Book Fair and Foul (Ashton Corners Book Club) (23 page)

“I don’t care what you think you have. I’m not going to be a part of this again. Just remember, it’s a dangerous game you’re playing.” He slammed the door and stomped back to his car.

Lizzie felt a stinging along the side of her arm and realized she’d landed on a small honey locust tree. She tried to reposition herself but it only scratched her more.

The driver door of the Verso opened and Gigi Briggs leapt out. That was a shock. Lizzie struggled for a better view, hoping to hear all of the conversation, too. Whatever was going on, she’d bet her last jar of almond butter it had something to do with Ashley’s murder.

“You don’t think I’ll go to the police? I’ve got news for you, mister. I’m teed off at you enough to do just that. Ashley Dixon was my ticket to the bestseller list and now that’s ended.” She rushed up to Carter and pounded on his chest. “You men are all alike. You can’t keep your pants on and everyone around you gets hurt.”

Carter grabbed her wrists, yanking open his car door, and pushed her. “Get inside,” he snarled. He pushed her in and toward the passenger side, slamming the door after he’d slid in behind the wheel. Lizzie heard the car start as she scrambled through the tight underbrush back to her Mazda. She stumbled and twisted her right ankle. She plopped on the ground and gingerly probed her ankle and foot. Nothing appeared to be broken despite the pain. But how would she make it back to her car? She had to try. She couldn’t let them out of her sight. Gritting her teeth, she struggled to stand and somehow managed to make her way back. She caught sight of Carter’s Sebring turning right just as she stuck the key in the ignition.

She ignored the throbbing in her ankle and her arms that felt on fire, while digging to get her cell phone out of her pocket. She tried calling Mark’s number while keeping in her lane and not losing sight of the quickly disappearing Sebring.

She had to give up when Carter veered to the right and down a small dirt road. Lizzie knew the destination was the banks of the Tallapoosa River. Surely Carter wouldn’t do anything stupid. It was his very own car, after all. How would he explain any evidence of a violent act?

She slowed down and opened her window, trying to hear the car ahead without making too much noise or gaining too fast on it. She could once again hear voices as she came to a spot where the road curved around a gigantic rock. Lizzie remembered this place from high school, not that she’d frequented it. Etched on that rock, along with hundreds of painted versions, were the names of couples, bragging rights of school teams and assorted other adolescent memories.

She backed up and steered into a small clearing at the side of the road, slid her cell phone back into her pocket and eased out of the car. Her foot hurt when she put pressure on it and she stifled a yelp.
Oh boy, what could I do?
Maybe she’d better stay put and just call Mark.

Suddenly Gigi screamed and Lizzie dropped her iPhone.
Get going, girl
. She shoved the phone in her pocket and hobbled down the road toward the sound. Her heart pounded as she rounded the corner in time to see Carter raise his hand and punch Gigi on the left side of her head. She staggered back but didn’t go down.

Lizzie looked around, searching for something to use as a weapon. She glanced back as Farrow pushed Gigi toward the river and bent over to grab a thick branch that had dropped from a tree. Carter raised it over his head, aiming at Gigi. She stood staring at him, mesmerized. The silence chilled Lizzie to her core.
Do something
.

Lizzie started yelling and charged through the shrubbery, ignoring the sharp pain that shot up her leg. Carter turned toward her in surprise, lowering his arms. Lizzie slammed into him and they toppled into the river.

The cold waters of the Tallapoosa shocked Lizzie for a couple of seconds and then she looked around for Carter. He’d landed a bit downstream and pushed through the water toward her. She tried touching the bottom and eventually her foot landed on a sunken limb.

Gigi had gotten down on her knees and was screaming at Lizzie to grab her outstretched hand. They connected at the same moment that Carter grabbed the back of Lizzie’s blouse. She kicked backward at him and felt her blouse rip but she was freed from his grasp. She scrambled up the riverbank, falling beside Gigi, feeling her lungs ready to explode. Almost immediately, Gigi stumbled to her feet, pulling Lizzie up, too. This time she cried out as pain shot through her ankle. Carter had reached the riverbank but had trouble getting a foothold to climb out.

Lizzie gritted her teeth as she desperately scanned the clearing. She spotted the branch Carter had dropped, grabbed it and held it like a baseball bat, poised to whack him if he lunged for them after climbing out.

She could hear her name but it came from a long way off, then hands grabbed the branch from behind her, easing it to the ground. She could hear Mark’s voice in her ear.

“It’s all right, Lizzie. We’re here. We’ll get him. You’re going to be all right.” His arms wrapped around her from behind and she started shaking. She heard Officer Craig’s voice as she joined them. Mark pulled away and wrapped a blanket around Lizzie’s shoulders.

Gigi started babbling about Carter going berserk and trying to kill her; Carter kept yelling at her to shut up. Officer Craig handed another blanket to Carter after two other officers helped him get ashore. He quieted for a moment and then pointed at Gigi.

“That bitch tried to blackmail me.”

Gigi fell silent. Mark looked from one to the other and asked, “For the murder of Ashley Dixon?”

Gigi nodded and looked down at the ground as Craig went over to her and placed handcuffs on her wrists.

“She did help me, Mark,” Lizzie said, still shaking.

Mark nodded and told his officers to take them both in, then picked up Lizzie in his arms and carried her to his Jeep.

“My car . . .” she tried saying between chattering teeth.

“I’ll get it later. Right now, you’re going to the hospital.”

“Not necessary. A hot bath would be good, though. Oh, shoot.” She reached into her pocket. “My new phone,” she wailed, pulling out her waterlogged iPhone.

Adrenaline is a truly remarkable thing. It can take you from comatose to Marathon Runner before your wits have anything to say about it.

THE TANGLEWOOD MURDER
—LUCILLE KALLEN

M
olly and Teensy were waiting at Lizzie’s house when she limped downstairs wrapped in her old terry robe. She had a sore ankle and was covered in scratches and bruises but aside from that, felt just fine.

“Mark called as soon as Officer Craig brought you home,” Molly explained. “I just used my key to get in. Thought you might need some TLC.”

Bob let himself in through the front door as each of the ladies wrapped an arm around Lizzie’s waist and led her into the living room. On the side table was a pot of hot tea along with a plate of buttermilk biscuits, Lizzie’s favorite, that Molly had brought.

Teensy passed a glass of bourbon to Lizzie as she sat down on the love seat. Lizzie looked at it, then at Teensy.

“I thought it was called for. I always have some on hand for medicinal purposes,” Teensy said with a smile. “Now, sugar, do you want to tell us what happened?”

Molly held up her hand. “Maybe now’s not the time. You’re looking a little peaked, honey. Why don’t you just finish your drink and then go lie down.”

Lizzie nodded, grateful to not have to relive it quite this soon.

“Well, sugar, Molly’s right, of course, but you know we’re just so happy and relieved that you’re fine,” Teensy gushed.

Molly sat next to Lizzie, holding her hand, and Bob couldn’t seem to sit still. He paced and finally stopped in front of Lizzie, saying, “I cannot believe we let you get in danger’s way again. I’m feeling pretty useless right now. An ex–police chief who can’t even protect you.”

Lizzie smiled. “It’s not up to you to protect me, Bob, but I do appreciate the thought. It’s all worked out, the killer has been caught, and I’m dying to know the whole story.”

Molly shuddered. “Perhaps you could rephrase that last bit, honey. I’m also very pleased that it’s turned out all for the good. Who would have thought that a simple book fair could bring so much turmoil to our town?”

The doorbell rang and Nathaniel walked in, holding Lavenia’s hand. They looked shocked when they heard the story. Teensy poured out more glasses of bourbon all around. By the time Mark called, the house was filled. The other members of the book club had rushed over when they’d heard what had happened and everyone tried to coddle Lizzie.
So much for that nap
. She finally went into the kitchen to look for her cats, knowing they’d be upset by all the to-do.

Nathaniel followed her and told her that Lavenia had finally admitted what had been going on.

“I just wanted to thank you for all you’ve done,” he said and gave her a hug. “I can imagine that Lavenia was going out of her mind about this. I’m glad she thought to talk it over with you.”

“I’m so glad I could help.”

He held her at arm’s length and looked her in the eye. “Thank you for being a good friend, and for not believing it.”

“I know you, Nathaniel. It was easy to discount the rumor.”

“Now, I must take care of something. I’m glad to see you’re healthy and surrounded by your friends. I’ll give you a call later.”

Lizzie saw Nathaniel and Lavenia out the door and then limped upstairs after saying good-bye to the others, knowing they’d lock the door as they left. The cats were huddled together next to her pillow. She lay down beside them and they cuddled up to her body. It didn’t take her long to fall asleep, for a change.

It wasn’t clear to me what had just happened. On the other hand, it often wasn’t, and I’d gotten used to it.

THE PROFESSIONAL
—ROBERT B. PARKER

L
izzie took a final look in the mirror and smoothed her hair back behind her ears. The peach long-sleeved cotton pullover and long black pants she wore covered the bruises and scratches on her arms and legs. She made her way gingerly down the stairs, favoring her right ankle.

“I’m ready,” she told Mark, who pushed out of his chair and walked over to her.

“You’re gorgeous.”

“And you’re just saying that.” She knew there were still some ugly red marks on her face.

“Uh-uh. A police officer always tells the truth.”

“So, tell me what’s been happening.” She grabbed her handbag as Mark held the front door open for her.

“Why don’t we save that until we get to Molly’s, since I know all your book club cohorts will start pumping me for information, too.” He held the passenger door of the Jeep open for her.

Lizzie grinned as she got in. “Cohorts? Catchy. Sure, that’s a good idea. It was nice of Molly to invite us all over for dinner, yet again.”

“She’s quite the lady. And cook.” Mark started the car, paused and glanced at Lizzie. “There is something I should share before I go into all the other details, though.”

Lizzie turned in her seat to look at him.

“I spoke to Richard Huxton-Parson, who said his mama finally told him she’d tried to pay off Ashley so she wouldn’t make a claim on the estate. The family seems to believe she was indeed the daughter of Ross. In fact, that’s about what Ms. Huxton-Parson had already admitted to me.”

Mark stopped at a traffic light. “He, Richard, seems to have taken more control of things now and, in fact, has invited you and me to dinner at the hotel. I can’t accept, but of course, you can.”

“And I imagine you can come as a guest.”

“That would be a yes.” Mark grinned.

“Hmm. Quite the family.” Lizzie turned to face forward again.

“You sure you’re feeling all right?” Mark asked.

“Of course. There was no major damage done, except to my poor iPhone.” Lizzie watched a group of kids playing soccer on a front lawn and smiled. Everything was fine.

Even Nathaniel’s problem had been settled. He’d called earlier that day to say he’d talked to Ursula Nesbitt and she’d admitted what she’d done. Seems she’d been jealous about his relationship with Lavenia and also that Lavenia was standing for president of the garden society and would surely win. Nathaniel told her he would not press charges if she left the club and promised never to do anything like that again. She’d agreed.

The front door swung open as Mark was parking the Jeep next to Jacob’s red Ford Escape in Molly’s driveway. Sally-Jo gave Lizzie a big hug as they entered and Molly came out of the kitchen to do the same.

“I’m so happy you’re getting around so well, honey,” Molly said. “Now, come in to the living room. Everyone is here and I’ve just put some appetizers out.”

Lizzie went through another round of hugs as she made her way to the love seat in front of the window. Mark sat beside her and chose a tuna-apple mini-melt from the tray of food that Andie had snatched up and brought over to them.

Molly took a seat next to Stephanie on the second love seat in the room and said, “We’ve been hoping you’d be willing to share what all happened with Carter after his arrest, Chief.”

Mark finished his mini-melt before telling them. “Carter Farrow has been charged with the murder of Ashley Dixon. Now, y’all know this still has to be proven in court, but he did admit that the victim had been blackmailing him about his affair with Lorelie Oliver. It seems they’ve been carrying on for several conferences now, but if his wife had found out, she’d divorce him and she had all the money. Lots of it, from her family.”

“Huh. Some love story,” Lizzie said. “And he admitted to framing me?”

“Well, backing up just a moment, he said he hadn’t planned to kill her. It was an accident. They argued, he pushed her and she fell, hitting her head on a large rock. She was dead when he checked.”

Jacob snickered. “I hear a defense coming on,” he said.

“But didn’t you say it looked like she’d been hit with something?” Lizzie asked.

“That was the initial finding, especially since we hadn’t found anything to suggest otherwise at the scene. However, Farrow also admitted to stashing the rock in his trunk. There wasn’t much external bleeding so there was nothing else to clean up.” Mark shrugged. “She’s still dead and he tried to hide the body. So, deliberate or not, it’s murder in my book.”

“Why were they at the funeral home?” Jacob asked.

“Apparently, Ashley Dixon had suggested they meet there for a little talk, saying it was a bit out of the way and they wouldn’t be disturbed. She wanted more money and he decided to stop paying.”

“What about planting Lizzie’s phone at the scene?” Bob asked. “That looks premeditated to me.”

Mark sat forward in his seat. “The way Farrow tells it, he hadn’t planned to frame Lizzie at the outset. But he’d noticed Gigi Briggs pocket Lizzie’s phone at the book fair, so he took it from her, thinking it might come in handy. Seems he’d also seen Ms. Briggs steal some small items at the B and B when she thought no one was looking.” Mark looked at Lizzie. “He left your phone with the body and at the last minute, took the victim’s phone to incriminate you even more. He then broke into your car and left it there.”

“But why did he try to kill Gigi?” Lizzie felt even more confused.

“Now, this is where the story gets convoluted. It seems Ashley Dixon knew about Gigi Briggs’s propensity to steal things, so Dixon asked her to take Farrow’s cell phone. Ms. Dixon said she needed to check on some calls he’d been making. Gigi Briggs put two and two together and came up with blackmail.”

“She figured out that’s what Ashley was up to?”

“Exactly. By this time, Farrow realized his phone was missing and suspected the light-fingered Gigi, so he asked her to meet him at the funeral home. She admitted she had it. In fact, she hadn’t even given it to Ashley Dixon, and added that she needed ongoing financial support so she could quit her day job and spend all her time writing.”

Andie did another pass with the appetizers. “Blackmail. Didn’t she worry that he’d kill her, too?” she asked.

“She had his cell phone so felt safe.”

“Wow. How dumb.” Andie plopped down on the floor beside the car seat that held Stephanie’s sleeping daughter.

“You can say that again,” said Bob with a snort. “I’ve come up against some pretty stupid thinking in my time on the job. Which is darn fortunate for the cops. That’s good police work, Mark.”

Mark grinned. “I’d like to take all the credit but Molly alerted me when she saw Lizzie drive off without even going into the B and B.”

“I tried calling you, Lizzie,” Molly added, “and got real worried when you didn’t answer.”

“I tried with the same result,” Mark said. “I was, however, thanks to your new iPhone and the Find My Friends app you’d installed, able to track you and get close enough so that even when your phone took a swim, I was able to locate you.”

“Cool,” said Andie, clapping her hands. She stopped abruptly and looked at the baby, hoping she hadn’t awakened her.

“I’d set it to vibrate, so I never even heard the calls,” Lizzie explained with a slight shudder.

Mark squeezed Lizzie’s hand. “It’s all over.”

“What about the divas?” Stephanie asked.

“A.J. phoned to say he was driving Caroline to her home,” Molly explained. “He thought she needed some company. That’s so nice of him. But he’ll be coming back and promises to stop by. And Lorelie left without saying good-bye to anyone, except for Patsy. What will happen to Gigi?”

“I’m leaving the charges up to the DA but she’s being released on bail as soon as her parents arrive from Seattle.”

No one said anything for a couple of minutes. Lizzie sat thinking about how she’d misjudged Ashley all this time. It hadn’t been about Lizzie at all. It was all Ashley. The money, the popularity. She’d been craving it all these years and she thought Nick Jennings, and then the blackmail plans, would get it for her. “Desperate” was the word for Ashley.

Jacob finally stood and left the room, followed by Sally-Jo. Molly watched them, then said to the others, “You must be thinking I’m slipping in my hostess duties.” They heard a loud pop but Molly continued as if nothing had happened, even when a second pop followed. “I haven’t yet supplied you with liquid libation, as my daddy used to say, but there is a good reason for my lapse.”

She stood as Sally-Jo entered the room carrying a tray of empty champagne glasses, followed by Jacob holding two bottles of Mumm Napa Brut Prestige. He made a big show of filling the glasses, which Sally-Jo then passed around.

Lizzie accepted one and looked at Sally-Jo. “What’s up?”

Jacob walked over to stand beside Sally-Jo, slipped his arm around her shoulder and asked for everyone’s attention. “We have an announcement to make. Sally-Jo and I are getting married.”