going on, but this town was even smaller than Mercy. Everyone knew everything about what went on—and that was why we’d come to the park in the first place.
I glanced at Rebecca’s mother and back to her. “Is Miss Longworth being treated by a doctor here for a possible . . . medical problem?”
“You mean Alzheimer’s?” Rebecca said softly.
I nodded.
“Not that I know of, but we don’t have many specialists. I have to take my mother to Charlotte to see a doctor there. I happen to have firsthand knowledge about Miss Longworth’s recent problems. I took Mama to pick up a prescription a couple months ago. Evie was there with Miss Ritaestelle. Miss Longworth looked blank-faced, like she was almost sleepwalking. At the counter, when Miss Longworth opened her bag to pay, Evie spotted a handful of small-change items—nail polish, nail clippers, stuff like that. She took them all out and put them on the counter so she could pay for them. When Evie looked back at me, she seemed so embarrassed.” Rebecca squeezed her mother close again. “Rumor is that not long after, Evie Preston told the police chief about that incident. See the chief and Miss Longworth are friends and Chief Shelton could help before things got out of hand. As many troubles as we’ve had, I never had that kind of problem.”
Gertrude looked bewildered again. “You’ve got a problem, little lady? I know where the police officers can be found. Parked in their car outside the kolache shop on Briar Street.”
I grinned. “Thanks for the tip, Mrs. Hill.” That might prove to be useful information if word got around that I was asking questions. We would definitely avoid Briar Street.
“Mrs. Hill, you say?” Gertrude said. “Is she related to that handsome young lawyer, Peter Hill?”
Rebecca took her mother’s elbow and said, “Time to move on, Mama. We have more birds to feed near our house.”
Gertrude slowly rose with Rebecca’s help, and as they passed by, I thanked Rebecca for her help.
“You take care,” Tom offered.
Before they left, Rebecca leaned down and whispered, “Peter is my brother.”
I managed to pat Rebecca’s arm reassuringly and say, “You are so brave,” before they slowly walked away.
“That police chief will hear about this conversation, you know,” Tom said. “She’ll make sure no one talks to you after this.”
“Why? I’m only trying to help a cat and a woman who seems to be in trouble.”
“I know,” Tom said gently, “but you said yourself there’s more to this. If Chief Shelton decides no one should talk to you, then I’m betting she’ll get her way.”
“I couldn’t fool around with Rebecca and Gertrude. I can’t help but wonder after meeting them if Kara will be so completely there for me one day. Make sure my cats are fed, their litter boxes are clean. And what about poor Ritaestelle? Does she have any family to—”
“What are you doing back in Woodcrest?” came a female voice I recognized. She was standing behind me.
I turned and looked up at Chief Nancy Shelton.
Tom rose and faced her. “I insisted she come back. Tom Stewart.” He held out his hand.
The woman, once again wearing that navy blue jacket and skirt with the shiny police badge on her lapel, regarded Tom’s hand as if it were a gerbil in a petting zoo. Would it be safe to touch?
But finally she shook his hand.
“You know your friend here”—the chief nodded at me—“well, she caused quite an upset at the Longworth house yesterday.”
I so wanted to say that the “upset” had begun long before I arrived, but instead I said, “I meant no harm.”
Nancy Shelton’s stern look disappeared. “I understand. I’m not an unreasonable woman, despite what you think. I’m simply very protective of my citizens. I’ve had a day to think about my behavior yesterday, and I talked more with Miss Preston about your visit. I overreacted. You’re concerned about Isis. Isn’t that right? Mr. Cuddahee apparently found her and sent you here?”
I slouched in relief. “Yes. I want to bring Miss Longworth’s cat back to her. She seems to need her friend more than ever right now,” I said.
Chief Shelton closed her eyes, hung her head briefly. “You may want to rethink that.”
“Why’s that?” Tom said.
“Because I hate to tell you this, but the family told me that Ritaestelle tossed that cat out the door last week. I’d say Isis is lucky to be alive.”
Eight
Chief Shelton’s words hung in the hot, sticky air. She was saying that Miss Longworth tossed her cat out the door like so much garbage. This was such unexpected information that I could hardly believe it. Neither Tom nor I spoke for several seconds.
Tom finally said, “You’re sure the cat didn’t sneak out? In others words, act . . . well, catlike?”
“That’s not what I understand.” The chief looked at me. “Is the cat okay?”
“Yes. She’s with me.” My voice sounded flat. I’d been so certain I would be returning Isis to her home. But now I wasn’t so sure.
The chief said, “Do you think you can keep Isis for a while? Or . . . perhaps I can find someone to take her.”
“It would be too stressful for her to end up at yet another place so soon,” I said. “I’m just getting to know her, and I don’t mind keeping her for a while.” If I could get a good night’s sleep, that is.
Shelton nodded. “All right. I’m not a cat person, so I trust your judgment. Where did you find her, by the way?”
“Shawn found her near the highway between here and Mercy,” I said absently. Would Isis calm down? Would my own cats completely freak out by having such a spoiled animal in the same house with them for longer than I’d thought?
“If I can offer a suggestion?” Shelton said.
“Sure,” Tom answered after a glance my way. He obviously could tell how stunned I was by this news. How dismayed.
“Please leave Ritaestelle alone for now. There have been problems. I won’t betray her confidence, but plans are in the works to help her.” Shelton looked at me. “When the family believes Ritaestelle is ready, they’ll tell her that Isis is safe. In fact, I’ll tell her myself. She and I go back a long way.”
Just as Ed and Rebecca had said. They went way, way back. “I have no intention of bothering Miss Longworth. I’ve been trying to do the right thing by both her and her cat,” I said.
“I understand,” Shelton said with a sad smile.
Tom pulled a business card from his shirt pocket. “Why don’t you call me when you think Miss Longworth is well enough to hear the news about Isis?”
She took the card and smiled. “Thank you for your concern. And again, forgive me for yesterday, Ms. Hart. Evie Preston was understandably upset when she saw you come upstairs and observe Ritaestelle at her worst. She called me right away, and I took off after you without thinking. Protecting our friends is important here in Woodcrest. Now, I have to get back to the station. But I do so appreciate your concern.”
After she was gone, Tom said, “Protecting their secrets is what she meant.”
“I—I—This is plain awful,” I said, shaking my head. “Not what I expected. But I’m glad we came. After listening all night to that cat screech, I was ready to bring Isis with me today and drop her off at the Longworth place. Now I’m glad I didn’t.”
“A little information can make all the difference. Let’s go.” Tom put his arm around my shoulder. “You look completely wrung out. If you want, come to my place for a nap before you go home. Dashiell and I will make sure you’re comfortable.”
