Reed Ferguson 1-3

by Renee Pawlish

  “That we had too much time on our hands,” Belinda said. “And that we should try having play dates with kids instead. I can see her point. She has her hands full with Molly and a new baby. But she was just joking.”

  “I should hope so,” Louise said. “After all, she came over when we had some play dates at your house.”

  Belinda laughed. “Molly likes to play with the dogs.”

  “And your neighbor down the street,” Gail said. “What’s his name?”

  “Earl,” Belinda said. “What a grouchy old man.”

  “He’s not that old,” Wayne piped up.

  “Oh, but he hates it if we have the play dates at Belinda’s house,” Gail said. “He complains even though the dogs are generally quiet.”

  “Uh-huh,” Louise said. “That man makes such a fuss over the dogs.”

  “He hates dogs,” Belinda said.

  “Uh, ladies,” I said, trying to get them to focus. I glanced at Wayne. He rolled his eyes.

  “Right,” Gail said, looking back at me. “What were you saying?”

  “Do you really think Earl is doing this?” I asked. “Because whoever is doing this has to know where you all live.”

  “I hadn’t thought about that,” Gail said.

  I turned to Belinda. “Would Earl know where everyone in your group lives?”

  “I don’t see how,” Belinda said.

  “Didn’t you lose your phone a while back?” Gail asked Belinda.

  “Yes.” Belinda threw Gail a questioning look.

  “It has all of our phone numbers in it,” Gail continued.

  “And your last names.” Belinda frowned. “Maybe Earl stole my phone and that’s how he knows what dogs to take.”

  “Wait a minute.” I held up a hand. “No one’s saying Earl’s taken any dogs.”

  “Yes, but he’s seen us all together,” Louise said.

  “And he hates dogs,” Belinda repeated.

  “I understand that, but hating dogs isn’t a crime,” I said.

  “Couldn’t you at least talk to him again?” Gail asked.

  “I will,” I said. “I’ll go over this afternoon and talk to him, if he’s home. But don’t get your hopes up.”

  “Do you want to come by our house and take a look around?” Wayne asked.

  I shrugged. “I guess. I don’t think I’ll find anything, especially since the snow is covering everything.”

  “Would you like to come for lunch?” Louise offered.

  “Sure,” I said. “Let me take care of a few things here and then I’ll head over.”

  I got their address and then I saw everyone out.

  After they left I sat at my desk, mulling over all that had transpired. I couldn’t come up with anything. And I didn’t have a clue, literally, about how to catch the dognappers, with no clues. I thought about the ladies wanting to pin the thefts on Earl. Since he hated dogs, he made a convenient target, but that didn’t make him guilty.

  I went over our conversation, wondering if anyone said something that could help me. And then it hit me.

  I’d been lied to. And I’d bet money that I’d just figured out who my dognapper was.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Shirley Baker’s eyes widened when she opened the door and saw me.

  “It’s Reed, uh, right?” she hesitated. “Is there something I can help you with?”

  Her daughter Molly scampered up. “Hi,” she said with a shy smile.

  I forced a smile. If my suspicions were correct, Molly’s mom was going to be in a lot of trouble.

  “May I come in?” I asked.

  “Um, okay.” Shirley tucked her hair behind her ear. She glanced out past me, then stepped aside. “It’s stopped snowing.”

  “For the moment.” I strolled past her into the living room and took a seat on a leather couch. Shirley stood in the entry, leaning against the door jamb. Molly tugged at Shirley’s arm.

  “Honey, go play in the other room,” Shirley said.

  “Mom,” Molly whined. “I want my lunch.”

  “Go!” Shirley said.

  Molly sniffled and ran off down the hall.

  I glanced around the room. It was comfortable, with walls painted a soft yellow and bookshelves on either side of a brick fireplace. A plush armchair sat in the corner and family pictures hung on the wall across from me. I waited, wanting to keep Shirley puzzled as to why I was here.

  “Is there some reason you’re here?” Shirley finally asked.

  I stared hard at her. “Did you know another dog was stolen?”

  Fear flashed in her eyes and she gulped, but she recovered quickly, making her face a blank slate. “I haven’t talked to Belinda in a few days, so I didn’t know.”

  “Really?” I said. “You sure you want to stick with that story?”

  “What do you mean?” Shirley kept trying to act cool, but the warble in her voice betrayed her.

  “You lied to me,” I said. “When I first met you.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She reached out for the armchair and sank into it.

  “Let me refresh your memory.” I leaned forward, trying to meet her gaze, but her eyes roamed around the room. “When I first came to talk to you, you said you knew that Belinda had a show dog, but you didn’t know anything else about her dog or any other dogs.”

  Shirley finally met my gaze and the fear was back in her eyes. “So?”

  “But,” I said. “I was talking with Belinda this morning. She said that you came at least a couple of times to their doggy play dates.”

  Shirley clamped her jaw shut.

  I waited a moment and then continued. “Belinda also mentioned that she’d lost her cell phone a while back. I have a funny suspicion that you stole her phone so you could get the addresses of the other dog owners. You knew the dogs were valuable, and if you had the addresses, you could steal the dogs.”

  Shirley’s lip began to tremble. Her hands were in her lap and she played with the edges of her blouse. I had her rattled.

  “I’m right, aren’t I?” I pushed. “It’s pretty heartless, taking your neighbor’s dog.”

  “That wasn’t my idea!” she snapped. Her face turned deep red.

  I expelled a breath, waiting. “Want to tell me about it?”

  Her whole body began to shake and she broke down. “It wasn’t me. I didn’t steal the dogs.”

  “Then who?”

  “My cousin Kelli and her husband. They’re the ones stealing the dogs.”

  “But you helped,” I said. “Right?”

  A tear rolled down her cheek. Then she hung her head and the words tumbled out. “Yes, I helped. But I didn’t want to.”

  “Sure you didn’t,” I said.

  “It’s true,” she flared up. “But Kelli’s husband Darren threatened me. He’s such a jerk and I was scared of him.”

  “Why didn’t you tell your husband?”

  “I told you, Darren threatened me. He said if I told my husband or anyone else about what we were doing, he’d…” her voice cracked. “He’d tell my husband about an affair I’d had. My husband and I are finally doing better, so I couldn’t let that happen.”

  “Why’d you decide to take the dogs in the first place? I asked.

  Shirley looked up at me. “I had gone to one of Belinda’s puppy play dates so Molly could play with the dogs. I had no idea those dogs were so valuable until I heard Belinda and the others talking. Later that night Kelli came over and I was telling her about the play date and the dogs. Kelli said she and Darren were having money trouble. She said we should take a dog and ransom it back to the owners. I thought she was joking at first and I laughed it off. But she kept pushing me. Every time we’d get together she’d ask me how we could figure out where the owners lived. Then Darren started in on me. When I said he was crazy, he said if I didn’t help him figure out how to steal the dogs he would tell my husband about my affair. I didn’t even know that Darren knew, but I guess Kelli tol
d him. Darren assured me everything would be all right, that they wouldn’t hurt any of the dogs and he’d make it worth my while.”

  “How?”

  “He offered me ten percent of whatever ransom money they got.” Shirley’s face twisted up. “I finally figured, what could it hurt? My husband’s worried about losing his job and I thought I could build a little extra, just in case. And it would get Darren off my back.”

  “So you caved in.”

  Shirley nodded. “Oh, I wish I hadn’t. It was just supposed to be a dog or two, that’s all Kelli said.”

  “You made a tidy sum,” I said. “How’d you know where the dog owners lived? Am I right that you took Belinda’s cell phone?”

  “Yes. I’d seen Belinda put people’s contact information into her phone so Kelli and I figured we could get the addresses that way. One time when I was over at Belinda’s house, I pocketed the phone. Once I had that, we were able to find an address of one of the owners.”

  “Gail Saunders,” I said.

  Shirley shook her head. “The first one was a terrier, someone listed in Belinda’s phone as a show dog owner, but that dog didn’t belong to the puppy play group.”

  I sat back, astonished. “Gail’s wasn’t the first?”

  “No, it was another dog.”

  “I didn’t know about that one,” I said.

  “It would’ve been better if none of the dogs belonged to the play group, but I couldn’t find any others in her phone,” Shirley said. “Darren was getting impatient so he decided to take Gail’s dog, and I thought that would be it.”

  I thought about the first time I’d met Shirley. “You were genuinely surprised when I came over here and told you Belinda’s dog was stolen.”

  “I sure as hell was.” Shirley scowled. “I told Kelli and Darren that we couldn’t do anything to Belinda’s dog, that Rosie was off limits. They agreed, so I was shocked when you came to my door and told me Rosie was gone. And I was even more surprised that Gail had hired a private investigator to find the dogs.”

  “Yeah, that was too bad,” I deadpanned.

  Shirley glared at me. “It was just a dog, and we didn’t hurt any of them.”

  “It’s illegal,” I said. “And it was a stupid thing to do.”

  “Yes, it was,” Shirley agreed. “And it was even more stupid for Darren to take Rosie.”

  “Why did they take Rosie?”

  “Darren was getting desperate. Kelli finally told me they had a lot more debt than they’d originally told me. They’re bankrupt and behind on their mortgage. If they don’t get cash fast, they’re going to lose their house. They were trying for other dogs first, but every time they’d show up at a house, the dog wouldn’t be around. So they finally took Rosie. After that, I told them I was out. I didn’t care about their debt or anything else, I was out.”

  “But they took a dog named Spice last night,” I said.

  Shirley’s lips drew into a thin, angry line. “So you told me, but I had nothing to do with it. I’m telling you, Darren is desperate. I tried to put a stop to it. You have to believe me.”

  “I believe you,” I said as I stood up. “And it’s time to stop this. Where’s Spice now?”

  “I guess at Kelli’s house.”

  I motioned for her to get up. “Let’s go.”

  “Where?”

  “To Kelli’s. This ends now.”

  Shirley stood up. “What about the kids? I can’t leave them here.”

  I glanced out the window and across the street. I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket.

  “Does Belinda ever babysit for you?” I asked.

  “Sure, sometimes,” Shirley said. “But she’s not home now, she’s working.”

  “Ah, the detective knows the truth,” I thought. “She took the day off so she could come to my office while I talked with the Kirbys.” I found Belinda’s number and dialed. I asked her to come over the Shirley’s. She seemed perplexed, but she agreed.

  “She’s coming over and we’ll ask her to watch the kids,” I said. “I’m sure she’ll be glad to help out. And then you’re going to take us to Kelli and Darren’s house.”

  “I can give you directions to Kelli’s house.” Shirley nervously plucked at her shirt. “You can go get the dog.”

  And, I thought, let you call Darren and Kelli and warn them I’m coming? No way. I gestured with my hand. “Time to get ready.”

  Shirley glared at me, then stomped into the kitchen. I followed her, watching her warily. She had to be thinking about all the trouble she was going to be in and I didn’t trust her.

  “I have to run an errand,” Shirley said to Molly. “Miss Belinda’s coming over for a while. She’ll get some lunch for you.”

  “Okay, Mommy,” Molly said. She was occupied watching television and didn’t seem to care.

  The doorbell rang and I let Belinda in.

  “Hi, Reed,” Belinda said when she came into the living room. “What’s going on?”

  “I’ll explain later,” I said. “Shirley and I have an errand to run. Can you watch the kids for a while?”

  “Oh, okay.” Belinda threw me a puzzled look.

  “Yes, uh, the kids should be fine,” Shirley said. “Charles is napping. Molly’s watching TV but she does want lunch. Could you fix her a PB&J?”

  “Sure,” Belinda said. She shrugged. “What’s going on?”

  “All in good time,” I said. “We have a few things to resolve first.”

  Shirley glanced unhappily at Belinda as we traipsed outside to my car. I could see my breath in the frosty air. Shirley shivered, but I’m sure it wasn’t just from the cold.

  “Where’s your cell phone?” I asked as we headed down the street.

  “In my purse,” Shirley said.

  “Keep it there.”

  “You don’t trust me?”

  I glanced at her, thinking about all the femme fatales in all the film noir movies I loved. I chuckled wryly. “No, I don’t trust you.”

  We remained silent for the rest of the drive.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Kelli and Darren lived a ten minute drive north of Shirley’s house. It wasn’t snowing but dark clouds hung low in the sky, threatening more moisture. Shirley directed me to turn onto a side street. I half-expected her to leap out of the car, but she stayed put.

  “Kelli’s house is down the block,” Shirley pointed with a shaky finger down the block.

  “Where?” I asked, slowing down. The 4-Runner skidded a bit, then caught traction again. By rush hour tonight the roads would be a sheet of ice.

  “It’s that one,” she said, nodding at a pale green tri-level house with a long wooden front porch.

  I looked where she indicated and saw a blue truck parked in the driveway. Snow partially covered it.

  “That looks like the truck I saw at the ransom drops,” I said.

  “It’s Darren’s truck. He was behind on the payments but…” she didn’t continue.

  “The ransom money helped him catch up on it,” I finished.

  As we approached the house, the garage door opened. A man in black jeans and a blue flannel shirt came out. He was tall, but thick in the chest. He hollered something over his shoulder as he tramped through the snow to the truck. He unlocked it, took out a brush, and started wiping snow off the windshield.

  “That’s Darren,” Shirley said.

  A woman in dark slacks and a heavy coat emerged from the garage. The breeze whipped her straight black hair over her face. She clutched a dog carrier as she tiptoed through the snow.

  “And that’s Kelli, right?” I asked.

  “Yes.”

  “And they’re leaving with the dog,” I said.

  I gunned the engine. The 4-Runner skidded for purchase and then jumped forward and slid to a halt in their driveway just as Darren got into the truck and started it. Kelli pushed her hair out of her eyes and stared at us, recognition dawning on her face. She dropped the carrier and ran into the garage.
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  “Stay here!” I hissed at Shirley.

  I grabbed the car keys, just in case Shirley decided the better choice was to leave me stranded, and jumped out of the car. Darren’s door flew open and he hopped out. He opened his mouth to yell at me, then his eyes widened as he realized who I was. He bolted toward the garage.

  “Hey!” I shouted.

  Darren sprinted across the garage and disappeared inside the house. I dashed after him, slipping on the snow. I felt fire in my sprained ankle. I stumbled into the garage and toward the kitchen door just as it was closing. I threw myself at the door before Darren could lock it, but apparently that hadn’t been on his mind, because I hit the door and it crashed inward with no resistance. I ended up in a heap on the floor.

  I stood up carefully and stopped to listen. In front of me a dark stairwell opened to the basement. To the right was the kitchen. Off to the left was a family room with a sliding glass door that led into the back yard. It was halfway open and the wind whipped the long plastic blinds.

  “Great,” I muttered. I hurried over and looked out, but didn’t see anyone. “No fence-hopping today,” I said to myself as I searched for footprints in the snow.

  I was about to step outside when I heard a thump coming from somewhere in the house. I spun around. Another doorway led to the front door and a hallway to bedrooms. I crossed the room and tiptoed down the hallway, my ears alert.

  I poked my head into the first room, raising an arm to brace myself against a blow to the head. Nothing happened. I strode to the closet and flung the door open, searching inside. It was empty. I heard another muffled sound.

  I ran out of the room and down the hall toward the sound. At the end of the hall was a closed door. I twisted the handle and threw the door open but I held back. A lamp whizzed through the air, barely missing my face. I grabbed an arm as the lamp hit the floor. Kelli held the lamp with both hands.

  “Let it go,” I said, pushing her arm down.

  “No,” Kelli huffed.

  We struggled for a moment and then she dropped the lamp. She pummeled me with her fists until I was finally able grab her wrists. She cursed at me as she struggled to free herself.