Fudge-Laced Felonies (19 page)

Not a car in sight. I had no idea where to stand. On the side of the road? In the middle?

The painkillers were wearing off, along with my flippant attitude. Fear crept in and took up residence in the center of my chest. The night grew silent. I lost track of how long I waited before loneliness set in. And I mean a deep loneliness. The kind that makes you think you’re the last living thing on the planet.

All cooling from the air conditioner was gone by now, and I lifted a hand to wipe my forehead. Maybe if I talked to myself, it would relieve my boredom and fear. “I need a sidekick. Miss Marple had. . . I don’t know whether she had one or not. Maybe that detective guy. Nancy Drew had Bess and George. Sherlock had Holmes. No, that’s his last name. Watson. Sherlock had Watson.” I paced up and down the middle of the road until my

feet ached. “I definitely need a sidekick. Well, I suppose one would say God was my sidekick, but I’m not sure that’s appropriate. I’d rather He sat in the driver’s seat, and I could be the passenger.”

But then I’d have to take my hands off the steering wheel. Was I ready? Could I give God total control?

Headlights broke the black, and I scurried to the side of the road. A low-slung car of howling teenage boys roared past. I took deep breaths to steady my heartbeat.

I held my breath as they turned around. I tilted my head to speak into the microphone. “Huh, guys, there’s a car full of teenagers heading for me. They’re slowing down. They’re stopping.”

“Hey, lady!” One young man, a liter bottle of something that didn’t resemble soda, leaned out the window. “You all right? You been in a car accident or something?”

“No, I’m fine, thank you.”

“Are you sure? You look like you’ve been beat up, and your neck is crooked. Do you need a ride somewhere?”

I straightened, glad the shadows hid my flaming face. “No, I’m meeting someone.”

“Oh.” His eyes widened. “I get it. She’s having a secret rendezvous.”

The guys in the car roared with laughter, and I grinned. “You guessed it. Bye now.”

The taillights disappeared down the road. I pushed the button on my watch to illuminate the face. 11:14. Had I only been out here a half hour?

I lowered into a seated position and wrapped my arms around my knees. Maybe this was a wild-goose chase. What if they’d planned to lure me away from home? What if I wasn’t the intended target? They could be after Uncle Roy or Aunt Eunice. I bolted to my feet and paced. The thought terrified me.

“Hey, officers.” I dipped my chin to speak into my chest. My voice bounced off the concrete overpass. “What if I’m not the target?” No answer. I guessed it to be a one-way wire. What was the range on these? Horror. Had they heard me talking to myself?

Of course they had. If the crook did show up, he or she wouldn’t be speaking into my chest. The wire would have to pick up the sound from at least a couple of feet. Thank You, Lord, that I didn’t speak about my feelings for Ethan aloud. It was embarrassing enough that he heard everything else I’d rattled on about.

A vehicle loomed on the horizon. Its headlights sliced through the darkness. The car paused at the top of the hill, engine roaring through the night. I shielded my eyes and stepped into the center of the road.

“This is it, guys.” I didn’t dip my chin this time.

The noise grew in intensity. The car, maybe a Cadillac, lurched forward and, picking up speed, raced in my direction.

“He’s trying to hit me—to run me over! Get out here and stop him!” I scurried up the embankment, scraping the palms of my hands. Finally, at the top, breathing heavy from exertion and fear, I scooped up a fist-sized rock, wound up like a major leaguer, and hurled it.

Strike! The rock bounced off the cracked windshield. My smile was a mile long at the satisfying crunch sound. “You want me? Come and get me, coward!”

I bent to retrieve another rock but looked up at the sound of a car door opening.

“Y’all, he’s getting out. I have to admit I’m scared and in no shape to outrun someone.” No response.

“Can you see this? You said you’d keep me in your sights.”

Please let me be in their sights. My heart sprang to my throat, choking my words.

“He’s opening the back door and pulling on something. . . . Wait, he’s dragging something out. Something heavy.”

I straightened. “He’s waving at me.”

Confusion clouded my mind. My hand rose to return the gesture; then I clenched my fist beside me. Did that mean he knew me? I stopped my monologue. The shadowy, dark figure hopped back in the car. “He’s leaving.”

I stared at the lump he’d deposited. It looked like one of those black lawn and leaf bags at first. When I got closer, I realized I’d mistaken a blanket-wrapped bundle for a bag. “Should I go check it out?” I’d already begun my sliding descent down the hill. The agents couldn’t answer anyway. Why wait for them?

Only one way to find out what it was. I squatted in front of the bundle. “I’m opening it now.”

In my head, in my imagination, I could hear the officers screaming at me not to touch it. I couldn’t resist and reached for the fabric, pulling it aside.

I screamed. The sound reverberated.

Terri Lee stared at me with the black, lifeless sheen of a doll’s eyes.

Fifteen

I stumbled back, landing on my bottom. Even in the light from the stars, I could see the gash across Terri Lee’s neck. The pavement beneath her shone from the blood spilling from the blanket. My hand was wet from where I’d gripped it. I wiped it on my jeans.

“Summer!” Ethan ran up and slid to the ground beside me. “Are you all right? Are you hurt?” He grabbed me and pulled me to him.

Pointing at the bundle, I gulped the night air. “It’s Terri Lee.” I peered up at him. “She’s stuffed in there.” I pointed again. “Like somebody’s discarded trash.”

Within seconds, police swarmed the area, flashlights waving. Officer Bowers draped a blanket around me. It smelled of cigarettes and coffee. I stared at my shoes, spattered crimson. The same red seeped into the bottom edge of the blanket. I shuddered, stomach churning.

Ethan ran his hands up and down my arms briskly. I wasn’t cold, but it felt so nice. “You’re so strong, Summer.”

I shook my head, trying not to watch Terri Lee’s body being placed in a bag. “I’m not. Not really.” Tears ran down my cheeks, soaking his shirt. “I’m afraid, Ethan. I acted brave, but that wasn’t me. That was the painkillers. They aren’t working anymore. My hand hurts. My head hurts, and I’m scared out of my mind.” I raised my voice with each word.

He pulled me close. “Shh. I’m here. I’ll take care of you.”

My gaze fell on the zipped body bag holding Terri Lee’s remains lit by the headlights of the van the officers had pulled up. “I don’t want to end up like her.”

“You won’t. I promise.” His grip tightened to where my nose pressed against him. He smelled of cologne and sweat.

“Ethan, I can’t breathe.”

“Sorry.” He loosened his hold. I turned my head. He held me close. His heart beat in time with my breathing. I didn’t want to leave the security of his arms.

“Miss Meadows, we have a couple of questions.” Officer Brown squatted next to us.

I didn’t want to speak to him. Ethan kept the blanket wrapped around me as I pulled back. “Didn’t y’all hear everything through the wire?”

“Yes, but we couldn’t see. You were our eyes.”

The image of Terri Lee’s face swam before me. I wondered whether I’d remember anything else. Unfortunately, the details came flooding back, and I told Officer Brown everything. His pen scratched across the paper pad he held. “Are you sure you saw a man?”

I wrapped my arms around my knees. I suppose a woman could’ve pulled the body from the car. But he, or she, looked bigger than any woman I know. I shrugged. “Pretty sure.”

“We need more than ‘pretty sure,’ Miss Meadows.” Officer Brown had the audacity to frown at me. After all I’d done for him.

Ethan bolted to his feet. “That’s enough, Brown. Summer’s going home. Any questions you have can wait until tomorrow. Officer Wayne can come question her then.” He held out a hand to help me up. With his arm around my shoulders, Ethan led me to Joe’s squad car.

Exhaustion washed over me, filling my limbs with lead. Once Ethan scooted beside me in the backseat, I snuggled under his arm and laid my head on his chest. Before my eyes closed, I’d swear I heard him say he’d be my sidekick.

My eyes opened to the view of my bedroom ceiling. The last thing I remembered was Ethan carrying me upstairs. Then Aunt Eunice getting me ready for bed.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed and groaned. Every inch of my body hurt. The cut on my hand, the scrapes on my knees, every muscle from my head-on with the tree.

The Dolt book caught my eye. Ugh! I swiped it from the nightstand to the floor. It hadn’t helped so far. Maybe I wasn’t being entirely fair. The couple of ideas I’d followed had unveiled information. Today, with all my aches, investigating didn’t take top priority.

Being Sunday, I opted for church and then a relaxing afternoon in bed. What could I wear to cover my battle scars? My glance fell on a long summer dress. One that brushed my ankles. I couldn’t do better. Plus, it looked pretty. Pink with little blue sprigs of flowers.

I spent fifteen minutes trying to style my hair to hide the black-and-blue marks. My bangs fell forward, obscuring my vision. I needed a haircut. With a sigh, I pinned them up out of my face, leaving bangs to hide my stitches. It wouldn’t do for me to fall and add to my injuries. It would be just my luck to fall and break a leg. Maybe both.

Uncle Roy appeared at the bottom of the stairs. “Wait right there. I don’t want you climbing down by yourself.” He hurried up, his booted feet clunking on the wood.

Grasping me by the elbow, he led me down one step at a time.

A sweet gesture, really. Made me feel cherished. Loved.

“Thank you, Uncle Roy.”

“How you feeling, darling?”

“Sore. Tired. But I’ll be all right.” At the bottom, I cupped a hand over his cheek. “I love you, Uncle Roy. I appreciate you. Have I told you?”

His work-worn hand covered mine. “Honey, there’s no need. I know you do.” Tears welled in his eyes. “I love you, too.”

“I’m going to cry.” Aunt Eunice stood in the doorway of the kitchen, her hands clasped over her heart.

I smiled and hugged her. “I love you, Aunt Eunice.” The hug she returned threatened to crack my ribs.

“Oh, sweetie.” She released me and stepped back. “Let’s go eat breakfast and get to church. We could all use a big ole dose of worship.”

The ride to church wrapped me in the warmth of love. The love of God and my family. Tears hovered behind my eyelids the entire time.

Ethan met us in the parking lot and helped me from the truck. The tender look on his face had my hidden tears escaping in no time. I wiped them away. I’d been wrong about the big doofus for years. He loved me. But why didn’t he say anything to me?

My caring protector got me settled comfortably in a pew beside my aunt before heading back to the atrium to resume his duties. Confusion clouded my mind. Days before, all the solicitous attention would’ve offended me. Made me uncomfortable. Embarrassed. Not anymore.

What changed me? I wanted to say maturity, but that couldn’t be the reason. I would be thirty soon. How much more mature could I get? And poor Terri Lee. I was even more convinced she was guilty, but no one deserved to be murdered and dumped on the side of the road.

I remained seated during worship, my mind going over the events of last night. Had I given the police all the vital information? Why had the suspect wanted me to deliver the money if he didn’t intend to collect it? Had he come to leave Terri Lee’s body as a message for me? For the police?

I tuned in to the pastor’s words. I’d missed most of what he’d said, being lost in my musings, but the part about not leaning on one’s own understanding riveted me.

It hit me like a knock over the head. That’s what I’d been doing. Had I asked God to help me with this case? Nope. Doubly important now that someone obviously wanted me out of the picture.

I choked back a laugh remembering Aunt Eunice’s orders to ask God who should be on my list of suspects. She’d be livid to discover Ruby and Mabel topped said list. Especially with Terri Lee among the deceased.

I turned to greet Ethan with a smile as he sat next to me partway through the message. He leaned closer to whisper, “How are you holding up?”

“Fine. Just listening.” He had never joined me for a service before. It felt natural. “I’ve realized I need to have a conversation with God about this case. It’s long overdue.”

Ethan’s face set into what resembled a handsome marble cast of his head. “I wish you’d stop trying to solve this.”

“I can’t. Somebody wants me dead.” The thought chilled me to the core. “They won’t stop even if I do.”

He wrapped my hand in his. “I know. But I don’t like it.”

“Besides”—I gave his hand a squeeze—“I have a trusty bodyguard now.” I excused myself before the service ended, wanting to beat the after-service restroom rush.

No one else was in the bathroom. Trembling overtook me. I chose the farthest stall from the door and perched on the closed lid of the toilet. Now seemed a good a time as any to have a conversation with the Lord. I prayed no one would interrupt my stolen quiet time.

Tears coursed a path down my cheeks. Knowing someone hated me enough to want me dead baffled me. I’d grown up having people love me. I needed help. With everything. A spark of anger burned toward April. She’d promised to be my partner in this. Instead, she’d become all google-eyed over Joe. Again, my fault.

Remorse flooded over me. How could I wish the danger threatening me on someone else?

Lord, I can’t do this alone anymore. I never should’ve started without calling on You. I’m scared. I’m experiencing emotions completely alien to me. I need Your help. Protect me, please. Ethan has affection for me. I want to live long enough to enjoy it.

The door scraped as it opened. I grabbed a handful of tissues and wiped my tears, remaining still, silent. I hoped no one would know I occupied the stall. I couldn’t carry a coherent conversation.