Читать книгу A Laramie, Texas Christmas - Cathy Thacker Gillen - Страница 11

“So what’d you find out?” Rio asked the following afternoon.

Kevin leaned back in his desk chair. “Noelle Kringle was born and reared in Houston. Her parents were Bert and Norma Smith. They died eight years ago in an automobile accident, when Noelle was just nineteen. Bert was an electrical engineer, employed with the same company for twenty years. Her mother was a homemaker. The family owned one modest home in Houston that has since been torn down to make way for a shopping mall.” Which made it impossible to go and talk to any of the Smiths’ former neighbors—easily, anyway. “There’s nothing to report on any of them. No traffic tickets, criminal records, legal disputes or credit problems. Nothing on her late husband, Michael Kringle, Sr., either.”

“How about Miss Sadie’s nephew?”

“Dash Nelson is a respected member of the Texas bar, an ace litigator who also does a lot of pro bono work for disadvantaged youths. He’s got plenty of money of his own, and a close relationship with his aunt, so there’s no motive there. If he wanted or needed money from Miss Sadie, all he would have to do is ask.”

Rio pulled up a chair. “What financial shape is Noelle Kringle in?”

“Not great.” Aware that Noelle had had a harder time than she let on, Kevin frowned. “Her parents left her only a few thousand dollars when they died, after their estate was settled. She worked minimum wage jobs—waitress, banquet server—before getting on with a catering firm as an event planner. She stopped working for that company when she married, and became self-employed, doing solo events for Miss Sadie and several other prominent families. She lives in a town home in a respectable neighborhood with her son. Her bank account shows no unusual activity. She seems to have enough to get by, but nothing that would indicate she’s involved in any kind of scam.”

“So she’s off your suspect list?” Rio asked.

“Not quite.”

Rio cocked a brow.

“Something about her just doesn’t feel right,” Kevin added.

“You think she’s a crook?”

Kevin’s wary nature kicked in. “I think she’s hiding something.”

“Like…?” his buddy pressed.

Kevin shrugged and stood, feeling ready for action once again. “I don’t know. But I’m going to find out,” he vowed. “It’s the only way I’ll be able to rule her out as a suspect, once and for all.”

NOELLE WAS SITTING at Miss Sadie’s bedside, finishing up the latest round of notes for the parties Miss Sadie was planning to have in Laramie, when Kevin McCabe strolled in.

He was in full uniform again today. The starched khaki shirt and dark brown pants molded his athletic frame. He’d had a haircut and a shave. The faint hint of cologne clung to his skin. Her pulse quickened as their eyes locked, and then it leaped again as he hunkered down and gently greeted her son. “How you doing, sport?” Kevin said as he watched the boy play with his cars and trucks on a race track rug Noelle had brought in.

Mikey lifted the truck in his hand for Kevin to see. “Tick-up-puck!” The little boy looked at him, obviously wanting to be sure Kevin understood what he had said.

Noelle noted with amusement that the deputy hadn’t a clue.

“Mikey is showing you his pickup truck.” Noelle enunciated carefully, for benefit of her toddler son.

Recognition dawned. “That is a very nice pickup truck,” he agreed emphatically, looking Mikey straight in the eye.

The little boy beamed.

Kevin patted him gently on the shoulder, then stood up again.

The mood shifted as electricity arced between him and Noelle, generated no doubt by the memory of that sizzling kiss they had shared. She did her best to ignore it. As did he.

Smiling, Miss Sadie looked at the large cloth sack Kevin held in one hand. “What have you got there?”

He shrugged, his attention focused now on the genteel elderly woman. “A little elf told me you and some of the other ladies here at Laramie Gardens know how to sew.”

Miss Sadie nodded. “Why, yes, we do. It was an art taught to all the ladies of my generation. It was part of the school curriculum.”

Relief etched his handsome features and he handed her the sack. “We have a lot of baby doll clothing in need of tender loving care. And time is short, I’m afraid.”

Miss Sadie plucked a torn dress from the bag. “I see what you mean.”

Kevin regarded her hopefully. “Any chance I could get you to be in charge of the task, Miss Sadie?”

“Consider it done, Deputy McCabe. When did you need them?”

“By the morning of the twenty-third? That would give us the afternoon to get the dolls put back together and ready to give out to the children.”

“I’ll talk to the other ladies at dinner this evening.”

She handed the bag back and Kevin set it in the corner, out of harm’s way.

“Now,” Miss Sadie continued, “what have you been able to find out about my identity theft since we spoke yesterday?”

Kevin’s expression grew serious. “What happened to you was part of a big, elaborate scam, Miss Sadie. Twenty-five other Houston families, all socially and financially prominent, were hit. Same M.O. for all of them. New credit card accounts were opened. In some situations, the victims were traveling. In others, accounts were begun under the name of a person in a nursing home, or at a college.” He folded his arms in front of him. “Multiple e-mail accounts were then set up in each victim’s name on free e-mail servers on the Web, and goods were ordered from there as ‘holiday gifts’ for other people. Three addresses were used as drops for the goods—all rental houses whose residents have since moved out, if they ever really moved in. The ordered merchandise is probably being sold, or used to get store credit, as we speak.”

“Can you track it?” Miss Sadie asked.

“Not easily,” Kevin replied regretfully, “given the fact it’s the Christmas season, and much of the merchandise ordered on your account was for things like watches and iPods and laptop computers that are sold in high volume this time of year, anyway. But we are tracking the origin of the e-mail accounts. The host companies have pinpointed a public library close to a university in southwest Houston where the requests for credit cards originated, and they’ve set up a sting there to catch anyone who might come back to continue their criminal activity.”

Miss Sadie pressed a frail hand to her throat. “Well, that’s good to know. Isn’t it, Noelle?”

“Yes.” Noelle looked Kevin straight in the eye, letting him know once again she had absolutely nothing to feel guilty about. “It is.”

“Thieves simply should not be able to operate during the Christmas season,” Miss Sadie declared emotionally. “And speaking of the holiday, did you hear my news?” she asked Kevin.

He shook his head.

“I’ve talked Noelle and little Mikey into spending the Christmas holiday with me at Blackberry Hill!” she announced enthusiastically. She clapped her hands and glanced at Noelle. “Dash is going to be so pleased when he hears you’ll be joining us this year for the entire event.”

Mikey stopped playing long enough to clap his hands, too. They all laughed. He grinned and clapped again, before returning to his trucks.

“I can’t wait to tell Dash this evening,” Miss Sadie said.

Noelle flushed. She didn’t know what it was about the yuletide season, but it seemed like everybody wanted all single people to be hooked up. She wondered if Kevin McCabe was getting the same pressure from his family and friends.

Eyes twinkling, Kevin scratched his ear. “Sounds like you’re doing a little matchmaking there, Miss Sadie.”

“I admit I wouldn’t mind if the two of them finally stopped dawdling and made a match,” Miss Sadie replied with customary frankness. “In fact, I can’t think of a better Christmas present for me.”

Noelle cleared her throat. “Back to your investigation, Deputy McCabe,” she said in a low, strangled voice, ignoring the faint hint of disappointment in his eyes. She was not taking advantage of Dash and Miss Sadie! “What else is being done to wrap this investigation up as soon as possible?” she queried, making it clear that she wanted the thieves caught as desperately as Miss Sadie did.

His expression all-business, Kevin directed his answer to both women. “The rest of the families are filling out the same questionnaire I brought you this morning, Miss Sadie. When we get them all back in, we’ll be comparing them, looking for similarities.”

“Such as…?” Noelle asked.

“What event planners and caterers they used.”

Okay, now he was really getting under her skin, Noelle decided. She leveled a warning glance his way and thought she saw a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

“Surely you’re not hinting that Noelle had anything to do with this!” Miss Sadie declared, incensed.

“I’m not hinting anything,” Kevin said. “I’m just explaining the way a theft investigation works.

Baloney, Noelle thought. “Don’t let him fool you, Miss Sadie. He’s investigating me. He told me as much last evening.”

Miss Sadie lifted an indignant brow. “That really isn’t necessary, Detective.”

“I’m afraid it is.” Kevin watched Mikey drive his pickup truck across the floor. “I’d be remiss in my duty if I left any stone unturned. Although you’ll both be glad to know—” Kevin smiled as Mikey passed him and continued toward his mom “—Miss Kringle appears completely innocent thus far.”

“I could have told you that,” Miss Sadie huffed.

“Don’t fault him for doing his job,” Noelle soothed. She reached down to pick up her son and hold him on her lap. “Detective McCabe has to look at everyone if he hopes to find the culprit.”

“I’m glad you understand,” Kevin replied as Mikey wreathed both arms around his mother’s neck and rested his head on her shoulder.

She stroked his downy curls. “I do understand.” It didn’t mean she didn’t resent it.

“Hungee, Momma,” Mikey interrupted, with quiet urgency.

Guilt flowed through Noelle as she realized time had gotten away from her. “Oh, goodness,” she said, consulting her watch. “It’s dinnertime.” She stood with Mikey cradled on her hip, and began gathering up her things.

Kevin helped by retrieving toys and slipping them into her diaper bag. “I’ll walk you out,” he said, taking the child in his arms while she put on her coat, and then Mikey’s, too.

“Thank you,” she said grudgingly before taking Mikey over to kiss Miss Sadie goodbye. “We’ll see you tomorrow,” she promised.

“I’m looking forward to it.” Miss Sadie beamed.

Kevin bid her adieu, too.

“I don’t suppose I could get you to look at the community center this evening,” he said as they left the building and walked toward Noelle’s white van.

She hit the remote button on her keypad and heard the locks click open. After Kevin got the side door, she settled Mikey in his car seat. “I already looked at it earlier this afternoon and took notes. As soon as you tell me what budget you have in terms of decorations, I’ll let you know what I think you should do.”

Kevin watched while she made sure the safety strap was centered just right across Mikey’s chest. “How about we discuss it over dinner?”

Noelle handed her son his blanket and a book to “read” while she drove. “I can’t get a sitter.”

“Bring Mikey with us. Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant is right down the street.”

Noelle shut the rear door and climbed behind the wheel. This man sure was persistent. As were a lot of men, when it came to wanting her to go out with them. What was different about this was that she actually wanted to go. Keeping her guard up, she smiled up at him pleasantly. “Mikey doesn’t eat Tex-Mex.”

“Doesn’t have to. They have a children’s menu with all the standard items. Grilled cheese, hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken fingers and fries.”

“Fries!” Mikey echoed eagerly from the back.

Noelle knew time was of the essence if she didn’t want to have a meltdown on her hands. Still… “Mikey can be a rather impatient diner, especially when he’s tired and didn’t have much of a nap, as was the case today.”

Kevin shrugged. “Luckily for us all, I can be very patient.”

“Fries!” Mikey said again, even more urgently.

Oh, what the heck… “You’re paying?” Noelle said, just to get under his skin.

“Of course.” He shut her door, then waited until she started the van and put down her window. “I am a gentleman.”

Noelle snorted, aware they were flirting again, even though they really shouldn’t be. “Could have fooled me last night,” she muttered, snapping her own safety belt into place.

His eyes held hers. “Because I kissed you.”

And had me kissing you back, Noelle thought, aware how just thinking about that embrace made her tingle. “That can’t happen again,” she warned.