Page 31 of X-Ray in the Xanth (Lovely Lethal Gardens Rewind #3)

?

T he next morning Doreen slept in. It hadn’t been a great night.

She kept waking up, thinking about the two cases, then going back under, but she just couldn’t see any scenario that made sense to her.

As soon as she got up, made coffee, poured her first cup, and basically collapsed onto her chair at the kitchen table, yawning, her phone rang.

She groaned, thinking there was a lot to be said for nobody knowing who she was or where she lived or what her phone number was, since it kept everybody out of her face.

But the police station was calling, so she answered, only to find the captain on the other end.

“Doreen, Mack says you have a working theory.”

“He might have jumped the gun a little bit on that,” she clarified. “I might have a theory. I’m not sure it’s working.”

He burst out laughing. “Welcome to police work.”

She muttered, “If only people would just tell the truth.”

“But they don’t want to,” he said, with a snort. “That’s just a fact of life.”

“I know, and it’s frustrating,” she muttered. “I mean, all kinds of things would be settled in no time if people would just open up and talk.”

“Isn’t that the truth?” he muttered. “So, do you want to come in and talk to us?”

“I don’t really have anything for you,” she said cautiously.

“We don’t have much either. Yet apparently you’re the one who already pinpointed that this could be the senator’s daughter,” he explained. “So why don’t you come in and sort that one out for us?”

It’s not as if he was giving her any option. “Fine,” she muttered, “but I’m telling you upfront, I don’t really have any answers.”

“I’ll take what you’ve got,” he said, “because, right now, you’ve got more than we do.”

“You guys would get here on your own,” she added.

“We didn’t though, so get your butt in here. I’ll even make sure there’s coffee for you.”

She laughed. “But then again, it’ll be, you know,… cop coffee .”

“Which is good enough for us,” he declared. “And you’re almost one of us at this point in time, so it should be good enough for you too.”

“And I can bring the animals?”

“Of course you can bring the animals,” he said in exasperation. “I don’t think I’ve ever known you not to have them with you.”

With that and a smile on her face, she sent Mack a text, saying that she’d been summoned.

He sent her a thumbs up, followed by Good luck.

She wasn’t sure what that meant. Stopping long enough to load up the animals, she stuffed her pockets full of treats to help all of them behave, should this meeting be too long and too busy to pay them any attention.

As she was about to step out, Nan called.

“Wow,” Nan greeted her. “Where are you off to?”

“How do you know that I’m off to somewhere?” she asked, staring down at her phone, puzzled.

“You’re huffing and puffing. Good Lord, that can’t be good.”

“No, it sure can’t be,” she muttered, not getting into it. “So, what did you find out? I’m still looking for answers. Did you guys come up with anything?”

“We think we have a couple people who potentially have a link to Eli’s family.”

“Oh good,” she said. “Are they here? Can I talk to them this morning? I really want to have something in terms of an answer to give to the captain.”

“The captain?” Nan repeated, seemingly thrilled.

“Yes, he just called, and I’ve been summoned, as I’ve just told Mack. But being summoned doesn’t mean I have any answers.”

“No, it sure doesn’t,” Nan exclaimed, yet still excited. “It is nice to think that you’re being summoned.”

“Yeah, says you,” Doreen muttered, “but I would feel better if I had something to give them.”

“Come down now if you want. I’m expecting to talk to Sally here in the next little bit.”

“And who is Sally?”

“We believe she knew Glenda.”

“Okay, I’m on my way.”