Cyrus ran to the door just as Espinosa opened it. “Abner is not in his room. I had one of the maids working the hall check in the room, and he’s not there. The bed was slept in, all his gear is still there, but he’s gone.”

“Where does that leave us?” Ted demanded.

“Right where we were before Maggie arrived. Nowhere, that’s where,” Jack said.

Maggie flapped her arms again. “What? We’re just going to sit here and wait till Snowden calls back or Abner decides to honor us with his company? We need to do something. What was the plan before I got here? Jeez, do I have to do everything?”

Charles rustled the papers in front of him. He cleared his throat and looked around the table at everyone. “This is the plan for now. With Maggie here, I think she and Dennis should go to Happy Village and interview the residents. Don’t take no for an answer. Be as persuasive as possible. Jack and Ted will also be going to Happy Village to talk to Mr. Gentry Lomax and Mrs. Love. With Harry temporarily out of the picture, Fergus and I will head on out to see if we can arrange an interview with Mr. Meadows and try to find out why he hasn’t returned our calls or if he’s avoiding us. We need an answer to that. Espinosa is going to hold down the fort, so to speak, in case Avery or Abner returns. He will be checking in with Dr. Wylie and Lizzie on the hour to see if there are any changes in Cosmo’s condition. If so, he will inform us ASAP, and we’ll do whatever we have to do. Any questions?”

There were no questions.

“Then let’s get to it,” Charles said, smacking his hands together. “Everyone check in with Espinosa at one o’clock.”

Cyrus was the first one at the door. His lean body quivered with excitement. At last, action.

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Lizzie Fox gently brushed at her husband’s dark hair tinged with gray. Only God knew how much she loved this man. Tears rested on her lashes before rolling down her cheeks as she prayed, the same words over and over and over again. Please, God. Don’t let my husband die, please, God. She brushed at her wet cheeks, aware of how quiet the room was except for the machines that beeped, pinged, and purred. She didn’t mind the noise and had tuned it out days ago. Right now she was aware only of a presence in the corner of the room—Joe Wylie, aka Cowboy, her husband’s doctor and personal friend. Like her, Wylie had not left the room since Cosmo’s second surgery. Such a kind man. Like Cosmo.