Hope Callaghan - Garden Girls 07 - Missing Milt by Hope Callaghan Page B

her pen on the top of the table.  “I talked to Clyde but Trudy wasn’t home.”
    Frances slammed her fist on the table in frustration.  “That woman is never, ever home! She’s some sort of apparition!”
    “Maybe she’s a vampire.” Lucy muttered under her breath. “We could stakeout her place,” she added.
    Gloria’s wheels were turning.  Yeah, they could, but how could they do it without anyone seeing them? 
    Liz answered the question before Gloria had a chance to ask.  “There is a small park that sits catty corner to her back yard.  It has a small playground for the grandkids.”
    Gloria was intrigued. “How do we stay out of sight?”
    Liz shrugged. “Simple. There’s a small, cinder block bathroom.  You could hide out in there.”
    Frances sprang to her feet.  “We could go now.  You know, four sets of eyes are better than one…or two.”
    Liz waved her down.  “Frances, I know you’re anxious but we need to leave this to the professionals,” she advised.
    Frances’ face fell but she didn’t press the matter. 
    Gloria didn’t want to give Frances a chance to insist on tagging along.  She grabbed Lucy’s hand and they headed to the door.  “I’ll leave my purse here if that’s alright.”
    Frances’ chair scraped against the hard linoleum as she pushed the chair back and stood.  “Wait!  You’ll need these!”
    She reached into the kitchen cabinet, pulled out a pair of large binoculars and handed them to Gloria. 

Chapter 10
    The girls picked up the pace as they hustled down the sidewalk toward Wisteria Way.  They veered off on Paisley Place, the street right before Wisteria Way. 
    Gloria spied a small park at the end of the street. “This must be the one Liz was talking about.”
    The park was empty and the girls made a beeline for the women’s restroom.  Lucy stopped in front of the door.  She shook her head. “This isn’t gonna work.”
    “What do you mean it’s not gonna work?”
    Lucy pointed up.  “Look. The women’s restroom is facing the wrong direction.”
    She pointed to the men’s side.  “We’re gonna have to spy on Trudy’s house from the men’s side.”
    Gloria looked around.  “What if someone shows up and wants to use the men’s room?”
    Lucy shrugged.  “Then we leave.  I mean, it’s not like anyone is going to recognize us.”
    Lucy had a point. 
    Gloria had the nagging sensation this was going to be a total waste of time.  “Okay, let’s roll.” She sucked in a breath and barreled through the door. She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping that no one was in there taking care of business.
    Much to her relief, it was empty.  Her happiness was short-lived when she realized the window that overlooked Trudy’s backyard was high - too high to look through unless you were standing on something.
    Gloria lowered her gaze.  Which happened to be the outer rim of the urinal…a filthy, dirty, disgusting urinal at that. 
    Lucy stuck her hand on her hip. “I’m not gonna stand on that,” she announced.  “I’ll guard the door.”
    Gloria looped the binoculars around her neck, grabbed hold of the window ledge, placed one shoe, then the other on the rim of the urinal. She teetered back and forth for a second before gripping the windowsill to catch her balance.
    From this position, she had a bird’s-eye view of Trudy’s backyard.  It was tidy.  A small flower garden sat near the corner.  A white picket fence surrounded the perimeter of the yard.  A covered porch ran the length of the rear of the house.  A set of sliding glass doors took up one whole side. 
    Gloria lifted the binoculars to her eyes and adjusted the dial.  The curtains were all drawn.  “I can’t see a darn thing,” she grumbled.
    She stood there for several long moments.  Nothing was happening.  The woman wasn’t even home!  Or, if she was, she wasn’t spending time in the yard.  Although she had to at some point, considering how tidy and meticulous the