“Can you tell us what’s missing?”
“My granddaughter, for one. Mandy left with the boy when I got on the phone. But I don’t know that anything else is missing exactly.”
Cass could almost feel Jed biting back a sigh.
“Oh?” He waited with extreme patience.
Looking at him, one would never think Jed had a heart. He looked like a cross between a modern-day Viking and the Terminator. A big, muscular white guy with a face carved from granite and a laser-like focus that saw everything, Jed dispensed justice fairly. With so many problems lately between the police and civilians, Jed was one officer who strove to make a difference, working diligently to earn people’s trust.
Community projects, constant communication training, and a need to serve the people as a whole had made him someone Cass respected more than she could say. That they both had the same outlook on life and sense of humor helped them remain a solid unit as well. So when he bit his lip, she knew he found Mrs. Cleary both amusing and tiring. But he would put the older woman’s needs first because that’s what Jed did.
“Well, I can’t sayfor sureanything’s missing,” Mrs. Cleary corrected herself and frowned. “But he’s a felon. I’m sure of it.”
Jed scratched his temple. “He is? We looked him up last time. I thought Mandy was dating a”—he paused to glance at the notebook he took out of his pocket—“Larry Skoll. He’s got a few misdemeanors but nothing serious.”
“No. Larry’s gone. That was a while ago.”
Cass and Jed had visited three weeks ago to hear about Larry.
“I’m worried.” The sweet older woman’s expression grew stern. “If he doesn’t have a record, he should. He breaks into my house all the time.”
Jed’s eyes narrowed. “Have you reported him before for that?”
A break-in was something they could investigate.
“I tried, but I was told that if he’s using a key, it’s not breaking and entering. Leastwise, that’s what the other officers told me last Thursday.”
Cass and Jed exchanged a glance before Jed said, “We want to help. Where did he get the key? Did he steal it?”
“Mandy gave it to him.” Mrs. Cleary huffed. “Girl’s addicted to Dick.”
“I—.” Jed blinked. “What’s that?”
Sweet little old Mrs. Cleary answered, “My little one likes Dick. More like Dick the weasel. He’s a limp, lame Dick, you ask me. I don’t like that boy.”
Cass and Jed gaped, and Cass didn’t think she’d ever seen Jed turn so red.
Mrs. Clearly studied Jed and blinked. “Oh my. I don’t think that came out right. Dick is short for Dickerson. Owen Dickerson, who goes by Dick. So when I said Mandy’s addicted to Dick, I meant…” She flushed. “My goodness. That really came out wrong.”
Cass did her best not to grin because if she started, she didn’t think she’d stop laughing.
Jed cleared his throat. “We’d like to help you, Mrs. Cleary, but unless Owen Dickerson has broken in and stolen something or you have evidence a crime has been committed, there’s not much we can do besides run him for priors.”
“Well, okay. But I’m going to keep my eye on him.”
“On that limp Dick,” Cass murmured, her gaze on Jed.
Like a champ, he coughed to cover his laughter. “Great. Well, you have a nice day, Mrs. Cleary.”
“I will. Thank you.”
They left in silence and were a minute down the road, continuing along patrol, when they both started laughing hysterically.
“Addicted to limp Dick.” Jed guffawed. “Jesus.”
“I’m using that at some point.” Cass paused. “Just not around Newcastle.”
“Good call.” Jed wiped his eyes. “Mrs. Cleary is now my favorite stop. Hands down.”
