Sprouted by Gina LaManna

Author:Gina LaManna [LaManna, Gina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: cozy, amateur sleuth, Mystery, food
Publisher: LaManna Books
Published: 2018-02-24T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

SINCE IT WAS ONLY ANTHONY’S men who’d been wired to listen in on our conversations, I ran Anthony through any events he’d missed during the evening.

“By the way,” I told him. “We’re quickly swinging by the nursery to check on a few things.”

“This plant thief needs to get a life,” Anthony grumbled. “There’s no money in plants. What the hell is he thinking?”

I frowned. “Actually, that’s a good question. Meg, what is this plant thief after? If he’s so broke he has to steal, why is he stealing plants? Shouldn’t he steal food or clothing or...I don’t know, entertainment? Even an apple tree would make more sense than some lousy little ferns.”

“Plants are loving life partners,” Meg said, defensive. “Maybe he’s lonely and wants some friends.”

“Yeah, sure,” I said, then turned back to my call with Anthony. “I guess we’re just dealing with a nut. Hopefully we’ll catch a glimpse of him, call the cops, and wrap this case up. Meg offered to help back when she was becoming a PI, and we can’t leave the ladies high and dry. They helped save Venus.”

Anthony exhaled. “Sure. But keep Paul and Toby with you—understood? No running or chasing or throwing your steak.”

“You’re hilarious,” I said, then snapped off an I love you before hanging up.

“Anthony thinks it’s a psycho,” I said in explanation of the plant-napper. “I have to say, I am leaning toward agreeing.”

Both men in the front agreed, but Meg was steadfast in her beliefs that it was merely a lonely thief in need of friends.

“We’ll find out,” I said. “Though it’s earlier tonight than last time. You think we’ll miss him? He didn’t come until around five in the morning last time. Sorry, but I’m giving you a half hour before I have to pee.”

“If he’s smart, he’ll go earlier since he knows we were watching this place late last time,” Meg said. “If anything, we might have missed him already. I promised Marcy we’d put in some stakeout hours tonight. She’s giving me dirt in exchange.”

“Oh, gee, what a fair trade.”

“Dirt is expensive,” Meg said. “Don’t judge.”

I sat back, focusing on Sprout’s movements and those new little twinges that were coming along every now and again. I hadn’t felt them before. My mind immediately dismissed the notion of contractions because that would mean the baby was ready to arrive. And that was impossible, seeing as I still needed to put a nursery in our house and purchase a reliable car seat.

“What in the world?” Meg asked, pulling me out of my daydreams as Paul cross-parked over several spaces in the nursery lot. “He’s already come and gone?”

Meg was out of the car, hoofing it toward the nursery grounds before I managed to shift the center of my mass far enough along to open the door on my side. I waddled after her, dreaming of the foot rub Anthony had started before we left. Maybe I could convince him to pick things up where he’d left off with a few magic words.

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