leave me alone.”

  “We can try to schedule more frequent patrols in your area, but we are spread pretty thin these days. I wish we could do more.”

  “Thank you. If you are able to do more patrols, you will need my new address. I’ll be moving into my own place, day after tomorrow.”

  Even now, Bunny couldn’t help a little thrill of pleasure from saying that.

  “About that, Bunny…do you think it is wise to move out on your own with those men still on the prowl?”

  “Of course, she does, Scott! Don’t be silly. Bunny will be as safe in her place as she is here,” Rosamund interjected quickly.

  “We will talk more about this in the morning. Let’s just try to get some sleep. I’ll make sure everything is locked up,” her brother replied.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Even the sparrow has found a home and the swallow a nest for herself – Psalm 84:3

  Worship that week was an island of peace in the turbulent sea of Bunny's life. The choir director had found choral arrangements of some of her favorite old hymns and the choir was presenting one each Sunday through the summer months. This was a treat because most of Betty’s favorites were Bunny’s, too.

  Bunny’s voice now joined the other sopranos soaring above the counter melody of the lower voices in “Wonderful Grace of Jesus” lifting her spirit above her everyday concerns.

  When the last triumphant “Praise His Name” reverberated in the sanctuary the choir settled back into their seats and Scott stood to deliver his sermon.

  His message that morning was on forgiveness and his words continued the healing in Bunny’s heart that the music had begun.

  After sharing a simple lunch at the parsonage, Bunny gathered her cleaning supplies and packed the rest of her belongings into her car, leaving only her overnight bag in her room.

  She was eager to prepare her apartment for the arrival of her furniture on the following day.

  Naidenne and Shirley had arranged to help Bunny get ready. Although the townhouse was in good shape, there were always cleaning and personalizing tasks to take care of before moving day.

  Bunny purposely got there before her friends. She wanted to have a few moments alone in her new home before all the hustle and bustle began.

  Inserting her key into the shiny deadbolt lock gave her a sense of ownership. Entering the password into her new security system was even more satisfying. She would always be grateful for her friends in the choir who had taken a collection to have the system installed as a housewarming gift.

  Bunny was overwhelmed when they presented her with the instruction manual just before church that morning and explained that one of the baritones owned a security franchise and had installed the system at cost. Bunny was responsible for the monthly fees, but she would never have been able to afford to have such a system installed. Fortunately, the landlord had been happy to have the enhanced building security.

  Once inside, she put her cleaning supplies on the kitchen counter and walked completely around each of the empty rooms in her new home, praying for God’s blessing and protection for all who entered.

  Bunny was just wrestling a vacuum out of the trunk of her car when Naidenne drove up. Shirley arrived in time to grab the mop and broom and follow the others into the house.

  “Oh, Bunny! This is so nice. Much better than that pokey old cabin. You see how perfect God’s plan is? ” Shirley remarked.

  “Do you really think those criminals harassing Bunny was part of ‘God’s Plan’, Shirley?” Naidenne asked in amazement.

  “Of course. God didn’t make those men do those things, but he allowed it because they could be used to further his plan. Bunny is a believer, so nothing could happen to her without God permitting it.”

  “So you think it was just a ploy to get Bunny into a nicer place?”

  “No. But I am as sure as can be that somehow it will all work out for her good and His glory.”

  Bunny took that moment to ask Naidenne to help her carry the rest of the things in from the car. She knew that Naidenne was not a believer, and she wanted her two new friends to like each other. A heated religious discussion didn’t seem helpful, just then.

  “Can you believe her?” Naidenne murmured when they were outside.

  “Shirley is one of the nicest people I’ve met in Bannoch. You can be sure that she is only sharing her own honest belief.”

  “But, you don’t go along with what she said, do you?”

  Pausing next to the car, Bunny set down the box she’d pulled from the backseat. Leaning against the fender, she tried to explain her own faith, without seeming to look down on Naidenne’s lack of belief.

  “I don’t have all the answers, but I can tell you what I do know: I know that God is. I believe he is the creator of everything. I believe that the Bible is his word, written by men, but divinely inspired to help me live my life. I believe he is an all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving spirit who has a plan for my life.”

  “Why haven’t you ever talked about this stuff before? I thought all of you Bible-thumpers are out to convert us lost sinners.”

  “You never asked me about it before, Naidenne. But, I would never try to convert someone. I’m as big a sinner as anyone. If a person asks me what I believe, like you just did, then I am happy to tell the truth. Converting anyone is in more capable hands than mine. Can you grab that other box?”

  Naidenne responded with a noncommittal grunt, picked up the carton and followed Bunny inside with a pensive expression.

  The rest of the afternoon went pleasantly and the women worked side by side smoothly. When everything was done, Bunny locked up and the three rendezvoused at the local Dairy Queen for dinner.

  “I love the color you picked to paint that accent wall in your bedroom, Bunny. Celery green is such a soothing color,” Shirley commented before dipping another french-fry into her vanilla milk shake.

  “From this smear on my arm, I would say it is more of a pale olive green than celery,” Naidenne offered. “…it has more gray undertones. But, I like it, too. You were fortunate that your landlord let us paint.”

  “He is being so accommodating. Nothing like the horror stories you hear from some renters,” Bunny offered. “Thanks, so much, you two, for helping today. Everything is
completely ready for me to move in tomorrow when my furniture arrives.”

  “So you are planning to sleep there tomorrow night? How will Rosamund manage to get along without you?” Naidenne teased.

  “Has it been a bit of a stressor for her having you there, Bunny? She’s a dear lady, but she’s wound a bit tight, as you probably know by now,” Shirley commented with a grin.

  “I have to admit that we’ve had our moments, but I will always be grateful for the Davidsons’ generous hospitality all this time. And that includes Rosamund. Even if my moving out is a big relief to both of us.”

  “What about that good-looking preacher, Bunny? Will he be relieved to have you gone, too?” Naidenne asked impishly.

  “Pastor Scott is a real gentleman and so thoughtful. I doubt if a person would even know it if he were annoyed with them,” Shirley said.

  “I imagine he will be happy to have his home return to normal, too. I have been a pretty high-maintenance houseguest with all the drama I picked up along with that stupid sea chest.”

  “I didn’t see that little box in the things we took out of your car, Bunny. Is it still at the parsonage?” Shirley asked.

  “I suppose so. But, now that you mention it, I didn’t see it when I was packing up. Maybe Rosamund was getting something from the blanket chest where I’d left the box and moved it out of the way. I’ll ask her when I get back. I still want to try to sell it.”

  “How much do you expect to get for it, if you don’t mind me asking? I think it would be really cute on my mantel.”

  “Rosamund thought it might bring as much as a thousand dollars.”

  “Well, it’s cute, but I guess for that price, my mantel can do without it. Jack would think I’d lost my mind if I spent that kind of money on what he calls my decorating hoohahs and doodads.”

  “I love your ‘doodads’, Shirley. That crosscut saw you painted is really special. You should see it, Naidenne.”

  “Do you have any pictures? I would like to see it. If it is as nice as Bunny says, maybe you would like to do some others and put them up for sale in my office. My clients are always looking for local crafts to decorate their new homes. I’ve been thinking about setting up a consignment area featuring the work of local artists and craftsmen.”

  “Really? I would love to do that! Why don’t you follow me home, now, and see what you think of the kind of things I do?”

  “Well, sure. No time like the present.”

  The women paid for their meals and said good-night in the parking lot. Shirley and Naidenne left in one direction and Bunny turned toward the parsonage for her last night as the guest-who-overstayed-her-welcome. She had gone well beyond the three-day limit for both fish and houseguests and was eager to breathe the fresh air of her own place.

  Ljuto was grumbling under his breath. This was a fiasco and he was sick of the whole thing. Sergi had contacted them, again, and Koslov wanted them to come back right away. Sergi said they were going to trust that no one had accessed the information on the drive, or that they didn’t know what to do with it, if anyone had, but Koslov was not happy about it. The Croatians' assignment was finished. They had failed.

  “Sergi said we are to return. Why, then, are we still here, following this stupid woman?”

  “You know what Koslov is like. If we return as failures he will kill us,” Grgur responded.

  “You don’t know that. We did our best and nothing terrible has happened as the result of our blunders. We have simply been wasting our time. He will certainly dock our pay and punish us, but that is better than staying around here. I would rather return and get it over with.”

  “I am not going back without discovering what this woman knows. I do not trust Koslov to be so forgiving. If you want to leave, then go. Just stop whining.”

  “Yes. I will go. I’ve had enough of your foolish plans and your insults. Take me back to the motel, now. I will leave tonight.”

  Grgur was fed up with Ljuto, too. He angrily slammed on his brakes, stopped following Bunny, and drove back the way they had come. He could do a better job on his own, anyway. Ljuto had been nothing but a hindrance. Let him go. The fool would find out what a mistake he was making when he was in Koslov’s hands.

  Bunny checked her email before going to bed for her last night in the parsonage.

  She was surprised to see a message from Max. It had been weeks since she heard from him. She hesitated for a moment, and then clicked on the email.

  Hi Buns,

  How’s it going in the land of the web-footed? Are you keeping your powder dry?

  It’s been awhile since I heard from you and just thought I would drop a note to let you know I’ve been thinking a lot about our last phone conversation. I think I might have been a bit hard on you, and I want to apologize.

  If that invitation to come for a visit is still good, I think I just might take you up on it. What do you say?

  If you still want me to come, just give me a call and we can make arrangements.

  Love,

  Max

  Bunny wasn’t sure what to think. So much had been happening in her life, lately, it was a surprise to realize that Max had been completely out of her thoughts. Maybe she was finally getting over her obsession with him, after all.

  If that was the case, though, why did she feel such a rush of pleasure at seeing his email, and when she thinking of having him here with her?

  She shut down her computer without replying to Max. Bunny needed time to think about her future and what part she might want to share with him... or with anyone.

  The Snow White syndrome was strong in her nature, and, even now, she had one eye on the horizon, half expecting to see her prince come riding over the hill to awaken her and carry her off to happily-ever-after. The prince in her visions had always looked like Max, but sometimes lately Scott seemed to be the figure on the white horse.

  Why on Earth did she think she needed to wait in suspended animation for rescue? Why couldn’t she run out to meet the horse, jump on and ride boldly into her future, holding the reins herself? She didn’t need some man to complete her, did she? No…but, she did want a man to have and to hold and to share her life with, on a horse or off… and why was she thinking about stupid horses in the first place?

  Bunny was tired and confused and too muddled for rational decision making. She decided to consider it all tomorrow.

  Tomorrow. Tomorrow was moving day, at long last. Tomorrow was a new beginning. Bunny drifted off with a smile on her face and the soundtrack from “Annie” playing in her head.

  Chapter Eighteen

  …who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God.

  – Proverbs 2:17

  “Rosamund, did you do something with the sea chest? I can’t find it,” Bunny called from the Davidsons’ late mother’s room…no longer Bunny’s room, at last.

  “While you had Scott running around in the woods between here and Seattle on your wild goose chase I noticed that box was missing. I thought you might have done something with it.”

  “I left it right here. I wonder what could have happened to it.”

  “You probably already packed it into one of your boxes. You will find it when you unpack. Just about ready to leave?” she asked hopefully.

  “Almost. I was just going to grab the chest and tell you and Scott thanks for letting me stay with you, so I guess all that is left is to say good-bye.”

  “Scott, come here!” Rosamund shouted. “Hurry up, Bunny’s finally leaving.”

  Scott came from his study and took Bunny’s hands in his, “We are so sorry to see you leave us, Bunny. It has been such fun with you here. I know you are eager to settle into your own home, but we will miss having you with us. Won’t we, Rosie?”

  “It will certainly be different.”

  Bunny chuckled and gave Rosamund a quick hug, “I’ll miss you, too, Rosamund. I guess I’d better get moving.”

  Reacher had followed Scott a
nd jumped up on Bunny for a quick cuddle.

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to send Reacher home with you for a few nights, or at least until we find out if those criminals are still out there?”

  “I wish I could take him, Scott. Unfortunately, my landlord doesn’t allow pets. Not even special ones like Reacher. But, thanks to my church family I’ve a top of the line security system, so I’m sure I’ll be alright. Those guys must have given up, by now, anyway.”

  Scott grasped Rosamund’s and Bunny’s hands and bowed his head for a brief parting prayer. He paused and looked up at them pointedly, until the two women joined hands with each other, and then he asked God to bless Bunny in her new home.

  Driving away, Bunny thought about Scott’s hands holding hers and wondered why those strong, capable hands did not have the same electrical charge she felt when Max held her.

  Bunny waited impatiently in the empty townhouse until mid-afternoon when her furniture finally arrived. She had been restless and anxious, but when her new mattress arrived at exactly the right moment, just when her second-hand bed was being put together, her spirits lifted and the day regained its brightness.

  She spent the next couple of hours arranging her furnishings and hanging curtains and drapes. Naidenne and Shirley had helped her install the window hardware the day before, so that ordinarily tedious job went quickly.

  When she was satisfied with her efforts, Bunny stood admiring her new living room’s pale golden yellow accent wall, imagining it hung with an array of artwork. Instead of the worn and mismatched cast-off furniture before her, she was seeing the room with blue and white toile slipcovers and the small gate-leg table and lowboy chest of drawers she was using as her work area refinished in dark red high-gloss lacquer.

  When she found another chair or two and some other odds and ends this would be such a cozy room.

  A low grumble emanating from beneath her ribcage reminded her that she had missed lunch and it was already past time for dinner.