I considered that possibility for a moment, then said, "I wonder if that's why Peg and Marge had a fight. She could have figured out what Peg was up to, but that begs one question, doesn't it?"

"Why didn't she turn her in," Grace said. "Unless."

I stopped and looked at Grace. "Unless what?"

"Is there a chance Marge wanted in on the scam herself?"

"It's possible," I answered.

"I thought she was rich in her own right," Grace said.

"Take one look at her kitchen remodel, and you'll get your answer. It must have cost her a fortune. And I'm beginning to wonder if she told me the truth about the house staging, or if it was just a way to cover for all of the expensive furnishings she's been buying lately."

Grace nodded. "But the question is, whose money paid for everything? Where does this leave us?"

I chewed my lower lip, then said, "It appears that Peg was skimming from the contributions, unless this P.E.G. was legitimate, which we both doubt. Over the years, she's headed every fundraiser in three counties. That's a golden opportunity to skim, especially if she was able to find naive treasurers every time."

"You can bet she insisted on it," Grace said.

"But I still don't get why she'd risk everything for what must have been petty cash for her."

"I think we need to dig deeper into Peg and Marge's finances," Grace said.

"That's an excellent idea. I'm just not sure how we can manage to do that."

"Give me a little time to think about it," she said.

We pulled up in front of the donut shop, and Grace shut off the engine. "Maybe when the chief sees that checkbook ledger, he'll at least leave you alone."

"I highly doubt it," I said. "I'm just hoping it's enough for Jake to take me off his list suspects."

"Where is he, anyway?"

I got out of the car and looked in through the open door. "He had a family emergency, so he's back in Raleigh."

"I hope everything's okay."

I started to close the door, then said, "Me, too. Thanks for coming with me this afternoon."

Grace smiled at me as she started her car up again. "Are you kidding? I wouldn't have missed it. Now don't go snooping any more without me, okay? I don't want to be left out of this."

"Trust me, if I need a sidekick, you're the first name on my list."

"I'd better be the only name," she said as she drove off.

I thought about calling George to tell him what Grace and I had uncovered, but it was getting close to five, and I was hungry, and more than a little sleepy. With my hours, I didn't have the luxury of time in the evening that everyone else had. I had to start winding down early, or I'd suffer for it the next day.

I got into my Jeep and drove the three blocks toward home, a part of me wishing I could walk through the park instead of travel down the street, no matter how tired I was. That walk always used to invigorate me. At one time, I'd loved to stroll through the trees along the pathways, taking in my beautiful surroundings, but the park of my youth had been tainted somewhat by some things that had happened there recently, and I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to look at it with the wide-eyed innocence I'd once felt for the place.

As I parked the Jeep in our driveway and walked up to the porch, I saw Momma sitting out on the swing. She smiled and said, "It's a beautiful evening, isn't it?"

"Scoot over and I'll join you," I said.

As she moved over, I took my place beside her. After a few moments of swinging in the breeze, she said, "We don't do this nearly enough. Shall we have dinner out here tonight? We can set the card table up and dine al fresco."

"Why not?" I asked. "What are we having?"

"A little of this, a little of that," she said, and I knew it was leftover night. One night a week, we took everything we'd saved and had a buffet. It might include a bit of lasagna, some meatloaf, part of a chicken pot pie, and whatever else we had on tap. There was no hardship, though. Everything was always delicious.

As I set the table and chairs up on the porch, Momma added a tablecloth and some of our best china.

"Not paper plates?" I asked.

"We never use paper plates, and you know it," Momma said.

I picked up one of the fine china plates. "We don't exactly trot these out every day, either. What's the occasion?"

"We're alive, autumn is approaching, we have a roof over our heads and a bountiful supply of food. Is there anything else we need to celebrate?"

"No, ma'am, that all sounds good to me."

As we ate, I was careful to keep our conversation away from Peg Masterson's murder, and what I'd been doing with my friends to solve it. Jake's name didn't come up, either, nor anything that might vex either one of us. It was as if we'd made a tacit agreement that, if not for more than a moment or two, we were going to forget the world's problems and focus on enjoying the time we had together. My mother could be the biggest thorn in my side, but evenings like this reminded me that she could be quite charming as well. We were just finishing our meal when I heard my cell phone laughing its summons inside the house.

"Just leave it," Momma said as she lightly touched my arm.

"I'm sorry, but it could be important," I said.

"More important than this? I know how much your friends mean to you, but just this once, don't answer it."

When I thought about it, there really wasn't anybody I had to talk to, at least not that instant. I did as she asked and ignored the laughter beckoning me from the other room.

After we finished eating, we cleared the table, and I returned the card table and chairs to the front closet.

That's when I remembered my cell phone, and the missed call.

I checked it, and heard Jake's voice. "Suzanne, call me as soon as you get this. I need to talk to you."

Whatever it was, it didn't sound good. I excused myself, went up to my room, and called Jake back.

CHAPTER 10.

"We've got a lot to talk about," Jake said.

"First things first," I said as I looked out the window at the park below. "How's your niece?"

"The fever broke. She had some kind of infection, but they think she's going to be all right."

"That's great news," I said.

"I'm sorry I took off like that, Suzanne."

"You were worried. I understand completely. When are you coming back?"

"I'm hoping to make it sometime tomorrow," he said.

I looked out my window and saw someone watching the house from the shadows of a large tree. There was still some light out, but I never would have seen them if I hadn't been looking out my window at that exact moment.

"Jake, I've got to call you back."

"What's going on?" he asked. "I can hear something's wrong in your voice."

"I'll call you later," I said, and then I hung up.

I quickly dialed George's cell phone number. "Somebody's watching my house. Do you still have your gun?" He'd told me once he'd kept his service revolver after he'd retired, too attached to it to give it up, so he'd paid to keep it instead.

"Sure. Don't go outside. I'll be right there."

"Should I call Chief Martin?" I asked.

"I can handle this myself," he said.

As soon as we hung up, I began to regret calling him. I should have dialed 911, and left George out of it.

When I tried to call him back, there was no answer.

A little belatedly, I dialed the police number and got Officer Grant, the cop who frequented my donut shop the most.

"I need a favor," I started off.

"Let's see. The going rate is a dozen donuts an hour. If you're ready to pay the price, I'm your man."

"This is serious. There's a prowler outside my house."

His jovial mood disappeared instantly. "Then it's not a favor, it's a police matter. I'll be right there."

"Hang on. There's something you should know. I called George Morris first, and he's on his way over here, too. He's armed."

"Suzanne, remind me to tell you how insane that was after this is over."

He hung up before I could defend my actions, not that there was a defense.

I kept my vigil for the prowler, but I had a sudden thought. Momma was still downstairs, and she had no idea someone was watching our house. I grabbed my softball bat and raced down the steps, just as my mother had one hand on the front doorknob.

"Stop," I shouted.

"Suzanne, what's wrong with you? I'm going back out to the glider."

"Not at the moment you're not," I said as I pushed myself between her and the door. "There's someone outside watching our house."

She peered around me and looked out the window. "I don't see anyone."

"I already called George, and the police are coming, too."

My mother shook her head. "That's an awful lot of firepower for just a prowler," she said. "Why did you call both?"

"I called George first, then I realized it was a mistake. If something happens to him because of me, I'll never be able to forgive myself."

"Don't worry, child, it will be all right."

"I wish I could be as sure as you sound," I said.

I looked out the window through the curtains, trying to see who would show up first. I couldn't see anyone from that vantage point, but then again, I hadn't figured I'd be able to.

In the distance, I saw George carefully approaching, and just behind him was Officer Grant. The police officer must have gotten George's attention, because I saw my friend stop, turn, and wave Officer Grant away.

When he wouldn't, the two had a brief discussion, and then I saw them approach together.

They peered into the undergrowth of several trees, and as I saw them stop at the massive tree where the prowler had been, I felt the muscles in my stomach tighten.

A minute later, they came out from under the tree's canopy and walked out in the open toward the house.

I met them on the front porch. "He was right there. I swear it."

George said, "Well, he's gone now."

"Are you sure it wasn't just somebody out jogging?" Officer Grant asked.

"I can tell when someone's out for a run or standing there watching me," I said.

"Playing some softball later tonight?" he asked.

It was only then that I realized I was still holding onto the aluminum bat. "It's a girl's best friend," I said. "I'm not all that comfortable around guns, but I figure this will protect me well enough."

"I've seen you play softball," George said. "I'm pretty sure you're right."

Officer Grant nodded, then said, "I've got to get back to the station and fill out a report."

"Can't we just keep this between us?" I asked.

"No chance. I had to log it to get permission to leave the station. I've got desk duty tonight, and the chief watches us pretty close so we don't slip out."

"Thanks anyway," I said.