“If you insist.” He popped a slice for himself and returned to the kitchen.
“You are going to make me fat!” she called after him.
“More of you to love,” he said, and clicked his tongue.
Just then, Lady and her pups lifted their heads in anticipation of a visitor. The crunching of wheels and a flurry of gravel on the driveway announced Annie’s approach.
Annie and Fergus lived a short distance from the farmhouse, and they commuted to each other’s houses by golf cart. Annie, who was known for her need for speed, had hers equipped with the fastest motor available. No one wanted to be in the passenger seat for fear of being flung over the side when she would make her wild turns. She was Mad Max behind the wheel of any vehicle.
Annie bounded through the kitchen door with her usual vivacious greeting. “Hellooo! I have arrived. Please do not feel the need to bow.”
The dogs were quickly upon her for their pats, hugs, and lovies. She bent down to speak to them. “Uncle Fergus will be here in a little while.” The sound of his name created a stir among the canines. Tails were slapping, whomping, and wagging. “Smells delicious, Charles.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He grinned. “Myra is in the atrium.”
Annie bounced her way to the beautiful room Charles had built for Myra several years before when the Sisters were being electronically monitored, away from home. Thanks to a clever Lizzie Fox, the barn cats were the recipients of the ankle bracelets. It is a subject they avoided talking about.
“Hello, Annie!” Myra turned away from the computer monitor to greet her bestie.
“What are you up to?” Annie gave her a sly look.
“Checking out Sunnydale.”
Annie blanched. “You’re not thinking of moving there, are you?”
“Don’t be daft. This is what Lizzie wants to talk about.”
“Ah, I see.” She pulled a chair and sidled up next to where Myra was sitting. “Let’s have a look, shall we?”
Myra clicked on the video again.
“Very posh.”
“That’s exactly what Charles said.” Myra fidgeted with her pearls, something she was known to do, especially when the wheels in her head were turning.
“So, what’s the problem?”
“I don’t know, but I wanted to get a little more familiar before Lizzie got here.” Myra clicked on an aerial view.
“Very,veryposh,” Annie exclaimed at the vast green of the golf course, the pool, and tennis courts. “Looks like a resort.”
Myra continued to click through the tabs on the website. “Notice anything missing?”
Annie squinted and moved her face closer to the screen. Before Annie could answer, Myra noted the lack of company information.
“Now that’s interesting. You would think someone who created such a luxurious retirement plan would want to boast about it, no?”
“Exactly. Unless they had something to hide.”
“Ooh. Do you suppose that’s what this is about?”
“If Lizzie is concerned, then there must be something amiss. Awry. Or just darn bad.”
“What time is she getting here?” Annie looked at her tank watch. It was almost four.
“Dinner is at six, so sometime around then. What time is Fergus getting here?”
“In about an hour. I gave him a project.”
