Rogues & Rascals in Goose Pimple Junction (Goose Pimple Junction Mysteries Book 4) (21 page)

T
ess couldn’t sleep. Her whole body hurt from the accident, and she was still a nervous wreck. Ezzie was sleeping at the bottom of the bed, but when Tess got up, the dog raised her head, and when Tess tiptoed out of the room, the Basset hound followed her into the kitchen.

Tess stuck her hand in the cookie jar, bringing out a chocolate chip cookie as she looked down at the Basset. “Oh, all right.” She took a dog treat from the little bowl on the counter and gave her one. “A cookie for both of us.”

Ezzie ate it in one gulp and regarded Tess with sad eyes.

“Seriously? You want another one?” Tess handed another cookie to the dog, resignedly saying, “Of course you do.”

Jack walked in just then with a broad smile. “There are my two girls.” He opened the fridge and pulled out the milk. “I knew you loved that dog.”

“Of course I do. Plus, I didn’t want her staring at me while I ate my cookie.” Tess tried to look grumpy but ended up with a sheepish smile. She took the glass of milk handed to her and sipped it.

“What’s wrong? You feeling okay?” Jack rubbed Tess’s back and kissed her neck.

“I’m achy all over and I guess still pretty shaken up. But I can’t stop thinking about Caledonia. Don’t you think it’s strange that Penny was killed at Cal’s house and then someone tried to destroy a car while Caledonia was in it?”

“You suggesting someone’s out to get Callie?” Jack led Tess by the hand back to bed. Ezzie hurried past them, and Tess momentarily tripped. “My sweet Grace,” he joked.

They were quiet until she settled into the crook of his arm. Ezzie hopped up and burrowed into the V of Tess’s bent legs, propping her head on her owner’s knee.

“Think about it. What if that bullet was meant for Caledonia and not Penny? I mean, why would someone not only try to run us off the road but try to crush the car with us in it?”

Jack hugged her to him. “Who on earth would want to kill Caledonia? You know everyone is saying Oren wanted to be free of Penny. I heard he’s already dating. That’s flat-out cold. Plus, y’all were in your car, not Cal’s.”

Tess sat up and twisted around to face Jack. Ezzie grumbled, moving and curling up on Tess’s pillow. “True. But maybe someone saw me pick her up and followed us.”

Jack grimaced. “That’s awful dramatic. But if you’re right, I can’t stand the thought of it.” He searched Tess’s face, and then he smoothed some hair off her cheeks. “You’re so beautiful. I’m so thankful you’re all right.”

“Focus, Jack.”

“I’m trying, but you’re distracting me.” He took her in his arms again and held tight. She snuggled into his side. Jack finally said, “It doesn’t add up though. Callie doesn’t have an enemy in the world. And while it’s hard to believe that Oren could be a killer, we know he wanted to be free, but there’s nothing wrong with Cal and Phil’s marriage, right?”

Tess tensed and Jack said, “Uh-oh. You mean something is wrong?”

“I don’t want to betray Caledonia’s friendship, but honestly, that’s why we were out tonight. We were tailing Phil. Or at least we thought we were. We had a mini-stakeout until it went bust.” She giggled. “Then we had a steak.”

Jack bolted up and looked sideways at her. “Are you funning me?”

“No. I wish I were. She thinks he’s seeing someone. She just wants to know the truth.”

“Well I’ll be a monkey’s uncle. I never figured Phil for a philanderer, much less a murderer.”

“We don’t
really
know for sure where he was tonight.”

“You’ve been watching too many movies. I mean, he can be a bit pompous, but a killer? I don’t see it. And their marriage isn’t that bad, is it?”

“They say you never really know a person. And one way or another, someone wanted to kill either Caledonia or me tonight.” She gasped and playfully slugged his arm. “You didn’t hire someone to kill me, did you?”

Jack hugged her to him. “No, darlin’. I’d sooner jump barefoot off a six-foot stepladder into a five-gallon bucket full of porcupines than have you die. I’d rather stare directly at the sun with binoculars than see something happen to you. I’d rather have—”

Tess pushed into him playfully. “I get the idea. Maybe it was my ex?” she said, only half-kidding.

“Why would he? He’s the one who cheated on you.
He
wanted the divorce. He’s not paying you any alimony, so what pony does he have in the show?”

“When you put it like that—”

“Seriously. Your ex may be a jerk, but he wouldn’t kill the mother of his son. We could check his whereabouts last night if you’re really concerned, but it doesn’t seem likely.”

“My gut still tells me someone’s after Caledonia. I don’t believe in coincidences.” She reached over to stroke Ezzie’s velvety ears and added, “And it’s an awful big coincidence that she’s been a part of two violent crimes within a week.”

“And don’t forget the vandalism she witnessed a few weeks ago.”

“Oh, Lord. I forgot all about that. And Louis threatened her just yesterday. I went with her to report it and everything.”

“I’d certainly put him on the short list.”

She looked up at Jack and playfully said, “I’ve got it. Caledonia and Penny didn’t like each other, so Penny put out a hit on Caledonia, but Caledonia found out about it and killed Penny first.”

Jack played along. “Then who tried to kill y’all tonight?”

She spread her hands, palms up. “The hit was all arranged before Penny’s death, so it went on as planned.”

“You do have a furtive imagination. You ought to write a book.” She settled back in, and he put his chin on her head.

“So in my column, you have my ex. In Caledonia’s column, you have her husband or Jimmy Dean or Louis.”

“That about sums it up, pretty lady.”

“What’s next?”

“Next, you roll over, and I rub your back until you go to sleep. And tomorrow we’ll stop in and talk to Johnny. He won’t be able to discuss a case, but he can listen to us.”

“Okay. I want to check in on Caledonia too, maybe first thing in the morning. I’m worried about her.”

“I’m worried about
you
.” Jack began rubbing Tess’s shoulders. The only sound in the room after that was Ezzie’s snoring.

Wynona was ashamed of herself.
Two failed attempts. What’s wrong with me? Maybe this crazy little town is messing with my mojo.
I told Zeke I’m
just not cut out for this line of work.
She shook her head in disgust and then picked up her cell phone when a text alert beeped. She didn’t even need to look; she knew who it was going to be from.

“I am not amused.”

She typed:
“I know. I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened. That woman has more lives than a cat.”

“You were supposed to be good.”

“I was.”
She erased that and typed:

“I am.”

“This is you being good?”

She typed,
“
No,
”
pinched the bridge of her nose, and then added,
“Believe me
,
I will prevail.”

“No. Put it on ice for the time being. Leave town. I’ll be in touch when I need you again.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to finish the job now?”

“I said I’ll be in touch,
”
was the curt reply.

Wynona waited, but nothing more came. She threw the burner phone in the garbage and flopped on the bed.

In the past year, she and her partner had killed more than ten people. Well, her partner had. There was the two-bit publisher, the mortgage loan officer, the bank manager, the moving company crew, the appliance technician, the owner of a flooring company and his team of installers, a lawyer, and those were just the ones she could name right off-hand. But Zeke had done those jobs. If only he hadn’t gotten killed. Now she was alone, and it was up to her. And she’d botched it twice.
Not doing so good on your own, huh?
Now the job had been put on hold or maybe even terminated. She cursed under her breath.
Time to pack up and move on.
I just hope that little punk is in hot water over the car incident. That would be a pseudo-happy ending.

She was proud of herself for framing him while she carried out a hit. Or tried to. What would Zeke have said? She shuddered to think. Now that he was gone, maybe it was time to pack it in. Look for a new career. She didn’t like this one anyway.

On her back, staring at the ceiling, she thought about how tired she was. So tired. Tired of being someone else, tired of always running, tired of trying to be the hard-hearted professional that she obviously was not.

Maybe this is a sign that it’s time to stop. I’m not Zeke, and I never will be.

Mama always said . . . Strong storms make deeper roots.