Linc removed the phone book from a small shelf. The entire directory was only half an inch thick. The Seattle phone book had a bigger section just of government agencies than the entire Cedar Cove White
“Got it,” he announced triumphantly.
“Should we call?”
“Nope.”
“Why not?” Mel asked. He walked back to the bar and downed the last of his beer.
“I don’t want to give Mary Jo a heads-up that we’re in town. I think the best thing to do is take her by surprise.”
Ned nodded, although he seemed a bit uncertain.
Linc thanked the bartender, got some general directions and collected his change. He left a generous tip; it was Christmas Eve, after all. Then he marched toward the door, his brothers scrambling after him.
In the parking lot again, Linc climbed into the truck and started the engine. He’d noticed that Harbor Street angled up the hill. He guessed David’s parents’ street wasn’t far from this main thoroughfare. Trusting his instincts, he returned to the traffic signal, took a left and followed the road until it intersected with Pelican Court.
Within five minutes of leaving the tavern, Linc was parked outside Ben and Charlotte Rhodes’s house.
The porch light was on, which boded well, and there appeared to be a light on inside, too. The house was a solid two-story dwelling, about the same age as the one he shared with his brothers in Seattle. White Christmas lights were strung along the roofline and the bushes were lighted, too. There was a manger scene on the front lawn.
“This is a neat town,” Mel said. “Did you see they have an art gallery? We passed it a couple of minutes ago.”
“When did you get so interested in art?” Linc asked.
“I like art,” Mel muttered.
“Since when?”
“Since now. You want to make something of it?”
“No,” Linc said, puzzled by his brother’s defensiveness.
Linc walked up the steps leading to the front door while his brothers stood out on the lawn. Mel amused himself by rearranging the large plastic figures in the Nativity scene.
Linc felt smug. If Mary Jo thought she’d outsmarted him, she had a lesson to learn. He didn’t want to be self- righteous, but he was going to teach his little sister that she wasn’t nearly as clever as she seemed to think. He also wanted Mary Jo to understand that he had her best interests at heart—now and always.
Leaning hard against the doorbell, he waited several minutes and when nothing happened, he pressed the bell a second time.
“Want me to check out the backyard?” Ned called from the lawn.
“Sure.”
His youngest brother took off and disappeared around the side of the house.
Mel trailed after Ned, while Linc stood guard on the porch. Since no one was bothering to answer—although there seemed to be people home—Linc stepped over to the picture window and glanced inside through the half- closed blinds.
A cat hissed at him from the windowsill on the other side. Or at least he assumed it was hissing, since its teeth were bared and its ears laid back. Startled, he took a deep breath and stepped away. Although there was a window between them, the cat glared at him maliciously, its intentions clear.
“Nice kitty, nice kitty,” Linc remarked, although he knew the animal couldn’t hear his attempt to be friendly. This cat was anything but. Linc didn’t doubt for a moment that if he were to get inside the house, “nice kitty” would dig all his claws into him within seconds.
Linc hurried to the other side of the porch and leaned over the side, but that didn’t provide him with any further information.
A minute or two later, his brothers were back. “The house is locked up. Door wouldn’t budge.”
This wasn’t going the way Linc had planned. “Okay, so maybe they aren’t home.”
“Then where
“How am I supposed to know?” Linc asked, growing irritated.
“You’re the one with all the answers, remember?”
“Hey, hey,” Ned said, coming to stand between his brothers. “Let’s skip the sarcasm. We’re looking for Mary Jo, remember?”
“Where is she?” Mel asked.
“I haven’t got a clue,” Ned returned calmly. “But someone must.”
“Maybe we should ask a neighbor,” Mel said.
“Be my guest.” Linc motioned widely with his arm.
“Okay, I will. I’ll try…that one.” Mel marched down the steps, strode across the street and walked up to the
