The Big Cat Nap

headquarters it would be one interruption after another. As for all sheriffs or police chiefs, battles over funding were a major obstacle—a bleeding ulcer, really—yet everyone expected law-enforcement services.
    He shut off the computer. “Well?”
    “Rick, everyone’s been helpful. Victor Gatzembizi freely answered any questions. He said Walt was his best mechanic. Still, neither Victor nor anyone else seems remotely distressed over Walt’s murder. Oh, they’re all horrified at the way it happened. No one says they wished him dead, but no one wishes him back, either.”
    “Strange.”
    “I’ll say.” She cut on the motor and drove off the ReNu lot.

G otcha!” Miranda tossed a weed over her shoulder into the half-full wheelbarrow. “Death to weeds.”
    The Very Reverend Jones sneaked up on her as he trod softly on her beautiful herringbone brick walkway. He clucked. “Miranda, plants are living. God made all living things.”
    She stood up with some help from Herb. “You’ve come to test me, I see.”
    His deep voice, always soothing, replied, “I came to see one of my favorite people. And, as always, your garden puts others to shame.”
    She shook her index finger at him. “Now you’re testing me for the sin of pride?”
    “Well, it’s true. Your garden dazzles and, of course, Big Mim tries hard to cover her envy about your emerald thumbs.”
    They both laughed, for the Queen of Crozet, Big Mim Sanburne, lavished huge sums of money on her gardens, tended by three gardeners, and while beautiful, those gardens couldn’t hold a candle to the small but exquisite gardens of Miranda.
    “How about some iced tea? I need a break. Un-tea, as I recall.”
    “I’d love some.” He patted his stomach. “I do miss sweetened tea, but I am trying to cut back on the sugar.”
    “You’ve lost weight.”
    “Thank you.” He smiled. “Thirty more pounds. Tell you what,Miranda, the pounds just creep up. Too much sitting.” He smiled again. “You slimmed down.”
    They walked to her back porch, screened in as most back porches were in this part of the world.
    “Did. Tending to Didee put me off food.” She poured tea from a cooler she kept on the table when she worked outside. “Herb, it’s easy to have faith when everything’s going your way. Watching my sister die, well, I asked painful questions and I have no answers.”
    “None of us do. You were wonderful to your sister and she was grateful. You have a deep capacity for love and hard work, Miranda. You endured George’s passing with similar fortitude.” Herb mentioned her late husband.
    “That was so long ago,” she said almost wistfully. “And mercifully quick.”
    “I pray for a heart attack.” He held up his hand. “It’s up to the Good Lord, but why linger?” He paused. “Is there anything I can do, sweetie?”
    “Your friendship is healing. You, Harry, Susan, and the girls.” She referred to BoomBoom and Alicia as the girls. “I have such wonderful friends.”
    “Because you’re a wonderful friend.”
    They drank their tea, both in rocking chairs, pushing away.
    “Recovered?” she asked him.
    “From what?”
    “Finding that body at ReNu.”
    “Poor fellow didn’t have a chance. It was gruesome. But somehow I can’t stop thinking”—he shifted his weight—“that if only I had walked in a few minutes earlier, I might have been able to stop it. Rush forward, yell, anything. Know what I mean?”
    She nodded her agreement. “I understand.”
    They rocked some more. A soft breeze lifted the wisteria climbing over the back porch and onto the roof, yet another chore Miranda would attend to in time: taming her wisteria.
    “Herb, to change the subject. You picked up your truck from ReNu.”
    “Finally, yes. The sheriff’s department wanted to examine every vehicle on the lot.”
    “Are you satisfied with the work?”
    He put his glass down. “Sure, but I just got the truck back. Hopefully I won’t have further problems.”
    “Safe and Sound gave me a list of acceptable repair garages. ReNu is the only one in our area. Now, that doesn’t seem right. I’m not paying to have my Outback towed to Richmond. But Latigo Bly says ReNu does good work at good prices.”
    “Any idea how long it will take for your car to be repaired?” Herb asked.
    “Once I get on the schedule, it should take a day. Of course, they cover themselves by making me sign a paper saying if more damage is discovered they will not perform the