“Oh. That would be Mrs. Issac. I’ll connect you.” In a moment another voice came on the line.
“Hello? Mrs. Harris?”
“Yes. Thank you for answering. I want to know how the service went for Gladys Park. I sent flowers and wondered if you’d received them.”
“We certainly did. The carnations were just lovely.”
“I’m glad. Can you tell me anything about the service?”
“Well, the pastor said a few words and then one of the patients here spoke. Several of her friends from the church came. Also the podiatrist who took care of her sore feet right before she died. Gladys was well loved.”
“I’m so glad to hear it. By any chance was there a picture taken? I’d like to have one for my daughter’s scrapbook.”
“I did take some for the pastor with his camera. He wanted to post the photos at the church in Gladys’s memory and asked me to be sure I caught one of the floral arrangement with her name on it in gold letters.”
“I’d love to have copies. Could I have his phone number?”
“Of course. You left your information when you were here. I’ll email his number to you right now.”
“Thank you so much.”
“You’re very welcome.”
Natalie got off the phone and opened her laptop. As soon as she received the information, she phoned the number of Pastor Sidney Clark. Her call went to his voice mail. She left a message with her phone number and hung up.
She had no idea when she’d hear from him. Time was weighing heavy on her hands. Kit hadn’t called and he’d left early this morning. Amy had asked for him several times throughout the day, and every time the little girl said his name, it echoed in Natalie’s heart.
It was no good waiting for the phone to ring. She picked it up and dialed Jillian, but her voice mail picked up, as well. Colette would be at work, so it would be better to talk to her tonight.
Natalie went to her bedroom and turned on her TV. She skimmed through the channels. As she was trying to get interested in a program on supernovas, her cell rang. The screen indicated a Colorado area code. She reached for it and said hello.
“Mrs. Harris? This is Pastor Clark returning your call.”
“Thank you so much, Pastor. I spoke with Mrs. Issac from the nursing home and I understand you had pictures taken at the service for Gladys Park.”
“Yes. For the posting board in the foyer of the church. I like our flock to know and remember our church members.”
“That’s a lovely thing to do. She’s my daughter’s great-grandmother. I’ve made a baby book for her and I’d love to have copies of the photos. Would it be possible for you to send them to me?
“Of course. I’ll ask my secretary to forward them to your email address.” Natalie gave him her information; he promised to take care of it right away.
“You have no idea how much this means to me. Before we hang up, could you tell me how long you knew Gladys?”
“Oh, my, maybe twenty years. She and her husband Joseph were faithful members.”
“I married her grandson late in her life and only met her last week. I took my daughter with me so she could see her.”
“I visited her later that very day,” he commented. “She told me how happy your visit made her. Bless you for coming to see her. She died holding on to that memory.”
Natalie’s eyes filled with tears. Without Kit, that trip to Denver would never have happened. “I’m thankful she had you to watch over her, Pastor. You don’t know how much I appreciate your kindness. Do you know where she was interred?”
“Fairmount Cemetery next to her husband and their son and his wife.”
“One day when my daughter is older, we’ll go there. I’ll look forward to receiving those photos. Thanks again.”
“You’re welcome, Mrs. Harris. God bless you.”
Thrilled to have made contact, Natalie got off the phone and went to the kitchen to make some kind of a treat for Kit to thank him. She took her laptop with her and put it on the kitchen table.
What would he love? After some thought she decided to make brownies. Once they’d cooled she would ice them with peppermint frosting then pour melted chocolate chips over the top. The trick was to cut them into squares before the chocolate set. Her mom’s recipe had always been a huge hit.
An hour later Amy awakened. Natalie brought her into the kitchen and set her up so she could play with the tins in the kitchen cupboard. She dangled the measuring spoons on a ring in front of her. Amy saw them. “Mama.” She lifted her hands.
“Say ‘spoons.’”
“Spoons.”
“Yes.” She kissed her cheeks. “Spoons.”
Laughter bubbled out of Natalie. She found a wooden spoon so her daughter could pound on the bottoms of the saucepans. While she started cutting the brownies, she heard the text alert from her phone and glanced at the screen.
Driving into the garage.
Kit was home! Joy, joy, joy.
* * *
WHEN KIT WALKED into the house he was bombarded by the delicious smell of chocolate. He had to stop when he reached the kitchen because Amy sat surrounded by pots and pans and utensils, blocking his path.
“Kit!” She showed him the measuring spoons she held in one hand. “Spoons!” In the other she gripped a wooden spoon that she pounded on everything she could find. He burst into laughter and got down on his haunches. Picking up a potato masher, he tapped along on a couple of tins.
In the midst of all this he shot Natalie a glance. In her nautical-striped top and white shorts, those long legs made his breath catch. “I think your daughter might be turning into a drummer. Look at her go!”
Her radiant smile was unexpected after the tension between them last night. “I’ve been listening to her repertoire since she got up from her nap. Show her the ice cream scoop and ask her what it is.”
He did as she suggested and held it in front of Amy. “What’s this?”
“Scoop!”
Her answer amused him so much he picked up a heart-shaped cookie cutter. “What’s this?”
“Cookie!”
That was close enough. He was having too much fun to quit. He found the spatula and lifted it.
“Spat!” She’d put her heart into it.
“Yes. Spatula. You’re even smarter than I realized.” Kit leaned forward and kissed the top of her golden curls. She smelled sweet, like Natalie. Heavenly.
“You’re home early,” Natalie observed.
He looked up into those fabulous green eyes. “Yup. I could smell those brownies all the way to headquarters and decided to come home in time to sample them. Is that permitted?”
“I made them for you.” She put half a dozen of the small squares on a plate and carried it to the table with some napkins.
“What’s the occasion?”
He watched her open a jar of Vienna sausages and hand her daughter one. “It’s a special thank-you. Would you like coffee or tea?”
“How about milk?”
“Coming right up.” She poured him a glass and brought it to the table. Kit got up from the floor and joined her.
“What did I do to deserve all this?”
“I talked to the pastor who officiated at the service for Gladys today. He said our visit gave her peace before she died.” Kit could tell she was fighting tears. “I’ll never forget that you made that visit possible. You could have gone on your own to get information. But being the kind of person you are, you included Amy and me, even though it would have been easier for you to go alone.”
“It was my pleasure, Natalie.”
“You’re such a good man. The pastor said that Gladys and Joseph Park were revered members of the congregation. That means everything to me. One day I’ll take Amy
to visit her grandparents and great-grandparents at the cemetery.” She cleared her throat. “He had pictures taken at the service to post at his church. I asked him to email me copies for Amy’s baby book.”
“Have they come yet?”
“I’ll look after I put Amy in the high chair. It’s time for her dinner.”
While she dealt with her daughter he started eating the brownies and couldn’t stop until he’d eaten every one. “Are the rest of the brownies in the pan for me, too?”
She looked down at his empty plate with a faint smile. “What do you think?”
“I think you’ve won my allegiance for life. You could have a million-dollar career selling these.”
“I’m glad you like them.”
“I promise to save you one.”
“Don’t worry about it. I can always make another batch.”
“Promise?”
Her eyes smiled at him before she fed her daughter some carrots and beef from the baby food jar. He got busy putting everything on the floor back in the drawers and cupboards. By now Amy was being treated to some Goldfish crackers. Her eyes lit up. “Fish!”
Kit grabbed one and put it in his mouth. “Fish. Yum!”
“Yum,” she mimicked. He laughed.
Natalie grinned as she checked her emails. “Better watch what you say around her. She’s a sponge.”
Kit ate another fish and Amy promptly imitated him.
“Oh, good! The pictures have come. There are two of them. One of the casket and the other a group photo.” She studied them for a minute. “The secretary took the time to label each person. How nice. The flowers on the casket are beautiful. Take a look.” She slid the laptop in front of Kit.
He knew these pictures meant a lot to Natalie, but the people held no significance for him until he saw the name Dr. Varoz.
She had blond hair, but it was Juanita Morales. He’d bet his life on it.
By the merest chance he’d found the woman Cy was searching for in relation to the mortgage fraud case. There was no time to lose. He flicked his gaze to Natalie.
“Excuse me for a second. I need to call the director of the nursing home right away.”
“Use my phone. I called Mrs. Issac not too long ago, so her number should be right there in my call history.”
“Thank you.” He waited for his call to be answered then asked to speak to the director.
“This is she.”
“It’s Father Segal calling from Austin.”
“Oh, yes, Father. How can I help you?”
“Mrs. Reese just shared the photos from the service for Gladys Park. Can you tell me about the blond woman, Dr. Varoz? She was in the group photo. Was she a church member, too?”
“No. She filled in for the regular podiatrist who went on vacation.”
“Who was that?”
“Dr. Nyman.”
“I see. How many times did Dr. Varoz come to see Gladys?”
“Just once, last Friday. Gladys was feeling poorly so she stayed awhile to keep her company.”
“Do you know why she came to the service?”
“She’d been at the nursing home to see another patient. I guess she decided to attend the service since she’d spent time with Gladys on Friday.”
It meant Gladys hadn’t supplied her with the information she’d been looking for. Today she’d hung around; possibly hoping to find out where Gladys’s possessions were located.
“Can you tell us who handled her financial arrangements? Mrs. Harris would like to get in touch with them.”
“The attorney for Mrs. Park.”
“Do you have a name?”
“Let me check. Yes, here it is. The firm of Farbes and Lowell.” She gave him the phone number.
“Thank you for that information. Sorry to bother you.”
“No problem at all.”
He hung up and gave Natalie her phone. “I’ll be right back.”
On an adrenaline rush he hurried into the den and phoned Cy on his cell. “Come on, bud. Pick up.”
The second he heard his friend’s voice he pounced. “You’ll never guess who was at the funeral service for Harold Park’s grandmother today. Julia Varoz, alias Juanita Morales.”
“What?”
“Yup. TJ’s hunch paid off. I’m looking at a picture of her as we speak. She’s wearing her blond disguise, posing as a podiatrist for Gladys Park. That puts her in Denver earlier today. When Natalie’s house was ransacked and no money was found, she must have left for Denver. This is the break we’ve both been looking for.”
“I’m calling TJ. We need to put out an APB on her immediately.”
“I’ll email you the picture from Natalie’s laptop and meet you at headquarters.”
He ended the call with Cy and phoned downtown to get the surveillance team back to guard Natalie. When he started for the kitchen he discovered she’d taken Amy into the living room to play with her toys.
She stared at him. “What did you see in those photos that sent you flying out of the room?”
“Juanita Morales.”
Natalie gasped.
“She was the assumed podiatrist while the real doctor was on vacation. Juanita is a professional. After doing her homework she knew exactly how to get into the nursing home without creating suspicion.”
Frown lines marred Natalie’s pretty face. “She must have thought Rod had hidden the money with Gladys. What an evil mind.”
There was a lot more he could tell her but not right now. “We’re setting up a manhunt to find her. Hopefully it will lead us to her brother. I have to go to headquarters, but I won’t leave until the surveillance team gets here. They should be out front any minute.”
He picked up the beach ball and rolled it to Amy. She was so excited she scrambled to her feet to push it toward him. Laughter rolled out of her as they played the game, and it hit him that he loved this little girl. And, heaven help him, he loved her mother, too.
* * *
LONG AFTER NATALIE had put Amy down for the night, she still was too wired to go to bed. She changed into pajamas and a robe and went into the den, preferring to watch television on the larger screen. The room was small and could only accommodate the desk and a couch not much bigger than a love seat.
She noticed Kit’s bedroll propped in the corner. If he’d tried to sleep on the couch, his feet would have hung over the end. No way would he have gotten any rest. Ever since he’d moved in she’d been worried about him sleeping on the floor, but he never complained.
Tonight he’d gone off without dinner. Those brownies wouldn’t hold him for long. She was as bad as a wife who worried about her husband. But he’s not your husband, Natalie. She could remind herself over and over again, but the fact remained she’d fallen in love with him.
And she had to face another truth. Amy was used to seeing him around the house and had grown attached to him. The longer he stayed here undercover, the more impossible everything was becoming. This wasn’t a natural situation.
She needed to discuss it with Kit and decided to wait up for him. A plan had been forming in her mind that seemed to make good sense. Upon her mother’s death, Natalie had begun receiving a monthly payment from an annuity. The money automatically went into a Certificate of Deposit to be used for a rainy day. And although Austin was experiencing hot and sunny weather, Natalie’s rainy day had come.
She had to do something to free herself and Amy from a situation that was growing more and more untenable. You’re going to be hurt if you don’t take action. Separation was the only answer.
Nothing held her interest on TV, so she reached for a book on Lincoln she’d barely started and made up her mind to get into it. Anything to take her to a different world for a little while.
Near
midnight she heard the hum of the garage door lifting and closed her book. Instead of getting up to greet Kit, she stayed on the couch to give him time. In a minute she heard sounds from the kitchen and then she heard him in the hall headed for the guest bathroom. When he walked into the den, the soft light from the lamp made him look grim.
“Kit?”
He lifted his head. “You’re still up?”
“I’ve been waiting for you. Bad night?”
Kit raked his hair, a sign of frustration. “Have you ever gotten up early, ready to get everything done, then realized the people you needed to deal with weren’t available yet?”
She nodded. “I know the feeling well.”
“That’s what it’s like for me tonight. All the business I need to do has to wait until tomorrow.” He sat on the upholstered chair. “I assumed you’d be asleep by now. What’s on your mind?”
“You’ve got some icing from the brownies on your chin.”
He flashed her a quick smile before wiping it off and licking his finger. “Guilty as charged. I finished the last of them.”
“Without any dinner?”
“They’re better than dinner.”
She loved this man with a vengeance. “I can see you’re exhausted.”
“Not too tired to talk to you. What are you worried about?”
“Our situation.”
His eyes narrowed. “I thought it was working just fine.”
“It is. You’ve kept Amy and me perfectly safe, but we don’t know how long it’s going to take to find those two criminals. You’re shackled here in order to protect me. If Juanita Morales was in Denver today, it’s not likely they’re going to try to break in here again.”
“Your point is?” he asked tersely.
She flinched. “You need to be free to conduct that manhunt.”
“Explain ‘free’ to me.”
“It’s no longer necessary for you to remain here undercover. I realize I still need protection, but that can be done by a private agency that provides bodyguards. I have money in a CD to pay for it. The last thing I want is to deplete your department of officers who have to watch me day and night.”
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