“Oh, I’m so sorry. I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Sadie Andries.”
I offered Sadie my hand, which she shook limply, then led her through my house to the breakfast nook that was just off my kitchen. It was the best spot in the house. There was an antique farmhouse dining table with super-comfortable upholstered benches and lots of delicate hothouse herbs and flowers on the glass shelves in the floor-to-ceiling bow window. The view beyond was of my small backyard and its lush lawn and colorful perennial flower borders. Through a rose-covered arbor at the far end of the yard, one of my herbal garden beds and the small apple orchard could be seen. “Have a seat,” I said. “I’ll make us some tea, and you can tell me how I can help.”
Sadie sat down, huddling on the bench seat, her arms wrapped around her voluminous black purse. I studied her for a moment, wondering what sort of tea I should make. “Do you have any plant allergies?” I asked.
She frowned and blinked at me in confusion. “No. At least I don’t think so.”
“No allergies to ragweed or tree pollen or anything like that?”
“No. Why do you ask?”
“I was wondering what sort of tea I should make. I was thinking perhaps my soothing blend. Its base is chamomile, which people with ragweed allergies often have bad reactions to. Are you taking something like warfarin, the blood-thinner?”
“Oh, I see.” She shook her head, a little more life pouring into her as we talked. “No, nothing like that. I like chamomile. What else is in it?”
“Dried lavender and passionflower. I think I’ll add a little catmint, too.”
Sadie watched with interest as I fixed the tea and made up a tray with a teapot, a little ramekin of honey, two cups and saucers, and a small plate of lavender shortbread cookies, which my mother had brought over earlier that week. I carried the tray over to the table and poured out the tea. “This honey comes from Melissa Farms, over in your neck of the woods,” I explained.
Sadie nodded as she added a healthy dollop to her cup and took a sip. “Oh,” she said. “This is delightful. Do you sell this in your shop?”
“I do. But I’ll make up a little bag for you before you leave. On the house.”
“Well, thank you.” She took another sip of her tea and then gave me an awkward smile. “I should explain why I’ve interrupted your evening. As I said earlier, I live in Bard Creek. My husband, Marcus, and I own a nice piece of land and a house there. He inherited the property from his grandfather. Marcus works... worked as a stockbroker at Hamilton & Young in Denver, and he made good money there. We were able to remodel the house a little because of his job.”
“I’m sorry. Worked?”
“Yes. Until about three months ago, he was a stockbroker. I didn’t know he’d quit until last night. He would get up and go to work every morning and come home every night, just like he always had. But when he didn’t come home last night, I called his office and discovered that he’d quit three months ago. He never told me he quit, and I have no idea what he’s been doing since he left the firm. We must be living off our savings.”
“Oh, no. What do you think happened?”
“I don’t know.” Sadie’s chin wobbled and her eyes filled with fresh tears. I excused myself from the table to grab a box of tissues from the powder room. When I came back, she accepted them with a grateful smile. “I was hoping,” she said. “Well, since your boyfriend is the sheriff and you did help him out with that murder case, I was hoping that maybe you could ask him to look into Marcus’s disappearance?”
“I could, of course, but don’t you think... I mean, couldn’t there be another explanation for his absence? Maybe he went out with friends and decided to stay in the city instead of driving home late and drunk? Or maybe...” I swallowed, not really wanting to broach the subject but knowing it was necessary anyway. I took a deep breath and said in a kind voice, “Could Marcus be having an affair? With someone in Denver, I mean? And that’s why he didn’t come home last night?”
“No! Marcus would never cheat on me! We’re practically newlyweds still. We’ve only been married for two years. And besides, Marcus is not like that. He’s faithful. He wouldn’t cheat. I know something has happened to him. I just know it.”
I held my hands up in surrender but kept my suspicions to myself. “You tried calling his cell phone, right? What about his friends?”
“I’ve done everything I can think of to find him.” She blew out a frustrated sigh. “Deputy Nichols asked me all these questions already. I was hoping you’d think of something else.”
We lapsed into silence then, and when we’d finished our tea, I stood up and gave her a small smile. “I’ll talk to Dean... er, Sheriff Jensen, and see if there’s something he can suggest. I’ll let you know what he says, okay?” She nodded, her expression morose and haggard. I made up a little care package of the calming tea and some of the shortbread and pressed it into her hands as we left the house and walked to her car. “Call me the instant Marcus comes home,” I said. “Everything will work out for the best. You’ll see.”
Sadie paused by her car, a cute little two-seater BMW, and gave me a beseeching look. “You’ll speak with the sheriff? I know you can convince him to take this more seriously. I can’t wait another twelve hours before they can declare him a missing person.”
“I’ll talk to Dean and let you know what he says.” I reached out and patted Sadie’s shoulder. “Go home, take a nice hot bath, make some of that tea, and try to relax. Marcus will be home before you know it. You can yell at him then.” I gave her a reassuring smile and watched as she climbed behind the wheel and drove away.
About the Author
Juliet MacLeod is a Scottish native currently living in Southern Arizona. She was educated in Edinburgh and New York City, has worked as a web designer and as a magazine staff writer, and is currently employed as the chief dog walker and pooper scooper for His Royal Majesty, Cooper Alexander Border Collie.
When not slaving away over a hot keyboard, Juliet enjoys reading, watching films (her favorites are The Princess Bride and PS—I Love You), and listening to music. She has an unhealthy obsession with Benedict Cumberbatch's cheekbones and Jason Statham's smile.
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