Home for the Holidays (10 page)

Inside the house, she unbuttoned her jacket, hung it and her scarf on the hook, placed her wet boots in the boot tray and headed for the computer. 

She might not be able to find out much about the police who worked at the station, but she could do a little digging into the Verona family.  Mitzi Verona was a colorful character and always seemed to pop up in the news with some antic either she or her offspring was involved in. 

Gloria eased into the desk chair and turned the computer on.  Puddles waited for Gloria to settle in before he jumped onto her lap and curled up.

Gloria pet Puddles while she checked her email and then the local weather.  Tomorrow’s forecast was only a few flurries but the day after was shaping up to be a doozy, with forecasters predicting blizzard-like conditions.

When she finished checking the weather, she typed in Mitzi Verona.  A picture of Mitzi, wearing a black and white ballroom gown and holding a glittery gold mask to her face popped up first.

Gloria enlarged the picture and studied the woman’s facial features.  A twinkle of mischief sparkled in her sharp blue eyes.  Mitzi looked as if she had a secret she was keeping.

Several articles described Mitzi’s love for her family and furry pets.  She owned a large horse farm in Rapid Creek and split her time between the horse farm and a large estate in East Grand Rapids, the tonier part of the city.

Mitzi was one of two people who had received Paul’s extortion note.  From what she had heard, Paul had contacted her directly.  She remembered Minnie telling her there were even more victims, yet to be named.

Gloria drummed her fingers on the desktop.  She wondered how hard it would be to approach the wealthy socialite. 

Gloria had reached a dead end.  Other than track Paul down and demand he let her help in the investigation, she was running out of options.  Gloria’s pride wouldn’t allow her to approach Paul.

He was the one threatening to call off the wedding.  He was the one who left town without telling her where he was going, although he had called but didn’t bother leaving a message.

Gloria quickly searched “Verona, Rapid Creek, Michigan.”  A picture popped up.  It was a beautiful horse farm with rolling hills.  Off in the distance, a magnificent home sat perched high atop a hill.  She tried several different searches to track down an address.

“Now what?” she asked Puddles. Puddles opened one eye and yawned sleepily.

Gloria set Puddles on the chair and shuffled to the kitchen.  She filled a teacup with water and popped it into the microwave.  While the water warmed, Gloria paced the kitchen floor.  If only she could talk to Mitzi Verona, explain her situation.  First, she had to find her.

The microwave beeped.  Gloria carefully lifted the steaming water from the microwave, dunked a teabag in the cup and swirled it around. 

A thought popped into Gloria’s head.  The property appraiser!  That was how she could locate the address to Mitzi’s horse farm!

Gloria scurried into the dining room and once again settled in front of the computer.  She pulled up the county property appraiser’s website and typed in Verona.  Page after page of people named Verona popped up.  Gloria had no idea there were so many.

She narrowed her search and typed in “M Verona.”  Still nothing.  Maybe the property was under Percival Verona, Mitzi’s deceased husband. 

Gloria typed a “P” in front of Verona and voila!  Percival Verona’s name appeared.

Gloria clicked on the link and an address in Rapid Creek popped up.  Gloria grabbed her yellow pad, jotted the address down and set the pen on top. 

She typed Mitzi Verona’s name inside the search bar again and read several articles about the wealthy matriarch.  Although she spent most of her winters in East Grand Rapids, she visited her beloved horses at least once a week and, in fact, was hosting a large animal shelter fundraiser that upcoming weekend.

“We are in the midst of preparations for this gala event and I am spending more time at the horse farm than I normally do during the winter months,” she told the reporter.

Gloria glanced at the article’s date.  It was published three days ago, which meant there was a good chance Mitzi Verona was still at her horse farm, which meant Gloria was going to visit the horse farm the next morning.

Gloria was so focused on her investigation; she nearly jumped out of her skin when her cell phone chirped.  She glanced down at the screen.  It was Andrea.

She lifted the phone and pressed the “answer” button.  “Hello dear.”

“Hi Gloria.  I’m calling to check in.  You know, make sure everything is all right.”

Gloria smiled.  “Make sure I didn’t pack my bags and flee to Florida?”

Andrea laughed.  “Something like that.”

“Nah.  I was being silly,” Gloria sighed.  She glanced at Mitzi Verona’s picture on the screen.  “What are you doing tomorrow morning?”

“Nothing much.  You need a sidekick?”

Gloria shifted the mouse back and forth.  “Maybe.  You ever heard of Mitzi Verona?”

“Who hasn’t?”

“Well, it appears she was one of the individuals caught up in the extortion plot.”

She went on.  “It seems Mrs. Verona would be the most approachable and since I think she’s staying at her horse farm in Rapid Creek, I thought we could make a run by there.”

“What excuse will you use?” Andrea asked.

“The perfect excuse,” Gloria said. “She’s hosting an animal shelter fundraiser this weekend.  Apparently, she’s a big animal lover, which means our excuse will be…”

“At Your Service!” Andrea exclaimed.  “Perfect!  Maybe we can talk to her about helping us.  Not only does she have a lot of money, she has a lot of connections.”

“Kill two birds with one stone,” Gloria said. 

The two agreed Andrea would swing by around eight the following morning to pick Gloria up.  They would stop by Dot’s Restaurant for breakfast and then head over to the Verona horse farm.

For the first time since Paul had mentioned postponing the wedding, Gloria felt like they had a real shot at finally getting somewhere and maybe she wasn’t “spinning her wheels.”

Gloria climbed into bed a short while later.  Mally settled into her doggie bed in the corner and Puddles took his usual spot near the head of the bed.

Gloria pulled the covers around her neck, closed her eyes and prayed a simple prayer.  “Please God.  Help me solve this mystery and bring Paul home.”

Chapter 11

Andrea was right on time and Gloria was waiting for her at the door.  Gloria had tossed and turned the entire night hoping Mitzi Verona held a clue that would somehow unlock the mystery of who was trying to incriminate Paul.

When they reached town, Andrea slowed in front of Dot’s Restaurant and pulled into an empty spot out front. 

Gloria tucked her scarf around her neck and slid out of the passenger seat.  The wind had picked up and sent blasts of cold air that pierced through the collar of her jacket.  She wasn’t ready for old man winter yet.

The girls slipped inside the restaurant, stomped the snow off their boots and headed to a table in the back.

Dot darted behind the lattice that separated the dining room from the back.  She smiled when she caught a glimpse of Andrea and Gloria.  She met them at the table, coffee pot in hand.  “What are you two up to today?” 

Gloria turned her empty coffee cup right side up and slid it across the table as she waited for Dot to fill the cup.  “We’re heading over to Mitzi Verona’s farm.”

Dot filled Gloria’s cup.  Next, she filled Andrea’s cup and set it in front of her.  “The wealthy gal with the enormous horse farm over near Rapid Creek?”

Gloria nodded.  “Yep.  She is one of the people Paul ‘supposedly’ tried to extort money.  We’re hoping she might have a clue to the real culprit.”

Dot shifted the pot to her other hand.  “I heard she’s a real firecracker.”

Gloria had heard the same thing, that the woman was a real character.  It didn’t make her a bad person, though.  It definitely made her more…interesting.

Gloria was never one to shy away from a challenge so that didn’t bother her in the least.

Andrea reached for the breakfast menu.  “We’re hungry.”

“Pancakes sound good,” Gloria decided.  “That and maybe some bacon.”

Dot pulled her notepad from her apron and jotted Gloria’s order on the pad.  She turned to Andrea.  “What about you young lady?”

Andrea flipped the menu over.  “Western omelet, rye toast and a side of sausage links.” She closed the menu and shoved it back in the center slot.

Dot wrote Andrea’s order on a second slip of paper.  “I always wondered what the inside of her fancy horse farm looked like.”

“If we weasel our way inside, I’ll try to snap a few pictures,” Gloria teased.

Dot snorted.  “I don’t doubt that you will.” She headed to the kitchen to place the girls’ order and Gloria turned her attention to the other diners.  She recognized most of them, including Judith Arnett, who sat in a booth with a couple of her cronies. 

Gloria gave her a small wave and Judith winked.  The archenemy phase was finally over and the two women were more or less frenemies now...maybe even friends.

Judith had helped with Ruth’s case and most recently, when Lucy was in trouble.  She wouldn’t call Judith salt-of-the-earth, but the woman had redeeming qualities.  Being loyal to her friends was at the top of the list.

The girls’ breakfast arrived and while they ate, they discussed the case.  Gloria still firmly believed someone inside the Montbay Sheriff’s Station was involved in the extortion or knew someone who was involved.

She thought about Cal Evergreen, City Commissioner.  She wondered if there was a way she could approach him to ask him some questions.  She had heard rumors he was a hard man and rude to boot. 

How could a public figure be so unlikeable yet still keep getting re-elected?  Unless, of course, he had connections, which wouldn’t surprise Gloria. She believed some people who held government positions got to where they were by greasing someone’s palm. 

After they finished eating, Gloria slipped her jacket on and headed to the cash register.  Andrea was right behind her. 

Gloria handed Dot her ticket and debit card.  She swiped the card and handed it back.  “Let me know what you find out,” Dot said.

Gloria shifted to the side so Andrea could pay.  “We can stop back by if you want,” Gloria offered.

Andrea handed Dot a twenty-dollar bill.  Dot rang up Andrea’s meal, opened the cash register and counted out her change.  “Sure.  I’m dying to know how the upper echelon squeak by.”

The girls climbed into the truck, backed out of the parking spot and headed for Sunshine Stables.

Mitzi’s horse farm was not in Rapid Creek, but rather just north of Rapid Creek, halfway between Rapid Creek and Green Springs to be precise. 

Gloria had passed by the farm plenty of times and wondered who owned such a palatial place in the country.  Now she knew. 

A six-foot tall wrought iron fence with iron finials tips surrounded the palatial estate.  Two large gates stood sentinel at the end of the drive.  The massive gates were wide open. 

Andrea stopped the truck near the gate.  There was a callbox on a post outside the gate.  She rolled down the window and stuck her head out.  “Hello?”

No one answered and she tried again.  Nothing.  She turned to Gloria.  “What should I do?” 

“Drive through.”

Andrea took her foot off the brake and gently pushed on the gas pedal. 

The paved drive was long and winding.  Majestic Michigan maple trees lined the drive.  Gloria could envision how beautiful it would be in the fall when the leaves were changing color. 

They rounded a curve and Gloria gasped.  Although the estate was visible from the main road, the sheer size of it up close was stunning.  It was a large, two-story with a wraparound porch.  The exterior of the home was a mixture of fieldstone and some other type of stone Gloria didn’t recognize.

Attached to the right of the main structure was a long, single story addition.  The side that faced the road was a wall of windows and Gloria caught a glimpse of what appeared to be a pool inside.  To the left of the main structure was a five-car attached garage.

The drive forked off and beyond that, she caught a glimpse of a large horse barn, which matched the house.  A maze of fences jutted out and around the barn and then disappeared over a towering hill.

In front of the horse barn was another building.  This one was much smaller.  “Let’s try over there,” Gloria suggested.

Andrea veered to the right and parked in front of the small building.  In front of the building was a covered porch and under the porch was a swing.  Sitting in the swing was a man. He eyed them with interest as they climbed out of the truck.

He slowly eased out of the swing and clomped over in his cowboy boots, shoved one hand in the pocket of his bib overalls and tipped his cowboy hat.  “Hello ladies.  Welcome to Sunshine Stables.  How can I help you?”

Andrea followed Gloria onto the porch and stopped next to her.  “We are looking for Mitzi Verona.  We heard she might be here today,” Andrea explained.

The young man, who couldn’t have been a day over 21, swiped the hair out of his eyes and lowered his hat.  “Yep.  Mrs. Verona is here.  She’s…”

“Whoa Nellie!”  Out of nowhere, a horse and rider galloped past them, the horse’s hooves clattered loudly on the cement walkway as they zipped by. 

The horse was moving so fast, Gloria was only able to catch a brief glimpse of the rider and the rider’s shocking white hair, which contrasted against a black helmet and black riding boots that reached the rider’s knees. 

Three heads turned to watch the horse and rider as they bolted up the hill and disappeared over the other side.  “There she goes.” 

The young man turned his attention to Andrea and Gloria.  “She’ll be back. She’s trying to break in Sassy,” he explained as he shook his head. “She’s a wild one.”

Gloria wasn’t certain if he was referring to the horse – or the rider.

He extended his hand.  “I’m Chad Stetson, ranch hand and Mrs. Verona’s right hand man.”