More Than Great Riches (13 page)

And then the babble was interrupted by a scream. The room fell silent as everyone stared
at Sheila. My ring, she gasped. My opal ring is gone.

Gone! Tracy echoed. It must be right here somewhere. Did you accidentally pull it off when
you took off your gloves?

Sheila checked the area around her while the others began a search of the tables and the
floor.

Are you sure you had it on when you came in? Maggie spoke up. When do you remember seeing
it last?

Sheila teetered on the verge of tears. I took it off in the restroom when I washed my
hands. And then she turned an accusing eye on Tracy. You were the only other person there.
And you were still in the restroom when I left.

Tracy’s cheeks burst into flame.
Not again. Round up the usual suspects.

Sheila, she said firmly. I did not see your ring. I did not touch your ring. It’s probably
right where you left it.

Maggie leaped to her defense. A couple of you come with me. We’ll check the restroom.
Three ringers joined Maggie as she stormed out the door.

While the others kept searching on their hands and knees, Sheila stood, arms folded,
glaring at Tracy. Tracy glanced at Leif. Like the others he was hunting for the ring,
probing through the bell cases, his face impassive. If he really believed she was innocent
of the jewelry theft, this would change his opinion in a hurry.

Maggie looked dejected when the search party returned. No luck. We went through the whole
place. We even emptied the waste paper basket.

Tracy’s hopes went into a downward spiral. She was sure Maggie would return in triumph.

But Maggie still pleaded her case. No one here is a thief, Sheila. I’m sure you’ll find
it.

I wouldn’t count on it, Sheila snapped. Leif, aren’t you going to do something?

Tracy held her breath, waiting for his answer.

I am doing something, he said quietly. I’m looking for it.

With a snort, Sheila stamped out of the room. One by one the other ringers gave up the
search. They murmured words of sympathy and patted Tracy’s shoulder as they left. Maggie
gave her a fervent hug. The ring will turn up, she insisted.

Leif was the last to leave. He paused and for a long moment, gazed into her eyes. His face
was unreadable.

Had he reached his verdict—guilty as charged?

He put his hand on her shoulder and let it rest there a moment.

Don’t let Sheila get you down. She has her own agenda.

Did she hear sympathy in his voice?
But she stood there feeling helpless as he too left the room. How could you regain your
good name when everything and everyone seemed to be conspiring against you?

She closed her eyes and whispered a prayer. Dear Lord, you know my heart. That should be
enough for me. I shouldn’t care what others think, but it hurts to know people believe I
am a thief. Your word says, ‘A good name is more desirable than great riches.’ Please help
me find a way to prove to the world that I am innocent.

Leif forced himself to walk out the door. Mark and Luke stood waiting for him in the hall,
passing the time with a game of scissors, rock, paper. Let’s go, guys. He rounded up the
boys and herded them out to the SUV. But instead of starting the engine, he sat
motionless, watching Tracy’s car.

 If Timmons was following her, learning her schedule, he would know that on most Wednesday
evenings she was tied up for almost three hours with handbell and worship choir
rehearsals. That timetable would give Timmons plenty of time to schedule a treasure hunt
in Tracy’s car.

But she had been smart enough to park in a prominent spot. Anyone coming or going from the
church passed her old Ford, and it was clearly visible to anyone driving around the
village green.

It was getting more and more difficult to pretend that he and Tracy were mere
acquaintances. Tonight Sheila deliberately plunged a knife into Tracy’s heart. Leaving
Tracy alone in the bell room was the hardest thing he’d done all day. When he saw that
wounded look in her eyes, he wanted to take her in his arms and kiss away the hurt.

It had been a serious mistake to kiss her on her birthday. He relived that moment too many
times, waiting for a chance to hold her in his arms again.

But he needed to keep up the act. No one would believe in her innocence if they thought he
was personally involved with her. Diaz already hinted that he was too soft on Tracy. And
too many people were quick to swallow the rumors about her. They would immediately assume
the worst—that she played up to him so that he would cover up for her crimes.

As though it wasn’t enough for Tracy to be implicated in the theft of Ronda Starr’s
jewelry, Sheila heaped more coals on her head. Apparently Sheila would do anything and
everything to drive Tracy out of the church, or better yet, out of Allerton.

He spotted Tracy coming out of the building. Her face was tense with worry as she surveyed
the parking lot. When she caught sight of his SUV, she gave him a hesitant wave. He knew
his strange behavior had her confused. He returned a salute and then waited until she
drove out onto the street.

He turned to the boys in the back seat. OK, guys, buckle up. We’re off. He followed Tracy
out of the parking lot. What he really wanted to do was to follow her all the way home,
but he fought the temptation.

He forced his attention back to Mark and Luke. How did your choir rehearsal go tonight?

I got to sing a solo, Luke announced proudly.

All right! Leif cheered. A star is born.

Uncle Leif, Mark called, did Miss Dunn say her ring was lost?

Leif swallowed a groan. Yes, she misplaced it. We all looked for it, but no luck.

Mark hesitated. I think I saw her put it in her musicfolder.         Leif slammed on the
brakes. You what?

 When Luke and me were looking in the door, she was taking off her gloves. I could tell by
the way she twisted and pulled on her finger that she was taking a ring off too inside her
glove. And then she put the gloves in her folder.

Mark wouldn’t deliberately lie, but he could be mistaken. Are you sure of that, Mark?
You’re not just saying that because you like Miss Dixon?

No, sir, Mark insisted. I watched Miss Dunn because she was acting so funny.

Leif swung a fast U-turn and raced back toward the church. If Rev. Jim was still there,
the doors would be unlocked.

The tires squealed as he brought the SUV to a halt by the back door. The pastor’s car was
still in the parking lot. Boys, don’t move. I’ll be right back.

Leif dived out of the car. He almost broke into a run as he raced through the door and
down the hall to the handbell room. The ringers’ folders were all neatly arranged in order
on the shelf. Tracy had put a label on the inside cover of each folder with the ringer’s
name. Fumbling in his haste, Leif finally located Sheila’s folder.

Each folder contained a plastic pocket where the ringers stored their gloves and their
pencils. Carefully Leif groped inside the pocket. As his fingers closed around Sheila’s
gloves, he felt the hard lump inside. He pulled the gloves out and shook the contents onto
the bell table. There it was—Sheila’s opal, glowing with iridescence.

 Furious, he snatched up the ring and shoved it in his pocket. If Allerton were old Salem,
the townspeople would have burned Tracy at the stake by now. He should report the incident
to the pastor, but first he was going to set things right.

 The boys were fidgeting by the time he returned to the SUV. Uncle Leif, hurry up, Mark
pleaded. We won’t have any time to play before bedtime.

Leif would move the world for his nephews, but tonight they would have to wait. Sorry,
guys, but we have to make one more stop before we go home. I’ll ask your Mom to let you
stay up an extra half hour tonight.

Did you find the ring? Luke piped up.

I found it. I want to return it to Miss Dunn tonight. Mark, I’m glad you saw what
happened, but why didn’t you say something when we were looking for it?

Mark hesitated. Miss Dunn—Miss Dunn doesn’t like me. I was afraid she would say I was
lying, and nobody would believe me.

Mark was probably right. That’s OK, pal. Buckle up again. This won’t take long.

Sheila lived with her parents in a comfortable old farmhouse about a mile from the church.
Leif suppressed the impulse to hammer the door down. He knocked politely,

Sheila answered his knock. She gave him a radiant smile. Leif, what a nice surprise. Come
in.

Not right now. He gritted his teeth. The boys are in the car. I just came to return your
stolen property. He reached for her hand and slapped the ring into her palm.

The smile vanished as the color drained from her face. How—where—where did you find it?

You know where, he snapped.

Well, I—I ... She looked down at the ring, avoiding his eyes.

You owe Tracy an apology. You are going to call her tonight. Not tomorrow. Right now.

Yes, Leif, she whispered.

Leaving her shaken, in the open door, he turned his back and stamped down the stairs to
the SUV.

 
****

The days were growing longer, and it was not quite dark when Tracy reached home after
handbell practice. Time to take Thor outside. Maybe a little fresh air would blow away her
gloom.

Thor loved the back yard. He always started by racing to the stone wall at the back of the
property with his big feet flopping, and then trotting back to sit at her feet with his
tongue lolling happily. And then he chased anything that moved—butterflies, insects,
dragonflies. He even looked wistfully up at the birds.

Sometimes she threw a ball for Thor to chase, but instead of retrieving it, he would
parade around the yard holding the ball in his mouth. He didn’t grasp the concept of the
word fetch.

By the time darkness fell and she led the puppy inside, she felt a little more cheerful.
No matter what Sheila Dunn thought, she had a lot of allies. She hoped Leif was still in
her camp although no one could tell that from his icy attitude.

The ringing of the phone interrupted her thoughts. She glared at the phone, debating
whether or not to pick up the receiver. She was in no mood for conversation. Several times
in the past week, she had answered the phone to hear nothing but a fast click and then a
dial tone.

If this is another of those hang-up calls, I’m going to scream. It might be some
absent-minded caller who kept dialing the wrong number. Or maybe it was one of Keith
Bradford’s fans—some good citizen trying to drive her out of Allerton.

Or what if it was someone trying to find out if she was at home? Ordinarily she would
still be at church at this hour on a Wednesday evening. Could it be Rick Timmons? That
thought sent a blip of alarm across her radar screen. She could be in danger if Rick was
getting desperate.

She needed to get caller I.D. Of course, Rick would be smart enough to make his calls from
a pay phone. A better idea would be to replace Jeff’s broken answering machine. The
machine would screen the calls, or if nothing else, it would cut off the endless ringing.

The phone continued to ring. Someone was very persistent. It has to be Mom returning my
call, she decided. She forced herself to pick up the receiver.

Hi, Mom, she said, trying to inject a note of cheer into her voice.

Tracy, this is Sheila Dunn.

Not again. Tracy braced herself for another tirade about her dishonesty. Yes, Sheila, she
said coolly, waiting to hear the newest accusations.

Tracy, I owe you an apology.

A what? She must be hallucinating. Did Sheila really say the word apology?

Leif found my ring. Sheila hiccupped as though she had been crying.

Leif? Tracy began to doubt her hearing. Where—where was it?

It was still inside my glove in my folder.

Oh, I’m so glad to hear that.
No one could imagine how glad.
It’s such a beautiful opal.

Yes, I’m very relieved. I thought you would want to know right away. There was a decided
quaver in Sheila’s voice.

Thank you so much for calling. Tracy was ready to celebrate with a victory parade around
the living room.

I’ll see you later. Sheila ended the call abruptly.

Thor. Tracy flung her arms around the puppy. Can you believe it? Leif came to the rescue
again.

Thor wagged his whole body in delight. He seemed very pleased by her announcement. She
hummed the chorus of Thank You, Lord while she found a special treat for the puppy.

By the time she called her mother, cleaned up the kitchen, and watched the evening news,
Tracy was ready for bed. The ups and downs of this evening’s emotional roller coaster had
left her limp. Thor eyed her bed, but she conned him into his own spot in the corner of
her room. He trampled his blanket and settled down, cuddling up to his rag doll.

She usually lulled herself to sleep by reading until her eyes closed. But no reading
tonight. She was too tired to pick up a book. She turned off the lamp on her nightstand
and then lay there wide awake, staring into the darkness.

She found herself mulling over Sheila’s story. Something didn’t add up. How on earth did
Leif find the opal ring? He was already sitting in his SUV when Tracy left the building.
And she thought Sheila had checked her gloves. Oh, well, Sheila had her ring back and more
importantly, Leif knew she was innocent. That was what mattered. She closed her eyes and
gave in to her weariness.

A ferocious racket blasted her out of a sound sleep. She sat bolt upright, staring into
the darkness. She could barely see Thor at the dormer window, his paws on the window seat,
barking ferociously. He sounded like a whole pack of hounds.

With trembling hands, she turned on the table lamp. Either the house was on fire or
Timmons had come to reclaim the jewelry. She tiptoed to the window and peered out into the
night.

The glow of the streetlight was dimmed by the giant oak tree. It gave just a faint bit of
illumination to the front yard. She made out a shadowy figure moving quickly away from her
car. Over the pounding of her heart and the din of Thor’s barking came the roar of an
engine and then the screech of tires as a car sped away.

Tracy’s breath came in short, fast gasps. She sat down heavily on the floor and forced
herself to take a long, deep breath.
Thank you, Lord.

Thor nudged her with a cold wet nose. Still shaking, she ruffled his fur. Good dog, she
whispered.

She sat there unmoving, staring at the clock. Two in the morning. No point in calling Leif
now. It was too late for him to do anything tonight. Timmons was at least five miles away
by now. But Leif had told her to call anytime, day or night. He would give her an earful
if she didn’t let him know about the incident.

She mustered the strength to move to the edge of her bed and grope for the phone. She
punched in Leif’s number with unsteady fingers.

He answered on the first ring. Chief Ericson. He sounded as alert as if he had been
waiting for her call.

Leif, she managed, it’s Tracy. Thor woke me up. Someone was here—in the driveway—by my
car. He’s gone now.

Are you all right? Alarms rang in Leif’s voice.

I’m a little shaky, she admitted.

Assured she wasn’t hurt, Leif assumed cop mode again. Were you able to identify the
person? Was it Timmons?

I’m sorry, Leif. It was too dark. All I could see was a shape running away and then a car
taking off.

Can you identify the car—the make, the style? He rattled off questions faster than a quiz
show host.

No, he didn’t turn on his headlights. Calmer now Tracy tried to recreate the picture of
that car speeding away. It was a dark color, but that’s about all I could see.

Which way did he go?

Away from town, toward Plymouth. At least she could tell him something. He was really
burning rubber.

Leif hesitated. Do you think he had time to get into your car?

I don’t think so. Thor really earned his keep tonight.

OK. I’m coming by to check the tapes and see if that back seat has been moved. Don’t go
outside.

No chance of that. Tracy doubted she would have the nerve to go outside for a week.

Right now I want you to program your cell phone with my number on speed dial. If anyone so
much as looks cross-eyed at your car, I want you to push that button.

Tracy gave him a shaky laugh.

Now, go back to bed and get some rest. He paused. Sleep tight.

Right, she groaned. There was as much chance of her sleeping tonight as there was of
Sheila Dunn sending her a bouquet of roses.

Thor wanted to join her in bed, and she was tempted to let him, but she managed to coax
him back into his corner. She crawled wearily under the covers. She was still staring at
the ceiling when morning came.

****

 
Tracy loaded her groceries into the back seat of her car. Just looking at that back seat
cushion gave her a creepy feeling. Leif found the tapes were still in place. Apparently
Timmons did not have time to discover that his loot was gone.