Part 11 (2/2)
We both stopped and laughed. Mac rested his chin in his hand. ”G.o.d, the Ryan sisters.” He poured himself more coffee and sat back like a kid at the circus.
”When did you get here?” I looked at my watch: one o'clock.
”About forty minutes ago. Kate, as I said, I got the creeps when we pulled up here. Didn't I, Mac?”
”Yes, you did,” he said.
”Why?” I asked.
”I looked out into the woods and you know me, I got that feeling of a presence, something was there. I just felt it,” she said and Mac and I fell silent. ”Well, that's what usually happens when I bring up the supernatural with you two. So, what's been going on around here? Hannah-and we have to call her Hannah-started to tell us but then you came back. What the h.e.l.l happened?”
I explained everything that had happened since I talked to them last night-as well as everything I'd figured out about before.
”Good grief, are you all right? How many st.i.tches, Katie?” she asked, sounding very much like our mother. It was truly scary.
”I'm fine.” I said. ”Now, more importantly, on our ride today, before Maggie got bounced around, my brain caught up with me and I finally figured out the intruder was a woman. She was wearing perfume.”
Teri was amazed. ”A woman? Do you think it was the same woman in the woods? Tell me about her.”
”It was kind of eerie. She was there, and then she wasn't. I got the same feeling last night, when I thought I saw someone at the edge of the woods. Whatever it was, was there, then gone. Whaddya think?” I asked.
”Well, I don't know. If and when she turns up again, it'll be interesting,” Teri said.
”To say the least. Man, I'm glad you two are here.” It struck me then, how lucky I was to have them. Teri was 48. She was sophisticated but also down to earth. She was about five foot six, an adorably full-figured redhead with beautiful blue eyes and a great sense of humor. Being married to an ex-Marine like Mac, she needed it quite often.
”Maggie and you both saw the same person?” Teri asked.
”Yes, but I saw her clearly. Maggie said she couldn't get a good look. You know what I'm thinking? All the time I had Maggie on the horse, I felt like someone was watching us. Then, boom, the uncle shows up. What are the odds?”
”Well, it's his property, he might easily have just been out for a ride,” Teri said.
”True. I guess I'm getting paranoid, here. That woman spooked me.”
The vision of the woman in the woods stuck with me. What was she doing there?
Mac was playing with the plastic bag. ”So, this is what Chance found?”
”Yep. Chance dug it all up. I don't exactly know where, but I know it was on the other side of the lake. It was very spooky how it happened.” I explained Chance's odd behavior from last night and then this morning.
”And she came back with everything?” Teri asked.
”Yep. She had the burlap and the jewelry. It was freaky.”
”Why did she bolt around the lake?” Mac asked and looked at Teri.
”I think Chance knew where to go. You say Chance sat there and stared across the lake?” she asked and I nodded.
”It was as if-” I stopped dead and without finis.h.i.+ng my sentence, Teri understood.
”As if what?” Mac asked, looking at both of us.
”As if she saw someone or something. Mac you know perfectly well, dogs have that sense.”
”No, you have that sense, Teri,” I chimed in. It was true.
Teri has that sixth sense that scares the h.e.l.l out of me. She downplays it, but never denies it. Some call it intuition, but those who know Teri, know it's much more.
”Okay, don't tell me: You're traveling through another dimension...” Mac started.
”Next stop: The Twilight Zone,” I said in my best Rod Serling imitation.
Teri glared at both of us. ”Very funny, children.”
Chapter Ten.
Being the gracious hostess, Hannah made sure we'd have dinner then she joined us on the deck.
”Kate, Teri was telling me about the woman in the woods. Who could she have been?” Hannah asked.
”I don't know. It was a little unnerving.” I ran my fingers through my hair.
”So now what, Sherlock?” Mac asked.
”I need to know more about Miranda's murder. Last night the sheriff-Steve, I think his name was-seemed like an affable guy. I think I'll take a skip into town, maybe he can shed some light on this.”
”It was twenty years ago, do you think he knows anything?” Teri asked.
”I don't know,” I said.
”Want us to come with?” Mac asked.
”Would you mind if I went alone? I'll only be an hour.”
”Okay, Mac and I will stay with Hannah,” Teri said.
”Can I borrow the Jeep?”
Mac and Teri laughed. ”It's not funny. I have no idea where my car is,” I said as Mac tossed me the keys.
I walked into the small police station and noticed Steve in his office. He waved me in.
”Hi. How're ya feeling?” he asked. His thick, sandy hair flopped forward, making him look like he just woke up. His short-and-stocky build also made me think of a high-school football player.
”I'm fine, thanks. Can I bother you for a few minutes? I have two issues. One, I remembered something about last night's break in.” I told him all about my realization of the intruder being a woman, and how Chance found all that jewelry.
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