Free Marja McGraw - Bogey Man 02 - Bogey's Ace in the Hole by Marja McGraw

victim is in immediate danger.  I know we’re taking a chance, but we don’t know what else to do.  The police won’t listen because there’s no real evidence of an impending crime.  Right now it’s all hearsay.”
    “Janet Riley would listen to you, and she’s a homicide detective.”
    “I already talked to Janet.  She’s the one who told me there’s not enough to go on.  Of course, when I talked to her we didn’t have an address or a name.  If we can come up with something concrete, I’ll call her again.”
    “I knew there was something going on,” Mikey said from the doorway.
    “Where’s your father?” I asked, cringing.  I didn’t want him to know we were working on something again.
    “He’s checking the plumbing,” Mikey replied.  “You were trying to keep me in the dark again, weren’t you?”
    “Oh, Mikey,” Constance said, smiling.  “You’re way too smart for a seven-year-old.  Where do you come up with this stuff?  Checking the plumbing?”
    “ He’s in the bathroom.  I’m like my mom, and she’s smart.  Besides, I’m seven and a half now, almost eight.”
    “Why, thank you, son,” I said, smiling and hoping to distract him again.  “You think I’m smart?”
    “Yes, Mom, but not smart enough.  What’d you say about somebody getting bumped off?”
    “How much did you hear?” I asked.
    “Enough to know you and dad are on another case, and that’s enough for me.  Who’s your customer this time?”
    “Our client , if you can call her that, is a woman named Addie.  She’s one of the Church Ladies.”
    “ The Church Ladies?   Bye, Mom.  I’m going back out to see the dogs.”  He turned and ran out the door.
    “Oh, for goodness sake!  They’re not that bad,” I called after him.
    Constance laughed.  “Yes, they are.”
    Mikey accompanied us to the restaurant that night, along with the dogs.  He didn’t ask any more questions about our so-called case.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Nine
     
    Sunday morning Mikey and I got up early to get ready for church.  I was preparing a big breakfast when Chris came downstairs, wearing a nice pair of tan slacks and a blue dress shirt.
    “Where are you going?” I asked.
    He mumbled something that I didn’t quite catch.
    “What?”
    “To church with you and Mikey.”  He sounded defiant, like he was waiting for me to say something, and he’d used our son’s given name.
    Actually, I didn’t know what to say.  I’d always told him if he wanted to accompany us, he was more than welcome, but he’d never taken me up on it.
    “Cool,” Mikey said, fingering his knife and fork.
    “Why?” I asked.  “I don’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but…”
    “I want to watch the Church Ladies in action, and Lila made me promise I’d come listen to her sing.”  Chris sat down at the table and clammed up – his jaw muscles working double-time.
    Deciding not to push my luck, I went back to cooking pancakes.
    “I’ll be there with you, Dad,” Mikey said.  “You won’t be alone.  I’ll even stay for the sermon today instead of going to Sunday School.”
    “Thank you, Son.”  Chris smiled a very tight smile at Mikey.  He normally enjoyed lounging around on Sunday mornings while we were gone, watching sports and reading the newspaper – and having a little alone time.  When Chris married me he got a readymade family, and I understood his need to have a little time to himself.
    This Sunday morning was going to be a new experience for all of us.  I was surprised to realize how much I was looking forward to him accompanying us.  I glanced over my shoulder at Mikey, and he was grinning, looking very much the way I was feeling.  Neither of us said another word to Chris.  We wanted him to be comfortable with his decision.  And, after all, it was only one Sunday among many.
    When breakfast was over and the dishes were cleaned up, I picked up my purse and bible,