Wynn in the Willows by Robin Shope Page B

Faith gasped. “Have you considered perhaps Boone is still alive?”
    “Yes, I have. But why wouldn’t the person holding him tell me that?”
    “Good point.” Sheri straightened her name tag.
    Jackie opened her Bible to Psalms, removed the paper, and passed it around the table. “I found it sticking out from under a flower pot on my front patio.”
    “That reminds me Jackie, I forgot to tell you how lovely your potted geraniums were on the day of the funeral.”
    “Why, thank you, Faith.”
    “Were you able to get a glimpse of the person who left this?” Wynn asked.
    “No. It was there when we walked outside to get the morning newspaper,” Agatha said.
    “Excuse me, but should everyone be touching that paper?” Wynn was alarmed.
    “I’m way ahead of you, Wynn,” Jackie explained. “The letter came in a sealed envelope and I put on my Playtex gloves before picking it up, but I must say they were pretty bulky to get anything open, so I had to use chop sticks.”
    “I got them out of the drawer for her,” Agatha interjected.
    “That’s evidence. Shouldn’t you have called the police to have them check it for fingerprints?” Wynn asked again.
    “I read it first, and then called the police. Officer Berry drove his golf cart out to see me. He has the original, what you’re reading is a copy. They are having the envelope checked for DNA; saliva. I’m keeping a running log of everything,” Jackie reached for her lemon water. “See Wynn, I can be a scientist, too.”
    Wynn read the letter aloud. “In forty-eight hours you will receive instructions on where to drop the ring. Within hours Boone’s body will then be left at a pre-determined location.”
    “Who could be behind this?” Owl wondered.
    “I have an idea, but not saying right now,” Jackie answered.
    “Oh, please tell them to drop Boone off at my shop!” Sheri begged. “Things have been slow lately and I could sure use the publicity.”
    “What is so special about this particular ring?” Owl asked.
    “It’s supposed to be an expensive heirloom, but now I can’t find it, thank you, Marilyn. Sorry, Agatha.”
    “But didn’t I hear Marilyn say it wasn’t the right ring?” Roxie reminded her.
    “Paste was the word she used.” Owl cut in.
    “Why would Marilyn want a worthless ring?” Roxie asked.
    “It’d be just like Marilyn to say something wasn’t valuable when it really was. Oh, sorry again, Agatha. As for the ring, Boone showed it to me one time and since I couldn’t wear it, I didn’t really get a good look at it. He said he wanted it buried with him, and then he put it back in the wall safe.” Jackie dabbed her eyes with the linen napkin, smearing her black eyeliner. “I took it out when I went to the funeral home. But now both the ring and the box are gone from my purse.”
    “We need the Lord’s peace in this matter. Maybe we need to refocus on why we have come together today,” Roxie said.
    “Please do,” Agatha murmured as she played with the cameo brooch on her blouse.
    “We have come to take our eyes from life’s rumbling waters and to cross the bridge to where peace and joy awaits in the arms of the Lord. Our scripture for today is Romans 8:26-27. God’s help in our weakness, which is very appropriate under the most recent circumstances.”
    All the ladies turned to the verse in their Bibles.
    “Brand new one! Still in the wrapper!” Wynn held up her Bible, bought on the way to the meeting, and then tore off the protective wrapping. “OK, I’m ready. What page did you say we were on, Aunt Roxie?”
    “We’re in the book of Romans, dear. Chapter 8.”
    “And where is that?”
    “Towards the end,” Sheri told her, reaching for the Bible. “Let me help you.”
    “Wow, you’re all way ahead of me. I’ll never catch up. Maybe I need to find a group that is on page one. Look, just like it says right here in Genesis 1:1 ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth’.”
    Agatha