Peggy Holloway - Judith McCain 02 - Portrait on Wicker by Peggy Holloway Read Free Book Online Page A

Brad ran up to me to be picked up and I hugged him before heading upstairs. I stuck my head into her room and she motioned me to come in.
    She looked angry. “Can you believe it? My boss gave me an assignment. He told me I could finish my vacation later. And guess what the assignment is.”
    Without waiting for me to reply she went on, “I have to try to find one Calvin Lessiter , who is missing. His loving wife is worried sick.”
    She laughed, “We both know that Mrs. Lessiter is in a home and probably doesn’t even remember who old Calvin is. I asked him where he suggested I start looking and he said Lessiter was going to St. Augustine on some business so I’m to start there.
    “I have a picture of him, see. I started to ask if I was supposed to look for Mackey Broleen also, but I decided to just play along and see where it all leads.
    “Oh, and get this, I’m supposed to tell no one. I can’t have a partner. What he doesn’t know is that I will have a partner. I trust the agent in St. Augustine with my life. When I get there I will go to his house. I don’t trust the phones.”
    “What’s his name, Tracy?”
    “George Patterson. Here’s his number in case you can’t reach me. But be careful. I’ll check his place for bugs when I get there but you never know.”
    She snapped her suitcase closed and we went downstairs together.
    Brad ran up and hugged Tracy’s legs. “Don’t go,Mommy.”
    Tracy had tears in her eyes, “I’ll be back before you know it sweetie. In the meantime, you’ll have daddy, Aunt Judith, and Mimi to look after you.”
    Mark gave her a long kiss and then held her tight. He looked at me over her head and shook his head. He must have felt the same misgivings I did. Little did we know how horrible it would all turn out.
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 14
    The dinner table that evening was quiet except for Brad’s continuous chattering. We were in our own thoughts. We were worried about both Julia and Tracy, but couldn’t discuss anything in front of Brad. After all, he was only six years old.
    “I painted a picture for Mimi, Aunt Judith. It’s pretty. My teacher said it was good. I’m going to be a artist like Aunt Julia.”
    “May I see it? ” I said.
    He jumped down from the table and ran to the refrigerator in the kitchen and came back with what looked like a silo with straw coming out of the top.
    “This is really pretty, Brad. It’s a silo isn’t it?”
    “You know about silos, Aunt Judith? In school, we learnded about them. We’re going on a field trip to look at a farm. We’re going to spend the night and get up early and milk cows and feed chickens.”
    Suddenly Mark was listening, “You didn’t tell me this Brad. When are you going?”
    “I have to get perbition. Mommy knows about it. You have to sign for me to have perbition.”
    He was trying to say permission. He was so adorable and looked so much like Mark. Just then the phone rang and we all froze for the count of a few seconds.
    Brad looked at each of us then jumped up to answer. I heard him say, “Hi, Mommy. Are you having fun on your trip? You should have taken me with you. I would have been good. Okay, Daddy, Mommy wants you.”
    Brad ran from the kitchen with the cordless phone and handed it to Mark. “Hi honey. Are you all right? What? I can’t believe it. You can’t stay there. Get a hotel room. Tracy please, I’m already worried about you… Yeah, I understand what you’re saying but I don’t like it…could you at least get George to stay there with you? Oh, okay. That makes me feel better, but I don’t like the idea of you being a decoy. Love you too.”
    He was shaking his head when he hung up. “She’s staying Julia’s beach house.”
    Brad laughed, “That’s silly. Aunt Julia isn’t even there.”
    Mark looked at his son with sad eyes. “Son, why don’t you put your pretty painting back on the refrigerator, for Mimi.”
    H e ran to put the picture back and Mark continued. “She thinks