Chapter Eight
“There was another robbery last night,” Charlie said as soon as she walked into the coffee-scented police station. Jonno had dropped her off at home before returning to the farm to help muster cattle for drenching. She wouldn’t see him until later this evening.
“Damn, I shouldn’t have taken the night off,” Laura said, her stomach roiling because she’d failed at her job. “We should have staked out the houses or at least driven around to show our presence. Where was it?”
“The Peterson property, right at the other end of Middlemarch.” Charlie scowled. “I drove around a couple of times and saw nothing out of the ordinary.”
“Jonno and I drove through town on the way back to his place. We didn’t meet a single car.”
“Things are serious between you and Jonno.” Charlie stood to refill his coffee mug.
Laura snapped her head around, scrutinizing him to discern his meaning. His ruggedly handsome face, the pale blue eyes didn’t tell her a thing. “We haven’t known each other for long.”
“There’s no need to act defensive. Jonno seems like a great guy. We talked yesterday while he was waiting for you.”
She still wasn’t sure what he meant and decided to shift the discussion. “We need a plan.” Laura grabbed a mug and poured herself a cup of coffee before returning to her desk. After taking a sip she wrinkled her nose. The coffee at the café…heaps better. No wonder they spent so much time and money there. “Any suggestions?”
“You asking me?” Charlie’s left brow quirked and a playful smile lingered on his lips.
“We’re a team. Of course I’m asking you.” A week ago she’d have informed him what to do, quoting seniority as her reason. Gut instinct and Charlie’s reaction told her this new way would work better. Confusion filled her. In a short time she’d changed, and she didn’t understand the urge to do things differently.
The door to the police station opened and Isabella Mitchell prowled inside. “Reporting for duty,” she chirped. “Oh good. You have coffee. Leo—” She broke off when she noticed Charlie gaping at her. “Probably goes in the too-much-information category,” she said.
“Isabella has experience in law enforcement,” Laura said, choosing her words. She’d heard rumors of the cops they’d replaced. Isabella might help gain the trust of those locals still bearing suspicions of the new police officers. The goodwill would help everyone. “She offered to fit us into her busy schedule. I’ll get you a coffee.”
Charlie stared at Isabella before shifting his focus to her. “Is this official?”
“No,” Laura said. A huge mistake. Too bad since she’d done it now. “Let’s call her an independent expert, should anyone ask. You cool with that?”
“No problem,” Charlie said. “Middlemarch and the surrounding areas are too big for the two of us to handle. We need help.”
“One of us had better visit the Petersons,” Laura said. “There was another burglary last night,” she added to Isabella, handing her a mug of coffee.
“You know what you need to do is set a trap.” Isabella sipped her coffee, pulled a face and walked over to the coffeemaker where she spooned two sugars into her mug. The energetic stir of the teaspoon rattled against the thick china. “At the moment the best we can do is employ a needle-in-a-haystack method and hope we get it right. What if we spread rumors that Saber purchased Emily a valuable necklace? Between all of us we could cover one house and wait for them to come to us.” The metallic clack sounded as Isabella finished with the spoon and set it aside, highlighting the sudden hush in the police station.
“That’s a great idea,” Charlie said. “What do you think, Laura?”
A frown creased Laura’s forehead as she measured the pros and cons of a sting. It would help their investigation if they only had to focus on one place. “What about the danger? No one is hurt yet, though it’s a matter of time. Will Saber and Emily be willing to help?”
Isabella’s joyous laugh rang out, bringing a smile to Laura despite her inner concern. “You’ve met Emily. What do you think?”
Laura reflected on Jonno’s protective nature and just knew Saber would feel the same way with Emily. They were actual mates, according to Jonno, so they’d have an intense bond. “Saber might take more convincing.”
“Possibly. It’s still a good idea,” Isabella said. “Do you want me to ask him?”
Laura shook her head. “No, I’ll do it.”
“I’ll drive out to the Petersons now. Mrs. Peterson sounded hysterical and her instructions fell into the garbled category. If I don’t return, you’ll know I’m lost,” Charlie said.
“I can go with you. It might be a good idea for me to go because Mr. Peterson is strange.” Isabella glanced at Laura, her eyes saying way more than her words. She meant her shifter abilities might turn up something Charlie missed.
“Is that okay with you, Charlie?”
He shrugged, although expectation shone in his eyes, as if he anticipated excitement. “Sure.”
“Just don’t hit on me,” Isabella warned. “I’m a happily married woman and my husband is big.”
Charlie chuckled and snapped his fingers. “Damn, the good ones are taken.”
“I’m going to continue checking with the surrounding police stations and see if there were any new robberies last night. Hopefully I’ll be able to follow up on this Max Abrahams and his known associates. I’ll check with Saber to see what he thinks of Isabella’s idea.”
Charlie and Isabella left and Laura rang around the other police stations. An hour later she knew the thieves had struck only in Middlemarch the previous evening and so far they seemed to have worked from Queenstown, hitting properties in the tourist city before moving closer to Dunedin. If the thieves continued to schedule, they’d hang around Middlemarch for a couple more days before moving to Mosgiel, Milton or maybe Lawrence, which seemed to have escaped their notice.
Charlie and Isabella arrived back at the station while Laura was running down leads on Max Abraham.
“Hey, Charlie. How did it go at the Petersons?”
Isabella wandered over to her desk and perched her butt on the corner. “The thieves got a pair of diamond earrings and a matching ring. Mrs. Peterson is distraught. They gave us photos of the missing jewelry. She said as soon as Gerard and Henry return to Middlemarch, she’s ordering an alarm.”
Charlie dropped into the black office chair behind his desk. “The thieves entered via a window.”
The phone rang and Charlie answered it. While the call occupied him, Isabella leaned closer. “Some of your thieves were shapeshifters. I didn’t recognize their scents, which means they’re not local.”
“Did you see any footprints?” Laura had told the Mitchells about the footprints the previous evening before conversation turned more general, the subject of the burglaries put aside.
“No. They must have been careless at the Millers.”
“I’ll ring Saber to ask if I can visit him,” Laura said.
“Why don’t you ask if he can meet us for lunch at Storm in a Teacup? That way we can eat and Emily will help talk Saber around. You might need her help.”
“Noted.” Laura’s satellite phone rang.
“I’ll go and see Emily and prep her before you call Saber,” Isabella said.
“Thanks.” Laura picked up her phone. “Hello.”
“Laura, I miss you. Come back to Dunedin.”
“I told you not to ring me. I’m busy and I need to keep this line open.” She disconnected before Mike could reply, distaste sitting uneasy in the pit of her stomach.
“Problem?” Isabella had paused at the door, and Laura suspected the woman’s feline hearing had enabled her to catch the conversation, not just her side.
“Not at all. I’ll see you later.” Not quite the truth. Mike’s persistence was a predicament, especially since he’d acted the bastard in Dunedin, throwing her into the thick of the mess and stepping aside so he didn’t dirty his shoes
. She wasn’t stupid enough to go through the same experience again. Besides, now Jonno interested her…
In a thoughtful mood, she dialed Saber and waited for him to reply. Keeping in mind Isabella’s advice, she asked if they could meet at the café to discuss developments. Once Saber agreed to the meeting, she returned to researching Max Abraham and his friends.
Charlie finished his call. “What do you think about involving the Mitchells? I thought you’d go more by the rules.”
“I don’t like it, not that we have much choice. They’ve already involved themselves.” Laura picked up her pen and thumped it three times on the top of her desk. Her brow furrowed while she studied Charlie. “What do you think?”
“I think it’s a great idea, although the head brass won’t approve. I think we should set up the sting.”
Laura struck the edge of the desk with her pen again. “I agree.” Tap. Tap. Tap.
Charlie stood and walked over to her desk. He grabbed the pen mid-tap. “That is irritating.”
“Sorry. Let’s do it. If it works, everyone will be happy.”
“And if it fails?”
“Let’s just hope everything goes right, and no one gets hurt. Everything depends on Saber Mitchell. If he doesn’t agree, we’ll think of another strategy.”
Charlie returned to his desk and settled into his chair with a soft sigh. He leaned back, making the chair creak. “The window of opportunity isn’t big. We don’t know how long the thieves are planning on staying in this area before they move to another town.”
“True.” Laura glanced at her watch. “I’d better go. Do you want me to bring you back anything for lunch?”
“Surprise me,” Charlie said.
“You’d better hope I don’t come back with a bean sprout sandwich.” Laura grabbed her phone and wallet and left for the café.
By the end of the day, with Saber Mitchell’s full approval, she and Charlie had a plan in place. Now they needed to dangle the bait and wait for the trap to spring.
* * * * *
Jonno paused in the doorway of the police station, taking pleasure in watching Laura work. She hadn’t noticed him yet. The last rays of the sun reflected through the window, bringing fire to life in her hair. It glowed fiery red for an instant before the sun disappeared below the line of the trees. “How’s my girl?”
Laura started, lurching back in her chair while nailing him with an accusing glower. “Don’t stalk me.”
“Darlin’, it’s my nature to stalk. Don’t you know half the fun is the thrill of the chase?”
“Huh! I’m not sure I like the implications.”
“Are you ready to leave? I’d kiss you hello, but I need a shower. It’s been a busy day.”
“I wondered about the smell,” Charlie said, entering the main office from the rear storeroom and delicately sniffing.
His feline took offense. Jonno growled low and deep in his throat, stopping Charlie in his tracks. Jonno wanted to laugh at the incredulous widening of the cop’s eyes, his wary stance and quick glance at Laura.
“Jonno,” Laura chided, but he heard the silent laughter in her voice and couldn’t restrain a snicker.
“Sorry.”
“Cool party trick,” Charlie said.
Jonno noticed he detoured and kept a desk between them.
“Yeah, I’m ready to go,” Laura said. “Why don’t you head home too, Charlie? I’ll switch the phones over to my mobile. We’ll be working late tomorrow. Probably for the next few days.” She stood and flicked the switch on the phones.
Jonno held the door open for her, taking pleasure in the small service. With the sun gone, darkness approached. In silence they walked to his vehicle. Jonno seated her in the passenger side before jogging around to climb behind the wheel.
“Charlie’s right. You are a bit ripe.”
“We’ll get you out on the farm and see how you smell after a day’s work.” Jonno switched on the headlights, started his vehicle and pulled away from the curb. “So how was your day? Any luck locating the thieves?”
“Nothing much to speak of, although we have a workable plan now. We’re setting a trap, spreading the word that Saber is purchasing Emily a new diamond-and-sapphire ring.” Laura grinned at him. “Emily cracked me up. She said she preferred colored stones, but she could live with a diamond on the ring, if that was what Saber decided.”
“He’s buying her a ring?”
“It sounded like it. I’ve never seen a couple so suited to each other.”
He and Laura were perfect for each other. Early days for Laura to admit it yet. “Good plan. Who came up with it?”
“Isabella suggested the idea.”
Jonno nodded, driving along the main street of Middlemarch, past the grocery store, the post office and the petrol station. Vehicles lined the road near the primary school. “There must be something on at the school.”
“A parent-teacher’s evening, according to Emily. Tomasine and Felix are going.”
“I noticed a few strangers wandering around the town when I drove down the main street. More than usual.”
“Yeah, Emily said there were a lot of people doing the rail trail this week. She seems to know everything happening in Middlemarch.”
“I know. She’s made it her home. The locals love Emily.” The ones who weren’t idiots, at any rate.
Jonno left the small township behind, turning onto a country road. A car approached, its headlights on full. “Wish they’d dip their damn lights.”
“Do you recognize the car?”
“No. I haven’t been in Middlemarch much longer than you. Prior to that I’ve spent the odd weekend. That’s all. Damn, I couldn’t see the license plate. Did you get it?”
“No, too much glare. Besides, they’re not doing anything illegal or suspicious, apart from not dipping their headlights.”
“True. I don’t want to think of thieves tonight. I presume you need to work on your plan and spread the word via the local gossip line before we stake out Saber’s house.”
“Yeah. Emily and Saber are heading to Queenstown tomorrow morning and returning with a flashy ring.”
“A real one?”
Laura chuckled. “No, Emily has a friend in Queenstown who makes costume jewelry as a sideline. She says it appears real enough to fool most people. Meantime Isabella and Tomasine will spread the news to the locals who visit the café. Emily says Storm in a Teacup is always full of tourists and locals. It’s an excellent plan.”
Jonno pulled onto his driveway and parked.
“Emily and Saber will go out for the evening and hopefully the thieves will strike. Emily is going to say she needs to cater for a special function coming up the following week.”
“Wouldn’t Emily take the ring with her since it’s new? Most women show off their bling.” Jonno unclipped his seat belt, glancing across at his woman. God, he loved watching her, knowing she belonged to him. It was almost as good as touching her skin, wringing responses from her—shivers, moans and hot, wet arousal.
“We discussed that. We decided Emily wouldn’t want to wear the ring while working in the café, and if anyone asked, she’d say she intended to wear it for special occasions. Since she’s working at the café, hopefully the thieves will assume the ring is in the house.”
“Not a bad plan.” Jonno enjoyed the enthusiastic sparkle in her blue eyes, the passionate need in her to catch the thieves. “But right now I need a shower. Wanna shower with me and help scrub my back?”
“You are stinky.” She wrinkled her nose.
Carefree humor bubbled up inside Jonno. “Better watch what you say. I might take offense.”
Laura cocked her head, a teasing glint he hadn’t seen before lighting her features. “And do what?”
“I don’t think you’ll approve. I’d lock you inside my bedroom and not let you come out again for a month.”
She opened the vehicle door and climbed out. “I should have asked you to stop by my place so I could pi
ck up clean clothes.”
“No problem. I’ll drop you there tomorrow morning before I start work on the drenching.”
“Are you going to stink again tomorrow night?”
“You’ll have to get used to it.”
They walked inside together, both removing their footwear at the door.
Jonno’s stomach let out an earthquake-sized rumble. “Shower first,” he said, despite the empty sensation in his belly. There was one other appetite he intended to fuel first. Grasping Laura’s arm, he marched down the passage to the bathroom. Laughingly she protested, digging in her heels, to no avail.
“Noooo!” she wailed, giggling and struggling at the same time.
With one hand, he turned on the shower, using the other to restrain Laura’s thrashing. He pushed her under the stream of warm water and held her struggling body until she was sodden.
“Jonno, I don’t have clothes to wear tomorrow morning.” Ire replaced the former humor, and she pushed past him, tracking water over the gray tiles on the bathroom floor.
“Hey,” he said, catching her hand and holding her fast when she would have ripped away from his grasp. “I said I’d take you to your place tomorrow morning to get more clothes. Why don’t you move in with me? You’re spending a lot of time here already. It would be easier for both of us and will give Charlie the run of the police house.”
“I’ve known you for a few days. I’m not moving in and openly living with you. How’s it gonna look to my employers? These things have a way of getting back.”
“They can’t run your life. I’m sure they’ve had unmarried employees living together before.”
“Ah, but they don’t have my reputation. Do you know what they were calling me? The black widow spider. Word is I eat my prey.”
Huh? Jonno studied her indignant face, the storm in her eyes and the set mouth. She believed what she was saying, that moving in with him could harm her reputation.
“I don’t give a fuck what people say. You’re my mate. It’s what we think that’s important. Black widow? Why do they call you that? You don’t kill people.”
“No, of course I don’t kill people. They call me Black Widow because I seem to break up couples. I never set out to do it.” Laura’s shoulders slumped, and she stopped trying to pull away from him. “The nature of police work means we hang out with each other, go out for a few drinks after work. Outsiders don’t understand the close bonds we have. I got myself entangled in a couple of romances where the cop dumped his girlfriend for me. I…heck…I didn’t even know these guys were with long-term partners. I was new to the force and when they told me they were single I believed them. You’d think I’d learn. The romances ran their course, and we remained friends. The last time I hooked up with Mike. I fell for him hard, and he spent lots of nights at my apartment.”
My Cat Burglar Page 10