Fleece Navidad Part 14

"Whoa, Burt. Couldn't he do anything to stop her? That sounds like hara.s.sment to me."

"Me, too, but Claudia never responded. She never filed a complaint. She never reported any of Sheila's activities to the police. And she never contacted a lawyer to file a civil suit alleging hara.s.sment. Nothing."

Kelly remembered Claudia's words. She "just wanted to crawl in a hole and die."

"But then it really got interesting in October when Claudia left the retirement home. Apparently Mary Ann Howard's family didn't realize their mother's car was missing at first. They were too busy handling funeral and burial arrangements following her death. They didn't even check the parking garage for almost two weeks. But when they discovered the car was gone, they started asking questions. Sheila's spy must have alerted her to the situation, because Sheila put it all together. Watson said he heard from Sheila that a car was missing from the retirement facility, and she claimed Claudia stole it."

"Did he believe her?"

Burt shook his head. "Nope. Watson blew her off. But he did inquire at the retirement home about a missing car, just in case. The facility director told him the family didn't know if their mother had lent the car to her church or a charity. So they were still asking friends and acquaintances. They weren't sure if it was a theft or not. Then, the credit charges arrived on the next month's bill. They revealed a trail of gas, restaurants, and hotels from Florida heading west. That got on Watson's radar. And it also convinced the family the car was actually stolen. Of course, Claudia's spy kept track of everything the family learned and reported it to Sheila."

"So that's how she found out where Claudia was."

"Yeah, but it was the phone bill that really nailed the location. When that came in, there was a collect phone call from Claudia's motel in Fort Connor to Mary Ann Howard right before she died. Apparently that's when Sheila headed to Colorado, hot on Claudia's trail."

"Gotta hand it to her, Sheila's a h.e.l.luva sleuth."

"Yeah, if you like obsessive and you don't mind bribing people to spy on others." Burt signaled the cafe waitress. "Watson said Sheila called a couple of weeks ago, informing him that she had located Claudia and the missing car in Fort Connor, Colorado. Then she asked when he was going to charge Claudia with auto theft. He told Sheila that police were investigating the vehicle's disappearance, but no charges were filed yet. They were still interviewing residents of the retirement home because questions had arisen as to whether the car was stolen or simply borrowed."

The waitress appeared, coffeepot in hand. Kelly presented her king-sized mug. "Fill 'er up, Julie. I've got to face holiday shoppers again."

Burt poured a stream of milk into his coffee. "Watson said that another resident at the retirement home remembered Claudia telling her that Mary Ann let Claudia 'borrow' her car." He took a sip. "Watson said that statement made them take another look. After all, Claudia did call Mary Ann Howard when she arrived in Fort Connor. Police wondered if Mary Ann really had lent Claudia her car as the elderly resident said. Of course, the family was convinced Claudia had tricked their aging mother. They figured Claudia had taken advantage of their mother's trusting nature to steal both her car and the credit card. Anyway, the police kept asking questions. And when the family finally learned that particular resident had memory problems, they didn't waste time. They officially reported the vehicle as stolen, and the rest we got to witness ourselves."

Kelly screwed the top of her mug tightly. "I have to agree with you, Burt, Sheila has been all over that situation from the start. And it wasn't from concern about the Howard family. It appears all Sheila was interested in was pinning a crime on Claudia."

"It sure looks that way, Kelly. After the police told her they weren't going to investigate her father's death, that's when Sheila started tracking Claudia at the retirement home. Almost like she was hoping to find something." Burt took a sip of coffee. "Watson told me that Sheila called him last Monday and actually asked what kind of sentence would be given if Claudia was convicted of auto theft. Can you believe that? And she was furious when he said it depended on the judge. After all, Claudia had no arrest record, and there had been questions as to whether she borrowed the car or stole it. So the judge might be lenient. Claudia might serve jail time, then again, maybe not. She might serve on a work release program instead. It was up to the judge."

"Whoa, I bet Sheila didn't take that very well."

Burt gave her a crooked smile. "Apparently not. He said Sheila lost it and started swearing and yelling over the phone, so he had to hang up."

"No wonder Sheila's angry. Well, she ought to be satisfied now that Claudia is implicated in something really serious." Kelly rose from her chair. "So what do you make of the call yesterday? Is Sheila's spy hitting her up for more money?"

"Sounds like it, Kelly. That's the trouble when you start twisting the law, like Sheila's been doing. You usually wind up entangling yourself."

Kelly breathed in the scent of evergreen as she and Jennifer walked up the aisle of Saint Mark's Catholic Church. There were even more decorations in the church now than before. Two spruce trees flanked the altar steps, decorated with crimson red bows and holly sprigs, candles nestling in the branches. Ropes of greenery draped along the walls. The Yuletide season was upon them.

Another aroma teased her nostrils, stirring memories from the back of Kelly's brain. Incense. That was it. She remembered that scent, pungent and spicy. The priest walking up and down the aisles, swinging the ornate metal censer, while a cloud of fragrance wafted over the bowed heads in the pews.

"Most of those kids have already tuned out Hilda," Jennifer observed as she paused in the aisle. "Check it out."

Kelly peered at a teenage boy perched on the steps to the left of the altar and spotted ear buds connected to a popular miniature music player. She also spied two other boys sprawled on the steps above, their hand movements a dead giveaway to where their attention was-text messaging.

Close by was the traditional Nativity scene, with delicately painted figures of Mary and Joseph, shepherds, the Wise Men, and a beatific angel standing over all.

Now, if only the group of teenagers she saw scattered across the altar steps could come close to the original tableau, this project might work. But the bored expressions she spied on several faces didn't bode well. Two girls and four boys. Surely, that couldn't be all. Where were the rest of them?

"Let's hang back till Hilda finishes. I don't want to cramp her style."

"Boy, does this bring back memories," Jennifer said, crossing her arms as she grinned at the bored teens. "Of course, Hilda and Lizzie don't come close to Sisters Robertia and Mary Agnes. You didn't dare look bored around those gals. They'd break a ruler across your head. Or b.u.t.t. Sometimes both."

"I sense you took a toll on their supply of rulers."

"Every chance I could. I'd go out of my way to give Sister Mary Agnes a hard time. She loved me anyway. Never could understand why. That's probably why she kept casting me as Mary."

Kelly did her best to look incredulous. "You portrayed the Virgin Mary?"

"Don't look so shocked. I had my innocent moments. But Sister Mary Agnes had my number, all right. Maybe she was hoping that virginity would be contagious."

A laugh started, but Kelly stifled it, because Hilda had turned their way, beckoning them forward. "Now, boys and girls, let me introduce the young women who'll be in charge from now on. Kelly Flynn and Jennifer Stroud."

Kelly and Jennifer stepped beside Hilda. Lizzie was already at the doorway leading to the bas.e.m.e.nt cla.s.srooms below. Another busy night at Saint Mark's.

Kelly gave the kids a friendly smile. "Hey, guys, how're you doing?" Then she turned to Hilda. "Thanks, Hilda. Jennifer and I will take it from here." Hilda didn't waste a moment in leaving, as she hastened toward the doorway. Kelly scanned the teenagers' faces. "Jennifer and I are going to take over for these overworked ladies and help you guys do a great job. I brought extra scripts with instructions if you've lost yours." Watching Hilda close the door behind her, Kelly turned to Jennifer.

Jennifer was already in sync. She checked over both shoulders. "All clear. No clergy in sight."

"Okaaaay," Kelly said, strolling to the edge of the steps. "Let's talk. Jennifer and I are here because those sweet little old ladies told us you guys weren't paying attention. So, now the sweet old gals are gone, and you've got us. And, believe me, we're not sweet." She gave them her Disappointed Coach stare. "We're here to make sure you guys don't make fools of yourselves or embarra.s.s your parents next week when you're up in front of the entire congregation."

"So, pay attention, and we'll have you prepped and outta here in an hour, okay?" Jennifer promised.

Kelly observed the distracted gazes mixed with a couple of attentive looks that met her announcement. Time to take action. Handing the scripts to Jennifer, Kelly slid her hands into her back jeans pockets and withdrew her music player and her cell phone.

"Okay, listen up!" she yelled in her On-the-Field Coach voice. The teenagers' heads jerked up like puppets. Holding her electronic devices in the air, she ordered, "Unplug now ! Cell phones, iPods, BlackBerries, off and in your pockets. I wanta see 'em. And either pop the ear buds, or I do it for you."

She eyeballed the boy who sat at the foot of the steps. He gave her a sheepish look and shoved his electronic gear into his pockets. Advancing up the steps, she watched the two sprawling teens try to hide their cell phones. "Too late, guys, you're busted. Hand over the phones. You can text when we're finished." She stretched out her hand.

"Awwww, man," one of them replied, giving her the Aggrieved Teenager look. Utter disgust, disbelief, and disrespect all rolled into one. He glanced up at Kelly and saw that she was unfazed. "Awwww, man!" he whined again and handed over the phone.

"Hey, I'm not your mom, so I don't care if you're p.i.s.sed."

Kelly heard a snicker beside her. The other boy clicked off and handed her his phone.

Jennifer stepped forward then, hands on hips. "All right, now that we've got your attention, how many of you don't have a clue what you're supposed to do during the service?"

All but two hands shot up to the sound of snickers. The blonde girl sitting beside one of the now-phoneless guys spoke up. "Well, I'm the angel, and I alreadyknow my part," she announced proudly.

The boy beside her rolled his eyes. "Oh, yeah, Britney-Beyonce. Is your mom making your costume?"

She scowled at him. "Shut up !"

Kelly exchanged a knowing glance with Jennifer. Ahhhh, junior high school years. Memories best forgotten.

Jennifer pointed to the blonde girl. "Theater group, right?"

"Yeah! I was the lead in our school musical this fall."

The boy beside her rolled his eyes again.

"Fantastic," Jennifer continued, glancing around the rest of the group. "Now, we've got Angel, who else have we got here?" She pointed to the guys beside the drama queen. "Let me guess, shepherds, right?" They both nodded.

The boy sitting beside the lectern spoke up. "I'm the Narrator."

"And you've got all the lines. Have you learned them yet?"

He shrugged with a good-natured smile. "I'm working on it."

Kelly caught the eye of the quieter boy at the foot of the steps. "Who're you?"

"I'm supposed to be Joseph."

Kelly glanced around the empty sanctuary. "We're still missing people. Aren't we supposed to have Wise Men?"

Jennifer approached the girl who leaned on a middle step, still looking bored. "Well, we've got Angel so you must be Mary. They're only two girls' parts."

"Whatever," the girl said, barely glancing at Jennifer.

"I know how you feel. Sister Mary Agnes made me play Mary three years in a row."

The girl deigned to give Jennifer a fleeting glance. "Mymother is making me do this." Her voice dripped disgust. Oh, the horror.

"Just be glad you don't have Sister Mary Agnes. At least you can complain to your mom and make her feel guilty. Sister Mary Agnes would just whomp you upside the head."

The shepherds snickered again.

Kelly couldn't resist. "Boy, I'm glad I didn't go to your school." More smiles appeared.

"Okay, I'm gonna make it easy and call each of you by your part," Jennifer announced, pointing to the teenagers. "Angel, Shep One, Shep Two, Narrator, Joseph, and Mary." She started handing out scripts. "Here are extra scripts. Don't lose these. I'll be directing you guys in this production, so listen up. Kelly coaches baseball, so she's in charge of keeping you guys in line. Don't mess with her. She's even tougher than Sister Mary Agnes."

"How come you get to be director?" Kelly played along, taking a script.

"Because I went to parochial school. All you did was show up for Sunday Ma.s.s."

Kelly threw up her hands in surrender mode and didn't say a word, enjoying the sound of youthful laughter rippling through the group. Thanks to Jennifer, maybe they could whip this bunch into shape.

Then came the sound of doors opening at the back of the sanctuary, followed by young male voices. Changing voices. Cracking high, dropping low. Kelly turned to see three teenage boys stroll up the aisle. The missing Wise Men, at last. The sandy brown-haired one in front looked familiar.

"Coach Flynn?" he called as he and his companions drew near. "What are you doing here?"

"O'Leary?" Kelly exclaimed, recognizing her favorite baseman, best hitter, and all-around troublemaker from last summer's baseball leagues.

"In the flesh, Coach," he said as he and Kelly clasped hands in a jock handshake. "You runnin' this show now?"

"Let me guess, you and your friends are the Wise Men, right?"

"That's us, Coach." O'Leary and his buddies wrapped arms around each other's shoulders and mugged with cheesy smiles. "Three Wise Men. We got the goods."

The shepherds groaned. So did Narrator.

Kelly grinned. "Goods or not, guys, if you're late again, I'll kick your b.u.t.ts."

"Whoa!"

"Hey, she can hit it outta the park, so shut up," O'Leary said.

"Awesome!" the third boy exclaimed.

"Hey, Coach Flynn, when are you gonna have tryouts for next year? O'Leary said you straightened out his swing."

O'Leary made a dramatic swing with an invisible bat. "Home run!Outta the park!"

This time the entire cast on the steps groaned.

Kelly just laughed. "They any good?" She nodded to O'Leary.

"Oh, yeah. Not as good as me, of course," he said with a swagger.

"Gonna hurl," Narrator warned.

Kelly laughed out loud, as did Jennifer. Okay, now we're getting somewhere. Humor always worked.

"Tell you what, guys. Do a stand-up job with this Nativity scene, and I'll watch for you in the tryouts. I'll even put in a good word with Coach Townsend."

"Whoa!"

"Awesome!"

"Totally!"

Jennifer handed them scripts. "Three Wise Guys is more like it."

"Hey, that's good," O'Leary said, incapable of insult. "Which of us is which? You know, Bal-something or another."

"Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar," Jennifer announced, then pointed. "O'Leary, you're Melchior. You bring the gold."

"Got that right."

Jennifer just shook her head and pointed to the other two boys. "Caspar, you're bringing frankincense. It's used in perfumes, so it's really valuable. And you're Balthazar. You bring myrrh, most precious of all. Couldn't bury people without it."

Balthazar raised his fist, threatening. "See? I'll bury you guys next summer!"

"Now I'm gonna hurl," O'Leary threatened.

"Get on up there," Kelly ordered, pointing toward the steps. "No more mouthing off. O'Leary, that means you. And keep your buds in line."

"Got it, Coach."

"Do we have to wear those stupid bathrobes?" Caspar complained as he followed O'Leary.