Thyme to Live: A We Sisters Three Mystery Read Free

publishing mogul overseeing a behemoth multimedia empire were totally the same, but the answer suited Audra.
    “Maybe you could make a poster for Helena,” she suggested. “Like when Mrs. Andreau lost her kitty. She put up a picture of Fluffles in all the elevators. He was in the storage basement chasing mice, and he came home.”
    He nodded gravely, soaking in her preschool wisdom. “Great idea. Hey, did Helena say anything to you on Friday about taking a trip or going away?” he probed gently.
    It struck me that at no time during the morning’s crisis had anyone else thought to ask Audra if she knew where Helena might be. One point for the journalist.
    Audra thought for a moment then gave her head a shake, sending her long blond ponytail of hair whipping across her shoulders. “No, no trips. But she was crying right before it was time to go home.”
    “She was crying?” I echoed.
    “Uh-huh. I asked her if she hurt herself. She said no, she was crying because she was going to miss me. But then we sang the days of the week song, and I said only two days and then we’d be able to play again. There’s Sunday and there’s Monday, there’s Tuesday and there’s Wednesday, there’s Thursday and there’s Friday. And then there’s Saturday! Days of the week! Bum, bum. Days of the week!”
    I giggled at her performance, but Victor blanched again. He swallowed hard. “Thank you, ladies. I’ve taken up enough of your time.” He bent and shook Audra’s hand then stood and pulled out a business card.
    “Please, if you hear from Helena, call me. That’s my cell phone number, day or night.” He pressed the card into my hand.
    I glanced at it then slipped it into my sweater pocket. “I will,” I promised.

3
    I put Helena and her distraught, hot brother out of my mind for the rest of the day. At three o’clock, Cate’s assistant called to let me know that Audra’s music and movement teacher was on her way over to relieve me.
    “Cate wanted me to tell you she’s interviewing replacement candidates this evening, and with any luck your services won’t be needed tomorrow,” she said in a clipped, efficient voice.
    I looked sidelong at Audra, who was absorbed in her sticker book.
    “Listen, Maura,” I said in a near-whisper. “Audra’s a great kid, but I have other clients. I’m not canceling appointments to play babysitter. You need to make sure Cate understands that my services aren’t an option tomorrow.”
    I heard Maura’s soft sigh through the phone. “Thyme, I can’t perform miracles. Believe me. If I could, I would completely squander that talent on keeping Cate’s life bump-free. She doesn’t care about your other clients. She did say to tell you she’ll pay your regular rate for today.”
    She was paying me a hundred and fifty dollars an hour to watch her kid? It must be nice to solve your problems by reaching into your Birkin bag, grabbing your Valentino wallet, and casually tossing it in the general direction of whatever’s troubling you. And, voila, problem solved.
    “All the same. One of these replacements better work out.”
    “Agreed. Or, even better, Helena could make an appearance.”
    That stunned me. “Cate would let her come back?”
    Maura laughed. “I know, right? If you or I pulled a stunt like this, it would be sayonara, don’t let the door hit ya’. But Audra loves Helena. And Cate, despite all appearances, dotes on Audra. She’d take Helena back in a heartbeat.”
    “And the nanny service hasn’t heard from her?”
    “Nope. And the case manager there said it’s virtually impossible that Helena could get another nannying gig in this city without impeccable references, which she obviously won’t have.”
    I thought. “Maybe she’s just taking a break, you know? She’s socked away some money and plans to bum around.” Helena was probably no older than me. Lots of people flake out on their first real jobs.
    “Not a chance. She’s here on a work visa. If she’s