Candy-Coated Secrets (24 page)

I refilled his cup from the salmon-colored pitcher. “I paid Sally a visit. To give my condolences for Ginger and Bob. She offered me some bread-and-butter pickles. Remember Aunt Eunice’s disappeared right before the judging?”

“And what makes you think they belonged to your aunt? Lots of people can stuff cucumbers in a jar and call them pickles. They could also have been a gift. Maybe you should ask Eunice if she gave them to Sally. Or Ruby or Mabel did.”

“What about Sally’s drinking and popping pills? What about her threatening to get even for her son’s death?”

“She wouldn’t be the first person. When’s this murder supposed to have taken place?”

“She didn’t say. Drugs are expensive. It could be a motive for murder and robbery. You should’ve heard her talking, Joe. Very spooky.”

He stared at me as if I’d lost my mind or had worms crawling out of my ears. “Grizzly Bob admitted to killing Lacey, Pete, and Mrs. Hodge. You personally ripped the gorilla head off him. In time, he’ll crack and tell us where Mr. Foreman’s body and the money can be found. The case is winding down, Summer. Leave the carnies alone.”

I slouched against the back of the chair. “Something tells me there’s more.”

“Do I have to arrest you again?”

“What about Harvey? He wasn’t at his trailer.”

“So? Besides, Harvey doesn’t live with the carnival. He only hires on when one comes to town. He and his wife live down Forrest Road.”

“Then why haven’t I met him?”

Joe laughed. “He belongs to the same hunting lodge as your uncle. You don’t hunt.”

No time today. “Ruby and Mabel want to know what you intend to do about the carnies.”

“Me?” His eyes widened.

“Okay, what do you want me to do? I already told them they could stay until either the money is found or Eddy’s father is.”

“Well, they can’t stay forever.”

“No, but having them there makes it convenient for solving this case, right?”

“The case is finished. Leave it alone.”

“I can’t. With you laid up, there’s no one to see that justice is done.”

“I’m not the only officer on the force. I can have you locked up.”

I stood. “Stop threatening me. Do what you have to. I’ll do what I have to. Right now I’m going to meet Ethan for dinner. Stop me if you can. Bye.” I clapped him on his uninjured shoulder, winked, and strode from his room.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

My favorite royal blue wraparound blouse and black pants hung on the outside of the closet waiting for my date with Ethan. With the fair taking up so much of my time, it’d been a while since we’d spent romantic time together. Despite that, I couldn’t help but wonder whether Ethan would want to go on a stakeout with me. My
Handy Dandy Guidebook to Spring
beckoned from my bedside table.

I snatched the book and let it fall open. The pages fell on “Ten Ways to Think like a Spy.” Number one, act like you belong. That’s easy. I own the land the fair sits on, so I belong there as much as anyone else. Number two, have a purpose. I did, didn’t I? A desire to get to the bottom of things. So far so good. Number three, blend in. A bit harder now that everyone knows me, but not impossible, right? I could feel my mind become sharper, like a trap ready to ensnare the suspect.

“Summer? Ethan’s here.” Aunt Eunice’s voice ripped me from my covert studies.

“Be down in a jiffy!” I tossed my spy book into the small tote bag I used as my spy case—when I remembered to stick it in my purse, that is. Most of the time the black leather tote remained in the top drawer of my nightstand. Not tonight. I shoved everything into my purse. The bag contained my tiny flashlight, a notepad and pencil, and the sweetest little recorder that fit in the palm of my hand. I had my eye set on a camera next. The electronic store had one that would be perfect.

With the fair over, I was certain I could now put an end to the sinister dealings at Foreman’s Fair and Carnival. Whether Joe agreed or not, I knew with absolute certainty things were not over. Call it a detective’s intuition.

I let my jeans and turtleneck shirt fall to a puddle on the floor and grabbed the clothes hanging on my closet. Once dressed, I pulled a brush through my curls, tied my hair back in a ribbon, grabbed my purse, then darted down the stairs.

“Sorry I’m late. Time got away from me.” I planted a kiss on Ethan’s cheek.

“No problem, Tink. I’m used to it and you’re worth waiting for.” Ethan slid an arm around my waist. “See you later, Eunice.”

“Bye, you two.” Aunt Eunice disappeared into the kitchen.

“Ready?” Ethan smiled down at me.

“Ready.”

Once we’d eaten and discussed all the everyday things that lovers talk about over dinner, I decided to broach the subject of a stakeout while Ethan was pleasantly full and enjoying the aftereffects of his steak.

“Ethan?”

“Yes?” His dimple winked. “So, are you ready now to tell me what’s been on your mind all evening? Don’t tell me nothing. I know you.”

How did he do that? How did he always know? I filled him in on the details of my visit with Sally. “So, I’d like to do some spy work.”

“You don’t know the first thing about being a spy.”

I dug in my purse for the guidebook and slid it across the table. Ethan laughed. I sat straighter and clenched my teeth. He picked up the book and skimmed through the pages.

“I’m asking you to go with me, Ethan. I could go by myself, but I’m trying to respect your wishes.” I gripped my hands around my glass.

“I appreciate that.” He handed the guide back to me and crossed his arms, leaning on the table. “Joe is certain Grizzly Bob is the culprit. I’m sure Sally’s words are just that. Words of pain. But, if I can squeeze in a little time holding you, I’d be willing to sit in the dark, in the cold, on a stakeout with you.”

“Really?”

“For my own completely selfish reasons, of course.”

I dropped the book back into my purse and raised my hand for the restaurant bill. “Of course.” The glance he gave me melted my insides, and if the look was from someone else that I’d be sitting in the dark with, I’d be seriously concerned for my virtue. But not my strong-willed hero. He’d keep things on the straight and narrow, despite myself. Ethan paid the bill then steered me outside to his truck.

Fifteen minutes later he stopped before the open gates to the fairgrounds. No one stirred. The grounds sat in quiet shadows. Muted light glowed from behind drawn curtains. My gaze scanned the night, searching for a place where we could park unseen.

“Pull behind the arts and crafts building,” I whispered. “We’ll have a clear view of Sally’s trailer.”

“Why are we whispering?” Ethan turned the wheel.

“Because that’s what spies do.”

“Right.”

I soon grew bored and my eyes weary from straining to catch movement from Sally’s that didn’t come. Ethan glanced at me and grinned.

“Ready to give me a kiss?” He pulled me close and planted a kiss on the tender spot beneath my ear. I shivered, losing myself in the sheer bliss of his lips. “Your uncle would shoot me if he caught me nuzzling you in the dark.”

“Most likely. But what a way to go.” My words threatened to be swept away in the breathlessness of his kiss, and I lost myself in the arms of my soul mate. I turned my head to meet his lips. If this was what a stakeout with a handsome man and the world’s best kisser did to someone, I’d join the CIA in a split second. As long as Ethan could be my partner.

The door to Sally’s trailer opened. “Wait.” I planted my hands on Ethan’s chest and pushed. “Look.” Woodrow stepped out, glanced both ways, headed down the corridor between the buildings, then disappeared in the shadows.

I eased my door open. “Come on. Let’s follow him.”

“I’d rather stay here where you can keep me warm.”

“Come on.” I tugged at Ethan’s hand. He slid along the seat after me and closed the door with a muffled thud.

“Shhh.” I held a finger to my lips and glared.

“Sorry.”

I pulled him behind me in the direction Woodrow had gone. We caught up with the man outside one of the carnies’ trailers. Ethan and I darted behind one of the restrooms and peered around the corner. How I wished I had that camera I’d been yearning for.

Woodrow used his elbow and broke the window. He glanced around at the sound of glass shattering, then knocked out the rest of the pane before climbing inside.

“This doesn’t look good.” Ethan loped toward the broken window and pulled me with him. “Something else shattered inside.” Ethan shoved me around the corner.

“I can’t see anything,” I hissed. I shoved closer. From beneath Ethan’s arm, I caught a clear picture of Woodrow climbing back out the window, a plastic bottle of pills clutched in his hand. “He’s buying or stealing drugs. I knew it. I told Joe this was all about Sally being an addict.”

“You did?” Ethan glanced down at me.

“Well, words to that effect.”

“Uh-huh.”

Once Woodrow had sneaked back toward Sally’s trailer, Ethan and I stepped out, being careful to keep the man several yards ahead of us. Raised voices reached us before we approached the partially open window of Sally’s home.

“What took you so long? I’m dying here. You know I need my medication, Woodrow.”

“I hurried as fast as I could, dear.”

“Not fast enough. You know the pain I’m in. Hurry, hand me the bottle.”

My height was not an advantage to peering in windows. A quick study of the nearby ground yielded a battered milk crate. Ethan placed it beneath the sill, and I stepped up, keeping myself between the aluminum siding of the wall and the protection of Ethan. This position promised a clear view of the living room and kitchen where Woodrow prepared a drink for his lady.

“Oh no.” I glanced at Ethan.

Woodrow pulled a bottle from beneath his jacket and dumped a healthy portion of white powder into the glass of whiskey he’d just poured. He then shook out three of the red pills he’d given Sally earlier. “He’s going to poison her.”

My foot slipped.

The crate banged against the side of the trailer.

Woodrow whirled. The glass in his hand crashed to the floor where it shattered.

I fell backward, taking Ethan to the ground with me. The air left my lungs with a muffled whoosh. A scrap of fabric from my blouse hung from an exposed nail on the window frame.

“Who’s there? Woodrow, go see who it is.” Sally’s bellow burst from the open window. Her shrill girlie voice had been replaced with gruffness.

“Come on.” Ethan scrambled to his feet, hefted me in his arms, then darted around the corner of the trailer.

“We’ve got to stop him, Ethan. He’s going to kill her.”

“Shhh.” He clapped a hand over my mouth.

Woodrow’s shadow, complete with the silhouette of a hand clutching a gun, stretched around the building.

Chapter Thirty

The spy book never mentioned what to do if we get caught.” My heart beat with the pace of a thoroughbred, each thud like mighty hooves against the racetrack of my rib cage.

“We aren’t caught yet.” Ethan kicked a nearby rock. It knocked into a storage building opposite us. Unlike in the movies, the sound did draw Woodrow’s attention in the opposite direction.

“Is that you, Miss Meadows? ’Cause I’m wondering who else would be sneaking around our place at this time of night.” Woodrow’s voice took on a singsong rhythm.

I shivered, not only against the night chill, but with the eeriness of the position I found myself in. The tone of his voice, his attempt at playfulness while trying to kill me, cast the situation in a surreal nightmare. I clutched Ethan’s arm. My fingers dug into the flesh of his bicep.

“Noisy, meddlesome woman. My life is full of wretched females who can’t leave a man alone. Can you hear me? Can you see me?” I couldn’t remember a time when Woodrow had spoken more than a few words at a time. Now the man seemed to spew words like a fountain.

If I had to be stalked by a madman, I thanked God for Ethan being with me. I tended to lose my head in extreme circumstances. Ethan disentangled his arm from my grip and steered me ahead of him around another corner.

Breathe, Summer. Deep breaths. Too deep. Danger of hyperventilation. Spots swam before my eyes. I swayed and Ethan steadied me.

“There’s the truck.” Ethan gave me a shove, and we dashed across the alley. My hands fumbled with the truck’s door latch until Ethan reached around me and opened it. Keeping low, he scooted to the driver’s side, climbed in, then turned the ignition.

“That was a rush.” Ethan grinned at me as we spun gravel out of the fairgrounds.

A nervous giggle escaped me. “Wasn’t it?” I laid a hand on his arm. “We need to let the police know that Woodrow is stealing from the pharmacy and planning to murder Sally.”