I hung an ornament on the Christmas tree in the newly erected community hall. Now, we could have gatherings all year round, and our Christmas party would be the first big event.
The building took up the space where half the playground had been dug up after some serious issues with the local drug dealers a few months ago. Rather than repair the playground, we simply moved it over and built the community hall. Since the owner was my uncle, I could pretty much do anything I wanted with the place.
“CJ Turley,” A voice scolded from behind me. I turned and smiled at my friend, Mags Snyder. “You know the tree should have some kind of a theme. This looks like a child decorated it. You’ve every color of the rainbow and then some.”
I frowned, scrunching my nose. “These are my grandmother’s ornaments. I like the ornaments to be a little of everything. You’ll remember I did offer to let you take care of the décor, and you declined.” I hung an obscenely large bulb at eye level just for spite.
Mags groaned. “I hope somebody steals that thing.”
I whirled back to face her. “Take that back. Some of these are antiques.” Maybe I shouldn’t have used Grams’s things, but I couldn’t put a tree in my tiny house big enough for more than three or five bulbs. I wanted to share my treasures with those around me.
“Well, I think it’s gaudy.”
“It’s gorgeous.” Eric Drake, local park ranger and my boyfriend, entered the building as Mags continued her criticism. “But not as lovely as my girl.” He lowered his head and kissed me.
“Hello to you, too.” I smiled.
“Do you know where your dog is?” He stepped back. “Because she’s causing trouble, chasing the new tenant’s cat, or so they’ve complained.”
I groaned. Caper only wanted to play, but not all four-legged, or two-legged, creatures for that matter, reciprocated my feisty pup’s feelings. “Can you catch her and lock her in the house?”
“Already done. Just wanted you to know that house number fifteen isn’t happy.”
“Thanks. I’ll stop by there when I’m finished here.” I stepped back and surveyed the tree again. It was perfect. Grabbing my jacket, I headed for the door. “See y’all later.”
A brisk wind blew off the mountain rising above Heavenly Acres. The winter sun sparkled off Blue Lake. I really loved where I lived, despite the recent crimes that had begun over the year I’d worked here as manager. Things had settled down for the time being, and life was good.
I climbed into my red and white golf cart and drove around the loop to house number fifteen. Hoping the couple who lived there, Lee and Kim Westford, were reasonable people, I hopped from the cart and knocked on their front door.
A fluffy white cat blinked at me from the windowsill. The pretty thing didn’t look any the worse after Caper’s romp with her, which eased my nerves.
Mrs. Westford, a slightly plump, well-dressed woman in her mid-fifties, answered the door. “What are you going to do about that dog?”
Okay, not reasonable. “I apologize. Caper is not normally away from me. Is your cat alright?”
“No thanks to that mutt, Sugar is just fine. I had to give her extra salmon to make up for the stress of the chase. When we rented this house, you assured us we could reside here in peace.”
Caper was not a mutt. Well, I didn’t know if she was purebred or not, but in my heart she was a show dog. “I’ll do my best to fulfill that promise, Mrs. Westford.” I glanced over to where the bored-looking feline licked its paw. “Sugar is very pretty.”
“She ought to be. She’s a Norwegian Forest Cat with a long bloodline and cost us a thousand dollars. She’s won awards.” The woman actually lifted her chin and sniffed like an aristocrat.
Wow. I couldn’t imagine spending that much money on an animal. “She, uh, looks worth every penny.” No wonder they had to live in a tiny house. They probably spent all their money on the cat.
I shoved aside the uncharitable thought and turned to leave. Before I was off the porch, Sugar darted between my legs. I windmilled my arms and fell, bouncing down the steps. I’d call Caper and the cat even.
“Sugar,” Mrs. Westford darted past me after the white ball of fur streaking down the road.
“I’m okay. I can get up by myself.” I rolled my eyes and groaned. Nothing felt broken, thank God.
By the time I limped to my cart, Mags was speeding my way on her cart. “That cat is in your Christmas tree.”
Oh, no. My ornaments! Sugar was starting to be a real pain in my behind, and that had nothing to do with my tumble down the stairs.
Shoving aside my aches and pains, I sped back to the community center. Thank goodness the tree still stood, but a white paw flicked out from inside the tree and batted at the large bulb I’d hung last.
“Mrs. Westford, please remove your cat from the tree.” I put my hands on my hips and glared at the woman who sat, smiling, in a padded chair.
“She loves Christmas trees.”
“These are my personal belongings that belonged to my grandmother. I’d really appreciate your cat not breaking them.”
“Very well.” She unfolded herself from the chair and carefully retrieved Sugar. “Have you considered a higher fence at the entrance here? I’m afraid Sugar can climb over or under the one we have.”
“Mrs. Westford, I cannot put in a new gate for a cat.” I fought the urge to roll my eyes again.
“This is going to be a long six-month lease.” Back straight, she marched from the building.
I agreed with her. Six months would seem like an eternity if there were more days like today.
Less than two minutes later, Mrs. Westford returned. “Where is her collar?”
“Excuse me?”
“Sugar’s collar is missing.” She shoved the cat into my arms and made a dash for the tree. “I don’t see it.” Her frantic searching knocked several ornaments from the tree. One shattered, and the large bulb rolled across the floor and lodged under the tree.
“Be careful, please.” I tightened my grip on the squirming animal and received a scratch for my trouble. “Could she have lost it on the way here? Do you have another one?”
She narrowed her eyes. “That one is crusted with diamonds!”
“Why in the world would you have a diamond collar on a pet?” A jewel thief had once switched the rhinestones on Caper’s collar to diamonds, but that was to hide the jewels in plain sight, not because my dog was spoiled.
“We bought it as a reward when she won her first ribbon.” She took the cat from me. “She earned it.”
“Let’s fetch my dog and retrace her steps. Caper has a talent for finding jewels.” Unfortunately for me in the past. I eyed Sugar. “Maybe we’ll take her home first.”
I drove Mrs. Westford to her house to drop off the cat, then she rode with me to retrieve Caper.
My little spaniel wasn’t a genius or anything, but she definitely seemed to understand me when I talked to her. “Please hold out your wedding ring to her so she’ll know we’re looking for diamonds.”
“Are you serious?” Mrs. Westford’s eyes widened.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Scowling, she held out her hand for Caper to sniff, recoiling as my pup’s nose touched her skin. “I detest dogs.”
“Be nice or she won’t help.” I knelt. “Find the diamonds, girl.”
Caper barked once, wagged her tail, and took off with her nose to the ground. Diamonds, cats, and squirrels were what got my dog excited.
“What’s going on?” Mags stopped next to us.
“An expensive collar fell off the cat’s neck,” I said.
“She has a name, you know. Her name is Sugar.” Mrs. Westford clamped her lips together.
“You sent Caper to find it?” Mags grinned. “That’ll work. Hop in.”
Mrs. Westford took the seat next to Mags, leaving me to hang onto the back. It wasn’t the first time. Most of the time I actually enjoyed it, but my body was violently protesting my thumps down the stairs. I started to think I might have bruised my tailbone.
Caper slowed and glanced back at us, then continued forward again. She ran a circle around house number fifteen, then darted for the park, empty of children on the cold day. She squeezed under a bush and barked.
Bingo. I hopped off the cart and rushed toward her. “Okay, let me see.” I pulled her out.
In her mouth was a collar with half the diamonds missing. “Looks like someone got scared and tossed this.” I glanced around the area.
With no rain in a few days, there weren’t any footprints. I didn’t need anyone to know we had a diamond thief among us. Again.
Who, and how, did they know the diamonds on the cat’s collar were real? And how did they manage to remove so many in such a short amount of time?
- ASIN : B08C47D5WG
- Publisher : Independently published
- Publication date : June 30, 2020
- Language : English
- Print length : 118 pages
- ISBN-13 : 979-8661299222