Page 90 of Trouble Comes in Threes

I wasn’t wrong.

After we got ice cream, we headed back to the farm. The sky started spitting rain on the way home, so Neely Kate and I decided we’d rope the kids into making sugar cookies. We’d mixed the dough and had just put it in the fridge when a knock landed at the front door.

Jed was sitting at the kitchen table, and his head jerked up. He stood and looked me in the eye. “I’ll get it.”

I didn’t argue with him. My stomach was in knots as he headed for the front door. The farmhouse was out of the way, and we didn’t get many unannounced visitors.

A few seconds later, Jed was standing in the kitchen doorway with a grim look. “I have a guy on your front porch who claims he’s a sketch artist. He says he’s here to make a couple of drawings.”

“Oh!” I exclaimed, dusting flour off my hands. “Joe said he was going to send one out, but I didn’t think it would happen so fast.” I started to walk past him, but Jed blocked my path.

His gaze pierced mine. “Why do you need a sketch artist?”

“It’s a long story, which I’ll share with you after he leaves.” I brushed past him and went to the door.

“Sorry Jed made you wait outside,” I said, stepping aside so the artist could come in. “I forgot to tell him you were coming.”

“I’m Tony Baskins, the sketch artist for the sheriff’s department. Your husband asked me to drop by to make some drawings for you.” He shot a glance at Jed, who stood a few feet away, his arms crossed over his chest. “But I can come back if this is a bad time.”

“No, it’s a perfect time,” I said, eager to get images of the man in my vision so Joe could hopefully find out who he was. I was less hopeful a sketch of the woman would help, but it was worth a shot. “How about we go into the dining room, and Jed can stay in the kitchen?”

The kids were excited to have a visitor, so they followed us. Tony sat at the side of the table, while I sat at the head. He pulled out a large iPad and an electronic pencil, as well as several books.

“Sheriff Simmons said you have two people for me to draw?” he asked as he pulled up a form on his tablet.

“That’s correct,” I said, feeling uneasy. The kids were beyond curious why a strange man was sitting with me in the dining room, let alone why he was drawing people, and they weren’t shy about asking questions. Thankfully, Tony kept his answers vague. Then again, I suspected Joe hadn’t told him much. Neely Kate stood behind them, giving me a questioning look.

“Neely Kate, why don’t you and the kids finish the cookies?”

“Not a chance,” she said, plopping down in a chair on the other side of the table from Tony, with Liam on her lap. “It’s not every day you get to see a sketch artist at work.”

The kids all took seats too, except for Mikey, who stood behind Tony and watched him in awe.

“I’ve never met a real artist before,” he gushed.

“I’m sure Tony doesn’t need an audience,” I said. “We don’t want to distract him.”

“I don’t mind if they stay,” Tony said. “If they get distracting, I’ll let you know.”

Neely Kate gave me a smug grin, and I knew I’d have a lot of explaining to do once Tony left.

Tony turned his attention back to me. “First, I’ll have you to describe the first person as best you can, any details you can remember, then I’ll have you go through the books and pick out features that remind you of them.”

“We can start with the man,” I said. “He had black hair and dark eyes. Heavy eyebrows.”

“That’s good,” Tony said, typing on his pad’s detachable keyboard. “What else do you remember?”

“He had a pointy chin and sharp cheekbones. And he had a light mustache, not thick, and no beard.”

Neely Kate gave Jed, who was still in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe, a piercing look. We didn’t know anyone who fit that description.

I continued giving Tony details, such as the man’s widow’s peak hairline and deep-set eyes. Then he had me go through his books and pick out features.

The little girls and Ashley got bored and went into the living room to watch TV. Mikey stayed behind Tony’s shoulder, observing in fascination, and Neely Kate remained in her chair, holding Liam, who was busy eating cheerios out of a bowl.

After I picked out enough photos to satisfy Tony, he began sketching on his tablet, pausing to show me the face width and length, the length of the nose, and the width of his eyes until I was satisfied with his result.

I shuddered as I stared at the cold eyes on the tablet. He’d definitely gotten the dark stare right.

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