Page 26 of Pepper, the Biker & the Vanishing Body

I waited for her to explain, not wanting to disturb her while she worked on his nails since Mo refused to let me trim them. Dr. Pam was the only one he would allow to touch his nails.

“I read on your website about how to make sure that your pet is prepped for the unexpected or a long ride and it gave me the idea of putting together a pamphlet about it and to have it available to hand out here. I was wondering if you would like to contribute your Vital Pet Information and your Pet Prepping List you have on your website to it. Naturally, your copyright would be acknowledged and your website added to it for more information. I wouldn’t have thought of half of what you’ve got there. I mean a pet first aid book, a brilliant idea if caught in any emergency and a recent colored photo in case you get separated from your pet during evacuation. And medical history along with a list of medications, so very important. You covered so much, and I would love the owners of the animals I treat to have such important information at their fingertips to help protect their pets.”

Mo barked as if giving his stamp of approval.

I smiled. “Well, if Mo approves so do I. Actually, Dr. Pam, I’d be honored to contribute to it. Anything that can help save a pet during an emergency or difficult times I’m all for it. You also might think of making it available as a digital download so the info can be added online as well. Though I would strongly emphasis the need for having both digital and paper copies.”

“I did think of that as well. I’ve only thought of the idea after seeing it on your website, so a lot more thought needs to go into it yet.”

“If you would like to toss around some ideas, I’d be happy to do so with you,” I offered.

“I would love that, Pepper. I will be in touch about getting together, and if you’re looking for information on the Willow family you might try talking to Charlie Gibbons. Some say he’s in his nineties while others insist that he’s well into his hundreds. His family was the groundkeepers for the Willow Mansion dating back years, some say from the start. He recently and very reluctantly moved into the assisted senior living facility. I know about him because he used to bring his mutt, Goldie, here. Unfortunately, she recently passed and that precipitated his move to the facility. He also spends some time at the senior center.”

“Thanks. I’ll see about speaking with him,” I said, eager to talk with the man.

Mo barked and licked the vet’s face when she proclaimed him healthy, and he happily trotted out of the place with one of the large cookies they keep for the large-sized dogs. He sat in the back seat with the cookie in his mouth all the way home.

Once in the house, Mo pressed the button to turn on the television, then made himself comfortable in front of it to enjoy his cookie and watch an episode on the animal station on elephants. The huge animals had recently caught his attention, and he was watching them nonstop. It wasn’t long before Roxie joined him, though she made herself comfortable on the sofa, her interest in elephants matching Mo’s.

I grabbed my tablet off the counter to make a note to myself about Dr. Pam’s project, thinking what a great idea it was and wondering how it could be expanded to reach other veterinary facilities and more pet parents. Naturally, ideas started flowing and I quickly wrote them down so I wouldn’t forget them.

A text from Ian to let me know his business meeting was running late and that he would meet me and my mom at the diner made me realize that it was nearly that time. I didn’t mind since it would give me some time alone with my mom. I planned on asking her about Aunt Effie’s involvement with the restoration of the Willow Mansion. But as usual, things never go as planned.

CHAPTER 7

“Iam so disappointed that Ian couldn’t join us,” my mom said as we ate lunch.

“I am too,” I said, “but Ian’s business meeting was running longer than he expected, though he assured me he will meet us at the police station on time.”

“It’s good that Ian started expanding his business. With the introduction of Artificial Intelligence, I wondered and worried how it would affect his business.”

“Ian stays on top of things and with Beau switching to a management position, the two have come up with some great plans for the business while incorporating new technology. Ian continues to have the hottest models in the business, and they are still much in demand. And with the promo site he and Beau just launched for books, the team is swamped with work, not to mention the endless calls for interviews with Ian as an emerging entrepreneur which helps promote the company even more. But what about you, Mom,” I asked. “How is the campaign going?”

My mom’s smile was contagious. It couldn’t be helped. It was a twinkle of a smile that just couldn’t be ignored, and neither could her beauty. Nearly fifty-seven and she had no more than a few wrinkles that were barely noticeable. I prayed I got her genes, though most everyone says I am the picture of my Aunt Effie, including my mom. I can’t complain about that with my aunt having been a famous model who graced the covers and pages of international magazines. Still, I loved my mom’s smile and couldn’t help but smile along with her.

“Fabulous. Naturally, I have the support of the police, not that your dad influenced them, and they made that clear to me. The local teachers are in my corner and many of the seniors. The businesses on Main Street are overjoyed with how the beautification program of the street is going and have vowed to vote for me. But,” she said, raising her hand slightly. “That doesn’t mean I will win. I need to keep campaigning, get the word out of what I want to do for the town and its people. If you don’t mind, I would like to borrow Mo when I go to the senior center to talk with them again. He wins over every one of them there, even Charlie, who only smiles when Mo shows up.”

“Charlie Gibbons?” I asked.

“Yes, but how do you?—”

I explained what Dr. Pam told me about the elderly man.

“She’s right. Charlie’s family was the groundskeeper for the Willow Mansion for generations, which means he has probably heard story after story about the family, though he never shares much about them. Next time I go to the center you and Mo should come with me, and I’ll introduce you to Charlie.”

“Thanks, Mom, I appreciate it,” I said, growing more eager to meet the man.

My mom pushed her nearly empty plate aside. “Now, tell me about this vanishing body.”

I explained all that had happened. “So, from what I could gather so far, this guy, the vanishing body, is searching for something in the Willow Mausoleum. With the sketch that Dad wants you to do of him we may just be able to find him.”

“My concern is what was he doing at the garden center. With Kelly so close to delivering my first grandchild, I worry about her.”

“I don’t get the feeling this guy is out to hurt anyone. His interest is the mausoleum,” I said, trying to ease her worry. “I didn’t know that Aunt Effie was the founder of the Willow Lake Historical Society. Dad suggested I look through any documents she had accumulated on the Willow family since she was the driving force in the restoration of the Willow Mansion and that she took a trip to Ireland to research them. Reverend Herbert is going to let me look through the papers on the Willow Mausoleum that were archived at the church, but I don’t expect to find anything there concerning the mansion.”

“You’re right. You won’t. The church documents are for the mausoleum alone, nothing else. Any documents Effie may have gathered while in Ireland—oh, the memories of that trip. Your aunt had such a fabulous time and Max got to join her while she was there. They had the time of their lives. She recalled the fond memories often. Back to the documents from that trip. You won’t find them at your place. Effie would have archived them at the Willow Mansion.” Her brow scrunched briefly. “I always thought that your aunt didn’t share all she learned about the Willow family while in Ireland. She often said that sometimes there are family matters better left alone.”

I pulled my phone from my pocket and gave it a glance, then turned a smile on my mom. “We’ve got time before we meet with Ian at the police station. What do you say we visit the Willow Mansion?”

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