Mission to Murder (23 page)

“D
id you hear something?” Lisa glanced at Reno.

He shook his head. “You’re the one who said she always works alone on Tuesday nights. Didn’t you check the back?”

Lisa’s eyes widened. “No. I mean, I wanted a mocha.”

“So go check the back.” Reno waved the gun at me. “And you go stand by the counter. We’re done chatting.”

“And I was just feeling the love.” I strolled to the counter. “I take it you’re not paying for her mocha?”

“I don’t think your heirs will notice one lost coffee drink.” He sneered. He watched the swinging door, but Lisa had disappeared and not returned. “How big is that back room?”

He didn’t wait for me to answer. “Lisa? What the heck’s taking you so long?”

No answer from the back.

He glared at me. “What’s going on?”

I shrugged. “How should I know? I’ve been in the pleasure of your company the last few minutes. Besides, the walls are pretty thick. She probably didn’t hear you.” Totally true; sometimes when I was in the back, I didn’t hear anything that was happening in the shop. Jackie would get so mad, she’d look like she was ready to blow.

He motioned me toward the door. “Go and get her.”

I made a small salute. “Yes, sir.”

He grinned. “It’s too bad we don’t have more time. You might be more fun than Lisa. At least fun to break.”

I tried to keep the shiver that ran down my body from being visible.
Show no weakness,
I thought. I turned on my heels and headed to the back. I called out behind me, trying to make my voice sound stronger than I felt, “In your dreams.”

As soon as I walked through the door, I was pulled to the side, a large hand covering my mouth. I felt a scream bubble in my throat, but then saw Greg standing in front of me, his finger raised to his mouth. I nodded and the hand released me. Toby was standing behind me. He pushed me toward the back door, where I saw Tim motioning me to hurry. I turned back to Greg, and mouthed, “Aunt Jackie?”

He nodded, which I took as meaning she was fine, but then Tim pulled me the rest of the way out of the doorway. In a lowered voice, he pointed toward the building next door, where Josh Thomas was standing, motioning me to the opening.

When I got there, Josh slammed the door. “Thank God they finally got you out.” He led me up the stairs to a small office where Lisa sat, handcuffed and gagged, her feet tied together. Aunt Jackie stood over her, a baseball bat in her hand.

“I was worried about you.” My aunt nodded at her charge. “We’re standing guard until Greg gets the big guy under control. Then they’ll both be turned over to the state police, who are sitting in a cruiser at the end of town.”

I watched my aunt play prison guard and shook my head. “You know this isn’t a game, right?”

Then my sweet aunt smiled and she looked like a grandmother on television, soft and loving. The vision ended as soon as she opened her mouth. “Kicking butt and taking names.”

Lisa snorted and Jackie pushed her shoulder with the bat. “Be quiet, child.” Jackie examined me. “Are you okay?”

I nodded. I’d figured I’d taken my last breath in my shop. Now I worried about Greg, and whether he’d be able to take down Reno without being harmed himself.

Twenty minutes later, Toby came into the room and collected Lisa. They had Reno in the back of the cruiser, and were taking the pair to the waiting state police officers. Greg came into the office for a minute, hugged me hard, and then left with Toby. I took that hug as meaning he forgave me for our fight last night.

I watched them leave and then sank into the couch Lisa had vacated. “I am so tired.”

My aunt sank down beside me and handed me a chilled longneck beer bottle. “Drink this. You’ll feel better.”

I didn’t argue, just took a swig and then another. When the beer was half gone, I leaned back and closed my eyes. A thought occurred to me. “Wait, how did you even know I needed help?”

Josh finally spoke. “You never wave when I walk past. You glower, you pretend you don’t see me, or if all else fails, you turn your back to the window. When I saw you waving and the closed sign on too early, I knew those other two were trouble.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. The same obsessive tendencies we’d made fun of after the business-to-business meeting had saved my life.

Josh continued, “I’d seen that girl with the hooligans who kept talking about breaking into The Castle.” He paused. “I think she was in my shop the morning I was attacked. I remembered hearing a girl’s voice, and when I saw her in your shop, I knew she was up to no good as soon. So I called the police.”

I closed my eyes. “They killed Craig.”

“We kind of figured that.” My aunt’s voice had a twinge of humor.

Tears fell down my cheeks, and I put up my hand to brush them away. I hadn’t expected this rush of emotion to overwhelm me, especially over Craig. I sipped on the beer, trying to clear my thoughts. “And coming down to the end, it was about money. Craig’s greed did him in.”

Josh cleared his throat. “I don’t know if that’s true.”

My anger flared, and I stared at him. “You’re kidding, right? After all this? Me being held hostage in my own shop by a contract killer and his psycho girlfriend and you’re still defending him? And why were you taking exorbitant appraisal fees from him? Were you part of this, too?”

Josh had the good sense to blush. “No. I mean, yes, I took the fees. He and I had an arrangement that I’d charge a slightly higher fee for my services, then we’d split the money.” His eyes flashed. “We weren’t doing anything illegal.”

“Maybe not illegal, but probably immoral.” Jackie sniffed.

Josh hung his head. “I didn’t feel right about it. And I told Craig I wasn’t going to do it anymore. That’s why we were fighting the day he died.”

Another piece of the puzzle fell into place for me. “So you cut off one of his income sources.”

“Don’t talk about him that way,” Josh pleaded. “Craig was a good man. Give him the benefit of the doubt.”

“Seriously?” My head throbbed.

“I meant we don’t have the whole story yet.” He came and sat next to me, his girth making the couch groan. “I know Craig could be a pain. But he had an amazing eye for antiques. He really believed in preserving the history of South Cove. Building something future generations could enjoy.”

“And he believed in tearing down sites like the mission wall that didn’t fit into his plan for the town.” I didn’t want to get into this argument now. “Look, I appreciate your help today. If you hadn’t called . . .” My throat constricted as I thought about what could have happened.

“I’m glad you’re all right.” He patted my hand. “For today, we’ll leave it at that.”

Aunt Jackie took his action as our cue to leave. “Let me drive you home. We’ll do a girl’s night at the house. I’ll even make sausage pasta.”

Leave it to my aunt to know the one thing to make me feel better after a busy evening of being held at gunpoint. I finished the beer and stood. “I think that’s an excellent idea.”

Thirty minutes later, I was in the backyard sitting on the stones left of the mission walls. I wondered if any of the original occupants of the mission had sat there, listening to the sounds of the evening and wondering what their future might bring. Emma lay at my feet, watching the woods for chipmunks. I couldn’t be the first to use this site to meditate about things to come, changes that might occur. I thought about my friend Miss Emily, the woman who’d left me the house. Had she come out here to think, to plan, and finally, to remember her life and the men taken from her too early? I missed her.

A chill hit me and I saw a shadow. Then I looked up into the setting sun and saw Esmeralda standing there. She floated over and settled on the wall next to me, her skirts shifting and making an odd sort of music that seemed to fit my neighbor’s personality.

“I stopped by to check on you, and Jackie said you were out here.” Esmeralda took in the tree-lined spot. “I can see why you like it here. Very positive energy flow.”

I chuckled. “Actually, I like to hang out here because it’s usually quiet.”

Esmeralda didn’t take the bait. Obviously, snarkiness must be forgiven in a recently released hostage. “Sometimes you don’t know what you need, you only think you do.”

“And I’m to stay on the path.” I regarded the woman sitting next to me. I wouldn’t call us friends, but maybe there could be a possibility we would be more than casual acquaintances. If I stopped being rude. “Sorry, I’m on edge.”

She waved her hand and the line of bangles on her arm jingled. “No worries. Look, I know people think I’m crazy, but I do have visitors from the other side. And I can’t turn that part of me off.”

“I’m not doubting your . . .” I paused, searching for the right word, finally settling on “gift. I have a hard time believing sometimes.”

Esmeralda smiled. “You and most of the people in this town. But I can deal with nonbelievers.” She leaned back and closed her eyes, drawing in a deep breath. I could swear the dwindling light from the sunset focused on her face for a moment. I was obviously feeling the effects of the second beer I’d brought out with me.

I reached down and stroked Emma’s head, willing myself to enjoy the moment. Soon I’d have to head back to the house and my aunt’s pasta dinner. I drank in the smell of the ocean floating on the evening breeze, cool and comforting.

“The answer is with the dog. Talk to the woman with the dog.” Esmeralda’s voice broke into the moment. I turned and looked at her, but she still had her eyes closed. Was this a trance?

“You okay?” I didn’t move, not wanting to interrupt the signals she was receiving from wherever.

Esmeralda’s eyelids fluttered, and she glanced at her watch. “I didn’t realize it was so late. I’ve got a reading tonight.” She smiled. “Got to go do my woo-woo.”

I watched her stand. “So what about the dog?”

Esmeralda frowned and glanced at Emma. “She’s a good dog. Very protective.” She waved as she left.

I watched her leave, wondering if she’d even realized she’d spoken. And a chill ran up my spine as I considered the possibility she was the real deal. A fortune-teller—speaker with the dead—a prognosticator. That thought made me giggle, and Emma wagged her tail. “Let’s go eat.”

As I stood, my heel scraped against something sharp, again. I picked up my foot. This time it hadn’t brought blood, but I was tired of the wall hurting me. I kneeled and dug up the dirt next to the wall. A piece of metal was stuck under a rock. I used a small, sharp rock and uncovered a dirt-encrusted item.

Back at the house, I went directly to the kitchen sink and moved Jackie’s colander filled with pasta to the counter. Running water over the piece, I realized it was a sextant, one of those things ship captains used to navigate before GPS and the modern world took over their plotting. A very old sextant.

My heart raced. Jackie came over and stood by me, looking at the metal in my sink. “I think I may have found the proof to save the mission.”

W
hen Amy showed up on the doorstep with Justin in tow, thirty minutes later, I knew she hadn’t just called him to come over. I opened the door and let the two in, both tanned and smelling of sweat and the sea. “Stealing some surfing time?” I asked, smiling at the two.

Amy hugged me hard. “I can’t believe we were off playing while you were being held hostage.”

“Where did you hear?” And then I guessed, the story was probably all over town,
topic de jour
at Diamond Lille’s even. “The diner?”

“The grocery store, actually. We ran into Sadie when we were picking up something to grill and she told us.” Then Amy slapped my arm. “You could have mentioned you were held at gunpoint when you called.”

“I kind of figured that was a face-to-face conversation.” I smiled at Justin. “I’m glad you’re here. I’ve got something to show you.”

We walked into the kitchen, where Aunt Jackie was starting to set up the table for dinner. “You two hungry?”

“Starving.” Amy went to the cupboard and grabbed plates.

I walked Justin over to the countertop where the sextant lay drying on a towel. “Is this what I think it is?”

He whistled. “I haven’t seen one in such good shape outside the museum for years.” He bent his head lower to look at all sides. “I’m pretty sure we’ll be able to age-date it so it supports your mission wall claim.”

My lips curled into a grin. “Good, because I’m tired of the thing scratching me.”

Justin asked for a small box and packed the sextant carefully into the container. “I’ll drive it over to the university myself tomorrow.” His grin was wider than my own. “You want a receipt?”

“Is there a reason I should?” I glanced at Amy, who shook her head.

Justin hadn’t seen the exchange, his focus still on the sextant. “If we’re right, this could be valuable. For the historic significance alone.”

Amy took his arm and led him to the table. “She’s teasing you.”

I raised my eyebrows as the two sat. And because I couldn’t help myself, I asked, “So, how’s Hank?”

Amy flushed. “I kid you not, I’m going to kill that guy if I ever see him again.”

“Not if I see him first,” Justin growled and squeezed Amy’s hand.

Aunt Jackie set the bowl of pasta in the middle of the table next to the green salad and garlic bread. “Oh, do tell. I love gossip.”

Amy filled her plate with pasta, then handed the bowl to Justin. “Remember the weekend he wanted me to drive up the coast with him?”

I nodded, filling my salad bowl and passing the salad to Jackie.

“Well, he was moving a friend. Tony. Except, T-O-N-I”—she spelled out the name—“wasn’t an old buddy. She was his new live-in. And he thought we’d get along famously.”

I choked on the glass of water. “He thought you’d be okay with him living with another girl?”

“Apparently, my surfing and independence led him to believe I was a free thinker.” Amy shook her head.

“Yeah, like all surfers are into the free love, hippie scene of fifty years ago,” Justin added.

I laughed and the action felt good, real somehow. A knock came at the kitchen door, and when I turned, Greg stood there. Jackie beat me to the door, opening it. He walked in, pulled me out of my chair, and hugged me.

“Hey, big guy,” I murmured into his neck.

He shifted, then whispered back, “Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

I stepped away and slapped his chest with both hands. “Like I had any choice? Toby left to go chase after Ray with you. Wasn’t he supposed to be my bodyguard?”

Greg grabbed a plate from the cupboard and pulled a chair up next to mine. “Don’t get me started. Toby and I have been beating ourselves up for that bad decision since Josh called in the nine-one-one.”

“Josh was heroic today,” Jackie said as she filled Greg’s plate with pasta and handed him the salad bowl.

“You sound like you like him,” I teased and her face went bright pink. “You going to give him a second date?”

Her lips pursed, and then she sighed. “I’ve already told him he can pick me up next Saturday. We’re going into town for a play.”

Glancing around the table, I smiled. The group gathered seemed more like family than I’d had in a long time. A family that might be growing to include others. Although unless Josh stopped this Craig-initiated attack on the wall, I wasn’t sure I was ready to have him as part of the pack I called my own.

Esmeralda’s comment rang in my ear.
Talk to the dog lady.
Such a random comment, it couldn’t have meant anything. But something about the case still bothered me. Fifi. I glanced at Greg.

“Did you find Ray?” I started eating as I waited for an answer.

“He’s locked up over at the station. The state guys are picking him up tomorrow. They had their hands full with your friends tonight. Tim’s playing guard right now.” He took a bite of pasta, almost groaning in pleasure at the creamy sauce. He waved a fork at Jackie. “This is amazing.”

I almost asked how he didn’t know I cooked, then ignored the question. “So was he the one who tied up Fifi?”

Greg stopped shoveling the food into his mouth. He frowned. “I forgot about Fifi.” He wiped his mouth and considered my question. “Why?”

I shook my head. “Nothing. Esmeralda came by with another message from beyond. I’m sure it doesn’t mean anything.”

Greg was already pushing back his chair. “I’ll call Tim. Ray seems to be chatty, wanting to do everything he can to lessen his sentence. We found drugs at the trailer, so he knows he’s doing some time. Maybe he’ll answer this.”

“You don’t have to—” I started, but Greg put his hand on my arm, quieting my objections.

“I’ve learned never to dismiss Esmeralda’s comments, even as random as they usually are. Sometimes she’s right.” He walked away, dialing his cell.

By the time he came back, Amy and Justin had finished their dinner and were dishing up chocolate-chip ice cream for the table. I loved watching them work together. Now, this was the boyfriend Amy deserved.

Greg sat down and regarded me. “You were right. Ray took Fifi out on the beach to get her out of the way for Reno and Lisa. That was his part of the whole plan. But he thought they were going to rob Craig, not kill him. At least that’s what he’s telling Tim.”

“No wonder Fifi went crazy when she saw Ray in town. She must have remembered him taking her.” I accepted the bowl of ice cream Justin handed me.

“Apparently it was more than that. Ray says the dog reacted every time he got close. Didn’t like him from the first day he saw her.” Greg finished his dinner, then took his plate to the sink and returned with his own bowl.

Amy sat down across from us. “Maybe she didn’t like the smell of him. Ray always reeked of whatever drug he took. Alcohol, weed, crack, the guy stunk.”

“Maybe she should have been a police dog. She could have sniffed out the drugs and saved us a lot of time.” Aunt Jackie started rinsing dishes.

Greg stopped eating, staring at Jackie.

“What?” I asked, not sure I wanted to know.

He studied me. “Police dogs are trained to react when they smell drugs. It’s not something that just happens. Someone was training Fifi.”