7 Short Stories Read online

  Bob nodded his dark head and she lifted the carafe and filled his cup. “Yes, five. And we don’t have much to work from yet. All rich folks, all in our precinct, so they fall in our lap. Mostly cash and jewelry taken so far.”

  “And credit cards, I heard.”

  “Yes, those too. And whoever it is really seems to know the neighborhood. Always hits when there’s a big party.”

  Jody frowned thinking. “But anyone driving through the neighborhood could see all the lights and cars and assume there’s a party. And you know our rich Minneapolis suburb has always been a target for robberies.”

  “I know.” He replaced his coffee cup into the saucer with a clatter and rose. “I’ve got to run, hon. See you tonight.”

  “Take care.” He shrugged into his coat and gave her a kiss, then left.

  Jody sighed and poured herself a second cup of coffee, thinking about what he’d said. They lived in a well-to-do Minneapolis suburb called Circletop Drive. Most of the residents here had terrific, high-salaried jobs or used to have and were now retired and enjoying the money they’d accumulated. Many wintered in the south.

  Bob and Jody were one of the few exceptions. They lived here because Jody’s parents had left her this lovely house when they’d died three years ago. Jody couldn’t resist returning to her childhood home and living in luxury again. She loved it here, even though it strained their budget on Bob’s cop’s salary to keep it up and pay the high taxes. She’d put away most of the cash her parents had left her in her son’s college fund.

  She glanced out the window to see her motherly next-door neighbor striding across the lawn and sighed. Mildred Jennings and her husband, Harold, had none of those financial worries. Mildred considered herself the ‘social queen’ of the neighborhood. You know the type, the rich, older lady who feels she is ‘it,’ and it’s her duty to take the poor, young newcomers under her protective wing and teach them the ropes of the social life in ‘her’ town. She and Harold owned a majority of stock in their manufacturing company. Jody felt sure he could run it as he chose and thus had few real problems. Though he must have lots of responsibility because he seemed to be away from home a lot of the time.

  Mildred had a maid and gardener and didn’t have nearly enough to do at home, so she loved to drop into the neighbors’ homes at all hours for coffee. This morning, as usual, she was full of gossip.

  She’d barely sipped at the coffee Jody poured for her when she began. “That blond young man visited Mary Zemmer again last night,” she said. “That’s the third time I’ve seen him there this week. They were in the house for an hour and a half, then she got in his car with him and they left. They still hadn’t gotten back when I went to bed. Of course, that wasn’t too late, ‘cause our TV quit on us.”

  “Perhaps Mary’s found a boyfriend,” Jody said, fighting to keep her irritation out of her tone. “She’s been a widow for six months, after all. She must get pretty lonesome after school hours. She’s still young and attractive, Mildred. There’s no reason in the world she shouldn’t have dates.”

  “Dating?” Mildred sounded appalled.

  Did Mildred think there was something immoral about Mary dating again? Mary had nursed her husband through his long fight with cancer. After he’d passed, she’d gone back to teaching school, but had inherited enough to remain in their home here. She didn’t socialize much, so Jody didn’t know her well, although she lived next-door to Mildred on the other side. Mary had been much too busy with nursing her husband and later grief to pay attention to newcomers. They’d met, of course, at one of Mildred’s neighborhood dinner-bridge affairs and Jody liked and sympathized with her.

  Jody changed the subject. “Who do you get to fix your TV? Ours isn’t working very well either.”

  “This time we tried Jones’ TV down on Harriet Avenue. Mary Zemmer told me about him, as a matter of fact. He’s new in town, moved here in the last year or so. Not as expensive as Tom’s place downtown.”

  Jody hid a smile. As though Mildred needed to watch expenses. To keep Mildred off the subject of Mary’s possible new love, she said, “I’ve decided to give Davey a birthday party. He’ll be seven right before Christmas, so I’m planning to use a Christmas theme and have someone appear as Santa for the party highlight. How does that sound to you?”

  Mildred’s lined face lit up at the idea of a party, her favorite topic. “Fine. And I know just the Santa. I had him visit our family Christmas party last year and everyone loved him. He’s a really funny guy, joked a lot. Even Daddy liked him and you know how sober and business-like he is.”

  “Oh, good. I wondered who I could talk into playing him and where on earth I’d find a Santa suit. What’s his name?”

  “Party places rent all kinds of costumes, dear. His name? James…James, oh my, I’ve forgotten his last name. You know how I am with names. I’ll look it up in my address book and call you. I know I wrote it down.”

  “Okay, thanks.”

  “Harold wants me to have a fancy cocktail party for the company employees at our house instead of at the office this year. I don’t know why I agreed. I hate his office parties. They all either talk shop or needle each other with inside jokes. Usually about sore spots at work, Harold says.”

  “Oh. That doesn’t sound like much fun.”

  Mildred pursed her lips. “It isn’t. Oh, dear, I’ve got to run. The TV man promised to come at ten this morning. Thanks for coffee. See you!” She put on her coat and hurried out the back door.

  As Jody began clearing up the breakfast dishes, she saw Mildred cross the yard and go into her back door. A few minutes later the phone rang.

  When Jody answered, Mildred said, “I’ve found Santa’s phone number for you.”

  “Well, that was fast. Let me find a pen.”

  “I just wrote James in my address book, Jody. I must have been in a hurry that day. But here’s the number. Got your pen? I’m sure this is the right guy, because I wrote ‘Santa’ after his name.”

  Jody wrote the number on her pad. “Thanks. I’ll give him a call.”

  “You’re welcome. Good luck with a bunch of little boys. I’m glad mine are grown!”

  ***

  She got Davey up and fed him, then drove him to school. After finishing her morning chores, she called the Santa. James agreed to come for a fee. Jody gave him her address and promised to hide a supply of gifts in her car out in the driveway for him to put in his bag and pass out to the boys. Then she busied herself with other details for the party and Christmas shopping and forgot the matter.

  The day of Davy’s birthday came and parents began arriving to drop off his guests. Bob was away at a training seminar this week, so she and the kids had the house to themselves. Large groups of noisy children got on Bob’s nerves. Davy loved having all the attention and the party was a huge, if boisterous success.

  So when Bob walked in the kitchen door in his policeman’s uniform, Jody was both pleased to see him and dismayed that he’d returned half-way through the party. She tipped her face up to kiss him, her long dark hair spilling over his arm. Apologetically, she explained the commotion coming from the family room.

  “I thought they’d have all left before you got home tonight.”

  Bob pulled off his topcoat and hung it over a kitchen chair. He ran his fingers through his dark brown hair and stretched his shoulders. “I got a call from the chief. There’s been another house robbery, so it’s back to work early for everyone.”

  “I see.”

  “Boy, am I beat. Sitting in class is more tiresome than working and the traffic on the freeway was something else today. Do you suppose I could catch a nap in the back bedroom and escape detection until they’ve all gone home?”

  “Sure. I agreed to drive them all home after the party. Davy can go with me. Go this way, through the laundry room so they don’t see you. But I won’t guarantee you’ll get any sleep.”

  All went well until the Santa arrived. Then the reasonably quiet party
erupted into loud, excited whoops of joy as the young boys crowded around the man in the red suit. They laughed and pulled his fake white beard. He obviously enjoyed it, joking with them as he passed out the presents from his bag. He asked each boy his name and pretended to ponder each gift with care before handing it to the waiting child.

  The noise brought Bob, still half asleep, out from the bedroom. “What in the world is going on?” he demanded.

  Surprised, every boy stopped in his tracks. Even the Santa stood gaping at Bob in his police uniform, without saying a word.

  David broke the sudden silence. “Dad!” he shouted, and hurled himself into his father’s arms.

  Everyone relaxed at their warm embrace. It took the ‘sudden raid’ effect of his uniform out of the atmosphere.

  Jody quickly explained to Bob that the commotion was due to Santa’s visit. The Santa acknowledged introductions and Bob went back to finish his nap. After the Santa dispersed the rest of his gifts, he left.

  The rest of the party went off with only minor highlights such as spilled pop and a small wrestling match between two of the boys over who should get the most candy letters from the top of the cake.

  Jody gave them all a ride to their respective homes and sighed with relief. Home again, Davy went to his room to play with his new toys.

  Jody relaxed and read the paper for a half-hour to get up enough nerve to tackle the mess in the kitchen and fix dinner for Bob who had to go on duty at nine. When she checked on Davy, he’d fallen asleep across his bed, worn out from the party. She decided not to wake him for dinner. He’d eaten enough sandwiches and cake anyway.

  At dinner, Bob asked, “Who was the Santa?”

  “A friend of Mildred’s, James something or other. Don’t worry, I slipped him his pay envelope as he left, so that’s taken care of.”

  The next morning Mildred dropped in to ask how the party had gone.

  “The boys loved it, of course,” Jody told her, pouring them coffee.

  Mildred’s face lit up with pleasure mixed with satisfaction. “I thought they would. Madge Kerry said the same thing when he visited the party for her daughter last week. And you know how spoiled she is, her father a doctor, and all that inherited money, besides. Oh, speaking of Madge, she’s having a dinner party tonight. You’re invited, of course? Madge said…”

  “Yes, she called last week. Thank goodness you reminded me. In all that confusion over David’s party, I forgot to make an appointment to have my hair done.”

  Mildred gave her an odd look. Jody realized that to Mildred, it seemed impossible anyone would forget to do anything connected with a party. The details of social affairs would take first place in Mildred’s thoughts, not be incidentals.

  She sighed, looking down into her cup. “Harold won’t get home in time, so I’ll have to attend the party alone. I hate to do that—it makes the table settings uneven for Madge. But it can’t be helped. Harold has a very important meeting.” She glanced up at Jody. “So could you and Bob pick me up? Bob is going, isn’t he?”

  Jody nodded. “Yes, he had the day shift today. Of course we can give you a lift.”

  Mildred smiled and rose. “Thanks. See you tonight, then.”

  ***

  When Bob got off work, Jody told him of the dinner invitation. He groaned but was a good sport. Luckily he’d gotten used to sleeping at odd hours, because he had the early shift again the next morning. He ate the brunch Jody had ready and went to bed.

  She found Bob still sleeping soundly when she came up to dress for the party. David was spending the night at a friend’s house, so luckily she hadn’t had to find a sitter. Everyone booked up all the sitters early when the Kerry’s threw a party. Jody waited until the last possible moment, then woke Bob so he could get dressed for the party.

  They were some of the last guests to arrive. Jody laid her coat on the bed with all the dressy fur coats. Wow! Lots of rich folks here tonight. She smiled as she checked her new hairdo in the mirror, feeling pretty special herself. A new hairdo is a real pick-me-up for me. Just like a new hat used to be, before hats went out of style.

  Dinner was superb and afterward, they all played bridge. Jody admired Mrs. Kerry’s lovely centerpiece of fresh flowers. Imagine, the real scent of roses in December. How wonderful to be able to afford things like that. So Jody was thrilled when she was lucky at bridge and found her prize for winning was the coveted centerpiece.

  As everyone got up to leave, the soft Beethoven music covering their low conversation was rudely shattered by a very un-ladylike shriek from the bedroom.

  The hostess jumped and everyone forgot their proper poise and rushed to see what was wrong. When Jody and Bob reached the bedroom, the women already there were searching their purses frantically, unbelievingly.

  “My fur coat is gone!”

  “And mine.”

  “All my cash and credit cards are missing.”

  “We’ve been robbed.”

  “Call the police.”

  “I’m an officer,” Bob said.

  “There’s an officer here already—Bob,” Jody said at the same time.

  Bob immediately took charge. “Drop everything and don’t touch any more stuff in here. We might be able to get some fingerprints,” he said, shooing everyone back to the living room. “Don’t anyone leave, please.” He called in to Headquarters for assistance.

  Soon officers arrived to look for evidence and question everyone and the neighbors. Mrs. Kerry’s jewelry case was gone, her mink coat and mink stole as well as all the guests’ cash and credit cards.

  It amused Jody to see Mildred more upset than the hostess over the ‘ruined’ dinner party. Madge Kerry assured everyone her insurance would cover their losses if the police failed to recover their property.

  But to Mildred, the robbery was an unforgivable intrusion on a sacred social event. “What kind of horrible person would do such a thing?” she demanded of Jody. Mildred sat in the corner of the green brocade sofa next to the still softly-playing hi-fi, wringing her hands in her lap. Her face wore a look of out-raged dignity. Her beautifully coiffed, too black hair with its smart silver streak looked the worse for the nervous tugs and pats she kept giving it.

  At last, the officers decided the guests had provided all the answers they could. Everyone said goodnight in a much less jovial mood than they’d begun the evening.

  ***

  Jody slept late the next morning. Bob worked the early shift and came home in the middle of the afternoon to report they had made no progress.

  “It could have been anyone,” he said with a tired sigh. “To think it happened right there under my nose. I’ll never hear the last of it at the station. They like to kid me for attending these big-wig social deals anyway.” He cast her a wry look. “They’re just jealous that my wife’s been accepted by that crowd.”

  “Can I help it if they want to be neighborly?” Jody asked. “Besides, they knew my folks for years. And it would be silly for us not to live here when I inherited the house free and clear. Do you know what it would cost to buy this house today? Why, it…”

  “Whoa…” Bob said. “I love this place. And I enjoy parties, once in a while. But, you gotta admit, the robber didn’t think my wife’s coat worth stealing last night.”

  “Lucky you, you don’t have to fill out insurance forms.”

  Bob laughed, crushed out his cigarette and held out his arms. “Come here, you. With all that long dark hair and that low-necked red dress you wore last night, you were the prettiest thing there.” He pulled her down onto his lap and kissed her.

  “Ha. Flatterer. I thought you were tired? You aren’t acting tired.”

  “I’ll show you how tired I am. Where’s David? Home from school yet?”

  “No, he doesn’t get out for an hour yet.”

  “Good. Lock the door so ‘friendly’ can’t walk in on us and come to the bedroom.” He wriggled his eyebrows at her.

  Jody made a face at him for his comment on
her older neighbor. Then, with a thrill of anticipation, she followed his order. There was something so deliciously wicked about making love behind locked doors in broad daylight.

  ***

  For three days, the police worked on the various robbery cases, making little progress. They were doing the dishes the next evening when the doorbell rang. Bob dropped his dishtowel on the counter and went to answer it. Ken, their paper boy, had come to collect. Snow fell outside and Ken’s coat and cap were white with frosty flakes. He opened his money bag to make change and gave Bob a receipt from his order book.

  Ken took Bob’s money, then stood in the doorway, hesitating, a doubtful look on his face. Apparently making up his mind, he blurted, “Mr. Miller, there’s something funny at Mary Zemmer’s down the street.”

  Bob’s cop instincts jumped on alert. “What do you mean, funny?”

  “Well, she always pays on time. And she never goes away without calling me and telling me to keep her papers for her until she gets back. Then, when she comes home, she calls me and tells me to bring them over to her.”

  “And?”

  “But tonight there are three papers in her door. And her milk is still on her back steps, too, frozen solid. And her dog barked and barked something fierce in her house when I rang the bell. Mary always takes him to a kennel when she goes away…she never, ever leaves him home alone, Mr. Miller. She even gives me an extra tip to go down to the kennel and take him for walks. I thought maybe, you being a policeman…you could see if something’s wrong?”

  Bob’s pulse pounded in alarm. “Thanks, Ken. It sounds like I’d better.”

  Ken sent him a relieved smile. “Thanks. Goodnight.”

  Bob ducked back into the kitchen long enough to explain what Ken had told him. “No rest for the wicked,” he said, shrugging into his heavy jacket.

  She grinned and kissed him, then her smile faded. “Be careful, Bob.”

  “I will.” He kissed her again. “I’ve got my cell phone.”

  “Hey, I saw that,” Davy said, shooting his curled tongue, toothless whistle at his parents.