Ready or Not (Aggie's Inheritance) (67 page)

Vannie took personal offense at the apparent rejection of her cookies. While Luke and Laird grabbed handfuls, Vannie went in search of Ian, who no longer played at her feet. Aggie heard her frantically calling the crawler
’
s name, and soon, the entire family was searching for the boy. When minutes passed, and there was no sight of the baby anywhere, Aggie, with shaking hands, picked up the phone and deliberately dialed 9-1-1.

Seeing the line of sheriff
’
s cars in the Stuart driveway, the new neighbor came across the lawn and joined in the search. The children scouted everywhere, from behind rosebushes, to beneath beds, while Aggie, still shaking, sent each one looking in a new direction as they arrived empty handed. If a lost baby wasn
’
t enough stress for Aggie, it was quite apparent that Ellene Tuttle found a large family like hers very distasteful.

She broke down, weeping, as the new neighbor asked difficult questions
--
ones Aggie couldn
’
t answer. She felt like a prisoner being interrogated about a crime and soon became defensive, refusing to talk to the woman. Visibly frustrated, Ellene strode across the road to ask Mrs. Dyke if she
’
d seen a baby crawl past the house. Aggie, hearing Ellene
’
s intentions and nearing the point of hysteria, giggled.
“
I can see her now,
‘
Mrs. Dyke, have you happened to see a nine month old baby hitchhiking around here?
’”

Aggie
’
s property was large, full of bushes and tall
,
un
-
mowed grass in the very back. The house itself had plenty of places a baby could crawl and hide. Deputy Megan had immediately gone to check all buckets, toilets, bathtubs, and the wading pool on the side of the house. Luke crawled under the porch with his flashlight, and another deputy went to search the attic. They combed the entire property, as well as side streets, and even the highway. After two hours of intense searching, the sheriffs suggested instituting an Amber Alert.

However, before William could radio in the call, Tavish raced around the corner of the house shouting,
“
I hear Ian whimpering, but I can
’
t find him!
”

Everyone followed the excited boy to the playhouse where they could hear Ian
’
s whimpers evolving into frantic wails, but they couldn
’
t see him. Beside the playhouse, an attached carport protected Laird
’
s Jaguar from the elements.
“
Did anyone check by the Jag?
”
William
’
s voice boomed from near the tailpipe as he looked under it.

One of the other officers assured them that he
’
d swept the entire carport with his flashlight.
“
Nothing
--
I checked under the car, behind those boxes, everywhere.
”

“
I see a foot.
”

Before William could get to the front of the car, Aggie found Ian, his overalls impaled by an old nail that refused to let him crawl to freedom.
“
He must have been asleep in here or something.
”

“
I don
’
t know how he could have been in here, I checked everywhere.
”

Aggie carried him to daylight and shook her head at his sleepy eyes.
“
You
’
re right, he
was asleep
--
maybe under the car?
”

“
Probably,
”
William agreed.
“
Did the nail scratch him? He
’
s keeping that side away from you.
”

She unbuttoned the denim short
-
alls and saw an angry scratch.
“
Yep. Poor guy.
”

“
Is he up to date on his tetanus shots?
”
Ellene
’
s voice was all business.

“
I
--
”
Aggie frowned.
“
I don
’
t know. I assume he was as of four months, but that
’
s been a few months ago.
”

Aggie cradled the now grinning boy and carried him inside to wash the welt and bandage it. Ellene dragged William aside and ranted about her perception of the situation. While no one could decipher William
’
s deep rumbles, the woman
’
s whispers were loud enough for everyone to hear. Aggie had once heard someone describe such communication as le
arning to whisper in a saw
mill. It seemed a fitting description, and from the angry accusations audible to all, it was evident that Ellene considered the entire episode bordering on the criminal.

In an attempt at discretion, William steered Ellene toward her house. Though no one could hear what he had to say, or her response, everyone saw his hands fly up in the air in exasperation and heard him exclaim,
“
Man, Ellene, children have done things like this for centuries. Usually when we
’
re sent out on these kinds of calls, the child is asleep under some piece of furniture in a corner somewhere. It happens.
”

“
I just think that it
’
s impossible to keep your eyes on so many
--
”

“
It
’
s just as easy, maybe easier, to lose track of one child as it is one of a dozen. Where did you lose the common sense you used to have?
”
The tirade continued as they walked away from Aggie
’
s house.

Everyone left behind appeared to be at a loss for words. Eventually, Aggie turned to Meg and said
“
Is it really that serious? Am I going to be investigated or something because somehow he crawled across the yard and under a car?
”

Megan gave a wry grin.
“
From what I hear, Ellene is just over zealous sometimes. Being the new gal over at social services, she probably wants to make her mark, and you were a prime target. William will win her over. She has had her eye on him since the first time they met.
”

Aggie sighed, and Megan mistakenly concluded that Aggie viewed Ellene as a rival. Minutes later, she said,
“
I wish Murphy and William would leave.
”

“
Murphy?
”
Megan was confused, but Aggie
’
s explanation just confirmed the woman
’
s suspicions. The young deputy would have been surprised to see how wrong she really was.

“
As in Murphy
’
s law. If anything can go wrong, it will. This woman just seems to personify that. I
’
m calling her Murphy. It
’
ll help me keep my sense of humor.
”
Aggie sighed, thanked the officers for their help, and led the children inside for dinner.

Tina says:
Aggie…oh, Aaaaaaaggggggieeeeeeeee…

Aggie says:
At last… a REST!

Tina says:
Well… how is the kitchen coming?

Aggie says:
It
’
s at a standstill.

Tina says:
How come?

Aggie says:
Luke has been busy with some properties and with some other prearranged jobs.

Tina says:
Miss having a man around the house?

Aggie says:
NOPE!

Tina says:
I thought you liked him.

Aggie says:
I do!

Tina says:
But with no man around how are you getting things done?

Aggie says:
Who said no man? You said LUKE and assumed no man!

Tina says:
William!

Aggie says:
You should see the outside of this place. The shrubs are pruned and the whole thing is mowed and weeded… there ar
e
flowers growing, half the trim is painted, and the door is a beautiful
RED.

Tina says:
WOW! Why didn
’
t you guys finish the kitchen?

Aggie says:
Oh, Tina… he just hates this house. He won
’
t come inside.

Tina says:
HE WONT COME INSIDE?

Aggie says:
Not for more than a minute or two. He
’
s been in this house for a grand total of 20 minutes. MAX.

Tina says:
What
’
s up with that?

Aggie says:
Dunno! I have more news though

Tina says:
Ohh?

Aggie says:
Yep… we have a new neighbor.

Tina says:
Oh, yeah?

Aggie says:
Yep, I
’
ve christened her Murphy.

Tina says:
Hmm as in
“
if anything can go wrong it will?
”

Aggie says:
You got it!

Tina says:
So what
’
s wrong with Murphy?