The Wedding Caper

  I arrived at Clarksville Catering at 8:30 a.m., ready to chat with Janetta Mullins. Ready to ask some hard questions. She looked a bit startled when I insisted upon coming inside, especially since I came with Sasha in hand.

  “I’m not really company-ready.” She gestured to her mismatched This Little Piggy Stayed Home t-shirt and blue stretch pants. “But come on in. You know you’re always welcome, Annie.”

  I entered the home with my nerves still a bit raw. Sasha squirmed in my arms and I asked if I could put her down.

  “Of course.” Janetta looked down with a smile. “Does she go out with you a lot?”

  “Lately.” I shrugged. “She has a… well, a separation anxiety disorder.”

  “Wow. Never heard of that in a dog.”

  “Yeah, well—”

  “Is there something you wanted to talk about?” Janetta pointed me toward a chair. “Something to do with the weddings?”

  “Nope, not the weddings.” I opted not to sit. Too nervous for that, to be honest.

  “What’s up, Annie?”

  Might as well dive right in. “I’ve been trying to solve the mystery of who stole your money for weeks now.”

  Here, her face paled. “You’ve what?”

  “Yes,” I offered. “It started innocently. I wanted to prove to myself that Warren hadn’t taken it.”

  “Are you kidding?” She looked flabbergasted. “You thought your husband stole the money?”

  “Well, the idea crossed my mind. Let’s just leave it at that.”

  She shook her head, and I could read the confusion in her eyes. “I’m assuming you got over that.”

  “Um, yeah. He didn’t take it. But I’m pretty sure I know who did. In fact, I’ve got a hunch the one who did it is fighting a battle with guilt, even as we speak.” My astute observation skills took in the fact that her hands began to tremble at this point.

  “Don’t beat around the bush. Just tell me what you’ve come to say.” Her lips pursed.

  “I will,” I began, “but I’d like to ask you some questions before I start.”

  She shrugged. “Go for it.”

  “First,” I said, “Just one question about Jake, to relieve my mind.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Did he ever take a polygraph test?”

  “Yes.” She nodded, but her brow remained wrinkled.

  “And did he pass it?”

  Another nod. “With flying colors.”

  “Enough said.” I paced the room for a moment then turned to ask another question. “Would you mind showing me that new commercial oven you were talking about yesterday?”

  “My oven?” She shrugged. “Sure. Come on.”

  I followed her into the kitchen with Sasha on my heels and stared at the double-decker beauty. “Wow. Nice.”

  “Yeah,” She reached over to run her fingers along the handle. “I love it.”

  “I’d like to hear everything about it.” I pulled out my notebook and thumbed through the pages. “Everything.”

  A look of confusion registered on her face. “Oh-kay. What do you want to know?”

  “If you’re up to it,” I suggested, “Just tell me the whole story of how and when and where you purchased it. Everything.” I yanked an ink pen from my purse in preparation for taking notes. As I did, Sasha made herself at home under the kitchen table, sniffing at anything and everything that smelled like food. And in this home, that was pretty much everything.

  Janetta dove in, telling me all about her “new baby”—starting with the cost.

  I nearly swallowed my tongue as I wrote down the amount. Nine thousand dollars?

  “Whoa, sister,” I looked up from my scribbles and scratches. “I’d have to mortgage the house to pay for that.” Mental note: Forgetful wife can’t seem to remember that her husband has already mortgaged the house to pay for two weddings.

  “Yeah, I know it’s a lot,” she explained. “But you’d have to understand how badly I wanted it. And needed it.”

  How badly?

  “I didn’t go into this decision haphazardly,” she explained. “In fact, I’d hoped to make the purchase months ahead of time, but had to wait until the price dropped before I could justify it.”

  “Ah.” I continued to write as she spoke.

  “I knew it would, eventually. Waited for weeks. Weeks. And it was finally low enough for me to consider—without losing sleep, I mean.”

  “I understand.” I looked up to gauge her expression.

  Here, her face lit into the broadest smile I’d ever seen. “I can’t even tell you how many times I drove over to Lancaster and just stared at that stove, wishing, hoping—”

  Lancaster. That answered the where question.

  “I knew I’d make enough money from catering the conference in the Amish country to pay the down payment and still have plenty left over to cover my mortgage and other bills for the next few months.”

  “So you bought it after the conference?” I queried. “With money from the event, I mean?”

  “Yes. I bought it the day after the conference ended. Well, technically I put a down payment on it that day. I’ll be paying on it for months to come.”

  The day after the conference. That answered the when question.

  She smiled. “I know it sounds silly now, but I was bent on catching it while the sale was on, or die trying. And I managed to do it, just in the nick of time. The sale ended that same day.” She let out a chuckle. “You would’ve laughed, Annie. I know you would have.”

  “Oh?” I looked up from my notes and noticed the twinkle in her eye.

  “I made the biggest fool of myself trying to get my paycheck cashed, then practically raced to the store with the money in my hand.”

  That answered the how question.

  “I must’ve looked like some sort of menopausal maniac.” Janetta shook her head with a woeful look on her face. “And all for the love of a stove. Is that the greediest thing you’ve ever heard?”

  In light of what I now know to be true? No.

  “Of course, I had no way of knowing the rest of my money would disappear within hours of paying the down-payment. I sometimes think—” Here, her eyes misted over. “I sometimes think the Lord has punished me for my greed. If I hadn’t been in such a hurry… if I hadn’t insisted I had to have what I wanted when I wanted, well—” She shrugged. “Who knows how different my life would be right now.”

  How different all our lives would be.

  “Janetta, honey—” I reached out to squeeze her hands. “I just have one more question, and then I’ll tell you what I’ve come to say.”

  She nodded and I dove right in. “Did you let anyone at the bank know you’d be making a deposit that night?” Somehow I already felt I knew what she’d say, but needed to hear the words as a confirmation.

  She nodded. “I did. That’s the part that’s been driving me crazy, in fact. I felt so silly for carrying all of that cash, and knew I wouldn’t get it to the bank before the drive-through closed. The only other option was the night deposit, which wouldn’t have been a problem if I’d been depositing a check. But I was so nervous about carrying cash, that I called the bank to let them know in advance.”

  I knew it.

  “See,” her brow knotted as she spoke, “that’s why it bothered me so much to hear the police say it was just a matter of my word against theirs.”

  “I understand.” I offered up a sympathetic smile. “And I’m so sorry all of this has happened to you. I really am.” At this point, Sasha began to jump up and down, in an attempt to get my attention. I reached down to pick her up and cradled her in my arms.

  “I’ll tell you the truth,” Janetta’s face grew quite serious, “after that $25,000 disappeared, I didn’t know if I’d have the money to pay my mortgage and utility bills, let alone keep on paying for that crazy oven. In fact, if it hadn’t been for the income from your daughters’ weddings and the Get Out to Vote rally, I don’t think I would’ve
made it through this past month or so.”

  It warmed my heart to know our money had somehow eased the strain of her situation. But I sensed she had more to say.

  “The thing that has stunned me most,” she continued, “is how many people from the community have reached out to help us. They’ve all been so great. Pastor Miller. Sheila and her husband. And Richard Blevins. He’s been the most amazing of all.”

  Yep. Looks like I’ve hit a nail.

  I took a deep breath before forging ahead with my facts, which could now be shared in full. “I have a story to tell you,” I started. “And it starts on the morning after your daughter made the deposit.” It’s always darkest before the dawn… I could hear Sheila’s words ringing loud and clear.

  “Tell me, Annie,” Janetta implored.

  Just as I started to spill my guts, my cell phone rang out. Sasha whined a bit as I put her down to reach for it. When I recognized the number as Warren’s, I offered up a quick apology to Janetta, then answered it right away.

  “Honey,” I whispered, “Bad timing.”

  “No,” he whispered back, “critical timing.”

  Yikes. “What’s up?”

  “I just thought you’d want to know,” he spoke with strained voice, “that Richard was just in here to clear out his desk. He said he’s going out of town for a few days on vacation. But something in his eyes told me otherwise. And after what you shared last night, I just thought you’d want to know.”

  I tried to still my mind before my thoughts took me captive. I had to formulate a plan, and quickly. “Warren, here’s what I’d like you to do. Wait about fifteen minutes then call O’Henry at the sheriff’s office. Tell him to meet me at Clarksborough Catering.”

  I couldn’t help but notice Janetta’s eyes widen.

  “Why Clarksborough Catering?” Warren asked. “What are you thinking, Annie?”

  I drew in a deep breath, hoping he wouldn’t question my explanation. “I know Richard Blevins pretty well, and I don’t think there’s a chance in the world he’s going to leave town without taking care of one little thing first.”

  Warren paused a moment before responding. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

  “I am. So do me a favor and call the sheriff’s office,” I repeated, “but give Richard a few minutes to get here first. I want to talk to him.”

  “Annie, I don’t like the sound of that.”

  “I know, but you have to trust me, Warren,” I explained. “I don’t feel I’m in harm’s way, but it will make you feel better to pray. And Warren—”

  “Yes, baby?”

  “I think we can safely say I’ve gotten your money’s worth.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  I don’t think Janetta stopped shaking her head even for a moment as I presented my theory of how, when, and why Richard Blevins had stolen her money. She took it all in without uttering a word, though I did notice her eyes moistening a time or two when I gave her my take on what I felt had driven him to do such a thing.

  “Oh, Annie,” she whispered as I finished. “Do you really think so?”

  With a slight nod, I responded, “I don’t think so. I know so. And if Richard Blevins is the man I think he is, you will see for yourself, very soon.”

  I sensed the minutes ticking by and asked Janetta if we could pray together. She agreed, no questions asked. I took hold of her hands, right there in the kitchen, and I prayed in earnest. Prayed for Richard. Prayed for truth to prevail. Prayed for God to intervene. Prayed for safety.

  The words to my Bible verse ribboned around my heart:

  Knock, and the door shall be opened unto you… Together, Janetta and I knocked at heaven’s door, standing firm on the promise that God would, indeed, open it for us.

  Seek and ye shall find… I’d been seeking the perpetrator of this crime long enough. I knew beyond a reasonable doubt that I’d found the person I’d been looking for all along.

  Ask, and you shall receive… With that on my mind, I asked God to do the unthinkable—to bring the man who had committed this crime directly to us.

  And that’s exactly what He did.

  Richard’s car turned into the drive within minutes of our prayer, just as I’d expected. We watched him through the kitchen window—me with a tightened jaw and Janetta in stunned silence.

  Only slightly complicating matters, Jake walked into the kitchen at that very moment, dressed in his boxers and t-shirt and rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

  “W–What do we do now?” Janetta asked, eyes wide.

  “Do about what?” Jake raked his fingers through his messy hair and looked at me kind of funny. “Hey, Mrs. Peterson.” He opened the refrigerator door in an attempt to hide his sleeping attire. “You’re here early. What’s up?”

  “Mm-hmm.” I continued to stare out of the window. Richard sat in his car, not moving. I knew what I had to do. I turned to face Janetta. “Would you two mind waiting in the house? Give me about five minutes alone with Richard.”

  “Oh, Annie.” Concern filled Janetta’s eyes.

  Jake gazed out the window, his face lighting up. “Is that Richard Blevins? What’s he doing here?”

  Janetta and I both just shook our heads and said “Don’t ask” in tandem.

  Jake responded with a curious stare.

  With a prayer on my lips, I left the house and boldly marched down the driveway toward the car. Somehow, Sasha must’ve slipped though the door, because she came bounding alongside me. I reached down to lift her into my arms and kept walking.

  Richard never saw me coming. I found him with his head slumped over the steering wheel, back heaving up and down as he wept.

  I hated to interrupt his privacy, but decided to go ahead and tap on the window while I still had my courage intact. He looked up with tear-filled eyes, clearly stunned to find me standing there. I continued to stand in silence until he rolled down his window.

  “A–Annie? What are you doing here?” He swiped at his face, is if to brush away both the pain and the guilt I’d found there.

  “I think you know, Richard.”

  For a moment, a blank look crossed his face, and then understanding apparently set in. More silence passed before I asked if I could join him in the passenger seat.

  “Are you sure you want to?” he asked. “You’re not scared of me?”

  I shook my head and offered up a hint of a smile. “No, Richard. I’m not scared of you.” I walked around the car, opened the passenger door and slid into the seat, placing Sasha in my lap. She gave Richard an inquisitive look, and then began to sniff around the vehicle, overjoyed at the prospect of her new surroundings.

  Richard looked directly into my eyes, which surprised me a little. “How did you know?”

  I shrugged. “I wasn’t sure until last night.”

  “Last night?”

  “Yes.” I gave a slight nod. “I’ve been trying to solve this thing from the beginning—for my own personal reasons. But last night I played back through all of the evidence in my mind one last time. All of it. And when I got to the part that involved you, the Lord triggered a memory. It was something you said on the day you came to my house that jumped out at me.”

  His gaze shifted down. “What was that?”

  “Just a simple comment,” I explained, “which is why I didn’t think anything of it at the time. But last night, the Lord took me back to what you’d said—that you would do anything for Judy. And I remembered the look of desperation in your eyes as you said it.”

  He nodded, almost in slow motion. “Yes.”

  I reached out to grab his hand. “I believe you really would have done anything to save Judy’s life.”

  “I would have. I–I tried to.” I could see his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down and knew tears would soon come. “There is a place in Philadelphia,” he whispered. “A cancer treatment center that specializes in a natural approach—holistic. You know, Annie. Vitamins, herbs, diet… that kind of thing.”
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  “Right.”

  A look of desperation laced his words, the same desperation I’d seen in his eyes that day in my living room. “I researched for days. Weeks, even. And I really believe they could have cured her. I read so many testimonies from patients. At this center they take the hard-core cases—people the medical community has given up on—and they offer them hope. We—” Here, he cratered. “We needed hope. But she didn’t want to go. I found a way to get her in the door, but she wouldn’t move from one place to the next. She was—”

  “Ready.” In my mind’s eye, I caught a glimpse of Judy, dancing with her Savior. “She was ready to go home, Richard.”

  “Yes.” A gut-wrenching sob escaped from the back of his throat. “B–But I wasn’t ready to let her go.”

  I pushed back the lump in my throat as I responded. “No one can fault you for trying to keep Judy here,” I said, “only your methods.”

  “She never knew,” he whispered. “I didn’t tell her about taking the money. I would have been so ashamed if she’d figured it out. I’m already ashamed enough.” He gave me a pensive look. “That’s why I’m here.”

  “I know.”

  Sasha bounded from my lap down onto the floorboard and stuck her head under the seat, rooting around with a vengeance. “Sasha, don’t be a nosy-poke.” I reached down to grab her, but my hand brushed against something under the edge of the seat. I pulled up a large night deposit bag, zipped shut, with the Clark County Savings and Loan logo on the front of it.

  That’s two treats for you, Sasha.

  “I came to give that back to Janetta,” Richard whispered. “I promise. I was going to tell her. I was.”

  “You don’t have to say any more.” I’d known it, probably even before Warren’s phone call. “I believe you.”

  “Thank you.” His words were hushed, strained.

  In spite of the anxiety in his eyes, I worked up the courage to ask a question. “I’d like to ask you something, if it’s okay.”

  He shrugged and leaned back against the seat. I could read the defeat in his eyes.