“Sounds good. I’ll stop by after and let you know what happened.”
He scooped Yummy up, slipped him in his carrier, grabbed another cinnamon roll, and kissed the top of my head.
“That’s the best you can do?” I teased.
“Yes, if I want to get to work and you want to make it to the will reading.” He was laughing as he hurried out the door.
My phone rang. It was Georgie.
“Hey, hi. I didn’t have time to call you until after the dinner rush and then I thought you might be in the middle of another passionate kiss. Spill. What happened?”
“Nothing. We had a nice quiet evening and talked. I’m not ready to be serious, and Clark understands. I’m not worried about Clark. I’m worried about Mags. Seriously, Mags scares me. I think she’s the one who put the note on my house. Who else would do it?” I stood and paced in my living room.
“Not sure, but Mags is a good suspect. I think if she wants Yummy that badly then maybe she killed Inga, too. Paul is calling me. Be careful. Call me after you meet with Lucas.”
I slipped my phone in my purse just as the doorbell rang. I peeked out and saw Officer Bill Todorov standing on my porch. My heart picked up speed. I swallowed and opened the door.
“Good morning, Annie,” Bill said. “I just stopped by to be sure you’re okay and to let you know that we are making extra patrols in the neighborhood.” He shifted his weight from one foot to another.
“Thank you, Bill. I appreciate it. Oh, I told Laci you said hi, and she asked me to tell you hello back.” I watched his face turn a light pink.
“Umm, I know. She told me when we spoke Monday night. Umm I mean…” His face turned a darker shade of pink on its way to a light red.
“It’s okay, Bill. You’re a nice guy and Laci can make her own decisions. Just don’t hurt her—ever.” I glared at him intentionally.
It worked; he shifted his weight again and said, “I won’t. I promise. I have to get back on patrol.” He turned and hurried to his cruiser.
I closed the door and laughed. I hope he remembers the look I tried to have on my face. He’s a nice guy, but Laci is my baby even if she is nineteen.
It’s late; I better get to Lucas’ office.
Chapter Eleven
Lucas’ office is on the third floor of the oldest building in Heavenly Corners. It originally contained city hall, the police station, jail, and a small museum. It is a beautiful cream colored brick building on the corner of Main Street and Grand Boulevard. I parked behind the building and hurried inside. I glanced at my watch and saw I was going to be late. I saw the elevator begin to close and pushed the button. The doors opened, and I came face to face with Mags. I took a deep breath and walked into the elevator.
“Get out,” Mags shouted. “Wait for the next elevator.”
“There’s only one elevator. I’m riding this one.” I crossed my arms as the doors began to close.
Mags held out her hand and stopped the doors from closing. “I said ‘get out.' You’re a dog thief.”
“I will not and we can stand here all day. You can leave.” I stepped back further into the elevator and made my stand.
Mags’ face turned red, and she was sweating. She spun toward me. When she let go of the doors, they began to close. She tried to keep them from closing again, and her purse flew around as she spun toward the doors again. A bottle of vitamin water flew at my face. I put up my hands to catch it before it broke my nose.
“That’s mine,” screamed Mags. “Are you trying to steal that, too? I knew you were a thief.”
I took a step toward Mags and yelled, “I’m not a thief. Stop calling me that you obnoxious witch.”
“Get away from me,” Mags screamed again.
By now I’m sure everyone outside of the elevator could hear our argument, and I didn’t care. I yelled back at her. “Yummy is my dog. Inga gave him to me, and you can’t have him.” I began to feel as if I was back in kindergarten fighting over a crayon.
“Just you wait. The judge will give him to me. You are a mess, Annie Ryan.”
I lashed back, “No way. If you try, you’ll be sorry.” I glared at her as the doors slid open.
The elevator was directly across from Lucas’ office, and several people heard our exchange. Mortified, I held my head up straight and walked into Lucas’ reception area. I heard Mags warning people I was a lunatic, but I smiled at the receptionist and told her I had an eleven o’clock appointment with Lucas.
She smiled back and asked me to have a seat.
I sat across the room from Mags who was staring at me. Her face was still red, and she kept doubling over as if she was fighting stress. Douglas arrived and sat next to her. Moments later, two young men in suits entered and sat in two chairs near me. I wondered if they were the cousins.
Moments later when the receptionist ushered them into Lucas’ office along with Mags, Douglas, and me, I knew who they were. Introductions made, we all sat in chairs except for Mags, who curled up on the sofa.
Lucas sat behind his massive mahogany desk and smiled. “Welcome, Annie, Margaret, Douglas, Roland, and Craig.
Hmm, Roland and Craig were the cousins. Are they also Kellehers? What is wrong with Mags? She’s still angry and glaring at me. Inga would be sad if she saw all this fighting. Maybe I should give Yummy to Mags. If she is behind the threat, maybe I would be safer. Laci will be home in a few weeks. I can’t let her be in danger. I have to give up Yummy now before this
