The Bracelet (3 page)

Her sister-in-law was far from her favorite person. In fact, Piper regularly dreaded having to be in the same room with her. But she certainly didn't want to believe Zara was capable of hurting an old man. Attacking Piper's sanity? Yes. Attacking a sweet octogenarian with Velcro sneakers? No.

Yet she couldn't stop thinking about the way Zara had drooled over the bracelet in the bakery. Piper felt her throat tighten as she recalled seeing her sister-in-law's car parked on the street near the apartment, the purple ski jacket and the Teaberry gum.

The desk nurse at the emergency room was not quick to give out information to non-relatives.

“Please,” said Terri. “His son is out of state, and he has no else, as far as I know, nearby.”

“All I can say is that his condition is serious,” said the nurse.

“Can we see him?” asked Piper.

The nurse shook her head as she checked the computer screen. “No, not yet,” she said. “He hasn't been cleared for visitors.”

Serious? Poppy's condition was serious?

Piper's mind raced as she steered the car toward home. Poppy was elderly and old people didn't bounce back so easily. What if he didn't get better? What if complications set in? What if this was the beginning of the end?

“Don't worry, honey,” said Terri, seeing the expression on Piper's face. “He'll be all right.”

“I hope so, Mom,” she murmured glumly. “I really hope so.”

When they pulled up in front of the Donovans' house, Piper left the car running.

“Aren't you coming in?” asked her mother.

“I have an errand I need to run,” said Piper.

“Can't it wait?” asked Terri. “Why don't you stop and have something to eat? Your father will have dinner all ready.”

Though her stomach was grumbling, Piper didn't want to go in and face her father or his inevitable drilling. She knew the retired police officer would ask too many questions, wanting to know every detail of what she had seen at Poppy's apartment. She didn't want to tell him what she was worried about.

As she considered the possibility that Zara was involved, Piper understood that the repercussions would affect her whole family. Her brother would be devastated. Robert had fallen hard for Zara. To find out that the woman he loved was a thief and perhaps responsible for an old man's death would absolutely destroy him. Her parents would be shocked and overwhelmed too. Of course, they'd be there for Robert as he tried to rebuild his life, but they didn't need the stress of watching their son's heartbreak. They had worked hard and deserved the chance to enjoy life rather than be involved in this drama.

Piper didn't want to see her family struggling to put their world back together. But for herself, the thought of a world without Zara wasn't all that hard to take. Still, she would never, ever wish for something like this.

“Thanks, Mom,” said Piper as she kept her gloved hands on the steering wheel. “I'll just heat up the leftovers when I get back.”

She knew she had to tell the police about finding Poppy's door open and the empty red-velvet box. She had to describe what she had seen and the person she had observed running down the stairs moments before she had found the old man, unconscious and bleeding. When a crime was committed, the police had to know. That's what her parents and after-school TV specials had always taught her. But by going to the authorities with her suspicions, she could be opening a Pandora's box, unleashing a chain of events that would wreak havoc on her family.

Piper could hear the rock music playing behind the door of apartment 2A. She knocked once and then again, harder. The third time, she actually pounded.

The music was turned down and a moment later the door opened. A thin blonde woman peered out, her eyes like slits. The air behind her was cloudy and Piper detected the pungent, earthy smell of marijuana.

“Hi, I'm Piper Donovan. My mother owns the Icing on the Cupcake bakery downstairs.”

The woman smiled. “I wish
I
had a cupcake right now.”

Piper couldn't help but smile back. “I'll bet. But I was wondering if I could talk to you about your neighbor,” she said.

“Mr. Enright? Sure. He's such a sweet old guy.”

“Did you know he was taken to the hospital today?” asked Piper.

The woman straightened and her eyes widened. “No, I didn't know. Is he all right? What happened?”

“Nobody is sure what happened, but it looks like he fell and cut his head open. As far as I know, he's still unconscious,” said Piper. “I was wondering if you saw or heard anything unusual.”

The woman shook her head. “Nothing I can think of,” she said with a sheepish expression on her face. “But then again, my mind isn't the clearest right now.”

Before things went any further, Piper wanted to talk to her brother. Only Robert's jeep was in the driveway when she arrived at the brick Cape Cod-style house. Piper got out of the car and walked up to the door. She hesitated before ringing the bell.

She was glad that Zara wasn't home. It would be better to talk to Robert alone. But how was she going to tell him what she suspected? What exactly would she say?

Piper took a deep breath and pushed the button. She could hear the bell ring inside.

Robert looked pleasantly surprised when he saw her. His hair was tousled, his flannel shirt was hanging out of his jeans and heavy socks covered his feet. He smiled sleepily as he held back the storm door.

“Come on in.” He welcomed her directly into the living room, nodding at the blaring television. “I guess I fell asleep while I was watching the game.”

“Zara's not home?” asked Piper, just to be sure.

“No. She and her sister went out to do some shopping, if you can imagine that,” said Robert, shaking his head. “Actually, don't tell Mom and Dad, but Zara's returning the ski jacket they gave her for Christmas.”

“But she's worn it,” protested Piper. “I saw her wearing it Sunday morning at the bakery.”

“I know,” said Robert. “But she wore it just once to let Mom see her in it and let her think she liked it.”

“That's kinda dishonest, isn't it?” asked Piper. “And a little ridiculous. Mom could take it if Zara wanted to return the jacket. Why go through all the subterfuge?”

“You know, Zara,” said Robert, smiling at the thought. “She doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings.”

“Yeah,” said Piper. “I know Zara.”

The nurse in the emergency room carefully listed the items onto the inventory sheet before depositing them in a thick white plastic bag. Khaki trousers, a plaid flannel shirt, black sneakers with Velcro closures, a Timex wristwatch. She emptied the trouser pockets and made note of the contents before adding them to the bag as well.

She opened the worn brown leather wallet, her eyes widening as she saw the cash inside. Hundred-dollar bills. Lots and lots of them.

“Want something to drink?” asked Robert. “A beer? Some wine?”

“Have any club soda?” Piper asked as she sat at the kitchen table.

“I think so,” he answered. Robert opened the refrigerator and scanned the shelves. He pulled out a liter bottle. “Ice, right?” he asked.

Piper nodded. She listened as the cubes clinked and watched as the clear, sparkling liquid filled the glass. Robert pulled out a bag of pretzels and offered her some. She grabbed a couple, trying to get up the nerve to say something, after which she knew nothing would be the same.

“Anyway, to what do I owe this honor?” asked Robert as he popped the cap off a bottle of Rolling Rock beer and took a seat across from her.

Piper squirmed in her chair. She looked away, unable to meet Robert's eyes. Her gaze settled on a pack of antacid tablets lying on the table.

“Are those yours?” she asked, gesturing to the package. “Since when do you have heartburn?”

Robert shook his head. “No, those are Zara's. Her stomach has been bothering her. But she says they don't help. She went out to the drugstore before dinner to see if they had anything better.”