A Christmas Conundrum by Wilder Stacy

Author:Wilder, Stacy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wild Hawk Press
Published: 2023-10-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

First thing the next morning, I placed a call to my favorite librarian.

“Liz, it’s wonderful to hear from you. How are you?”

“Great, but I’m way behind on my Christmas shopping.”

“I’m almost done. Grandkids are easy, but I doubt you’re calling to chat about the holidays. What’s going on?”

Serena had assisted me with research in the past. My calls were rarely social. “Well, I could use your help on something.”

“As long as it’s not buying gifts, name it.”

I filled her in on the current investigation and asked if she remembered Alan, Weldon, and Chuck.

“Sure do. Thick as thieves, those three, and very ambitious, especially Weldon.” She paused. “By the way, Weldon’s speaking today at a fundraising luncheon. If you’d like to meet him, I can snag an extra ticket. Want to be my guest?”

“I’d love to.” I could sleuth and hang out with my friend.

After we worked out the details, I called my mom.

“Good morning, sweetheart.”

“I enjoyed last night. I hope you and Ruth keep in touch.”

“Me, too.”

“There’s been a slight change in plans. I’ll drop you off at Lou’s, and then I’m going to run surveillance on Alan. Afterward, I’m attending a luncheon where the mayor’s contender is the keynote speaker. I may try to observe Regina for a bit after that.”

“Oooh, surveillance sounds like fun.”

“Trust me. Most of the time, it’s boring.” Thanks to my thoughtful husband, I now had a Sprinter van equipped with the latest detective gear. It even had a bathroom.

“OK. Between prepping for the upcoming events and catching up on Lou’s financials, my day is full anyway.”

“You guys still want to tour the Festival of Lights later?” I was amazed at my parents’ energy at their age. I hoped it was genetic.

“Can’t wait. So far, Christmas in Charleston has been wonderful.”

I said a silent prayer that the wonderful trend would continue. If anything happened to my mother, it would be my fault and the guilt would plague me forever.

•••

I changed into a long-sleeved black shirt and pants. Before I left, I inspected the van. It was well-stocked with water and snacks. My black baseball cap and sunglasses were tucked inside the console. I plugged my phone into the provided charger and drove to Alan’s home in North Charleston. I parked down the street and waited.

A few minutes later, a Honda backed out of the garage. I picked up the binoculars on the passenger seat and peered through to ensure Alan was behind the wheel. Once I’d confirmed it was him, I turned on the ignition and followed him, staying several cars back.

Alan turned into a shopping center and stopped in front of the pharmacy. Fifteen minutes later, he emerged carrying a bag that sported the store’s logo. I continued the tail, keeping a safe distance between our vehicles. After a mile, he signaled and made a right turn into an older neighborhood. A few blocks in, he pulled into a driveway and got out of his car. A woman with snow-white hair rose slowly from a wicker chair on the front porch and embraced him in a bear hug.

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