enjoy having Natalie around.”
Father Mahoney came out a moment later, smiling. “Mother agreed to take Natalie in. She’ll stay with the externs, of course. Mother said that the reception area adjacent to the main parlor can be turned into quarters for her.”
“Okay, that part’s worked out. But the key to this plan is to make sure no one else knows where Natalie is,” Sheriff Green said. “That means Sister Agatha can’t drive her back to the monastery in the motorcycle.”
“I’ll take her and make sure we’re not followed,” Father Mahoney said. “That’ll also give me a chance to talk to her.”
“Father, we have a lot of reporters out there and Natalie’s a hot story. You’ll never even make it to your car without drawing their attention. We’ll need a diversion,” Tom said, then paused thoughtfully. “I’ll meet the reporters and issue a statement that Natalie has been found. I’ll add that kidnapping could have been the motive, and because of that she’s being placed in protective custody in a nearby community. This should throw some of the cranks off the trail. While this is going on, I can have one of my deputies smuggle my eight-year-old son Brent out beneath a blanket. He came to visit and is with Sergeant Miller right now, the head of our motor pool. I’ll make sure the reporters get a glimpse of the action during my talk, and they’ll assume I’m the diversion and Brent is Natalie. They won’t know whether to follow the figure under the blanket or stick with me a bit longer. Either way, that’ll buy you some time, Father—but not a lot.”
“I’ll be away before they know it,” he said resolutely.
“I’ll leave now and make sure that they all see me leaving alone,” Sister Agatha said. “Then, once I’m sure I’m not being followed, I’ll stop by Jessica’s house and get some of Natalie’s things.”
“Whoa, Sister,” Tom said. “I don’t want you going in there alone. Jessica’s place may hold a clue that’ll tell us what really happened on that highway, and who might be responsible for the attempt on her. I’ll make arrangements for a deputy to meet you there shortly. Wait for him.”
As Father Mahoney went inside the lunchroom to join Natalie and Tom left to set up the plan, Sister Agatha called Pax and left immediately. Several reporters spotted her, including some she recognized, but when they realized that she didn’t have Natalie, they returned to the front lobby.
It didn’t take long for her to reach Jessica’s home. As she pulled into the driveway of the tan, pueblo-style stucco house she admired the flower bed of multicolored cosmos that ran along the front of the house. Two large sunflower plants grew next to the front door, brightening up the entrance with its large yellow flowers. Everything was well tended and it was clear at a glance that Jessica loved her home.
As she approached, Sister Agatha noticed that someone had painted a second, smaller doorway behind the giant sunflower on the right. Over the faux entrance were the words, good angels only.
Sister Agatha smiled. There wasn’t a lot of wealth evident here, but there was love in abundance.
As a deputy sheriff’s car pulled up, Sister Agatha waved at the officer. Although everything had appeared normal from the outside, the minute they stepped into the living room, her breath caught in her throat. The place looked like it had been struck by a tornado.
“Wait here, Sister. I’m going to check—”
Pax, who’d come in with them, suddenly shot down the hall.
The deputy raced after him, Sister Agatha a step or two behind. The second they entered Natalie’s room, they found Pax braced beside the open window, snarling and clinging to someone’s pant leg.
5
S TOP! SHERIFF’S DEPUTY!” HE ORDERED, TRYING TO REACH around Pax to grab the intruder. Suddenly the fabric tore and there was a thud as the burglar fell to the ground outside, then the sounds of footsteps as he took
Father Mahoney came out a moment later, smiling. “Mother agreed to take Natalie in. She’ll stay with the externs, of course. Mother said that the reception area adjacent to the main parlor can be turned into quarters for her.”
“Okay, that part’s worked out. But the key to this plan is to make sure no one else knows where Natalie is,” Sheriff Green said. “That means Sister Agatha can’t drive her back to the monastery in the motorcycle.”
“I’ll take her and make sure we’re not followed,” Father Mahoney said. “That’ll also give me a chance to talk to her.”
“Father, we have a lot of reporters out there and Natalie’s a hot story. You’ll never even make it to your car without drawing their attention. We’ll need a diversion,” Tom said, then paused thoughtfully. “I’ll meet the reporters and issue a statement that Natalie has been found. I’ll add that kidnapping could have been the motive, and because of that she’s being placed in protective custody in a nearby community. This should throw some of the cranks off the trail. While this is going on, I can have one of my deputies smuggle my eight-year-old son Brent out beneath a blanket. He came to visit and is with Sergeant Miller right now, the head of our motor pool. I’ll make sure the reporters get a glimpse of the action during my talk, and they’ll assume I’m the diversion and Brent is Natalie. They won’t know whether to follow the figure under the blanket or stick with me a bit longer. Either way, that’ll buy you some time, Father—but not a lot.”
“I’ll be away before they know it,” he said resolutely.
“I’ll leave now and make sure that they all see me leaving alone,” Sister Agatha said. “Then, once I’m sure I’m not being followed, I’ll stop by Jessica’s house and get some of Natalie’s things.”
“Whoa, Sister,” Tom said. “I don’t want you going in there alone. Jessica’s place may hold a clue that’ll tell us what really happened on that highway, and who might be responsible for the attempt on her. I’ll make arrangements for a deputy to meet you there shortly. Wait for him.”
As Father Mahoney went inside the lunchroom to join Natalie and Tom left to set up the plan, Sister Agatha called Pax and left immediately. Several reporters spotted her, including some she recognized, but when they realized that she didn’t have Natalie, they returned to the front lobby.
It didn’t take long for her to reach Jessica’s home. As she pulled into the driveway of the tan, pueblo-style stucco house she admired the flower bed of multicolored cosmos that ran along the front of the house. Two large sunflower plants grew next to the front door, brightening up the entrance with its large yellow flowers. Everything was well tended and it was clear at a glance that Jessica loved her home.
As she approached, Sister Agatha noticed that someone had painted a second, smaller doorway behind the giant sunflower on the right. Over the faux entrance were the words, good angels only.
Sister Agatha smiled. There wasn’t a lot of wealth evident here, but there was love in abundance.
As a deputy sheriff’s car pulled up, Sister Agatha waved at the officer. Although everything had appeared normal from the outside, the minute they stepped into the living room, her breath caught in her throat. The place looked like it had been struck by a tornado.
“Wait here, Sister. I’m going to check—”
Pax, who’d come in with them, suddenly shot down the hall.
The deputy raced after him, Sister Agatha a step or two behind. The second they entered Natalie’s room, they found Pax braced beside the open window, snarling and clinging to someone’s pant leg.
5
S TOP! SHERIFF’S DEPUTY!” HE ORDERED, TRYING TO REACH around Pax to grab the intruder. Suddenly the fabric tore and there was a thud as the burglar fell to the ground outside, then the sounds of footsteps as he took
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