Hope Callaghan - Garden Girls 07 - Missing Milt (14 page)

Gloria opened one eye, then the other.  It took a few minutes for the fog to clear and for her to remember she was sleeping on the porch.  She rolled over on the makeshift bed then sat up.  Mally was gone.

The tree fort was quiet.  Gloria was certain the boys were up by now. 

She wandered to the kitchen and smiled at the sight that greeted her.  There, sitting at the table, quiet as church mice, were her grandsons.  They had managed to fix two bowls of cereal without waking her.

Ryan turned, his spoonful of cereal midair.  “We fed Mally and Puddles for you, Grams.” Gloria reached down and hugged him.  “Why thank you, Ryan…how sweet.”

“Me too,” Tyler chimed in. 

Gloria leaned over and hugged her eldest grandson.  “I have the best boys in the whole world,” she declared.  She glanced up at the clock.  Jill would be there any minute to pick them up.

Tyler slid out of his chair.  “That is the awesomest tree fort in the whole world!” he declared.

“Yeah,” Ryan added.  “Can we come back and sleep in it again?”

Gloria nodded.  “Of course, but for now, your mom is probably on her way.  Can you go run out to the fort and bring everything back down?”

The boys dashed off, with Mally in hot pursuit.

Gloria unloaded the dishwasher from the day before, then loaded the cereal bowls and spoons inside and closed the door.  She could hear the boys chatter through the front windows and she smiled. 

It would be quiet – once again – after they left.

Today was going to be a busy one.  After church, the girls would make their rounds to the shut-ins.  Later, she and Lucy would head over to Dreamwood for their fact-finding mission.  She hoped they would finally be able to get closer to solving the mystery of Milt’s disappearance!

Gloria had just enough time to get ready for church after the boys left.  She remembered to close and lock the front porch windows on her way out. 

Gloria reached the doorway to the dining room and turned back.  Her eyes wandered to the old TV and futon couch as she remembered the night before.  It had been a wonderful weekend and Gloria thanked the Lord for all her blessings.

The church was packed and Pastor Nate’s message was a powerful one.  It was Jesus’ promise of heaven:

“In my Father’s house are many mansions if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.”
John 14:2 King James Bible. 

The Garden Girls met in the usual spot, right outside the front door, after the service.  Dot focused on Lucy.  “Any new dates with Max?” she asked.

Lucy reddened.  “Maybe,” she answered noncommittally. 

“What’s this about a date?” Ruth demanded.  “You already have a new beau?”

Gloria lifted a hand.  “Now, Ruth.  Lucy and Max have only gone out once.”

“It was not a date,” Lucy gritted through her teeth.  “I mean, not a dinner date.  It was breakfast.”

“A date is a date,” Margaret decided.

Dot could see Lucy was getting flustered.  “Let’s let it be girls.” She gave them a hard look.

Ruth quickly changed the subject.  She didn’t want them starting in on her about Steve Colby.  “How’s the investigation going?”

“We’re meeting Liz this afternoon.  We planned a little fact-finding mission over at Dreamwood.”

“You have a suspect?” Dot asked.

“Several.  We’re doing a simultaneous investigation,” Gloria told them. She turned to Ruth.  “Who’s on the list for visits today?”

Ruth patted down a stray hair.  “Eleanor Whittaker is the only one.”

Gloria frowned at Ruth.  “Oh no!  What happened?”

Dot answered.  “She took a little spill in the kitchen, but she’s going to be okay.”

The last time Gloria had visited with Eleanor was during her investigation into the body Andrea had found in her dumpster.  That was a few weeks ago and at the time she’d vowed to put Eleanor on the list of weekly Garden Girls’ visits. 

Although Eleanor seemed to be in good health, she was on the frail side.  Gloria was disappointed in herself for forgetting.  “I meant to add Eleanor to the list for weekly visits but completely forgot,” Gloria said.  “Shame on me.”

Margaret touched Gloria’s arm.  “Don’t be so hard on yourself.  You’ve got your hands full.”

Lucy glanced down at her watch.  “I better go.  I won’t be able to make the rounds today.  I have a few errands to run before we head over to Dreamwood.”  She didn’t wait for a reply and turned on her heel as she headed to the jeep.  The rest of the girls watched her go.

“We need to cut her some slack,” Dot wisely suggested.

Gloria reached in her purse and grabbed her car keys.  “I agree.  I think she’s still trying to sort everything out.”

The girls parked in front of Dot’s Restaurant and Dot headed inside.  The lunch crowd would soon follow.  Most Sundays, Dot wasn’t able to visit the shut-ins with the rest of the girls because she had to work. 

Gloria watched her friend disappear in the front door.  “That woman is in serious need of a vacation.”

Ruth, Gloria and Margaret climbed into Ruth’s van and headed across town to Eleanor’s place.  Eleanor answered the front door on the first ring. 

She eased the door open and stepped to the side.  “Why!  What a pleasant surprise!” Her face lit up like a Christmas tree.  “I haven’t had company in days now.”

Gloria’s heart sank.  This was all her fault!  She was turning into such a scatterbrain!  “We’d like to start visiting every Sunday after church, if you don’t mind.”

“Mind?” Eleanor’s shaky hand reached out to grasp Gloria’s arm.  “I would love the company!”

The girls followed her into the kitchen and Eleanor insisted on making her specialty tea.  She also insisted that they eat one of the cookies she’d just taken from the oven. 

The girls visited for a good hour before Gloria glanced at her watch.  She had some cleaning up around the house to do before heading to Lucy’s to pick her up.

“I’m sorry, Eleanor,” Gloria said, “I have some things to take care of but we’ll be back next Sunday.”

Eleanor’s face drooped but she quickly recovered and a bright smile replaced the sad look.  “Yes!  Of course!  I’ll bake a cake next week,” she promised.

“Oh! I almost forgot!” Ruth set a bag of apples and a small box of donuts on the table.  “These are for you.”

Eleanor lifted the bag and peered inside.  “Thank you!  You girls are so thoughtful.”

Back outside, Gloria opened the door on the side of the van and climbed in the back.  She plopped down in the seat and fastened the buckle.  “She is such a sweet little lady.”

Ruth climbed in the driver’s seat and Margaret into the passenger side.  Ruth peered at Gloria through the rearview mirror.  “I hope someday when we’re older and can’t get out, someone will take the time to visit us.”

Back on Main Street, Ruth pulled the van next to Gloria’s car and placed it in park.  “Good luck on your investigation.”

Gloria thanked her before she climbed into Annabelle and headed home.  She called Paul on her cell phone on the way.  “How did it go with Frances Crabtree?”

“How did…?” He paused.  Of course, Liz told her.  “Fine. She was a bit evasive.” He sighed.  “She finally admitted to peeking in Milt’s windows but swears she had nothing to do with his disappearance.”

“Do you know she has the poor man’s entire routine memorized?” he asked.

Gloria did know that.  She had Frances’ notes.

“What about the man that was spotted with Milt the night of his disappearance?”

“Vincent Tolino?” Paul replied. “He’s not a suspect.”

Gloria pulled in front of the farm, careened into the drive and came to an abrupt stop.  “Why not?”

“He has an airtight alibi for most of that evening and for several days after that,” Paul told her.

“And how’s that?”

“He was in jail,” Paul answered.

Well, at least that narrowed the pool of suspects.  There was the man that was going to pound Milt’s pudgy face and the rest were women.  All of them on the list to scope out – or as Gloria preferred to call it – a part of her fact-finding mission.

Gloria swung by Lucy’s on her way out of town.  She didn’t bother getting out of the car.  Instead, she honked the horn and waited and waited. 

She finally gave up and reached for the door handle when she spotted Lucy bouncing down the steps, backpack in hand. 

Lucy opened the back door and dropped the bag on the seat.  It landed on the cushion with a loud
THUD
. Lucy climbed into the passenger seat and reached for her seat belt. 

Gloria stared at the backpack in the rearview mirror. “What on earth is in there?  That thing sounds like it weighs a ton.”

Lucy fastened the clasp and leaned back in the seat.  “Well, I wasn’t sure what all might come in handy.”  She tapped her finger on the door handle.  “Walkie-talkies.  Luckily I have four.  Binoculars and a monocular.” She looked at Gloria.  “Just like the one I bought you.”

Gloria had remembered to bring hers.  It had been useful during the last stakeout that she and Andrea had done.  “I’ve got mine, too.”

“Good.” Lucy paused.  “Oh! And some snacks…and water.”

Gloria was convinced her friend had a tapeworm that was only happy when Lucy fed it sweets.  Lots and lots of sweets.

Liz and Frances were inside Frances’ place when Gloria and Lucy tapped on the door.  It swung open. Frances peeked her head around the side before grabbing Lucy’s arm and jerking her in.  “Hurry up. I don’t want anyone to see you!”

The girls rushed in.  Frances slammed the door and pulled the shade. 

Gloria shook her head. Frances had always acted a bit odd but this took the cake.

Liz rolled her eyes.  “Frances is convinced the police are watching her place.”

Gloria leaned forward, peeking through the edge of the window and shade.  That wouldn’t be too far off, especially if they considered her a prime suspect. 

Frances pulled out a chair and plopped down.  “What’s the plan?”

Lucy dropped her backpack on the chair and unloaded the contents onto the table.  It was quite an impressive array.  There were things even Gloria hadn’t thought of.  Night vision goggles, black gloves and caps.  A Ziploc bag loaded with snacks. 

Last but not least, Lucy pulled out something Gloria could only describe as a Halloween costume one would wear if you were dressing up as Big Foot.  It was gray-green in color and covered with a combination of fur and feathers.  It reminded her of an ugly brown bush. 

Gloria lifted the edge.  “What is this?”

“Camo outfit.  You know, so I can blend in with the landscape.”

“We aren’t in the middle of the woods.” Liz pointed out. She lifted one of the sleeves.  “Now this I gotta see!”

Lucy wrinkled her nose.  “Laugh all you want.  At least I won’t stand out like a sore thumb.”

Frances fingered the sleeve.  “I’ll wear it if you don’t want to,” she told Lucy.

Gloria turned to Liz.  “Did you have any luck finding out who the fourth person at the bridge game was?  The one who was mysteriously silent?”

Gloria’s detective antenna went up when she thought about the woman.  There was something about her…

Liz nodded.  She opened her purse and pulled out a photo.  She pointed at the woman, the same one they had seen the other day.  “Her name is Stella White and she’s 75 years old.  She’s originally from Indianapolis, her husband died two years ago and she lives on Catalina Court.”

Frances opened her mouth. “I’ll…”

Gloria held up a hand.  “Frances, you take Carol Towers, Liz, you take Trudy Gromalski.” She turned to Lucy.  “Lucy takes Vivian Coulter and I’ll take Stella White.”

“How come I have to hang out in the men’s bathroom?” Liz whined.

“You?” Frances screeched.  “I have Carol Towers.  She has a bulldog!” 

Gloria crossed her arms and tapped her foot on the floor.  “We don’t have to do this,” she threatened.

Frances clamped her mouth shut.

Liz shook her head.