me.
“Good. You're here, but I thought you had to work today?” She pulled me in for a quick hug.
I didn't want to get into a big discussion about work. I hadn't quite figured out what had happened. One minute, I'm employed for a family, everyone else in town seemed to be in awe of and the next, I'm no longer employed there. I was just glad that my real employer was the agency and not any of the people I provided work for. I loved my patients and most of their families or loved ones, but there were those that made me want to pull my hair out and run for the hills.
“I thought this was more important right now. They have plenty of staff. I think they'll be fine without me. Anyway, so what are we doing here?” I asked, pointing to the others in the room.
She grabbed my arm and pulled me inside. “You're in charge, you tell me.”
I'd forgotten that she'd asked me to lead this neighborhood group. I hadn't had a moment to think about it and I had no time in my life to even give it consideration. Besides, I was never home. How was I supposed to keep the neighborhood safe from hundreds, sometimes thousands, of miles away three hundred days a year?
“I'm sorry, Margie, I haven't really had any time to think about this. I don't think it would be a good idea to have me be in charge. I can hardly remember to water all those pretty flowers you planted for me and I almost never remember to close a door behind me. I lose my keys all the time. My cell phone is rarely charged and my poor car wants to die.” I had every excuse in the world not to accept this position. I would be no good at it. I knew it.
“Sounds like you'd be perfect. We all know that you solved murders before. I'm sure you could figure out who stole my patio furniture and all the other stuff he stole from everyone else around here.” Margie said.
How could I argue with that? Everyone in the neighborhood saw me as some kind of hero. That was a nice change. Just a few months ago, I was the nurse they ran to with minor injuries, who drove the car that sputtered too loudly in the morning and leaked oil all throughout Lake Villa.
I sighed. “Okay, what do I have to do?” I asked.
“Go, act like you know what you're doing. Make them want to help each other out. Tell them some of the tricks of your sleuthing trade and help us take our neighborhood back.” Margie was good at this pep talk thing. I was starting to think I was capable of handling this position.
*
With copies of police reports spread out in front of me on my kitchen table, I was actually thankful for being let go by Lucilla. I needed a distraction and this was perfect for me. I wouldn't have to leave the house. I could finally figure out how to navigate the internet on my new laptop and come up with some tips to try to catch our neighborhood prowler.
As I read over the reports, I took some notes. By all accounts, it looked like our thief had a penchant for striking in the middle of the day, which I found odd. I'd always believed that thieves preyed on their victims in the thick of night.
Why would this one strike during the day and how did they go unnoticed?
“Hey, where did that come from?” I hadn't noticed the small statue sitting on my porch.
I stepped outside to take a look at it. I had to admit, it was kind of cute. A small card was taped to the front. It read: A gift for the sweetest nurse in the world from her ex-husband's future ex-wife. Smooches, Kitty
What in the world? Well, now this statue didn't seem so special. I don't care if it was Betty Boop dressed in a nursing uniform, holding a stethoscope.
“No, honey, I can't accept this gift from you,” I muttered under my breath. “And, my dear ex-husband, it's time we had a talk.”
I took the statue and placed it on top of the police reports, so I could describe it in detail to James. Tina walked out of her room to get a cup of
“Good. You're here, but I thought you had to work today?” She pulled me in for a quick hug.
I didn't want to get into a big discussion about work. I hadn't quite figured out what had happened. One minute, I'm employed for a family, everyone else in town seemed to be in awe of and the next, I'm no longer employed there. I was just glad that my real employer was the agency and not any of the people I provided work for. I loved my patients and most of their families or loved ones, but there were those that made me want to pull my hair out and run for the hills.
“I thought this was more important right now. They have plenty of staff. I think they'll be fine without me. Anyway, so what are we doing here?” I asked, pointing to the others in the room.
She grabbed my arm and pulled me inside. “You're in charge, you tell me.”
I'd forgotten that she'd asked me to lead this neighborhood group. I hadn't had a moment to think about it and I had no time in my life to even give it consideration. Besides, I was never home. How was I supposed to keep the neighborhood safe from hundreds, sometimes thousands, of miles away three hundred days a year?
“I'm sorry, Margie, I haven't really had any time to think about this. I don't think it would be a good idea to have me be in charge. I can hardly remember to water all those pretty flowers you planted for me and I almost never remember to close a door behind me. I lose my keys all the time. My cell phone is rarely charged and my poor car wants to die.” I had every excuse in the world not to accept this position. I would be no good at it. I knew it.
“Sounds like you'd be perfect. We all know that you solved murders before. I'm sure you could figure out who stole my patio furniture and all the other stuff he stole from everyone else around here.” Margie said.
How could I argue with that? Everyone in the neighborhood saw me as some kind of hero. That was a nice change. Just a few months ago, I was the nurse they ran to with minor injuries, who drove the car that sputtered too loudly in the morning and leaked oil all throughout Lake Villa.
I sighed. “Okay, what do I have to do?” I asked.
“Go, act like you know what you're doing. Make them want to help each other out. Tell them some of the tricks of your sleuthing trade and help us take our neighborhood back.” Margie was good at this pep talk thing. I was starting to think I was capable of handling this position.
*
With copies of police reports spread out in front of me on my kitchen table, I was actually thankful for being let go by Lucilla. I needed a distraction and this was perfect for me. I wouldn't have to leave the house. I could finally figure out how to navigate the internet on my new laptop and come up with some tips to try to catch our neighborhood prowler.
As I read over the reports, I took some notes. By all accounts, it looked like our thief had a penchant for striking in the middle of the day, which I found odd. I'd always believed that thieves preyed on their victims in the thick of night.
Why would this one strike during the day and how did they go unnoticed?
“Hey, where did that come from?” I hadn't noticed the small statue sitting on my porch.
I stepped outside to take a look at it. I had to admit, it was kind of cute. A small card was taped to the front. It read: A gift for the sweetest nurse in the world from her ex-husband's future ex-wife. Smooches, Kitty
What in the world? Well, now this statue didn't seem so special. I don't care if it was Betty Boop dressed in a nursing uniform, holding a stethoscope.
“No, honey, I can't accept this gift from you,” I muttered under my breath. “And, my dear ex-husband, it's time we had a talk.”
I took the statue and placed it on top of the police reports, so I could describe it in detail to James. Tina walked out of her room to get a cup of
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