“Why did you give the photo album to that weasel?” Deb said as she was driving them back home from the police station.
“I didn’t. She took it back.”
“You gave it to Sadie?”
“No. The woman we got it from. How’d you know about that?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Well, what are you talking about?” Liz retorted.
“Maybe, you ought to start at the beginning, Liz. You’re confusing me.”
“I’m confusing you? I’m confused.”
“Yeah. That’s what I said,” Deb agreed. Then she said,” So, how’d MacCready get it?”
“What? The photo album?”
“Well we ain’t talkin’ about tulips and turnips,” Deb sneered.
“Tulips and turnips? What are you talking. . . . . ? Never mind. Let’s just back up a bit. Are you telling me that Ben MacCready has the photo album?”
“That’s right.”
“How do you know that?”
“It was lying on his desk, when I peeked in there looking for him, when we first got there this morning. He quickly tossed some papers on top of it when he saw me,” Deb explained.
“Are you sure it was the same photo album we had?”
“Sure I’m sure. I’m always sure. Ain’t I?”
“Always,” Liz agreed sarcastically.
Deb was turning into their driveway now. She pushed the button on the remote to open the garage door.
“Well. How’d he get it?” Liz said more to herself than asking a question of Deb.
“Seems to me, that’s what I asked you in the first place.”
Deb had just unlocked the side door from the garage to the kitchen and Liz had just managed to ease herself out of the Cherokee, when Marlee Drum entered through the open garage door.
“Good morning, ladies,” she greeted. The color in her cheeks was better today and she seemed more upbeat than she had a couple of days before.
“Good morning, Marlee,” Liz said as cheerfully as she could. She was hurting bad today and she was still disturbed about the photo album and Ben MacCready.” Come on in. We’ll put some coffee on.”
“There was quite a commotion over here, last night,” Marlee said over the lip of her steaming cup. Then took a tiny sip. Still too hot.” I understand the burglar was caught last night.”
“Turns out, it was the wrong man. At least not the one that broke in here,” Liz said. She was unwrapping a tootsie pop. Lime again. Not a good day.
“Oh,” Marlee said with surprise.” I hadn’t heard about that. Did he take anything? I mean. Are you all right?”
“’I’m fine. And no he didn’t take anything. Deb and Sissy interrupted him, but he got away.”
“But Sissy got a piece of his rump, though,” Deb said.
“You mean, she bit him?”
“Got a piece of cloth from his pant leg and spilled blood on the carpet,” Deb said proudly.
Marlee’s cheeks darkened and her eyes grew dark.” Did you get look at him?” She asked.
“Only shadows,” Liz said.” All I could see was he was a big man. That rules out the man they caught last night.”
Noticing that Marlee seemed to be upset by all this, Liz said,” I wouldn’t worry though, Marlee. With the patrols and all that’s been happening around here, I doubt if we’ll be having any more problems. Anyone considering a break in must be scared off by now.”
“I hope you’re right,” Marlee said, sounding not quite convinced.
“Something else is bothering you though?” Liz asked.” You mean Lew, don’t you?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’m probably making something out of nothing.”
“Have you received any more notes?”
“No,” she answered.” Maybe, this being Halloween time and all, it was just somebody’s idea of a joke.”
“Did you bring it up to Lew? I mean, have you confronted him with any of this?” Liz asked.
“No, but I did keep the note. I don’t know why I kept it. I just did. I hid it in my jewelry box. Lew never goes in there. I decided not to mention it to him. I didn’t think I needed to. Lew’s been a good husband. He’s taken care of me since I’ve been sick these past years. I know it has not been easy on him, but he has been loyal and faithful. I shouldn’t distrust him now.”
“Honey,” Deb put in.” He’s a man. You can’t trust any of them. Believe me I know. After three husbands, I’m an expert on that.”
“Well you know what they say about experts?” Liz said and answered it herself.” An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until she knows absolutely nothing about anything.”
“See I told you I was an expert,” Deb said proudly, not getting the gist of it.
“Yeah, you did.”
“Lew is a good man,” Marlee said.” I never should have doubted him.” Then, as an after thought, she said,” He’s going to be entertaining at the nursing home for Halloween again this year. That’s this Sunday. Will you be going to visit Joe?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Liz said wistfully.” I’ve kind of given up hope.” She was silent for a moment.” I suppose I should check in on him though.”
“I was kind of hoping to get some time with the tractor this weekend,” Deb complained at the prospect of having to drive Liz to the Home.
“You wouldn’t have to give that up, Deb,” Marlee said. Then to Liz,” Lew said to ask you if you wanted to go with him. He could use the company. I don’t feel like going. I think he would like for somebody besides the Home people to see him in his Scooby Doo outfit.”
“And just maybe, I could get him talking and see if I think there is anything for you to worry about.”
“Well, no. That’s not what I meant. . . .”
“I know what you meant,” Liz smiled.” And If I feel up to it on Sunday, I’d be glad to let him take me.”
“If I were you, I’d watch myself, dearie,” Deb put in.
*****
Chapter Sixteen