Deadly Row to Hoe (15 page)

Twenty-seven

It turned out that
a brisk, nocturnal bike ride, an involuntary back flip, and a visit with an old doctor friend before tumbling into bed at four o’clock in the morning was an excellent cure for insomnia. However, the morning after sucked.

I awoke alone, blinking blearily at the daylight pushing in around the bedroom curtain. It looked bright and yellow, so the clouds from the night before had blown through. The clock on my bedside table read seven-thirty. Only three and a half hours of sleep, and without even moving I could tell the day was going to be painful. I lay on my left side, and my coccyx throbbed in time with my heart. But it was my own fault for chasing after Hallie.

Buck up, Sophie Mae. Time to get going.

Easier thought than done, but I managed. Gritting my teeth, I swung my feet to the floor, only to discover my ducky slippers, a bit muddy and worse for the previous night’s wear, sitting by the bed. Standing didn’t feel too bad. I tentatively stretched my arms toward the ceiling. So far so good.

I made my way gingerly down the hallway to the bathroom. After a dose of ibuprofen and a long, hot shower with invigorating, rosemary-scented soap, I rubbed a generous application of arnica salve on my bruises. Then I dressed at half speed, amazed at how little damage I’d suffered, especially considering how little I’d been wearing on my lower half.

At least the photographer from the
Cadyville Eye
hadn’t had a chance to catch my antics on camera. Neighborhood gossips would have to fill the bill in that regard. Unless one of them had gone digital and had already posted pictures of my scantily clad posterior around the Internet.

What a lovely thought.

I dressed in my softest, well-worn jeans. They had a big hole in the knee, but I wasn’t aiming for sartorial splendor today. Bette and I were scheduled to volunteer at the Turner Farm this morning, and bruised tailbone or not, I had no intention of letting Tom and Allie down. Adding a worn, Hard Rock Miami T-shirt I’d bought at the thrift store and a pair of sturdy work boots to my ensemble, I opened the door of our quarters and prepared to embrace the day.

The mouthwatering smell of bacon greeted me, and I discovered Meghan and Erin at the kitchen table, murmuring with their heads together. Brodie lay with his head on Erin’s foot. They all looked up when I entered.

“How are you feeling?” Meghan asked. Wearing a bright yellow sundress, she looked fresh as a proverbial daisy after so little sleep.

“A little tender, but okay. Where’s Clarissa?” I headed for the coffee pot as if it were an oasis in the Sahara. A plate of bacon and buttered toast beckoned from the counter beside it. I grabbed a piece of each and poured a steaming mug of dark roast.

“The Turners picked her up before you got back from your little
adventure last night. This morning. Whatever,” Meghan said. “I called them as soon as Barr left to go after you. They were here within fifteen minutes.”

And Barr and I had been so tired when we got home we hadn’t even asked about the teenaged object of Hallie’s nocturnal visit. Meghan and Kelly had been sitting on the sofa waiting for us, but
no one had been in much of a mood for conversation. I’d assumed
Clarissa was back in Erin’s bedroom, and within minutes we’d all retired to our respective rooms.

Leaning my uninjured hip against the counter, I paused before taking my first much-needed sip of caffeine. “So Allie must have gone to the station after that. Barr told me last night she believes her sister. Hallie’s story is that she only wanted to talk to Clarissa about that weird scene yesterday afternoon.” I glanced at Erin. “I wonder if Allie thought her twin might be the … you know.”

“Murderer?” she piped up.

“I have no idea,” Meghan said. “I didn’t get that impression from
her, though. She seemed just as anxious to get her sister home as her daughter.”

My bet was that Tom didn’t share his wife’s concern.

“Why do you say that anyway?” Meghan asked.

I wasn’t going to go into all the reasons for Hallie being Darla’s killer and Nate’s attacker, not with Erin staring at me like a cat
looks at a bird, so I stuck with the most obvious. “They wanted
us to look after Clarissa away from the farm so she’d be safe. I wondered whether they might suspect one of their own. But now that Hallie is in jail, they’ve taken their daughter back.”

Meghan shrugged. “After all the hoopla here, they probably just want Clarissa home with them.”

I looked at Erin. “Will you miss her?”

“No.” The word was decisive.

I raised one eyebrow.

“She read part of my book last night while I was asleep!”

“Ohh … and you haven’t let any of us see it.”

“That’s because it’s not ready. I didn’t give her permission or anything. She read my story in the middle of the night when I was asleep, and then before her parents came to get her she said it was silly!”

“She’d had a hard night. Maybe she was just lashing out,” Meghan said.

“Whatever.” At least Erin didn’t seem fazed by the criticism.

I swallowed a bite of bacon. “Bug, how did Clarissa know Hallie
was outside? Was she watching for her?”

“I told you—I was asleep. But I bet her aunt texted her on her
cell
phone
.” She shot a look at her mother. “Clarissa told me they did that all the time.”

“Was she texting before you guys went to sleep?”

“I don’t know. Her phone made a noise once.”

“What did it sound like?”

“Kind of a little
doink
doink
.”

That might have been the sound I’d heard. But if Hallie was already in contact with Clarissa, why did she go to all the trouble to drive to our house unless she really did want her niece to go with her?

“So where’s my bike?” Erin asked. “Mom said you wrecked it.”

“Yeah, the frame’s all bent up. I’m sorry, Bug, I really am. I’ll get you a brand new one, okay?”

“Okay!”

“I bet the old one can be fixed,” Meghan said, sounding cheerful as all get out.

“No, I want to get her a new one,” I said. Why was my housemate grinning like that? Something was up.

Squinting, I asked, “What were you two whispering about when
I came in?”

A big grin split Erin’s face, all thought of Clarissa and her boundary issues forgotten. “Show her, Mom.”

“Show me what, Mom?” I asked.

Meghan’s face held quiet pleasure. She held out her hand.

It took a moment for the ring to register. When it did, I sank carefully onto the edge of a chair opposite her and took her hand in mine to examine it more closely. It was a deep blue sapphire in an antique platinum setting. The style and colors were so perfectly Meghan the ring could have sprouted right out of her finger.

“When did this happen?” I asked.

“Last night. After we—” She glanced at Erin. “After everyone went to bed.”

“I thought you … I’m confused.”

“Kelly asked
me
to marry
him
last night. He’d been waiting until the ring was done. He designed it himself.”

My mouth dropped open, and I laughed. “That’s fabulous! Oh, honey, I’m so thrilled for you. Talk about two people who think alike.”

She grinned at me, and I grinned back, and then we both grinned
at Erin for a while.

“Have you set a date?” I asked.

“We’re going to Vegas in two weeks.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Erin’s going to come with us, and we want you and Barr to come, too. Can Cyan take care of Winding Road?”

“Um, I guess so. Let me check in with her. After all, school will be starting some time in there. Why the hurry?” And as the last words came out, my eyes widened in question.

My housemate waved away the notion. “Nothing like that. We just want to get going with our lives. Plus, I saw what happens if you wait. My mother would swoop down on us and then Kelly’s would get involved. She’s nice, really, but a bit domineering, if you know what I mean.”

“More than my mother?”

“Maybe not. But we’re not taking any chances. And as for school, we’ll be back before then. Bug, you’re going to have to have Zoe show your chickens at the Fair, or wait until next year. Is that okay?”

Erin nodded. “Next year is fine. Can I wear another pretty dress
like I did at Sophie Mae’s wedding?”

“Of course.”

Her comment made me think of Clarissa again. “Do you like girly girl dresses?”

Erin looked coy as one shoulder rose and dropped. “Sometimes. But mostly I want to look nice for Mom and Kelly.”

No matter how much she rebelled, that kid loved her mother to pieces.

Twenty-eight

“How’re you feeling, hon?”
The words were right, but Barr sounded distracted.

“A little tired, but I’m okay. It looks like I missed your call?” I’d been up in our bathroom, icing my coccyx and then applying another layer of arnica salve when he’d telephoned. That stuff was already working wonders on my hip bruise. Now I was down in my workroom, making sure everything was in order before I took off for the farm. Cyan and Kalie had the day off because they’d be working the Thursday evening farmers market later.

“Right. Just wanted to let you know the hospital called. Nate’s coming around.”

Relief gusted through me, and I sagged against the wall. “That’s terrific! Has he said anything you can use yet?”

“It sounds like he’s still kind of out of it. Confused. Sergeant Zahn and I will go talk to him in a few hours.”

“Not now?” I couldn’t keep the disappointment out of my voice.

“He’s not quite lucid yet, so it wouldn’t do much good to question him now. Plus we’ve got another interview to get through.”

“Oh, dear. You don’t sound very happy about that.”

“Remember the guy I told you about who had some sketchy work history? Zahn checked into it. He was working undercover for a couple of years in Albuquerque. The sergeant really likes him, so he wants us both to talk to him again.”

“Zahn likes him—but you don’t, necessarily?”

“He’s … I shouldn’t say anything.”

“Yes, you should.”

“Believe me, you’ll get an earful if anything pans out from this.”

I let it go. “What about Hallie? Does she know Nate’s awake?”

“We haven’t told her, but she does keep asking about him. At least she’s not going anywhere for a while. If we have to, we’ll charge her with something. Anything.”

“Erin thinks Hallie was texting Clarissa last night.”

“Really … yeah, we might be able to do something with that.” He paused, then I heard him say, “I’m on my way,” to someone else. “I’ve got to go, hon. Talk to you later, okay?”

I hesitated. Should I tell him I was going out to Turner Farm?

“Love you,” he said. “’Bye.” He hung up.

That answered that.

I went back upstairs to where I’d left my tote on the bench by the front door. The torn piece of paper where Daphne had scribbled her cell number was tucked into a side pocket. I punched the numbers in as I returned to my workroom.

She answered on the third ring.

“Hey, Daphne. It’s Sophie Mae. How are you holding up?”

“Much better now. Nate’s awake!” Then I heard her whisper, “It’s Sophie Mae.”

“Barr told me. That’s great news. Is Faith there with you?”

“We’ve been here all night. Now that Nate’s better, I think we might go to my house and get some sleep. Come back later in the afternoon.”

“So he’s going to be okay?”

“It will take some time for him to recover completely, but the doctors are very pleased. They’ve moved him out of the ICU.”

“Excellent. Is there still an officer there?”

“How did you—oh, of course. Barr told you. Officer Dawson went home this morning.”

That could be because Hallie was no longer a threat. It could also simply be because the department wasn’t big enough to provide a full-time guard for Nate.

“I don’t suppose he’s said anything about his attacker?” Couldn’t
hurt to ask.

She hesitated. “No, he hasn’t. He doesn’t remember.”

“Barr mentioned that he’s still a little confused.”

Another pause. “He’s not confused so much as he has a blank spot.”

“Blank spot?”

“In his memory. Nate doesn’t understand why he’s in the hospital at all. See, he doesn’t remember being attacked at all. The last thing he remembers is being in his trailer.”

“Oh, no.”

“It shouldn’t last, though,” she hurried to reassure me. “The neurologist says he’s seen this before. Over time Nate’s memory should come back.”

I urged her to get some sleep and hung up.

Over time? How much time?

_____

Erin’s voice drifted through my workroom window. Zoe had agreed to take care of the hens while we were in Las Vegas, and Erin was conducting Chickens 101 out in the backyard. Meghan sat on a stool at the main work island while I stood and mixed up a batch of massage oil scented with cedarwood and clove essential oils. The combination made me think of the coming fall and the holidays beyond that.

“Of course I’m going to the farm this morning,” I said. “Tom and Allie need the help.”

“They’ll understand if you can’t come. You were up all night trying to protect their daughter, after all.”

“Oh, gosh, Megs. They could lose that place because of Darla Klick’s murder. The farm’s associated with violence and death now. Yesterday’s volunteers canceled on them, and this is the busiest time of the season. I just can’t let them down.”

“Okay, then let me go in your place,” Meghan said.

“Don’t you have clients today?” I measured out a teaspoon of clove oil and added it to the cedarwood already in the bottle.

“I can cancel.”

“That’s silly.”

“Stay home and take care of yourself,” she insisted.

“You are not going to lose business on my account.”

“You just can’t stand the thought of not doing something. Fine. Stay down here and make soap or something. Boss Cyan and Kalie around for a while. But working in the field is too much.”

“Listen. I know you have my best interests at heart. I do. And I appreciate that. My so-called injuries are a pain in the patootie, literally, but they’re not anything serious.”

Her frown lines deepened with worry.

“Besides, there’s no one to boss. The girls have the day off.” Using a funnel, I filled the rest of the bottle with jojoba oil.

“Hallie could be back home by now. She’s already hurt you twice. I do not want you to go out there. If you insist, I’ll call Barr.”

“You’ll … are you kidding me?” I spluttered. It was like threatening to tell my father. “Well, go ahead. And he’ll tell you Nate woke up this morning, and they’re still holding Hallie at the station.”

Her eyes widened. “Nate identified her?”

“Well, not exactly. He’s having some problems with his memory. Should be temporary, though.”

The frown returned.

“I’ll be fine.”

“Do what you want.” She slid off the stool. “You always do anyway. But I have a bad feeling. I can’t tell you why, but I do. I wish you’d listen to me once in a while.” And my best friend stomped upstairs.

I stared after her. Meghan didn’t get her “feelings” very often, but when she did something was usually off.

Off, but not necessarily dangerous. Hallie was still in the holding cell at the police station. Nate was getting better. The Turners desperately needed some help. And it wasn’t like I’d be working alone.

No, I wouldn’t. I’d make sure of that. Whatever Tom needed us to do today, Bette and I would do it together.

_____

“You stay here and be a good boy.” Bette’s braid swung over her shoulder as she bent down and stroked the big dog’s head. He grinned up at her, panting his agreement. She scratched him one last time behind the ears before shutting the gate and striding out to the street.

“Alexander is always a good boy,” I said as she folded her tall form into the Rover’s passenger seat. At least the clay spatter on her hiking pants and tank top seemed to be dry. “I don’t know that I’ve ever known such a well-trained dog.”

She gazed fondly out the open window. He stood by the front gate, faithfully awaiting his mistress’ return. “I’d like to bring him out to the farm, but I’m afraid he’ll chase the chickens.” She fastened her seat belt and leaned back.

“True.” I laughed. “That kind of self-control might be asking a bit too much of him.” I pulled away from the curb and made a U-turn south.

“Oh, he could learn. Alex is awfully smart, and he aims to please.”

“I saw you out walking him last night.” I might as well be the one to bring up the early morning hours.

“Hmm. I have periods of insomnia. I saw you out and about, too.” Her eyes cut my way.

Taking a deep breath, I told her about both of Hallie’s visits to our house, explaining how I didn’t want her to get away again and leaving out the reason for the soft pillow installed under my posterior. If I leaned a wee bit to the left, away from my sore hip, driving was manageable if not pleasant. She listened to my tale with a growing expression of astonishment.

“You chased her on your bike?”

“Erin’s bike, actually. And not so much chase as … track, I guess. Unfortunately, she panicked when she saw the cop car and kind of ran me off the road.”

“Oh, Sophie Mae, you could have been really hurt.”

I shifted on the pillow. “I’m fine. She didn’t hit me with the car or anything. In fact, I’m pretty sure she was just trying to get away.” Again.

“You’re crazy, you know that?”

I glanced at her, expecting her to be smiling, but her face was solemn as a nun’s. So I simply nodded and left it at that. “She’s in custody now.”

“They arrested her?”

“Not yet. They could probably come up with some charges, but for now they can keep her there while they wait.”

She looked confused.

“See, it’s possible she’s responsible for the attacks at the farm. Nate should be able to tell us soon.” I hoped. “Since she’s scampered before, they want to keep an eye on her until they find out what he has to say.”

“So … there’s good news about Nate?” she asked.

“Yes! Really good news. He’s awake now. A little off kilter still, but conscious.”

She tipped her head to one side. “He’s going to be okay, then.”

“It sounds like it. The doctors are happy with his progress. It was touch and go there for a while.”

Bette faced forward again and nodded. “That’s great. His family must be so relieved.”

“I met his mother yesterday. She told me a bit about Nate’s background. Did you know he was raised in a commune up on Camano Island? Faith—that’s his mom’s name—was one of the original founders.”

“Commune? How very seventies. Has he told the police who hit him?”

“Not yet. I spoke to Daphne this morning, and she told me he’s having some memory problems. But the doctors say that should get better. There’s been an officer there all night.” I didn’t mention that was for protection as much as anything.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw her shoulders lower as if she could finally relax. Like everyone else, she’d been nervous about working at the farm today. At least she’d had the guts to go anyway. If only Nate would hurry up and remember, we’d soon know the truth about what happened to him—and maybe to Darla Klick as well. At least Hallie wasn’t running around loose. Yet.