frying at seven in the morning that woke me and Emma. I heard her nails on the hard wood floor as she skittered downstairs to see if Greg was in a giving mood and she was going to get bacon for breakfast. My dog has an iron stomach and is able to eat most things, including the foam from my sofa pillows with no issues. We just try not to feed her a lot of human food, mainly for our peace of mind. What she eats on her own, well, we can’t control that. I buy her expensive dog food to keep her healthy. Somedays I hope it counteracts all the nonfood substances she eats.
By the time I got downstairs Emma was outside. I glanced out the window to the backyard and found her playing catch by herself. She’d throw up the ball, then go chase it. It was cute to watch. “You must have given her a slice for her to be in that good a mood.”
“She’s my girl. You know I have a soft spot for your dog, right? If we ever break up, we have to set up a custody arrangement.” He set a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon on the table at my spot and nodded to the fridge. “You want some OJ this morning?”
“Sure.” I poured a cup of coffee and sat down, leaving my dog to her amusements. “You didn’t have to cook. I’ve got a brunch date with Amy and Evie at eleven.”
“I guess that will be more lunch than brunch then. Besides, I wanted to talk to you and I have to leave early, so this is my way of getting you out of bed early on a Sunday.”
“Your evil plan can’t work if you keep telling me your hidden agenda all the time.” I took a slice of bacon and took a bite. Crunchy and brown to the point of almost being burned. It was yummy. “So, what do we need to chat about?”
“I was wondering if you talked to Esmeralda yesterday. She came down to the station to give a statement, but she’s really shook up. I think this guy has her questioning her side business.” He watched my face as I considered what I was going to say.
“Honestly, Amy had a wedding emergency, so I had to fold napkins and calm her down yesterday. I thought about stopping in, but by the time I got home from dinner, her lights were off. I figured she’d turned in early.” I felt a pang of guilt for not going over to talk to my neighbor. What kind of a friend was I? Of course I’d been pulling Amy together, so I had a bit of an excuse.
“If you get a moment today, can you stop in and talk to her? I’m worried about her. She seems beat down. I know she didn’t kill that woman and I’m going to find out who did. But for now, Esmeralda’s getting the backlash from some town residents.” He shook his head. “You wouldn’t believe the calls I got yesterday. I can fight against hate crimes around race or sexuality, but when someone believes in a different manner about the other world? Now normal people feel like they’re on some sort of religious crusade.”
“God told them to be mean to Esmeralda?” I sipped my juice. This was getting out of hand.
“You can’t suffer a witch or some crap.” He glanced at his watch. “I’m meeting with Pastor Bill and his board, hoping to nip this anti-Esmeralda campaign in the bud. He called an emergency deacon meeting before services and I guess his sermon this week is on tolerance. I’m meeting with the leaders of the other two churches in town later today, so don’t expect me until dinner.”
“You’re a good man. Thanks for sticking up for her. And thanks for breakfast.” I put my hand his arm to stop him as he stood to take his plate to the sink.
He kissed me, then grinned. “Actually, if I was a really good man, I wouldn’t leave you with the dishes, but I’ve got to get ready for church. Times three.”
* * * *
I had some time before I went to Diamond Lille’s to meet up with Amy and Evie. Glancing at the clock, I saw it was too early to make a visit to my neighbor. Instead, I pulled out my laptop and decided to find out more about Nan Gunter and her husband.