Cedar Cove Collection. Debbie Macomber

me these questions?”

      “Like I explained—” Allan cleared his throat “—Martha’s daughters came by to tell me that several pieces of their mother’s jewelry are missing. They’ve already spoken to the sheriff and are pretty upset. Apparently Martha kept a number of valuable pieces in the house.”

      “You don’t seriously think I’d steal from Martha, do you?” Anger rose to the surface and he struggled to disguise how insulted he was by such an accusation. Getting upset might imply guilt, however, so he held on to his temper.

      “No one’s saying anything.”

      “I didn’t even know Martha had a lot of expensive jewelry.” It wasn’t as if he’d searched the old woman’s cupboards or dresser drawers.

      “I believe you,” Allan said, “but the family insists everything was there on Friday evening, when they visited her.”

      “If they were so concerned about the jewelry, why didn’t they put it in a safer place?”

      Allan shrugged. “I asked them the same question. I gather they weren’t comfortable suggesting it to their mother.”

      Dave could understand that. Once Martha made a decision she wouldn’t budge. If she felt her jewelry was perfectly safe at the house, then little would persuade her otherwise.

      “None of it was locked up?” Dave asked. He knew Martha kept at least some of her jewels hidden in the freezer; she’d told him so. But he’d certainly never looked.

      “Apparently not,” Allan said. “She liked things done her own way.”

      Dave was well aware of that, too. “I’m sorry I can’t help you any more. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” He refused to answer anything else. He didn’t like Allan’s implications or the tone of his questions.