Chapter 337

Tony and Findlay were with Lucy when I arrived at her home. The poor woman was frantic. I understood her feelings about having her home violated again.

“I slept well all night,” Lucy told me as she sat in her living room next to Tony. “But when I got up and went to the kitchen this morning, my statuette of Lycaon was missing from the display case in the hall.”

She began twisting a tissue in her hands. “That figurine was found in a mountain cave by my great-great-grandfather. It can’t be replaced.”

I spotted Buddy in the backyard and forced back a smile at his doggie antics.

“And you’re sure the doors were bolted?” I asked.

“Yes,” I double-checked before bed, and as soon as I saw it was gone. And Buddy was sleeping at the foot of my bed, and he never moved or barked.”

“Daisy,” Tony said. “Buddy barks at me when I use my key to enter the house. Strangely, he didn’t alert Mom to an intruder.”

The dog appeared in the living room when Tony said his name. He came to me and sniffed my hand before he let me pet him.

“Who else has a key to the house?” I asked.

“Only me and Tony,” Lucy replied.

I thought of the tiny cameras I used in the passageways. “I could install cameras that would tell us who it is and how they get inside your home.”

Lucy wrinkled her nose. “I’d feel like I was being watched. Is there another way to catch them?”

“Do you mind if I look around the house while I think?” I asked.

There already was a stranger coming into her home, and I didn't want to intrude any more than was necessary.

Lucy nodded her head. She looked so defeated.

“I’ll walk around the house with Daisy,” Findlay volunteered.

We left the living room, and I began snooping in the wide foyer that cut through the center of the house.

A pine console table sat next to the front door with a large framed mirror above it. Along the wall next to the living room entryway was a glass and polished pine display case.

Inside the case was a small antique vase, heavy heirloom silverware, and a porcelain orb painted with a glowing image of the Goddess.

The top shelf was empty.

I pointed through the glass. “Is that where the statuette was kept?”

Findlay nodded. “That statuette meant a lot to Lucy. I hope you can find it.”

We moved into the dining room, and I whispered. “Are you and Tony sure Lucy is locking the deadbolts on both doors?”

“Yes, Lucy always locks the doors even when she’s home,” Findlay replied. “We must use Tony’s key whenever we come to visit.”

“Were they locked this morning?” I asked as I scanned the dining room for clues.

“Tony had to let us in the front door with his key.” Findlay led the way into the kitchen. He stopped at the sturdy metal back door. “I checked this door myself when we arrived.”

A small door opened at the bottom of the door. Buddy would have trouble squeezing himself through it.

Findlay patted the dog’s head. “Did you sleep well while the burglar was here last night?”

Buddy sneezed, flapped his ears, and walked away.

I examined the dog door. “Isn’t this door too small for him?”

“Yes, but he’s been using it since he was a puppy. Tony and I are waiting for Lucy to call us because Buddy is stuck in the door.”

“It’s not big enough for a person to enter the house,” I observed.

“Tony tried to wiggle through it once.” Findlay grinned. “He got stuck, and I had to pull him back by his feet.”

The image of Tony being stuck in the small dog door made me smile.

“Mickey dear, please bring more tea when you’re finished showing Daisy the house,” Lucy called from the living room. I was used to calling Findlay by his last name and was confused at first when Lucy used his first name.

He filled the tea kettle and put it on the stove. “What else would you like to see?”

“What’s upstairs?”

“I’ll show you.” He walked to the stairs near the front door.

Findlay showed me the primary bedroom, two guest rooms, and two bathrooms on the second floor. There were no balconies, and all the double-pane windows were locked.

“There’s no way for a burglar to get in up here,” I said and returned downstairs.

The tea kettle was whistling in the kitchen. Findlay prepared a tray, and I followed him into the living room.

“Do you have any idea how to catch the burglar?” Tony asked as he began to pour the tea.

“I do,” I replied. “I want to set a trap, but I’ll need help.”

Findlay smiled. “What do you need us to do?”

“First, Tony, I need you to send out a press release saying Lucy Basil is cleaning a priceless vase for the antiques department of The Association.”

Tony nodded. “Okay. Not many people know about the theft of the Mask of Nyctimus. The Association is investigating without the police to keep publicity to a minimum.”

“Good.” I accepted a cup of tea and dosed it with sugar and milk. “Then a fake vase must be delivered after the press release.”

“What kind of vase?” Findlay asked.

“Anything that looks like an antique,” I said. “I’ll give you a GPS tracker to glue inside it.”

“Do you want someone to steal the vase so you can track the vase and the thief?” Lucy grimaced. “It frightens me every time I know some stranger was in my home.”

“I could stay here with you,” I offered. “After the vase is delivered, I’ll sneak into the house so nobody knows I’m here and wait for the burglar to strike.”

“You could come into the house disguised as part of a cleaning team who comes once a week,” Lucy suggested. “They’re due tomorrow, but I’ll cancel their visit.”

“Can you get the press release announced before then?” I asked Tony.

“I’ll do it right away.” He pulled his phone from his pocket.

“How many are in the cleaning team?” I asked Lucy.

“They are two nice girls,” Lucy answered. “They wear yellow shirts and jeans.”

“Then I’ll be here in the morning with a friend,” I said. Amy might be available for a small adventure. “We’ll park down the block and dress like your cleaning ladies.”

“Oh, thank you, Daisy,” Lucy said. She hugged me before I left with Findlay.

“Tell Victor to call me if he’s going to work late tonight,” I requested as Findlay walked me to my car.

“I will,” he promised.

As I started my car’s engine, I decided to visit Amy to ask for her help. It had been over a week since we saw each other.

I texted her, and she sounded eager for me to visit her at her Dad’s apartment.

“I’ll stop at the store for her favorite cookies on my way there,” I decided and drove to the grocery store.

I parked in the back of the lot and walked inside the store. Several people stared and whispered to others as I walked the aisles.

I ignored it and was friendly to the other shoppers and store staff as I put Amy’s cookies into my cart, along with a few personal items I needed for the stay at the mansion.

Grocery shopping has never been a chore for me. I enjoyed cruising the aisles to find bargains and searching for new things to try.

I spotted a new type of candy bar and bought two for my visit with Amy. They would go well with the cookies and the pound of expensive coffee beans I was also taking to my best friend.

The cashier was silent as she rang up my purchases and placed them into a bag. It was apparent she had recognized me and believed the lies and spin.

But I was determined to counter the situation with kindness.

“Thank you,” I said when she handed me my bags.

She rolled her eyes and started ringing up the next customer.

Keeping my head high, I reminded myself I had done nothing to be treated this way and made my way to the exit.

As soon as I got outside the store, I smelled smoke. There was an acrid haze floating over the cars in the parking lot.

I scanned the lot for the source of the smoke and moaned when I saw it was my car.

Hoping to save it, I ran toward Mercedes. But flames were shooting out of the broken windshield and windows. It was too late.