When the glass door finally swung open, bells chiming overhead, Cindy Whipple greeted him wearing a fuzzy red robe and matching slippers. Her short white hair stuck out in strange angles, as if she’d just come out of a windstorm, and her horn-rimmed glasses were askew on her wizened face. But her lips were perfectly smeared with red lipstick. Ms. Whipple never went out in public without her bright red lipstick in place. And, apparently, that went for answering the door late at night.
“Sheriff Wilson! What in blazes are you doing out here so late? Did somebody die? Is there a big accident somewhere and you need medical supplies? Because I can give you a deal you won’t believe.”
“No, nothing like that, but is it possible that you could open your store for me? I know it’s late, ma’am, but I would really appreciate getting a few things.”
“I take it this is some kind of emergency, or you wouldn’t be standing here. Are you going to tell me what happened or is it a secret?”
He decided to play along. “Yes, it’s a secret, and I can’t tell anyone about it. Not even you.”
“Me? I’m Fort Knox,” she said with a chuckle.
If only that were true.
“Good, because I’m depending on you not to ask me any questions. I promised I wouldn’t say a word.”
“Absolutely. Not one question. Not a word. My lips are sealed.” She slipped two fingers across her pursed lips, as if she was zipping them up. “Now, what do you need?”
He was hoping he could get out of there without giving her any details. At this point, that was about all he could hope for.
“Baby formula, newborn diapers, a few of those onesies, some undershirts, a couple baby bottles, nipples, a little knit hat and blankets, lots of those small baby blankets,” he told her all in one breath. “Oh, and baby wipes, several containers of baby wipes.”
Her eyes went wide, and she straightened up her glasses. “Now, why on earth are you in here buying up baby supplies?”
“You promised no questions. I’m depending on you.”
“But...”
He tilted his head and gave her a look.
She took a step back and let out a big sigh. “Okay, okay.” Then she quickly went about gathering up all the supplies, placing them on the counter.
After a moment she yelled from across the store, “A boy or girl?”
“Why would that matter?” He knew she was fishing.
“Just want to know if I should pick up blue or pink blankets and onesies.”
“Yellow or green will work.”
“Fine!” she said, but he could tell this secret thing was killing her.
Soon, the counter was littered with baby things. Fortunately, Jet knew enough about newborns to know they didn’t need rattles, teething toys or the high chair she’d stuck next to the counter.
In the end, he managed to get exactly what he needed, even picking up a thermal onesie suitable for winter weather and some sort of soft travel bassinet Cindy had sung the praises of. He’d have gotten a car seat as well, but it wasn’t sized for an infant. Other than that, Whipple’s One Stop truly had everything he needed for baby Lily.
He was just about to compliment Cindy Whipple when she interrupted. “I’ve thought about the expectant moms in town, and I’ve accounted for all of them. I think it’s someone from out of town. Am I right?”
“I can’t say,” Jet told her, swallowing his praise.
“Is it one of our teens? Some poor girl who has managed to keep her pregnancy a secret, even from her parents? I bet it’s Roseland Cooper, or maybe Jennifer Wells...or maybe it’s not either of them. I bet it’s one of them Century sisters, maybe Bess or Dani. Them girls always were wild...no mother to raise ’em and a dad who didn’t value nothin’ but his next drink. Just because they’re of age now doesn’t mean they’ve got a lick of common sense. Neither one of ’em could settle. Always movin’ ’round the country.”
Jet knew the Century sisters well, especially Dani Century, but he didn’t want to think about her now. That was over a long time ago, and bringing up her name only reminded him of a time in his life he didn’t want to relive, especially not tonight.
“They don’t live here anymore, Mrs. Whipple. They both headed out months ago.”
“Oh, that’s right. Time gets away from me,” she said as she bagged everything. “You’re not going to tell me, are you?”
“I can’t, remember?”
“But it’s a baby. Nobody can hide a baby...unless...” She sucked in air and put her hand over her mouth.
“Unless what? Mrs. Whipple? What are you thinking?”
She leaned in closer over the counter, and whispered, “Some out-of-towner abandoned a baby at the jail, didn’t they? And your deputy is caring for it right now while you’re in here getting supplies. Child Welfare can’t do nothing about it in all this snow, and the road to the hospital is probably closed by now, so you’re stuck. I bet that’s it. You can tell me. My lips are sealed. Fort Knox.”
But Jet didn’t answer. Instead he picked up the two overflowing bags wondering how on earth Cindy Whipple could have gotten so close to the truth. The woman had a sixth sense about these things, and if Jet hung around any longer he was sure she’d figure out the baby’s name, gender and, even worse, that the baby was abandoned on Doctor Grant’s doorstep.
As he walked out of the store, he contemplated hiring Mrs. Whipple as a special investigator. Not that he ever could or would, but having her work with him seemed a lot smarter than having her working against him...of that he had no doubt.
“Are we ever happy to see you,” Russ Knightly said as he opened the front door to Coco’s private residence above her clinic. The door to her clinic sat right next to her private apartment door, but despite the sign above it that touted Paws & Tails Animal Clinic, the sheriff knew her patrons managed to get the two doors confused, just as he had the first time he’d stopped by. They looked exactly alike but for the sign, which, in his opinion, should have been placed on the door itself.
Russ’s clothes looked disheveled and he wore a harried look on his cover-model face, as if the normally cavalier mayoral candidate had reached his breaking point. Even his habitually groomed dark hair was tousled.
Jet could only think of one question: Why was he here?
The shock of seeing Russ standing in Doctor Grant’s doorway instead of Doctor Grant herself threw Sheriff Wilson off his game for a moment. Of all the men in this town, Russ Knightly was the last person he ever thought he’d see anywhere near Coco Grant. For one thing, he’d thought she was a smart woman...but unless there was a really good reason for this lunkhead to be answering her door at this time of night, Jet had sorely misjudged Coco’s common sense.
“I got a call from Doctor Grant, but if you’re already here, I’ll just drop these off with you.” He shoved the bag of baby things into Russ’s hands, and placed a bigger bag of diapers and baby wipes just inside the doorway. “I’ll be on my way before the snow gets any deeper.”
Then he turned to go, angry that he’d been used as an errand boy.
“No. Wait. Aren’t you going to take the baby?”
The sheriff turned back around, detecting a hint of angst in Russ’s normally