Page 12

Chapter Twelve

Clare didn’t talk much on our way to the grocery store, probably due to seeing the broken glass again at her sister’s house. I babbled about the things I needed to buy, more as a reminder of my mental list than trying to make conversation.

At the entrance, we each took a cart, and she set off on her own. I wondered how she’d react to the price of everything, but she had plenty of money so I didn’t worry.

Eventually, I came across her in the bakery section. She stood at the glass display case, as if waiting for someone to take her order. “It’s all self-serve here,” I said. “What do you need?”

“I wanted to buy just two of the sticky buns; not a package of six.”

“Unfortunately, you can’t do that here,” I noted. “We could share, if you’d like, or you can keep the extras in your freezer.”

She shook her head and returned the box to the counter. I picked it up and put it in my cart, thinking I’d bring her a surprise later. From there, I went to the dairy aisle since I needed milk and cheese, and she followed, although she didn’t put anything in her basket.

“I don’t need whole packages of things,” she sighed. “Why can’t I buy just one or two items?”

“I suppose they consider it as value in numbers. The deli section sells smaller amounts, so let’s head there.”

We both took a number, although I finished much sooner than she did. I doubted that the next person in line enjoyed waiting for her to get a quarter pound of this and that. She especially liked selecting the pre-made salads and appetizers.

After we checked out and headed to the car, she seemed in a better frame of mind. As we loaded our bags into the trunk, she said, “You must think I’ve never shopped for groceries, but I have. I just don’t know if I should stay here and wait for Liz, or return to the Monastery.”

“And you don’t want to leave a lot of food in the house. I get it and I’d feel the same way, but give us a chance to investigate.” I showed her where we needed to take our carts, then clicked the fob to unlock the car’s doors.

“I shouldn’t have come,” she said, buckling her seatbelt. “I should be raising money for our missions in Africa, yet I’m stuck here with fear and worry—two emotions I rarely encounter.”

I couldn’t imagine that a single woman living in an African village was never afraid, but I still didn’t really understand Clare.

“You might come up with an idea for a fundraiser while you’re in Aspen Notch,” I said. “Folks in town are generous if they know what you need.”

“We’ve made great strides with guinea worm, but HIV and malaria are still rampant. Of course, even antiseptics and vitamins are scarce, and that contributes to the illnesses I deal with every day.”

“What’s guinea worm?” I asked.

“Oh, my. It’s a terrible parasitic infection that occurs when someone drinks the larvae prevalent in dirty water. The worm literally grows inside a person until it painfully makes its way out of the leg or foot.”

My face registered disgust. “How awful! What can you do to prevent it?”

“I teach the villagers not to drink stagnant water. It must be filtered or treated with a chemical, but if someone’s thirsty…” She let me imagine the challenges.

I pulled into her driveway and popped the trunk. “I can help carry your bags inside.”

“Thank you, but I only have three.”

I exited the car and met her at my trunk. “We should shop together again. I enjoyed your company.”

“That’s very kind of you to say,” she replied with a fleeting smile before turning to go inside. Almost as an afterthought, she added, “Let me know if I can do anything to help you and Alan with the investigation.”

“We will,” I assured her as I closed the trunk.

I reminded myself that Clare needed support, even if she had a few quirks.

^^^

After putting away the groceries, I added two chicken breasts and cream of mushroom soup to the slow cooker so they’d simmer all afternoon. When finished, I ate an apple with peanut butter for my lunch, pocketed the souvenirs from Japan I bought for Evelyn, then headed to the garden shop.

Lydia and I reviewed the list of items she suggested I order from the wholesale distributor until customers arrived, and we both stayed relatively busy for the first hour.

Shortly after one o’clock, Alan texted to ask if I wanted to go to River Mill Golf Club with him. I didn’t hesitate to reply in the affirmative, told Lydia to call Kareen if she needed help during our busy time, and tossed my apron to the back of my chair.

She teased that my expression totally changed whenever I had the opportunity to sleuth. I wondered how she knew because I hadn’t mentioned my destination.

“Am I that transparent?” I asked, chuckling.

She laughed. “More than anyone I know.”

Alan picked me up at the curb and I buckled in for the twenty-minute ride to the country club. “How was your shopping trip with Clare?” he asked.

I sighed. “Fine, but she really sends mixed messages.”

He glanced my way at the stop sign. “In what way?”

“I can’t really put my finger on it. One moment, she acts as if she hasn’t seen civilization in eons, then she’s perfectly normal.”

Alan nodded slowly, keeping his eyes on the road. “If this is Clare’s first time back in the U.S. after twenty-five years, she probably finds everything overwhelming. You and I would, too.”

“I know, yet she’s so darn independent one moment, then has second thoughts. For example, she didn’t buy a lot of food because she doesn’t know how long she’ll stay, but she hires us to search for the sister she thinks is in trouble.”

“Given the rock tossed through the upstairs window, Mark and I think someone may have kidnapped Liz Sterling.”

“Really? Why?”

“It contained a clear message for Clare, written with a black marker. “Go home or you’ll never see your sister alive.”

I gave him an incredulous stare. “All of that was written on the rock?”

“Yes, which is why I didn’t want her to see it.”

“Maybe she already did,” I suggested.

“Maybe, but it was lying face down on the shattered glass. I didn’t contaminate the scene and I don’t think she did either.”

“What about the notes?” I asked. “Were there other prints besides hers?”

“Two sets of prints. Hers and someone else’s. Mark thinks Clare’s story is true, and he wants us to treat it as a missing person case.”

“Why doesn’t he take over?” I pressed.

“He really doesn’t have the time or the manpower.” Alan paused for a moment before saying, “And he likes that we lighten his load.”

“You made a good choice when you selected him from the county police force as your assistant,” I said.

“We made a good team,” Alan agreed. “When we get to the golf club, we’ll want to interview anyone who knew Edward Sterling. If we’re lucky, we’ll also learn about J.W.”

“Right, and I want to know more about his wife. Someone there should be able to tell us about Liz.”

“I hope so,” Alan said as he turned into the entrance and headed toward the main office. “Are you ready, partner? ”

I grinned, feeling excitement course through my veins. “Ready, willing, and able, boss.”