Fudge-Laced Felonies (20 page)

Whoever had hit against the door apparently decided against entry. A final grate and the room was quiet again. I’d spent enough time in here. Ethan would wonder and worry.

I pushed open the stall door and stepped to the sink. Someone believed in pampering the ladies of the church, and I squirted some rose-scented soap into my hands. I glanced in the mirror and cringed. Red, swollen eyes stared back at me. I’d totally ruined my makeup. I thanked God I was at church. Swollen eyes and streaked faces were common after a moving sermon or worship.

After drying my hands with a wad of paper towels, I pushed against the door. It didn’t budge. I shoved harder but couldn’t move the heavy panel of wood. Stepping back, I chewed my lower lip. Had someone locked me in? I glanced at my watch. Ten more minutes and someone would discover the locked door. Women would be swarming in here.

I lowered my aching, scratched, and weary body into one of the padded chairs provided for nursing mothers. How long until Ethan worried? I dug into my purse for my orange-flavored mints. Anything to keep my mind off being locked in the restroom. And at church. Was nothing sacred?

Footsteps approached. My heart quickened; then my shoulders slumped as the steps retreated. The place should be crowded by now. I stood and tried the door again. Nothing. Lord, I really need someone to miss me about now.

I doubled my fist and pounded. “Hello? Anybody?”

Voices sounded from the other side. Why couldn’t they hear me? “Hey!” I knocked harder, stopping when my fist hurt. I gave a kick before resuming my seat.

A screech and the door opened. I bolted to my feet, relieved to see Aunt Eunice standing there, her eyes wide.

“Someone locked me in!”

“I see that, dear.” She stepped aside and showed where a metal sign was propped beneath the door handle. A hanging piece of paper read Out of Order.

Behind my aunt, the members of the church stood staring at me. Well, maybe not all three thousand of them, but the people on my suspect list were there. I glared at everyone until Ethan pushed his way through and took me by the elbow to the courtyard.

“Where were you?”

“I needed to take care of something. I thought you’d be safe in the restroom.”

I planted my fists on my hips. “Well, I wasn’t.”

“You were only locked in the ladies’ room. Could have been worse.” He escorted me to the parking lot and steered me toward the car.

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why would someone lock me in the restroom? At church?” I tugged against his hold on me. “It doesn’t make sense. Stop.”

He turned to face me.

“I think a member of this church murdered Terri Lee. Joe needs to question everyone.”

“All of them? Summer, you aren’t being realistic. Besides, the police are investigating. They know what to do. And how do you know it’s someone from church?” Ethan patted his pockets, sighed, and released me.

“I left my cell phone in the church office. Sit here on the bench. I’ve got a couple of phone calls to make. Do you have your cell?” I shook my head. “You ought to be safe enough here in plain sight.”

He bent and stared at me. “Don’t move. I mean it. I’ll send your aunt or my sister over. Whoever I find first.” He brushed my hair back from my face. “Please, don’t move from this spot.”

Neither came soon enough. Duane Parker stared at me from across the courtyard. I smiled a welcome, remembering Ethan’s comment on convicting the man because of his past. Duane’s lips disappeared into a thin line under his beard. I shivered at the cold look in his eyes before he turned his face away. Could the guy really still be carrying a grudge after all these years?

Several minutes later, Nate approached at a hurried pace, which led me to believe something concerned him. His attitude annoyed me. His brow furrowed into worry lines as he sat down, taking my hands in his.

“I heard about your car accident, Summer. Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. Just a little sore.” I tried pulling away, but he held on with an iron grip.

“You’ve got to let me take care of you.”

“No, that’s—”

He raised a hand against my protests. “I insist, Summer. I know you’re infatuated with Ethan, but that’s all it is.” His voice took on a sense of urgency. “He isn’t caring for you properly. You need me.”

Aunt Eunice exited the church, and I bolted to my feet. “Aunt Eunice! Got to go, Nate.” I called over my shoulder, “Thanks for being concerned.”

I kissed my aunt’s cheek. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” I glanced at Nate and shivered. A frigid look replaced the worry lines on his face.

“Where’s Ethan?”

“Praying with someone in need. I’m going to take you home. Ready?”

“Ready and willing.” I slung my arm around her waist. I froze a few steps from my aunt’s truck.

In the parking space next to us sat a large-model car with a busted windshield. Was it the one I had shattered? I reached for my cell phone to call Joe. After all, he was family—even if he was off the case.

Sixteen

I gazed across the kitchen table at April. A breeze ruffled her curls from the open kitchen window. Duane’s nightly ritual of walking down the highway whistling drifted to my ears. Concern marred her usually smooth features. Guilt clenched my heart. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” Her light brown brows drew together.

“I’ve been selfish.” I gripped the frozen mocha drink she handed me. “I didn’t think of the consequences before plunging headfirst into this case. God convicted me while I sat in the bathroom. Philippians 2:4 came to mind. ‘Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.’ ” I took a gulp of the icy drink hoping to drown my sorrows. “I hadn’t thought of how my actions would affect others. Aunt Eunice and Uncle Roy are worried sick. Ethan has to babysit—”

“Which you don’t mind in the least.” Azure eyes twinkled at me.

“Not really.” I returned her smile. “Nevertheless, I should’ve thought of the consequences before. It was very irresponsible of me.”

“Yep, and I haven’t been much help. We have to catch this guy. What have you got?” She folded her hands on the table.

I slid my suspect list toward her. “Aunt Eunice got mad when I showed this to her.”

“It isn’t complete.”

“What do you mean?”

“Where’s mine and Ethan’s name? Or your aunt? Uncle Roy?”

“You two aren’t thieves or killers. Aunt Eunice can’t stomp on a spider, and Uncle Roy—” My mind raced. He had been gone during a lot of my scares. No, there was no way the murderer could be my sweet uncle.

“I’ll give you Ethan. He was with you when a couple of the incidents occurred, but I wasn’t. I could easily be the thief.” April handed the paper back to me.

“It’s a man. I’m certain. A man definitely dumped Terri Lee’s body on the side of the road.” I folded the list and tucked it into my pocket.

“He could be my accomplice.” April sat back in her chair. “The thing is, Summer, it could be anyone. Don’t limit your suspects to those few names.”

I twirled a straw in the soupy remains of whipped cream and coffee. My gut told me I was right about the suspect being male. My mind snapped back to the intruder in the house, who looked more like a woman in size and bone structure. There were two. Did Terri Lee’s death put it back to one? “Sounds like Joe’s teaching you about investigative work.”

“Nah. I’m good at eavesdropping. He won’t tell me a thing.” April folded her arms across her chest. “He’s frustrated about the dead ends the department keeps running up against. And he’s champing at the bit because he’s not in full control.”

“They don’t have any leads?” The thought floored me. If Joe didn’t have a clue, how was I supposed to know anything?

April stood. “It’ll work out. You’ll be fine, I’ll be fine, and everyone will be fine.”

Terri Lee isn’t fine. Her dead boyfriend isn’t fine. I might not be fine, either. I wish I had her confidence. It wasn’t that I didn’t have faith. I did. As much as the next guy. It hadn’t been tested until now. I planted my palms on the table and pushed to my feet. “You’re right. I’m having a moment of weakness.”

The crack of a twig sounded. I spun toward the open kitchen window. April gasped.

“I’m going out there to check.” I took a step toward the door then stopped, remembering the other times I’d heard noises. April was right. There was absolutely no way I was going outside.

April clutched my arm. “No. It’s like those scary movies. The girl goes to find out what’s making the noise and gets killed. Horribly killed, in a really bloody way.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s probably my aunt or uncle.”

“They said they were staying for the evening service.

You heard them.” She pulled me through the doorway and into the hall. “How do you stand it? Every other night, something happens. What are you? A danger magnet?”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. No one is safe around me.” I grabbed the phone and held it to April. “Call the police. We put Joe’s number on speed dial, number 2.”

April snatched the phone from my hand and pressed the buttons. “What do we do?”

“Wait, hide, and pray.” I checked the lock on the front door then took April by the elbow and pulled her farther away from the window.

“Your phone battery’s almost dead. Why can’t you remember to keep it charged? I charge mine every night.”

I stared at her like she’d gone crazy. “You’re lecturing me about my phone at a time like this?”

Footsteps pounded as someone ran across the porch.

April opened her mouth to scream, and I clamped a hand over her lips. “Shh.” She trembled. When did I get so strong? Feelings of obstinacy and anger grew in the pit of my stomach, sending heat over my neck and face. If I’d been alone, I’d have gone outside to confront the person who delighted in trying to frighten me. Easy to say. My limbs shook.

I flicked off the hall lamp and pulled April down to the floor with me. “We’ll be fine. They always go away. It’s a game.”

More footsteps stampeded across the porch, and Truly shot from the upstairs landing to the front door. Her stocky body bristled with indignation, and her bark was shrill and frantic. I clapped my hands over my ears. “Truly. Here.”

“Do you smell smoke?” I crawled toward the front door. Wispy gray tendrils snaked under the wood. I pushed to my feet and sprinted toward the back of the house. The same telltale odor alerted me. Flames towered outside the back door.

April joined me, her face shining pale in the gloom of the kitchen. “I’m going to call Joe again.”

I’d like to think the man would hurry because there had been another intruder. Sometimes living in the country had its drawbacks. The dog’s barking grated on my nerves, April’s clutch on my upper arm promised to leave bruises, and the increasing amount of smoke burned my lungs.

“Tell me again why you want to discover the identity of the diamond thief?” April whispered.

“At this point, only God knows.” I led my friend back to the hall where I scanned for something to throw through the front window. A footstool. That would be easy for me to lift. I glanced at April. “Pray.”

“If you break the window, you’ll let them in.”

“We take that chance or die of smoke inhalation.” I slammed the stool against the glass, rejoicing in the satisfying crack. One look at the towering flames on the porch reassured me no one would be coming in that way. I craned my neck. The fire burned in a line across the front porch. It hadn’t touched the house yet.

But we couldn’t get out that way.

“Upstairs. We’ll climb out. We’ll stand on the sill and leap to the tree.” I dropped the stool and grabbed April’s hand, before yelling for Truly to follow us. “Grab my purse. My cell phone’s in it.” April snagged the bag. I dragged her up the stairs.

I glanced at my watch. “It takes a few minutes for Joe to get here even on a good day. It’s only been five.”

Inside my room, I slammed the door closed, dragged April to the window, and stared down in dismay. The tree stood too far back. I turned to glance at the bed.

“Oh no! There’s no way I’m climbing out with a rope of sheets tied around my waist. I’ll break my neck. I’m not a good climber. I’m taking my chances waiting for Joe.”

“You climbed to the tree house plenty of times.”

“This is different. The tree house had steps, and I’m

scared now. Look.” She held her hand in front of her. “I’m shaking.”

Sirens wailed in the distance, and Ethan appeared below us. He cupped his hands around his mouth. “Wait there. I’ll get the ladder.”

Where did he think we’d go? Tears of relief welled in my eyes and clogged my throat. I shoved my hand against the screen and watched in satisfaction as it crashed to the ground.

Ethan propped the ladder against the house as Joe’s squad car and the first fire truck roared into the drive. Firefighters grappled with hoses, scurrying across the yard like a swarm of ants. Shouts drifted to where I hung halfway out the window. Aunt Eunice and Uncle Roy rushed from their trucks, only to be held back by the fire crew.

April scampered down and sprinted to where Joe waited, his arms held wide. He gathered her close to him and rested his chin on the top of her head.

I smiled through my tears of relief at my savior and joined him, one arm held tight around a squirming Truly. “Joe must have called you.” Once I planted my feet solidly on the ground, the dog leaped free.

He nodded. “I was closer than he was.” Ethan pulled me to his chest. “I got here as fast as I could.”

“You got here right on time.” I wanted to stay wrapped in his arms, but a fireman insisted I follow him to his truck.

Huge plumes of projected water and chemicals made short work of the flames devouring the front porch. I assumed the back to be the same. At least they saved most of the house. The wraparound porch was a goner, and some of the siding showed scorch marks. I hated to think what would’ve happened if the fire department had taken longer to arrive.

Aunt Eunice bustled to where I sat on the bumper of the emergency vehicle. She clutched me to her bosom. I unburied my face. “I’m fine. Sorry about the house. I broke the front window.”