Кэти Дэйли - The Mystery Before Christmas [calibre]

“Isn’t it fabulous?” She asked as she ran a hand over the surface of the cooktop. “Positively top of the line.”

I looked at the dozens of cupcakes on the counter. “It looks like you have already put it to good use.”

“Oh, I have. The cupcakes are for the tree lighting. The elementary school is doing a fundraiser, and the parents are supposed to donate baked goods to sell.”

I wondered if Paisley was covered. I supposed I should call Aunt Gracie and ask her about it. Chances are if Paisley needed something to donate, Gracie would whip something up for her.

“So, how did you find out about your new oven?” I asked.

“The man from the appliance store called the house and asked me when it would be a good time to deliver and install the oven I’d ordered. I told him that he must have made a mistake since I hadn’t ordered anything, but he was quite insistent. After a while, the guy was finally able to convince me that an individual who wanted to remain anonymous purchased the unit with instructions to deliver it to me.”

“So, it sounds as if the man from the appliance store might know who paid for the oven.”

She shrugged. “I guess, but he wasn’t telling who it was, that much is for sure. Personally, I don’t care who paid for it, I’m just happy to have it. This is the worst time of the year not to be able to bake anything. The school depends on me to bake treats for all their holiday parties, the town depends on my cookies and candy for the bake sale during Christmas in the Mountains, and my family depends on me to make all their favorite seasonal dishes. If you cook a lot as I do, it is important to have working equipment.”

“I guess that is true. Do you have any idea who might have paid for the oven?”

The woman ran her hands down the front of her apron in what seemed to me to be a habitual movement. “If you’re asking me if I know who Secret Santa is, I don’t have a clue. And to tell you the truth, I don’t care. Whoever the jolly elf in red is, the man is an angel in my book. A real hero sent to brighten the lives of the folks in town who need a little help making their miracle happen this Christmas.” She paused for a breath and then continued. “I know a new oven might not seem like a lot to someone like you with your fancy career and truckloads of money, but to me, it is the difference between my ability to bake the Christmas cookies my children look forward to each year or going with store-bought. Not that there is anything wrong with store-bought mind you, but my cookies are one of the things I want my children to remember about me long after I’m gone. They’re important, and I think Secret Santa knew that.”

Fancy career and truckloads of money were far from an accurate description of me, but I did see what she was saying. “So, you suspect that Secret Santa is someone who knows you personally?”

“Well, I would think so. Otherwise, how would the man have known I needed an oven?”

Good question. A very good question, indeed.

Chapter 9

As I did every Friday, I showed up for my volunteer shift at the animal shelter early so that I could work with the dogs currently going through the training class. The dogs I was asked to work with tended to rotate depending on which dogs needed extra practice, but the techniques used were much the same. When I’d first started as a trainer, the dogs tended to ignore my commands in favor of doing their own thing, but I’d learned a few tricks of my own along the way, and I felt I was beginning to get the hang of things.

“It seems like Koko has improved a lot in the past couple of weeks,” Naomi commented after entering the room where I was taking the husky through his lesson.

“He does seem to be getting the hang of it,” I agreed, as I motioned for him to sit and then stay. “It was rocky in the beginning, but I feel like the two of us understand each other at this point. Any luck finding someone to adopt him?”

“Actually, I do have a man who is interested. I’m not quite ready to let Koko go, but I did process the guy’s application, and it seems like he might be a real possibility. If Koko does well this week, I think I’ll set up an appointment for the dog to spend some time with the man to make sure they are compatible. It will be important that Koko respects whoever adopts him since he has such a dominant personality.”

“I hope it works out. I’d love to see him in a real home for the holiday.”

“That is my goal, as well. I’d love to get as many animals placed as possible, but we are already into December, so I’m not sure how many I’ll be able to place. But not to worry, the dogs and cats who will spend the holiday at the shelter will be given special treats to celebrate.”

“I agree that it’s better to find the right home than to rush it.”

“That has been my philosophy from the beginning. Is Cass coming today?”

I rewarded the dog and then asked him to lie down. “He is. At least that is the plan. I spoke to him earlier, but he got a call while we were chatting. He said he had to go and would call me later, but I haven’t heard from him. The plan we worked out was to play with the dogs until about five-thirty and then head over to the tree lighting.”

Naomi opened a cupboard and began sorting vitamin bottles. “I forgot that was tonight.”

“I’m hoping there is a decent turnout. First, it was canceled, and then it was back on. I’m sure that there will be some folks who might not know things were worked out, and that the event is going to happen. And then there is the weather. It’s positively frigid.”

Naomi laughed. “That’s a Rocky Mountain winter for you. The secret to surviving is layers. Lots and lots of layers.”

“Thanks, I’ll remember that.”

She closed the cabinet. “Hancock is waiting for me over at the house, so I guess I should get back. Maybe I’ll see you at the tree lighting. Hancock is flying out in the morning, and I want to hang out with him while I can, so I guess I’ll see what he wants to do.”

“He’s leaving before Christmas?”

She shrugged. “He may be back by Christmas. Sometimes he is only gone for a week or two, while other times, it is a month or two, but I try not to have any expectations. That way, I’m not disappointed. I guess it will work out however it works out. If Cass does make it, can you ask him to stop by the house? I have the information on Rupert he was looking for.”

“Rupert?”

“Rupert Wooly. He’s an old prospector I’ve known forever. Like Hancock, he tends to come and go with the wind, but according to Cass, he happened to have been in town when Buford died, so Cass wants to chat with him.”

“So, did he know anything?”

Naomi shrugged. “My assignment was just to track the guy down. I’ll leave it to Cass to interview him.”

I had to hand it to Naomi, she was about as easy going as anyone I’d ever met. She obviously cared deeply about the animals in her care, but beyond that, it seemed like she just drifted with the current going wherever it might take her. I supposed that was a good quality to have, but I was sure that simply floating through life without really needing to take control was something I would never be able to do no matter how hard I tried.

By the time I finished my training duties, Cass had shown up. I passed along the information that Naomi wanted him to come up to the house, and then I began gathering balls and toys for the play session. It was really gratifying to see how excited the dogs became once they realized that Cass and I were there to entertain them.

“So, did you get the information you needed?” I asked Cass after he returned from speaking to Naomi.

“I did. I’m not sure that Rupert will know anything, but he tends to hang out with the other old-timers that can usually be found at the bar, so I figured it couldn’t hurt to talk to him. I’ve spoken to everyone else I can think of but, while everyone has an opinion as to what might have happened on the night Buford died, no one seems to actually know anything.”