Turkey Day Murder Page 15

  He was kissing her.

  "Oh, yes," she said, taking his hand and leading him back into the house.

  * * *

  Lucy had promised to pick up Zoe at the Orensteins' at three o'clock. Since she was already out, she decided to swing by Ellie's house to get Kadjo, too. Zoe wasn't sure this was a good idea.

  "Mom, what if he bites?"

  "He won't bite. He's a nice dog."

  "Are you sure?"

  "Of course I'm sure. I wouldn't adopt a mean dog."

  "We've never had a dog before. Why do we have to get one now?"

  "Kadjo needs a home."

  "But why does he have to come to our house? Why can't he go somewhere else?"

  "You'll like him."

  "I don't think so."

  Lucy pulled into Ellie's driveway and braked, then turned to face Zoe. "We're taking Kadjo on a trial basis. If it doesn't work out, we won't keep him."

  "Promise?"

  "Promise."

  Together they walked up to the house and knocked on the door. Ellie greeted them warmly and invited them in to the kitchen, where Bear was seated at the table.

  "Tea for you, Lucy? How about some hot cocoa for Zoe?"

  "Sure," said Lucy, sitting down. "You know, I bet Zoe would like to see your dolls."

  "Would you like that?" Ellie asked Zoe.

  "Yes," answered Zoe.

  Ellie led her down the hall to her workroom, leaving Lucy and Bear alone.

  "You're a reporter, right?" he demanded, scowling at her over his coffee cup. "You heard anything about Curt's murder? Have they got any suspects?"

  "I heard they've been questioning a lot of people," said Lucy, unwilling to admit she didn't really know how the police investigation was going. "And they've got some physical evidence."

  "What's that mean?"

  "Something they think belonged to the killer." She paused. "They're not saying exactly what it is."

  He narrowed his eyes. "You've been talking to people, asking questions ?"

  Lucy wondered what he was getting at, "It's my job."

  He shrugged. "Nothing wrong with that. If you ask me, it's the cops that aren't doing their job."

  The kettle whistled and Lucy got up and turned the stove off. Ellie had left the cups ready to add water. Lucy poured and brought the hot drinks back to the table.

  "You surprise me," said Lucy, lifting the tea bag out and squeezing it with a spoon. "Last time I talked to you, you said you would have liked to kill Curt yourself."

  His black eyes seemed to bore into her for a long time. Then he grinned at her, reminding her of a fox. "People say funny things when they're upset. Shock takes people differently."

  Studying Bear's broad, impassive face, Lucy didn't think he would shock easily. She listened as he continued.

  "No two ways about it: I had my differences with Curt. That doesn't change the fact that one of my people was killed in cold blood and nobody seems to be doing anything about it."

  "These things take time," said Lucy, turning around to smile at Zoe and Ellie, who were returning to the table. "Your cocoa's ready." She patted the chair. "What did you think of the dolls?"

  "Nice," said Zoe, taking a big slurp of cocoa.

  Lucy laughed. "Is that all you have to say?"

  Zoe pursed her lips and thought for a moment. "Thank you for the cocoa," she finally said.

  Lucy's eyes met Ellie's and she gave an apologetic smile. "How are you doing?"

  "Okay." Ellie glanced at Bear. "It's hard."

  Lucy patted her hand. "I know."

  "I really appreciate your taking the dog. It's a load off my mind knowing he's going to a good home." "I'm happy to take him."

  When they finished their drinks, Ellie led Zoe and Lucy out to Kadjo's pen.

  The dog was on his feet, not barking, but watching them approach. As they drew closer, his tail began to wave.

  "Hi, boy," said Ellie. "Are you ready to meet your new family?"

  She opened the gate and snapped on a leash and Kadjo bounded forward. When Ellie handed the leash to Lucy, however, he suddenly halted.

  "Good boy," said Lucy, holding her hand out for him to sniff. "We're going to call him Kudo."

  "That's a good idea," said Ellie. "Give him a fresh start"

  When Kadjo, now Kudo, was satisfied with her scent, Lucy gave him a little scratch behind his ears. When she led him toward the car, he didn't resist but trotted along beside her. She opened the rear hatch for him and he jumped in willingly. She slammed the door down and looked at him through the window; he gazed back at her.

  Zoe didn't want to sit in the backseat, where she would be close to the dog, so Lucy let her sit in the front passenger seat. She made sure Zoe's seat belt was tightly fastened, then started the car.

  Ellie came up and stood by the car door; Lucy opened the window.

  "Remember to be firm with him and you won't have any trouble," said Ellie.

  "I'll remember," said Lucy. "Thanks."

  "I'm the one who should be thanking you," said Ellie. "By the way, I don't know if you want to come, but the funeral is tomorrow. Ten o'clock at the meeting house in Hopkinton."

  "Thanks for telling me. I'll be there."

  "Better come early if you want to get a seat." Ellie bit her lip. "I just wanted a private graveside service but Bear said that wouldn't do. He said Curt was a tribal leader and deserved a traditional ceremony. Personally, I think it's a big waste. It isn't as if Curt is going to know."

  Lucy recited the usual platitude. "It's not for him. It's for the people left behind."

  Ellie shrugged, holding her hands out in a helpless gesture.

  Lucy gave a little wave and shifted into drive, checking that the driveway was clear before accelerating. Seeing Bear climbing into his truck, she waited, watching with disapproval as he carelessly careened down the icy drive holding a cell phone to his ear.

  As she followed, driving slowly, Lucy checked the rearview mirror to make sure Kudo was behaving himself in the cargo area. He seemed to be doing fine, not minding the motion of the car. She braked carefully when she got to the road so he wouldn't be knocked off his feet; then she proceeded to turn. She had no sooner got onto the highway, however, than he jumped into the backseat, causing Zoe to shriek. Signaling, Lucy immediately pulled off onto the shoulder and stopped the car.

  She climbed out of her seat and opened the rear door. Kudo sat on the backseat, grinning at her, his tongue lolling. He seemed to be saying he much preferred riding in the backseat, sitting like a person, to sliding around in the cargo area.

  "We're not getting off to a good start," Lucy warned him, looking him straight in the eye.

  She took hold of his leash and pulled, but Kudo resisted. Lucy snapped the leash and yanked him out of the car. To her surprise, once he was on the ground he followed her easily around to the rear of the car. She opened the hatch and he leaped in. She got back in the driver's seat and started the engine, checking the rearview mirror before pulling onto the road. In the mirror her eyes met Kudo's.

  "You'd better behave," she said.

  Kudo grinned

  .

  Still not trusting the dog to behave in the car, Lucy chose to drive home over back roads rather than to risk being distracted on busy Route 1. She liked taking the less traveled route through the woods anyway, especially since today the trees and bushes were still frosted with snow from the morning storm.

  "Aren't the woods pretty today?" she asked Zoe.

  "Like a fairyland," agreed Zoe.

  "Fairyland," repeated Lucy. "But only for a little while. It's already starting to melt."

  Suddenly spotting a fast approaching dirt bike that was apparently headed straight for her car, Lucy slammed on the brakes. Zoe lurched forward, but was restrained by her seat belt, and Kudo slammed into the seat back.

  "Are you all right?" Lucy's arm had instinctively shot out across Zoe's chest.

  "I'm fine, Mom."

  Looking
over her shoulder, Lucy saw that Kudo had recovered without any damage. He was standing with his chin resting on the top of the seat back, staring at her reproachfully.

  "It wasn't my fault," she told him before proceeding down the road.

  She had no sooner got started again, however, than the dirt bike reappeared in her rearview mirror. This time Lucy continued driving slowly, trying to get a good look at the biker. Although she could see he was dressed in black motocross leathers, she couldn't make out his face. It was hidden behind a black visor.

  Once again, she heard the motorcycle engine roar and once again he zoomed past her with an ear deafening vroom. She tensed, ready to brake if he stopped again, but this time he continued on his way, disappearing down a side trail.

  When Lucy finally reached Red Top Road, coming out just a few hundred feet from her driveway, she was much relieved. She hadn't thought the dirt biker intended her any harm, but his antics had been dangerous. What if she had hit him? He seemed to be playing a very dangerous game. If he was going to seek thrills, she wished he wouldn't do it at her expense.

  She flipped the lever, signaling the turn into her driveway and tapped her brakes. When she checked the mirror, she flinched at the unexpected reappearance of the dirt biker. He had pulled up on the side of the road, oppoosite the driveway, and he remained there, watching, as she hurried Zoe and Kudo out of the car and into the house. Once they were safely inside, she looked to see if he was still there, but he was gone. Standing on the porch, Lucy could only hear the faint sound of the motorcycle engine as it grew more and more distant and finally ceased altogether.

  Satisfied that he was gone, she went into the house herself. She wondered if she should call the police and report the incident. Looking at the phone, trying to decide, she rememberd Bear Sykes and his cell phone. Had he called the biker? she wondered briefly before dismissing the thought.

  She was reminded of more pressing duties by Kudo, who was rubbing his wet nose against her hand.

  "Come on and meet the family," she said, pushing open the door to the family room.

  CHAPTER 16

  That evening, having reclaimed the family room, Bill switched off the TV at ten and he and Lucy headed for bed. Kudo had been sleeping at Lucy's feet, but as soon as she stood up, he also got up and stretched. Then he looked at her expectantly. She went through the kitchen and he followed, nails clicking on the bare floor. She opened the back door for him and he trotted out, obviously with a mission in mind.

  Lucy decided she might as well use the bathroom herself; then she opened the door and called the dog. He appeared out of the darkness almost immediately and she let him in, pointing to the bed she had put down for him in a corner of the kitchen. Kudo approached it cautiously, suspiciously sniffing the expensive, flea repellent bedding.

  "Go on," said Lucy in a reassuring voice. "It won't bite." Then she turned out the light and opened the door to the back stairs. As she started up, Kudo was right at her heels.

  "Oh, no," she said, turning around and pointing him to the dog bed. "You sleep in the kitchen."

  Kudo dropped his head and made a little whining sound. "That's enough," said Lucy sternly. "Down you go."

  The dog turned and went down a few steps, then paused, shivering pathetically.

  "It's not cold in the kitchen. It's a lot warmer than my room—that's for sure," she told him.

  He raised his head and looked at her, somehow turning his yellow dog eyes into pools of melting chocolate.

  "Okay. You win," said Lucy, resuming her climb up the stairs. "Just for tonight. I know it's hard getting used to a new home."

  "What's he doing up here?" asked Bill, who was in bed reading a homebuilder's magazine.

  "He followed me up the stairs."

  "You know, Lucy, I'm not at all sure why we have this dog, but he's sure as hell not sleeping with us."

  Lucy looked wounded. "You said it would be okay."

  "I don't remember that," said Bill. He got out of bed and snapped his fingers. "C'mon, boy."

  Kudo stepped closer to Lucy and made a noise that began as a whine but ended with a throaty rumble.

  Bill looked at the dog, narrowing his eyes.

  "I think he wants to stay with me," said Lucy.

  "That's obvious," said Bill as he climbed back in bed. "But do we want him to stay with us?"

  "I don't mind," said Lucy. "Do you?"

  Bill sighed. He'd lost this battle before, when the kids were little and wanted to sleep in their parents' bed. He'd believed the books that said children must learn to sleep by themselves, but Lucy could never stand to send them back to their cold, solitary beds, where frightening monsters lurked in the dark.

  "I guess not," he finally said. "But not on the bed."

  Lucy settled herself on the pillows, propping a book on her chest. Kudo stood beside the bed, resting his chin on the mattress.

  Lucy gave her head a little shake and the dog expelled a huge breath and curled up on the carpet next to the bed. Lucy let her arm drop and gave his head a scratch.

  The next morning, after Bill and the kids had left the house, Lucy pulled on a warm jacket and took the dog out for some exercise along the old logging roads that ran behind their house. Lucy walked at a good pace, enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. Kudo ran ahead of her, sniffing the ground and chasing rabbits, but returning frequently as if to check that she was still there.

  Lucy picked up a stick and threw it. Kudo ran after it and brought it back to her, grinning proudly. She threw the stick a few more times, then realized it must be getting late. She checked her watch and discovered it was time to go home if she planned to go to Curt Nolan's funeral service.

  Back at the house she gave Kudo a fresh bowl of water and a dog biscuit, then hurried upstairs to change her clothes.

  As she tugged on her black panty hose, Lucy considered the best route to the Indian Meeting House in Hopkinton. The most direct way was along the back roads she had taken the day before, but remembering the dirt biker she decided to take the long way round on the highway. Chances were that the biker, whoever he was, was just some kid who'd been having fun at her expense. Sure, the leathers and helmet had looked menacing, but that was just the style. They all wore them. No doubt the biker was back in school today or maybe even back on the job.

  Lucy slipped on one black leather pump and sat holding the other. Maybe the biker wasn't a kid at all. Come to think of it, dirt biking was an expensive sport when you added up the cost of all the equipment, and there weren't too many kids in Tinker's Cove who had that sort of money.

  But if he were a grown man, she wondered, what was he doing harrassing her like that? It was the kind of stunt a kid would find funny, but it wasn't the sort of thing an adult would even think of doing.

  She put the shoe down and slipped it on. Rocking back on her heels, she lifted her toes, then slowly lowered them and put her hands on her knees. Why had that biker been so interested in her and why had he followed her home? Had it been an intentional move to find out where she lived?