Page 10

Tuesday Early Evening …

L ater that evening Doreen received a text that had her wondering who had sent it. She answered it cautiously, but when another text came in right after it, she realized it was Tammy, or at least that is the name she had told Doreen. Tammy’s message was simple.

I have information. Where can we meet?

Doreen winced at that but sent an immediate response. Anywhere and when?

Now, downtown.

“What is it with you people and downtown?” she asked out loud. Not that it was far away, but it was just one of the areas where Doreen would rather not go alone, especially at night. She sent back a thumbs-up, and they arranged to meet just outside the big monument. After that, Doreen immediately texted Mack.

He phoned her almost instantly. “You’re not going there alone.”

“That’s why I texted you,” she said. “I don’t like that area of town at the best of times, but at night and all alone? No thank you.”

“Good, I’ll pick you up.”

“Tammy said she would be there in an hour.”

“That’s fine. I’ve got to finish up a few things here before I pick you up. So, once I arrive, be prepared to leave right away. I want to take up a spot where I can keep watch.”

“Sounds good,” Doreen replied. Feeling much better about the whole thing, she tidied up the kitchen and put on the laundry, noting that some of her activity was just plain nerves at work. Tammy may very well have information, but her choice of location was also partly Doreen’s fault. She needed to get the full names of Jed and anybody else involved in the original B&E of Arnold’s house and then get some research done on them. That way, Doreen would have more information as to what exactly was going on here.

By the time the meeting hour got closer, there was still no sign of Mack. She texted him and asked, Will you make it?

He replied that he was just pulling in out front. She quickly grabbed her animals and headed out the front door.

He frowned at her and asked, “So you really need to bring them?”

She nodded. “Yeah, but don’t ask me why.”

He shrugged. “Those famous instincts of yours. So, if you feel the need to bring them, then you should bring them. What do I know? Nothing about this makes any sense, so trust your instincts.”

“I guess maybe that’s why I want them along.” He didn’t say anything else, and she quickly loaded everybody up. Once she got them all inside his truck and tucked in safe and sound, he backed out of the driveway and headed downtown. “I should have suggested a couple options about where to go and not left it completely up to Tammy,” she muttered.

“It’s probably a location close to her, and, if she has no wheels and doesn’t have a way to travel, this is probably the safest and most convenient meeting spot for her.”

“Oh, I didn’t think of that,” Doreen admitted, lost in her head, “but you’re right. I have wheels, and she might not.”

“Do you know anything about Tammy Farrow? I never got a chance to call her. Sorry.”

“That’s fine, and this may work out for the best anyway. I am hoping to find out some details, and we certainly need more information on the rest of the housemates or whoever else was involved in the B&E at Arnold’s ten years ago.”

“Yeah, I’m up for that.”

She hesitated and looked over at him. “How did your day go?”

He shrugged. “I was at the crime scene again today for quite a bit.”

“Right, and the body was found in a public garden?”

He nodded. “Yes, and then we went to his home today, which is also downtown.”

“So he could quite possibly be connected to this whole B&E mess?”

“That’s what I’m wondering. In a way it seems that it doesn’t have any choice but to be connected.”

“Right,” she muttered. “Still, any information we come up with could be helpful.”

He chuckled. “Yes, that’s true. However, it’s supposed to be on us, not you.”

She smiled. “Got it, though I’m really not too bothered about the niceties right now. We’ve got to get Arnold out of trouble.”

“I don’t think he’s in nearly as much trouble as he thinks he is.”

“Either way, it can’t be terribly comfortable for him to hear that a piece of equipment stolen from him is a murder weapon.”

“That does seem to be what’s bothering him the most,” Mack noted.

“With good reason, and you would feel terrible too, I’m sure. Any of us would be devastated.”

He smiled at her. “That’s true. I definitely would.”

As soon as they got downtown, she asked, “Are there any good places to park here?”

“At this hour of the night there are.” He looked around for a safe spot, out of the public eye. “Most of downtown is pretty empty in the evening, except for all the party-goers.”

At that, she watched as they headed to one of the large parking lots. She nodded. “I’m meeting Tammy just around the corner here.”

“Which is why I thought I would park over here,” he shared, “and then we can go for a walk afterward.”

“Oh, I would love that,” she said. “And the animals will really love it too.”

“ Right ,” he replied in a dry tone.

She chuckled and shook her head. “You know you love them.”

“And it’s a good thing, since you are clearly a package deal.”

She gave him a quick nod. “Glad you realize that.”

“Oh, I do,” Mack stated. “I take all four, or I don’t get any.”

“So true.”

Once he parked, she hopped out and grabbed the leashes. “See you in a little bit.” With the animals in tow, she headed toward the meeting place.