I found Grey and the dogs in the kitchen. Grey reading the paper, Missy eating her food, and Fluffy… well, I wasn’t sure what she was doing. It looked like she was gazing longingly out the patio door.
“She’s tracking the neighbor’s cat,” Grey said from behind the paper.
“Good to know. Got any hot water?” I pulled a travel mug from the cupboard.
“I left a mug for you in the microwave. Lemons in the fridge.”
I found my hot water where he’d left it. Some day I’d learn to like coffee like the other grown-ups. “Did any eggs survive?” The non-stick pan in the sink hadn’t lived up to its reputation. Grey had killed it.
“Nope. I got distracted,” he offered as an explanation for the black mess in the sink. “You wanna grab something in town?”
I heard the paper rustle behind me. I checked my watch. It was after nine, and I wanted to talk to Jo as soon as possible. “I’m good. I’ll probably just grab a drink at the Koffee Klatch. Dinner?”
“Are you offering to cook?” He dropped the paper on the glass table.
He hadn’t overslept. He looked refreshed, clean shaven and dressed for the gallery.
“Nope. I’m offering to eat with you.”
He chuckled. “It’s a date.”
I gave him a big smooch and agreed to call him later. “Let’s go, dogs.”
The three of us loaded into the Jeep and sped off to my place to drop off my furry passengers. Then I was off to Caro’s. It was time to get my brooch back.
Unlike my cousin, I didn’t have to break into her home. I’d taken the liberty of having a copy of her key made. (Now, don’t act so shocked. If we were on speaking terms, you know I’d be the first person she’d entrust with a spare.)
Once I was certain she wasn’t home, I walked the half block to her place. (I wasn’t so bold that I’d park in her driveway; the goal was to get in and out without being caught.) I unlocked the door and walked inside.
Dogbert, a rescue mixed-breed, barked his welcome. His bark was definitely terrier. It had that sharp tone that said he was boss. I got down on one knee and pulled out the bacon flavored treats I’d brought just for Dog.
“Here you go, boy.” I fed him one. Once he’d finished it, he immediately rolled over for a belly rub. I willingly obliged.
As I gave Dog his rub down, I casually looked around. Her open floor plan was both a blessing and a curse when looking for my brooch.
Thelma and Louise, her cats, were stretched out along the top of the overstuffed couch sunbathing. Where would Caro have hid it this time? It was possible she had it with her. Probably not. She’d be worried about the gems coming loose.
I stood and walked into the kitchen.
Her organized cupboards were stocked with health food. Where’s the sugar, Sugar? I opened the fridge and was equally disappointed.
“Well, I’m glad you haven’t invited me over for dinner. Yikes. I’m not sure I’d survive on tuna and organic veggies.”
Thelma and Louise meandered through the kitchen, swishing between my feet checking out what I was doing.
“Ladies, I brought a little something for you too.”
I pulled out at pouch of Kitty Kat Kibbles and poured out two small piles on the counter, one for each of them.
Maybe she hid the pin in her bedroom.
As I was passing through the living room, I noticed her overstuffed bookcase was even more overstuffed than the last time I’d visited. I didn’t normally notice that type of stuff, but Caro always had interesting books. And a wide variety. Fiction, non-fiction, reference, and her favorite biographies. She loved to read.
There were two new books shoved on top of the other books that had caught my attention. They looked like text books. Being the nosy cousin, I helped myself to see what she’d bought this time. Relational Diagnosis and Dysfunctional Family Patterns and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Obviously she was researching our family tree.
I pulled the fancy burgundy leather book off the shelf. It looked like it was from her therapy days. Not when she was in therapy, but when she was paid to give out advice. It smelled kinda musty. Eew.
I ran my hand over the leather. It was soft and in decent shape. I opened the cover thinking I might find something to help me deal with Mama and almost dropped it.
“Oh, no, you didn’t.”
Caro had defaced a book.
My cousin, the lover of all things bookish had ripped out a handful of pages and taped something wrapped in a monogrammed hankie (CAL) to the inside cover. That something was the exact size as Grandma Tillie’s brooch. My snoopiness paid off big time.
My heart surged with excitement.
Very carefully, I removed my prized possession and unwrapped it. Not a loose gem on it. Perfectly garish. And all mine. I gave it an appreciative smooch.
It was back where it belonged.
“You are one sneaky gal, Carolina Alexis Lamont.”
Chapter Thirty-One
This time I wasn’t taking any chances. I headed home to hide my loot in a secure place. Fluffy’s safe. I tucked away the pin next to Fluffy’s own prized treasures. I have to admit I felt a little cocky for once again being on top. It was going to be a great day.
Mitch and Nikki had left a note letting me know they were out for a morning stroll on the beach. I was about to call the dogs, but realized they were crashed out in their beds. I scribbled a note to the newlyweds that I’d check on the furry kids after noon and scrammed.
With an enormous smile on my face, I sped down PCH toward the shop. I spied Cliff’s Land Rover at Nick’s restaurant. Without a second thought, I cranked the steering wheel to the left and parked.
As soon as I climbed out of the Jeep, the powerful aroma of fried chicken and coffee assaulted my sensibilities. My stomach growled, demanding to be fed. Nick’s was one of the few restaurants in town where you’d find an entree of fried chicken and gravy with waffles on the menu.
It was a nice place with trendy deco and good food. At times a long wait to get into for dinner. Especially during tourist season.
I walked inside and spotted Cliff sitting at the bar, no breakfast. Unless you considered a Bloody Mary the breakfast of champions. I claimed the barstool next to him.
“What the hell do you want?” he growled.
Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. I took in his mussed hair and scruffy face. He was wearing the same bowling shirt he’d worn yesterday. Correction. Someone still needed to go to bed.
“Long night?” I asked.
“Whada you care?” He drank deeply, almost stabbing himself in the eye with the celery stick sticking out of his glass.
“I hear you’re in trouble.”
“What do you know about it?” he snapped.
I waved the bartender over and asked for an iced tea. His gaze shifted between Cliff and me but wisely kept his opinion to himself.
“I guess you’re the last to know. It’s well known around town you’ve got a gambling problem.”
An awkward moment passed. The bartender brought my tea, then vanished.
Cliff shrugged. “So I gamble. What’s the big deal?”
“I’d say borrowing money from Batty is a big deal,” I whispered.
His glass slid from his hand, landing upright on the bar. He whipped around and glared at me. “Are you trying to get us killed?”
Lord, he could get angry fast. Imagine how angry he could be at someone he hated. I moved him to the top of my suspect list. “If you’re that afraid of him, why on God’s green earth would you take money from him?”
“I didn’t.”
It took me a second, but I got it. “Ted.”
“This is all Mona’s fault. If she hadn’t gone back on her word, I wouldn’t be in the mess.”
“What part did she go back on?” Fluffy or paying him off in cash?