Free Cupid's Treasure - Mystery of the Golden Arrow by Barbara Ivie Green Page A

I’ll just get Jonathan, and we’ll get this straightened out in a jiff,” she said. “Besides, everyone that you need to speak to is here. Please come in. The owner of the car, as well as the officer, is inside.”
    “Oh.” Mavis danced a little nervous hop. “I just couldn’t.”
    “Yes, you can,” Gloria said, handing her a tissue from the box on the entry table. “It’ll be fine.”
    “Thank you.” Mavis blew her nose into the tissue. “I’ll just stay right here and wait for Jonathan.”
    “Well, okay. I’ll be right back.” Gloria hurried back to the kitchen. “Jonathan, your mother is at the front door and wishes to speak with you,” she said as casually as possible.
    “Why didn’t she just come around back?” he asked.
    Gloria made her way over to the counter to an area where both Tom and Bob had their backs to her. She tossed her head in the direction of the door with a look that told Jonathan not to ask any more questions.
    When Tom turned to look back at her, she said, “Now, where did I put the coffee pot?”
    “It’s still outside,” Jacques supplied.
    “Oh, that’s right.” Gloria nodded, going out to retrieve it. “It looks like I need to make another.”

Chapter 6
     
    Jonathan found his mother on the front porch looking like she’d just committed the worst crime imaginable. “Mom, what’s the matter?”
    “Oh, Jonathan, I have just totaled a Pinto and bashed a police car,” she wailed as he stepped outside.
    “You what?” he asked, looking out at the street where the vehicles had been pushed into the road.
    “I have just totaled a—” she began again.
    “I heard you, Mom, I just doubted my ears,” Jonathan said.
    “What am I to do?” Mavis said. “I’m going to go to jail.”
    “Mom, it’s going to be fine. I know the owner of the Pinto, and I can work this out.”
    “What about the police car?” she whispered in a high voice.
    “Listen to me,” Jonathan said. “I’ve known Tom since grade school. He’s a reasonable man.”
    “That’s Tom Snider’s car?” She looked ill as she asked it.
    “It doesn’t look too bad,” he lied, looking out at the street. The Pinto had received the worst of it and resembled an accordion.
    “Oh.” She wrung her hands.
    “I want you to go back inside and not worry,” Jonathan said.
    “What are you going to do?” his mom asked worriedly when Gloria stepped outside with them.
    “See, I told you everything is going to be alright,” Gloria said. “Jonathan will take a look.”
    “I’m afraid you can’t un-ring that bell,” Mavis said as her doggie licked her chin. She moved her face out of reach and adjusted him a little lower.
    “You never know until you try,” Jonathan said optimistically. “Why don’t you go back inside with Gloria and have a cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll while I look at it.”
    “That Pinto is demolished . . . and the police car is. . . . Oh, dear!” Mavis sniffed.
    Jonathan glanced back at it. “Oh, I don’t know . . . only the blue car looks like crinkled tin foil.”
    His comment only caused his mother to cry out again. “What am I going to do?”
    Gloria looked at him askance.
    “Ah—and by that I mean it will be an easy fix,” Jonathan said. “Just have some coffee with Gloria, and I’ll be right back in.”
    “Come with me,” Gloria said.
    “I can’t leave the scene of the crime,” she whispered her dilemma.
    “True, but technically since both of the other drivers are inside here, you’re good,” Jonathan said. “But—uh—don’t say a word about it 'til I get back.” He smiled. “I’ll help you break the news. . . . Alright?”
    Mavis nodded as Gloria put an arm around her and guided her to the kitchen.
    “I feel so terrible,” Mavis said. “What have I done?” She paused in the hall. “And now I have done the worst thing of all!” she gasped. “I have embroiled my son into my crime!” Her doggie who’d been content in her arms started to