“And you think the lockbox is full of money and you want to liberate it?”
“Unfortunately, no.”
I rub my temples where I feel an Ashlyn headache coming on. “No? Then, what?”
“According to Cole, the stupid lockbox is too light to have fifty-thousand bucks in it, which means there’s only one other thing the box could contain.”
I’m nearly afraid to ask. “What?”
She grins. “Another clue.”
Good grief. She wants me to join her on her wild goose chase. I debate telling her I’m not interested, but my phone beeps with a message. A message I have no doubt is from Mav ‘can’t keep my lips to myself’ Langston. Distraction it is.
“And where is this lockbox at the moment?”
“In Ellery’s garage. I think.”
The Ashlyn headache is no longer on its way. It has arrived. “You don’t know?”
“It must be. Ellery moved into her new house with Cole a week ago. With the baby coming any moment now, she hasn’t had the chance to worry about the stuff in the garage. She probably forgot all about it.”
I hate to agree with Ashlyn. Agreeing is encouragement in her book, but she’s probably correct this time. Ellery’s baby is due to arrive in less than a month. Cleaning out her garage is the last thing on her mind at the moment.
I’m going to regret this, but I motion to the door. “Let’s go.”
As soon as the word ‘go’ is out of my mouth, Bark Twain and Indiana Bones scamper to the door. They sit pretty and gaze up at me with their puppy dog eyes. I know better than to fall for those beggars’ eyes.
“Sorry guys, you’re staying home this time.”
Indiana Bones barks while Bark Twain sprays the room with gas.
Ashlyn waves a hand in front of her face. “You need to have your dog checked out by a vet. I think there’s something rotting in his intestines.”
I kneel down to give Bark Twain a rub down. “There’s nothing wrong with my boy. Is there?” Indiana Bones pushes his way in between us and I scratch behind his ears. “I wasn’t neglecting you, my boy.”
Ashlyn taps her foot. “Are we doing this today or are you going to make love to your animals first?”
“Someone’s a Grumpy Gus,” I whisper to my doggies before standing. “I’m ready.”
We hop in a golf cart and drive in the direction of the Inn on Main. Before Cole bought Ellery her dream house, she lived in the carriage house behind her inn. The downstairs is a garage while her one-bedroom apartment is above.
Ashlyn parks in front of the garage and jumps out. I follow her wondering what in the world I’ve got myself into now. I should be back at my house burying my sorrow in a pint of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream like a normal heartbroken woman, not galivanting around town with my baby sister who doesn’t know the meaning of personal boundary.
She tries the garage door. “Dang. It’s locked,” she mutters before pulling a key out of her back pocket.
“Ellery gave you a key to her garage?”
“Not exactly,” she admits as she opens the door.
I shackle her wrist to stop her. “If Ellery didn’t give you the key, we’re breaking and entering.”
“It’s not breaking and entering if it’s family.”
“I beg to differ.”
“Besides, I’m the mayor now. I own this town.”
Winter Falls is going to regret her volunteering to be mayor before the year is out. When Ellery was picked as the next mayor, Ashlyn couldn’t scream ‘I volunteer as tribute’ loud enough. At the time, everyone thought it was a good idea as Ellery was still hiding her pregnancy and fighting her love of Cole. Now, we all have to live with those hasty decisions.