An Uplifting Murder (27 page)

“The shoe soles are flat,” Ted said. “Could be a man or a large woman.”

A large woman in a black-and-white scarf, Josie thought. The footsteps ran to the sidewalk to the west—the same direction as the woman who’d bloodied Josie’s windshield.

Jane appeared on the front porch in her chenille robe, her head crowned with pink rollers. Stuart Little was at her side.

“Josie, what’s going on?”

“Someone walked across the lawn to the window here,” Ted said. “Whoever it was is gone now. Let’s go inside and talk. Josie has to call the police.”

“The police!” Jane said.

“It’s all right,” Ted said. “No one was hurt. We chased them away. I’ll stay with you until help arrives.”

He was careful to step only in the footprints he’d made. When he reached the broad porch, Ted ran up the stairs and put his arm around Jane. Josie’s mother seemed small and shrunken next to the broad-shouldered veterinarian. Stuart Little trotted at Jane’s side, eyes bright with curiosity.

Josie followed them, shivering. Her slippers were stuffed with snow. “What time is it?” she asked, and yawned.

“Five o’clock,” Ted said. “I’ll have to leave soon to get the van. I’ll stay with you until Officer Norris arrives.”

Josie found the police officer’s card and dialed her number. She sounded sleepy at first, but rapidly grew alert as Josie described the situation.

“Do you have someone with you now?” Officer Norris asked.

“Yes, my friend Ted stayed overnight. He has to get his vet-clinic van, but he won’t leave until someone gets here.”

“I’m on my way,” Officer Norris said.

Josie made coffee. Ted made stilted conversation with a worried Jane. “Where is Stuart Little sleeping these days?” he asked. “In the basement?”

“Absolutely not!” Jane conveniently forgot that she’d banished the dog there his first night. “He has a basket in my bedroom.”

“They watch soap operas together,” Josie said.

“Shih tzus are natural soap lovers,” Ted said. “They’re intelligent and loyal.”

“He can follow the plot,” Jane said.

Josie had just poured three cups of coffee when Officer Doris Ann Norris knocked on the door. She was in uniform. Josie didn’t see a patrol car parked out front and wondered if Officer Norris had rushed over in her own car.

“Come outside,” the officer said. The three abandoned their coffee and dutifully followed Officer Norris outside. “Are those the footprints, the ones running from the sidewalk to the front window and back?”

“Yes,” Josie said. “They makeaVat my daughter’s bedroom window. The straight line of footprints along the edge there belong to Ted.”

“Looks like the person walked slowly and deliberately to the window,” Officer Norris said. “You can see the whole footprint on this side of the V. There are no prints or marks in the snow on your windowsill. Then something startled or surprised the perp. Maybe it was the snow slide.”

“Or my dog barking,” Jane said.

“Could be that, too. A noisy dog can be good protection. Either way, they took off in a hurry.”

Officer Norris pointed at the other half of the V. “Those footprints were made by someone running fast. They end at the sidewalk, where the snow has been shoveled and the concrete is heavily traveled. Looks like the person wears a size eleven or twelve shoe. Can’t say if it’s a man’s foot or a woman’s, but the person wasn’t wearing high heels.”

“Are you going to make a cast of the footprints?” Josie asked.

“Casting prints made in the snow is tricky, but possible,” Officer Norris said. “Given the fact that there wasn’t really a crime committed other than perhaps trespass, I can’t call in CSI. You’re sure you didn’t receive any threats?”

“Positive,” Josie said.

“Then all I can do is advise extreme caution. Call if there are any further disturbances or you see anything suspicious. Is your friend Ted staying over again tonight?”

“No,” Josie said.

“Yes,” Ted said at the same time.

“If it was me,” Officer Norris said, “I’d want him here.”

“Ted can’t move in with us,” Josie said. “He has to work. He has a home. He needs his sleep, too.”

“It may not be for long, ma’am,” Officer Norris said. “Just a few days. Sometimes trouble lands on a house for a while. We’ll get two or three calls about noises and minor vandalism and then the problem goes away, or looks for an easier target. We never find out what caused it.”

“The couch is comfortable,” Ted said. “I’d sleep better here knowing Josie and Amelia are safe. I can nap this afternoon when I get off work.”

“What if Amelia slept upstairs in my guest room for the duration?” Jane asked.

“That’s a good idea. If someone is after your granddaughter, she’ll be harder to reach there.”

“He’ll have to get past me first,” Ted said.

Josie knew she’d miss her daughter if Amelia slept upstairs. But this wasn’t about her comfort. This was for Amelia’s protection. Jane’s suggestion was a good one.

“I have to go,” Officer Norris said. “You have my number. Program it into your cell. Never hesitate to call me or 911 if anything looks or feels wrong.”

“Would you like a cup of coffee?” Josie asked.

“Thanks, but I need to report to work.”

Officer Norris was out the door. Josie saw the blinds move in Mrs. Mueller’s upstairs bedroom window, and knew the busybody was watching. She waved from her porch. The blind slat slid back into place.

“I have to pick up the clinic’s Mobo-Pet van,” Ted said. “Will you be all right while I’m gone?”

“We’ll be fine,” Jane said. “We’ll keep our phones in our hands and we have Stuart Little here.”

“Woof!” Stuart said. He looked as fierce as a teddy bear.

“I’ll be back in half an hour at the most.”

He kissed Josie and ran for his car.

“I must say, I am impressed with that young man,” Jane said. “You could do worse.”

“Mom, it’s too early to be measuring him for a wedding suit,” Josie said.

“What’s too early?” Amelia said. The sleepy girl stood in the hallway in her flannel nightgown with Harry at her side. Her dark hair was tousled. Josie’s heart turned over at the sight.

Stuart barked at the cat and Harry slid under the couch.

“Was that the policewoman from yesterday? Why was she here?” Amelia asked.

“We found footprints on the lawn last night,” Josie said. “Ted scared off whoever it was and we called the police.”

“I didn’t hear anything,” Amelia said, rubbing her eyes.

“They’re gone. We think it would be better if you slept upstairs with Grandma tonight. Ted will stay here with us.”

“On the couch?” Amelia asked.

“He can sleep in your room,” Josie said. “It will be more comfortable than the couch.”

She didn’t mention that the footprints led up to Amelia’s window. She hoped her girl wouldn’t notice.

“Do you think someone wants to hurt me?” Amelia said.

“Of course not,” Josie said. “It’s just a precaution. Now go get dressed and feed Harry. Ted will be back shortly and we’ll all go to school together.”

Fear gripped Josie’s heart like a cold hand. Who had been under Amelia’s window last night? What did that person want? Was it Frankie’s killer?

Chapter 29

“Breakfast, Harry!” Amelia called. “Come and get it.”

Harry poked his head out from under the couch and looked both ways for the shih tzu, as if he expected the dog to rush out and body slam him.

“Stuart Little went upstairs with Grandma,” Amelia said. “He wasn’t going to hurt you. He just wanted to play.”

Harry slid out from under the couch, carefully sniffed the carpet, then followed Amelia into the kitchen. He moved cautiously, a tiny tiger on the prowl, still waiting for the canine ambush.

He overcame his caution when he saw the bowl of cat food beside the fridge. Harry gobbled his food as if it would be outlawed in half an hour. The smelly stuff had a bouquet only a cat could appreciate. Josie was glad Amelia handled this chore. She couldn’t stomach it this early.

Harry polished off his breakfast and moved to his water bowl.

“I thought Stuart Little and Harry were friends?” Josie said.

“They are,” Amelia said. “Harry just doesn’t feel like playing right now. He wants to finish breakfast.”

Harry didn’t even look up from his water when Ted returned.

“That was quick,” Josie said.

“I’ll take you up on that coffee now,” he said. “Then I’d like a shower.”

Josie poured him a cup and said, “Drink this while I get you fresh towels.”

She raced to her bathroom, checked the tub and toilet, swiped the sink with a sponge, and stripped her clean lingerie off the towel rack. Then she hung up two fluffy bath towels and a washcloth. Josie dumped the wastebasket into the one in her bedroom and was back in the kitchen in five minutes.

Ted was still sipping his coffee. “Was Harry a feral cat?”

“Don’t know,” Josie said. “We adopted him from the Humane Society. His original family gave him to the shelter when they had to move. We never found out where they got him. Why do you ask?”

“Look how he drinks his water,” Ted said. “He dips one foot in his bowl, turns his paw over, and licks the water off the pads.”

“I know. Makes a mess on the floor,” Josie said.

“That’s how some wild animals drink water,” Ted said. “A domesticated pet will lap the water out of its bowl.”

“That’s how Stuart Little drinks!” Amelia said. “He laps his water.”

“Shih tzus have been lapdogs for centuries,” Ted said. “No pun intended.”

“I’m doing a report on cats for school,” Amelia said. “I can use the information about how Harry drinks.”

“Can I fix you some eggs for breakfast, Ted?” Josie asked.

“I can make biscuits,” Amelia said.

“Coffee is fine,” Ted said. “I’d better shower if we’re going to get Amelia to school on time.” He carried his coffee cup to the sink, then hauled the gym bag he’d brought last night into Josie’s bathroom.

Amelia loaded the dishwater without being asked. Josie could practically see the halo over her daughter’s head. She enjoys having a man around the house, Josie thought. And so do I, for that matter. But I don’t want to rush into this romance. That got me in trouble last time. I nearly had Mike’s ring on my finger when I realized our two families would never blend. I’d better put the brakes on now. I want to keep this man, not scare him away.

Josie waited until she heard the water running in her shower, then called her friend Alyce. It was only 7:10, but Alyce had a toddler and a husband who had to be in his law office by eight o’clock. Alyce answered her phone on the first ring, a sure sign she was up.

“Of course you didn’t wake me,” Alyce said. “I’ve been awake since six. Justin is busy applying oatmeal to his face. Hold on a second, while I make sure some of his breakfast gets into his mouth.”

Alyce put down the phone. Josie heard cooing and coaxing noises that made her long for the time when Amelia had been a fat, laughing baby and Josie had loaded up her spoon with cereal and said, “Here comes the airplane.”

“I’m back,” Alyce said. “What’s wrong? You rarely call this early.”