Tippy Toe Murder by Leslie Meier Page B

should have only female friends. She had taken an
immediate liking to Barney Culpepper when he stopped to fix a flat tire for her
soon after she’d moved to Tinker’s Cove. She had gotten to know him better when
they were both members of the Cub Scout Pack Committee. He often dropped by for
a cup of coffee and a chat; he liked to gossip just as much as she did.
    When Lucy found Sam Miller’s body in the
Country Cousins parking lot the previous Christmas they had teamed up to find
the killer, but not before Culpepper had almost become a victim himself.
[Editor:  See Mail-Order
Murder.]
    “Well, I do have a dog complaint out near
you,” Culpepper said. “What are you having for lunch?”
    Lucy considered the contents of her pantry,
usually depleted by this time of the week. “Tuna?”
    “Sold. I’ll see you around twelve.”
    After looking out the window to check on
Sara, Lucy decided to get a head start on supper and began slicing a cabbage
for coleslaw. She’d just finished adding the dressing when she heard the crunch
of tires on the gravel driveway.
    Lucy waited on the porch while Sara ran
across the lawn to greet the huge police officer. He caught the little girl
under her arms and tossed her high into the air above his head and she screamed
with delight.
    “Put her down,” begged Lucy. “If you get
her too excited she’ll never take her nap.”
    “Oops, sorry,” apologized Barney. Lucy
couldn’t help thinking he looked like an oversized puppy who’d received a
scolding.
    “That’s okay. Come on in. I’ve got a couple
of sandwiches all ready for you. You, too, Sara.”
    “So, Barney,” began Lucy once they were all
settled at the round oak table. “What’s the real story about Caro’s
disappearance?”
    “What you see is what you get,” said
Barney, finishing his first sandwich in a few bites. “Don’t you read the
papers? Crowley’s suspended the investigation.”
    “I can’t believe it. Nobody’s looking for
her?”
    “Lucy, she could be anywhere. We can’t
search the whole state, the whole country, the world. Can you imagine the fuss
the Taxpayers’ Association would make at town meeting?” “Well, you can’t
pretend nothing’s happened. A woman’s disappeared!”
    “The case is still open,” said Barney. “She’s
been officially declared a missing person. The state police put out an APB with
her description. They’ll send out flyers to post offices and police stations.
There’s even an eight hundred number people can call if they see her. But to
tell you the truth, nobody thinks she’s in any sort of trouble. There was no
sign of violence, and there hasn’t been a ransom note. She also withdrew five
thousand dollars from her savings a few days before she disappeared.”
    “What does that mean?” asked Lucy, jumping
on this new piece of information. “Was she being blackmailed?”
    “No, Lucy. I think she probably went on
vacation and forgot to tell anyone.”
    “Barney, I can’t believe that. She would
never leave George.”
    “That’s the part that bothers me,” admitted
Barney. “He’s an awfully nice dog. He’s really gotten to be part of the family.”
“It was nice of you to take him in.” Lucy smiled at him across the table. “Come
on, Sara, aren’t you going to eat your sandwich?”
    “I want more tomato chips,” said the little
girl. “Please.” “That’s po-ta-to chips,” corrected Lucy. “You can’t have any
more until you eat your sandwich.”
    “That’s not fair,” whined Sara.
    “That’s the law,” said Barney, using his
official tone of voice. Lucy was amazed to see Sara obediently begin eating the
sandwich.
    “God forgive me, Lucy, but I almost hope
she doesn’t come back. Eddie’s grown so attached to that dog it would break his
heart to give it up.”
    “You could get another dog for him. A
puppy.”
    “Yeah, you’re right. Listen, Lucy. I wouldn’t
worry about Caro too much. These old ladies do odd things, they get