Nubbin but Trouble (11 page)

“Well, I guess they let anyone volunteer. You know none of us would have to do this, if you hadn't gotten him thinking all kinds of crazy stuff. You put ideas in his head.” Karen puffed her chest out as she flung accusations my way.

Bob grumbled, shaking his head as he walked out through the living room into a dining room, littered with papers and magazines.

“Who lives here?” I asked no one in particular.

Donna Lee scrunched up her nose. “No one now.”

I casually looked at the stack of magazines, stacked on a chair. “Oh, is that the new issue? I still haven't read the last issue.”

Karen snorted. “We're not here to read magazines.”

I didn't need the reminder. I was just surprised that magazines were being delivered regularly to a home no one lived in anymore. That sounded like a waste of money to me.

I shrugged off Karen's remarks and asked, “If no one lives here, how come it looks so... so lived in?”

Donna Lee and Karen exchanged quick glances, neither uttering a word in response.

Bob motioned for me to follow him. “Bring the dog with you. I think I found the perfect spot for him to rest.”

I bent down to scoop Barney into my arms and carried him into the dining room to the far corner where Bob stood.

I gasped. “Look Barney, you have a twin.”

A Pug, just a tad bit smaller than Barney slept on a large doggie pillow under the leaves of a plastic tree. My normally disinterested dog perked up and nudged himself next to the dog, as if they were old pals.

“Who does this dog belong to?” I asked.

“She's mine. Don't touch her.” Donna Lee warned from the kitchen. “They may be from the same litter, but I'll guarantee you, my dog is not half as lazy as yours.”

Well, that was uncalled for.

“They're siblings?” I asked, surprised by this news.

Karen huffed. “Well, if they're from the same litter, doesn't that usually mean they're siblings?”

I had half a mind to... Oh, scratch that, but someday – I don't know when – I'm going to listen to that half of my mind and do something about it. I swear!

It took over an hour for everyone to get situated. A couple of Sheriff's deputies arrived and took charge. I was disappointed that Charlie wasn't with them. Not that I wanted to see his face or anything. I just thought that as the County Sheriff, it was sort of his duty to take charge of any and all searches.

“Mercy?” I turned to see who else in the crowd knew my name.

I almost swallowed my tongue when I turned around. “Sistine, how nice to see you again.” I dawned a perfect smile and enough mojo to keep this act up all night if I had to.

“I'm going to need you to stick with Bob and the guys. Keep your dog with you too.” She had a look of disdain on her face as if my chubby dog were some sort of foul creature.

“Sure. Whatever I could do to help.”
See, I could pretend with the best of them
.

Luckily, I didn't have to pretend much longer. Donna Lee let out a scream loud enough to scare every unkind thought out of my head and everyone within a three mile radius.

“That's my dad!” She howled, pointing at a small television screen sitting atop the cluttered counter top.

The crowd of volunteers moved in to see what she was pointing at. Now, being only five feet three inches tall on a good day, I couldn't very well see over the shoulders of the corn fed crowd, blocking my view.

“Excuse me. Excuse me.” I said as I squeezed my body between farmers and farm wives who huddled together, muttering about what they saw.

“What is it?” I said loud enough to capture attention. “I can't see.”

They stared at me curiously, as if I was speaking in tongues, but no one made a clear path for me to get through.

My mother had always told me that my head full of curls was a fierce weapon. Up until now, I didn't know what that meant, but with about four tons of farm raised flesh in front of me, I had to do something.

I shook my head furiously from side to side, hitting everyone of those around me with my hair. Now, I wasn't exactly injuring them. That wasn't the goal, but the tickle of my hair was enough to irritate them slightly. Before I knew it, they were brushing my long tendrils from their arms and, more importantly, moving their bodies out of my way.

Splashed on the screen was a photo of Nubbin sitting in a rocking chair. “Where is he?” I asked.

Donna Lee was too busy being fanned with paper plates as she sat slumped in a kitchen chair to answer. “I can't believe it. I just can't believe it. Oh, my heart. My poor heart.” She groaned on and on, but I couldn't blame her. If I'd just seen my father's image on a tabloid news show, I'd be bewildered too.

The story ended after his image was shown, so I had no idea if he'd been found or what had happened.

I asked again. “Where is he? Did they find him?”

Karen glared at me from across the sea of people. “No. Someone took that picture in California. And guess who else is in California?”

Everyone turned in my direction. Suddenly, I felt guilty, but I didn't know why.

“What? Why is everyone looking at me? I'm here to help.” I said defensively.

All of the attention on me was disturbed by the sound of the front door opening. It only took a second before all eyes fell on me again and, this time, an extra set of eyes was added.

“Just what do you think you're doing?” Charlie's voice shook me to my core. As much as I'd wanted to know why he wasn't here, I hadn't really prepared myself to see him again.

To keep my voice even, I grabbed the arm of the closest person to me – a large man with a long, bushy red beard, beady green eyes and a ruddy complexion.

Charlie walked through the crowd, making apologies for me as he moved toward me. “Sorry to interrupt folks. I have some news to share with you, but first let me remove this pest before she causes any more trouble.”

That was it! I wouldn't let him make a fool out of me. I did a fine job handling that all by myself.

Shocking everyone, I raised my voice and spoke my mind. “Excuse me, buddy. You have no right to speak to me in that tone and whoever decided to appoint you king of everything about me, needs a swift kick in the...”

“Mercy!” He shouted, causing the room to erupt in gasps and a rumbling of shocked voices. “Come with me right now.” Charlie ordered, grabbing my arm and pulling me behind him.

“I will do no such thing! Let go of me, you big brute. Why don't you go back to your girlfriend and leave me alone!” I yelled at the top of my lungs.

The next sound I heard was the most terrifying sound I'd ever heard. I didn't even realize it was human until Charlie turned to face me, his face burning with rage.

Clenching his teeth together, he said, “Come outside now or I swear, I'll throw you over my shoulder and haul you right out of here, kicking and screaming.” He threatened, and had his face not been the color of a tomato, I would have continued resisting. Quite frankly, I was shaking in my tennis shoes. He meant business.

“My dog?” My voice was as low as a church mouse. That's all I could muster.

Charlie shouted over his shoulder. “Someone find her dog!”

The same people who I couldn't get to move an inch for me just a few minutes earlier suddenly parted like the sea and jumped into action, practically fighting to get to Barney and rush him out the door to finish watching the show.

When we reached the front porch, Charlie released my hand and stomped down the stairs, oblivious to the fresh layer of snow that had fallen. I, on the other hand, stepped down gingerly, afraid that I'd fall and break a hip.

“Are you going to tell me what the problem is or are you going to make me chase you?” I asked when I finally reached the bottom of the stairs.

He looked over his shoulder at me. “Get in the car.”

Fine, don't tell me.

The door behind me opened and Bob stepped out, holding Barney in his arms. “Here's your dog?”

I thanked him and headed back up the stairs to get Barney. “That's very kind of you.”

“Good luck.” Bob said before turning around to head back into the house.

I held Barney in my arms, wishing I'd never made the trip out here to Nebraska. It was obvious I wasn't doing anyone any good.

Charlie honked the horn of his squad car, startling me.

Barney looked up at me curiously. I bet he was wondering what my next move would be. The funny thing was, so was I. It wasn't like I had a lot of options, but that didn't mean that I was comfortable with going with Charlie. Not that he would bring me any harm... well, no bodily harm, that is... but I had no guarantee that whatever would transpire in that car wouldn't hurt me in other ways. That's why I hesitated. Somehow I knew that I was about to have my heart broken. Not that I was admitting anything, but it sure did feel like I was setting myself up for disappointment.

He honked again. This time, leaning on the horn long enough to cause people to step outside.

“All right, you win. For now.” I muttered under my breath as I walked to his car. “Do it for Nubbin. Remember Nubbin.”

“Quit talking to yourself. It makes you look crazy.” Charlie warned. “Crazier than you already are.”

“Did you have to add that? Did that make you feel better, Charles?” I answered just to irritate him.

“Oh, Charles? Well, that's new. It's good to know that cold hasn't completely fried your brain yet.”

This felt too normal
, I thought.
How did we go from him embarrassing me in front of a room full of concerned citizens to him teasing me like it was a normal day?

I scratched my head. “Do you have a diagnosis I need to be aware of because your mood swings are going to give me whiplash?”

Charlie sighed before bursting out into laughter.

“Do I have a diagnosis? You mean like a psychological diagnosis? Let me get this right, you think I'm crazy?” He laughed again.

“I don't know why you're laughing. Perhaps you forgot that a man is missing?” I said.

Remembering what I'd seen on the television, I said, “If you weren't so busy worrying about me, you'd know that some tabloid show just did a story on Nubbin. They say that he's in California. With the bank robbers!”

The smile on Charlie's face disappeared. “What are you talking about?”

I had him. I knew I was right.
“See, I told you. All this focus on me, like I'm some sort of criminal makes you blind to what really matters.”

Charlie pulled the car over to the side of the road, dangerously close to the ditch. I clutched the door handle, remembering the moment my rental car skidded off the road.

“What television show? What makes them think he's in California? That's just ridiculous!” Charlie scoffed at the idea.

Grabbing his radio, he called into dispatch. Barney started to bark at the same time, so I couldn't hear what Charlie had said.

Soon, he pulled the car back onto the road and said, “I'm going to put a stop to this right now. Do me a favor and stay where I put you.”

Now, what was going on?

“What do you mean by stay put? I don't know what the sheriff's responsibilities are here, but where I come from, you catch the bad guys, not harass and bully innocent nurses.”