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Chapter Thirty-Six

On our return to Aspen Notch, Clare mentioned that we should stop at the bakery to pick up something to bring to Jane Windsor. “I’m a little worried about her because she hasn’t answered the door any time I’ve tried to pay a visit.”

“I thought you said she took the groceries you offered her on Saturday,” Alan remarked.

“Yes, but it’s now Tuesday. I wanted to ask where Liz might have gone after they ate at the Black Horse Pub the night before I arrived. Unfortunately, we didn’t know about that until later.”

Alan nodded. “Right. We can try again, and bringing a tasty dessert might convince her to open the door. I’d also like to stop by the police station to update Mark on our search at River Mill.”

“Do you think he’ll return Liz’s car now that they didn’t find any clues to her whereabouts?” Clare asked.

“I believe forensics finished processing it,” Alan said. “If so, we might save him a trip to pick it up if you have a key.”

I swiveled from the front seat to see Sophie lying with her head on Clare’s lap. It would have been a sweet picture if I could have reached the phone in my pocket before they moved. “Maybe there’s an extra car fob in a kitchen drawer or something,” I noted.

“Yes, I found one and have it with me, just in case.”

“Good,” Alan stated. “We’ll see if Mark has unearthed any new information. He was going to investigate reservations for air and ground transportation when I spoke with him yesterday.”

Clare took a deep breath. “Okay.”

When they reached Main Street, Alan pulled into a parking spot in front of the police station, and we all trooped in, much to Mark’s surprise.

He looked up from his phone, wrapped up his call, then greeted us with a half-hearted smile. “I had a lead on your sister,” he told Clare, “but it was bogus.”

“We had some of those, too,” Alan acknowledged. “What’s with these people who have a warped sense of humor?”

“They have nothing better to do than waste our time,” Mark complained. “I wanted you to know that Elizabeth Sterling hasn’t taken a plane, train, or bus in the past three weeks; at least, not under her own name.”

“We appreciate you checking on that,” Alan stated. “We’ve just returned from River Mill Golf Club where we joined a group of people searching the woods for Liz. The owner also had workers checking the ponds.”

“I gather you didn’t have any luck. Is that why you brought the dog?”

Alan nodded. “We hoped Sophie would catch a scent.”

Mark distractedly reached down to pet her. “There’s a BOLO throughout the East Coast and mid-Atlantic regions, so we should get some good news soon. Someone has to have seen her.”

“Whoever dumped her car knows where she is,” Alan said.

Mark frowned, shaking his head. “And whoever dumped it, knew how to wipe a car clean. Forensics picked up nothing.”

“The jerk probably used an oxy-cleaner,” Alan remarked. “Smart move.”

Clare interjected, “Do they still need my sister’s car?”

“I wouldn’t think so,” Mark replied. He pressed a number on his phone, then asked about the status of the missing person’s vehicle. Disconnecting, he said, “You can pick it up today if you have a key fob. They’re open until six o’clock.”

She thanked him, without much enthusiasm. I figured she was exhausted and frustrated, though maybe still hopeful that Liz would be found alive and well.

“If anything,” Mark commented, “this case has caught the mayor’s attention. He’s found money in the budget to hire two more part-time cops this year, and Ronald Simpson will go full-time in January.”

Alan laughed. “Lou wants that third term as mayor, so it’s a good strategy.”

Mark nodded his agreement. “His election platform hinges on maintaining the safety of Aspen Notch’s residents, so a missing person in town is a big deal. I’d appreciate your help with vetting the applicants, sir.”

“Gladly,” Alan replied. “Let me know if or when you get any responses to the BOLOs.”

Before we piled into the car, Alan suggested that he could take me home, then drive Clare to the police’s impound yard. “We’ll pick up something at the bakery to bring to Jane,” he added.

“You might as well also buy something for dessert tonight,” I said. “Clare, we’re having chicken pot pies for supper if you’d like to join us.”

“Thank you,” she said. “I’d enjoy that.”

^^^

I helped Lydia in the garden shop during the last forty minutes before closing, then rushed home to put our pot pies in the oven, make a salad, and set the table. Sophie, asleep on the sofa, barely raised her head to watch me fill her water bowl and prepare her supper.

“You’ve had quite a day,” I told her, understanding why she looked so tired. I, too, felt exhausted.

In a way, I hoped Sean would find something else to occupy his attention before supper, but I knew he’d head to our place as soon as he returned home from his after-school program. Then again, I liked giving Jessica a chance to unwind after work without his incessant chatter.

As I stood chopping an onion for our salad, he rapped on the kitchen door. “Come in,” I called. Sophie didn’t budge, though she did open her eyes for a moment.

“Hey, G-G. What are you making?”

“A salad for supper. Would you like to help?”

“No, thank you. I’d rather play with Sophie.”

Those must have been the magic words because my dog came alive, and the two of them headed to the back yard for an evening romp. Jessica arrived shortly after .

“I had an ultrasound today. Would you like to see Jolene at seven months gestation?”

“Of course,” I exclaimed, quickly reaching for a towel.

She handed me two photographs of a perfectly-formed baby, not the grainy shadows they’d captured long ago when I was pregnant with my two children. “Isn’t she beautiful?”

I smiled, filled with motherly instincts. “Yes, she is. Look at that little button nose. May I take a picture with my phone?”

“Sure, but I already sent them to Mom in case you planned to do that.”

We both laughed when I received a ping on my phone with a text message from my daughter, Alexa. “She sent copies to me,” I chuckled.

I returned a congratulations message to her, promising to call later. Jess munched on a stalk of celery, saying, “You know my mother’s going to want to visit.”

“We already planned everything during our trip to Japan.”

She rolled her eyes. “I should have known.”

As much as she teased, I knew Jessica wanted her mother’s presence during this most important time in her life. I did, too.

“All will be fine,” I said comfortingly.

She held her round belly with both hands and spoke to her unborn daughter. “Be a good girl, baby doll. We’re not quite ready for you yet, but almost.”

“We need to have that baby shower soon,” I pressed.

“I’m on schedule for Jolene to come in mid-November, and Judy’s working on the event, so don’t worry, Mimi. Everything will work out.”

I smiled, realizing we were keeping each other calm, and I liked that. “I know it will, Jess. I wish I felt as positive about our case because we keep hitting brick walls.”

She laughed. “You say that every time, then you suddenly get an inspiration. I think the same thing will happen soon.”

“This one’s a doozy,” I said, shaking my head.

“I guess that means Ryan’s article didn’t help.”

“Well, other than responses from kooks, it captured the mayor’s attention. In fact, he intends to fund more part-time cops in town this year, so that’s good.”

“Yes, it is,” she agreed. “I’ll tell Ryan when he gets home from work.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “That should be any time now, so I’d better start supper preparations.”

She stuck her head out the kitchen door and called to Sean, “Five more laps around the yard, then we’re going home.”

He groaned, yet complied. I would have slowed my speed, but he apparently didn’t think of that. Besides, Sophie had enough running, and she left him mid-lap. By then, Jessica had met up with Sean, so they walked home together.

This time, I snapped a picture of the touching scene.