The Pajama Affair by Vanessa Gray Bartal

Author:Vanessa Gray Bartal [Bartal, Vanessa Gray]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Cozy Mystery
Amazon: B0064FNEC6
Publisher: Author
Published: 2011-11-06T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Dirk’s car was in Liza’s driveway when she arrived home. Occasionally he stopped by for lunch when he could get away. She was always glad to see him, but she hated to have her plans thwarted. Talking to Mrs. Jenkins would have to wait. She gave a longing look toward her neighbor’s house and frowned when she noticed the door standing open.

Mrs. Jenkins was a homebody. Liza had never seen her leave her house. She even had her groceries delivered. Never in the three years Liza had lived beside her had she seen the door gaping as it was now. Worry overcame shyness and caused her to walk the short distance to the other woman’s house.

“Mrs. Jenkins,” she called as she ascended the porch. “It’s your neighbor, Liza Benson.” She peeked around the open door and stopped short as she tried to assimilate the sight in front of her.

Mrs. Jenkins lay sprawled on the floor with her cats prowling and mewing around her. But what alarmed Liza most was the person bent over her.

“Dirk,” she exclaimed. “What are you doing? What happened?”

He whirled to look at her. “I saw her door standing open and came to check on her. I think she’s had a heart attack.”

“Did you call an ambulance?” Liza asked.

“No. I just got here.” He pulled out his phone and handed it to Liza. She called the ambulance and checked Mrs. Jenkins’ vital signs. She was breathing, but barely. They waited in silence until the ambulance arrived and then remained in her house after everyone else left.

“Is she going to die?” Liza asked.

“It didn’t look good,” Dirk said. He stepped forward and put his arm around Liza’s waist. She buried her face in his chest.

“I’ve never seen anyone like that before, so sick and unconscious.”

“I know, Babe,” he said soothingly. He wrapped both arms around her and held her while she fought back tears.

“What am I going to do with her cats?”

He let out a breath and looked around. “The humane society?”

“But when she comes home, she’ll want them again.”

“Liza, I don’t think she’s going to come home again,” he said gently.

Liza swallowed hard again. “But she might. I guess I’ll just take care of them for a while until we know for sure.” She eased out of his embrace to check the cats’ food, water, and litter. As she suspected, they were in perfect order. Mrs. Jenkins loved her cats and always seemed to take good care of them. Dirk put his arm around Liza and led her back to her own house.

“Did you come for lunch?” she asked.

He nodded. “But it’s okay; I’ll just grab something on the way back to the office.”

“No, I’ll make something.” He sat at the kitchen table and watched while she deftly threw together a sandwich, salad, and a couple of cookies for him.

“You’re not eating?” he asked.

She shook her head. She was too shaken up to eat. Men must not have that problem. Dirk looked unruffled. She set his food in front of him and started to move away, but he surprised her by pulling her into his lap.

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