Chapter 26 #2
“Yes,” he confirmed. “Plus, those two are just the hired hands, not the mastermind behind any of this. Yet we have other suspects nearby too. Like Cisco, David Allen, and Brook. Again, David and Brook may be more local foot soldiers, like Fin and Mike. It’s the Vancouver guy, Cisco, moving his operations into Kelowna, who worries me more.
Too bad Birdie couldn’t tell us more before she passed.
Yet that was the whole purpose in poisoning her—to silence her.
We’ve got a team trying to find anything on these people—in our database, searching the net, even contacting sister departments in the nearby area, especially in Vancouver.
I’m particularly concerned that Birdie was attacked at the home. ”
“But,” Doreen began, “can you see the likes of Mike or Fin walking around Rosemoor? If they are the foot soldiers, intent on drugging Birdie, they would stick out like a sore thumb in Rosemoor. I can check with Roger about any unusual visitors while I’m there visiting Nan later today.
I just don’t see too many young people there. ”
Mack sighed. “Right. If Birdie had special rights to come and go, then we’ll have to deal with lawyers who will use that in their defense of whoever ends up being charged.”
“Hmm. I thought the inmates only left Rosemoor when their bus took them on special outings. At least that’s what Nan and her group seem to do. After meeting Birdie, Nan seems less rebellious.”
Mack snorted at that comment. “We also have Annabel, who was possibly drugged and kidnapped,” he pointed out.
“Right, and wouldn’t it be lovely if we could tie these B&E guys to that? Maybe even to Cisco and his group.”
“I’m pretty sure we can link the two low-level B&E guys, considering Annabel was found in Mike’s home, and Mike Howard’s the name on the lease of that house.”
“Well, think of me as you go through your day and get to interview him,” she muttered. “I would love to listen in on that.”
“I got this,” he reminded her. “And you’ll look after yourself, right?”
“Yes, of course,” she said. “And, just as an added thought, you do realize I look after myself every day, right?”
She couldn’t see Mack’s smile, but she could certainly hear it as he chuckled and replied, “Absolutely. I definitely know that.”
“Good,” she muttered, “because I wouldn’t want you to think that I’m just sitting around doing nothing, not thinking ahead before I do things.”
“Nope, not at all,” he replied. “However, I do have to run now.” And, with that, he hung up.
She looked over at Mugs, who rolled onto his side with a flop. “Yeah, I imagine that’s the kind of day we all want to have today,” she told him, “but I’m not sure that’ll be an option.”
Mugs didn’t even lift his head.
“We probably need to go see Nan and tell her and the others about Birdie.”
And that statement brought such a well of sadness.
Doreen had just met the woman and, from what she did know, it sounded like Birdie had been a bit of a holy terror all her life, twisting things to suit herself, even employing blackmail and coercion.
Yet she’d also been fairly lively and such a unique character that it was hard for Doreen to stay mad at her.
Still, she could see how an awful lot of people would be very angry that she never was held accountable for her deeds.
With that thought uppermost in her mind, Doreen got up, had a shower, and headed to the kitchen to get the first pot of coffee going. She figured it would be the first of many, based on the way her head felt. When she slumped down at the table with a cup in her hand, Nan called.
She stared down at it, then at Thaddeus, sitting at the edge of the table beside her, his eyes closed and equally slumped in place.
Goliath was nowhere to be found, which was very typical of him, and Mugs was once again sprawled out on the floor. “You know something, guys? This is your official heads-up that this is likely to be one of those calls.” And she answered her phone.
Nan immediately asked, “Are you coming down to fill us in? I heard two arrests were made yesterday.”
“Yes,” she began, “but I have more news that you won’t be particularly happy to hear, Nan.”
After a moment of silence, Nan stated briskly, “Right. You come down here, child. We’ll see you in … twenty minutes.” And she hung up.
Doreen groaned, looked over at the coffee pot, with at least two cups left. Either she would throw them out or would warm them up later. It was really hard for her to actually toss that much coffee. She sighed, put on her coat, and picked up the leashes.
Immediately everybody jumped up, instantly alert.
“Right,” she muttered as she shook her head. “You guys can certainly get awake when you want to.”
With that, she headed to the kitchen door, hooked up Mugs and Goliath, stepped outside, and immediately shivered. “Goodness,” she whispered. “It’s supposed to warm up anytime now, but apparently that isn’t today.”
Pulling the collar of her coat up high around her neck, she moved quickly down the path toward her grandmother. This clearly wouldn’t be an easy day, but still, it was better that they all heard about Birdie from Doreen.
As she got through the front door of Rosemoor and over into Nan’s little apartment, a group had already gathered and were waiting on her. “Didn’t take you guys long,” Doreen noted, by way of greeting.
“Nope,” Richie replied, “we’re looking for an update.”
Doreen nodded. The animals went around and cheerfully greeted each and every one, basically sniffing to see if any treats were to be had.
Not surprisingly Nan had some tucked away in the cupboard, and she immediately got up and pulled out a few for Mugs and Goliath. When Thaddeus immediately cawed at her, she chuckled and brought a few sunflower seeds for him. Immediately he settled down to create quite a mess eating them.
As Doreen sat here, not sure how to start, Richie frowned at her and noted, “You look like you’ve had a rough night.”
She glanced over at him, nodded, then smiled. “And so did Birdie.”
“Yes, we haven’t had an update,” Maisie said. “How is Birdie?”
Doreen looked from one to the other, then her shoulders slumped, and she shared, “She’s dead.”