Sea Salt Caramel Murder (A Maple Hills Cozy Mystery Book 4) (9 page)

“It's here—the bomb is here,” she told Hawk, easing down from the chair. With shaky arms, she hugged Hawk. “I'm terrified.”

Embracing Nikki, Hawk nodded at Lei Johnson. “Do what you can.”

Matt and Tara appeared at the doorway. “Clever,” Matt said in an angry voice. “I would have never looked in here.”

Lei, now carrying a black briefcase holding his diamonds, looked up at the metal duct. Drawing in a steady breath, he put the briefcase down onto the floor, walked over to the chair Nikki had dragged over, and stood up on it. Peering into the duct, he spotted the bomb. “Everyone out,” he ordered.

“Come on,” Hawk said, walking Nikki out of the medical bay and closing the door. “All we can do now is pray.”

Nikki pulled Tara to her side and hugged her. “Matt, take Tara and get topside. If anything, you two can try and make it to a lifeboat if that bomb goes off.”

Tara hugged Nikki. “Thank you for being so kind,” she said.

“Let's move,” Matt said, grabbing Tara.

Hawk took Nikki's hand. “I would tell you to leave, but I know you won't.”

“And you won't leave that man inside the medical bay to die alone,” Nikki told Hawk, staring into his eyes. “If we ever make it back home, I want to have dinner with you at the diner. I want to cuddle in front of the fireplace with you and eat chocolates that we make together.”

Hawk smiled, leaned forward, and gently kissed Nikki. “If we ever get home,” he smiled, “it may be wise not to let Pop know about any of this.”

Nikki tried to smile but failed. Instead, she leaned her head against Hawk's chest and waited. Silence fell in the hallway. Outside, the stormy seas continued to batter the ship. Nikki checked her watch. Hawk did the same. “Give him time,” he told Nikki, expecting to be blown to pieces at any second.

Nikki pressed her head harder against Hawk's chest and wrapped her arms around him. Closing her eyes, she brought her son's face into her mind. If anything happened to her... Feeling tears begin to fall, Nikki began to pray as the minutes ticked away.

* * *

A
t ten minutes before midnight
, just when Hawk believed all hope was lost, Lei Johnson opened the door to the medical bay, walked out carrying his briefcase, tipped a wink at Hawk, and walked away. “Wait,” Hawk ordered, “what about the bomb?”

“Sitting on the desk, harmless,” Lei called back over his shoulder. “Oh, by the way, anytime you want to go one-on-one, you just let me know.”

“Should we?” Hawk asked Nikki.

Nikki nodded and took Hawk's hand, and they both eased into the medical bay. And there, sitting on the desk, was the bomb, disabled and dead. “How did he do it?” Nikki asked.

“Who knows and who cares? Just be grateful that we had the right tool in the toolbox,” Hawk said, wiping sweat from his head and then laughing. “Oh boy, Nikki, I thought we were goners for sure.”

Nikki, feeling a tidal wave of relief wash over her, began laughing, too. Suddenly, the dangerous storm outside the ship seemed liked a gentle summer rain, even though the ship did feel like it was about the dragged down under the ocean at any second. But Nikki doubted the ship was going to give up its fight to stay alive. Sometimes an old clunker outperformed the best of the best. “Hawk, someday when you propose to me, propose to me on dry ground.”

“You can count on that,” Hawk laughed. Hugging Nikki, he closed his eyes. Boy, did he ever need a vacation.

“
O
h
, it's so good to be home,” Nikki said, dancing around her store. She took in the scent of delicious chocolates that floated in the air. “I'm never leaving home again.”

“Me neither,” Lidia agreed, locking the door to the store behind her. Dressed in a white shirt and a tan skirt, she felt ready to dive into a good day of work and forget all about the cruise.

Nikki walked around the store, running her fingers over the wooden shelves and chocolates. She felt alive and happy. Her son was coming home for a visit. Tori was at attending her first college class. Herbert liked her. Lidia was at her side. Hawk was going to take her to the diner for lunch. Life was good.

Smoothing the front of the green dress she was wearing, Nikki looked down at herself. Here stood a woman that had faced danger toe-to-toe on many occasions, yet, there she stood, alive and vibrant. “Lidia?” she asked.

“Yeah?” Lidia asked, unlocking the office door.

“I've decided not to take the job at the paper.”

Lidia froze. “Oh?” she asked, looking back at Nikki.

Nikki smiled. Walking behind the front counter, she took out a piece of peppermint chocolate and began to nibble on it. “Actually, I'm going to write a book. I know a publisher in Atlanta who I can contact. Her name is Noel Bakersfield. Noel was always after me to write a mystery book.”

“You've never told me that, honey,” Lidia said, giving Nikki a curious eye. “I wonder what else you haven't told me?”

Nikki laughed. “You know all of my secrets, I promise.”

Lidia smiled, took the piece of peppermint chocolate from Nikki, and began to eat it. “So no job at the paper?”

“No,” Nikki explained. “Lidia,” she said, examining her chocolate store with loving eyes, “I feel that...well, I feel that someday Hawk is going to ask me to marry him.”

“That's obvious,” Lidia replied, polishing off the peppermint chocolate.

Nikki blushed a little. “Well,” she said, “after all we've been through, I don't really have the desire to chase after crime anymore. I see myself sitting at home on a cold, snowy day, drinking hot chocolate and writing a book. I can't see myself scurrying all over town trying to dig up one story after another. I'm not getting any younger.”

Lidia watched Nikki speak. Her gut told her Nikki wasn't telling her something. “Honey, what is it? You can confide in me.”

Continuing to examine the store, Nikki opened up even more. “We all could have died on that ship, Lidia. When Hawk and I were standing in the hallway outside the medical bay, waiting to live or die, I thought of my son. What would have happened if Mr. Johnson hadn’t been able to disable the bomb? What would have happened if you and Herbert hadn't shown up when you did? Mr. Lane would surely have killed me and Hawk.”

“That man is behind bars now,” Lidia promised Nikki, “and his poor wife is in a hospital where she belongs.”

“I know,” Nikki said. “Lidia, my son means the world to me. I moved to Vermont to escape a life that always placed us in danger. And look at me, I arrive in town like a hot-headed reporter who can't keep her nose out of trouble.”

Lidia approached Nikki, gently patted her shoulder, and smiled. “You are who you are, honey. Don't deny your talent. If you want to write books, wonderful. But don't pass up a job at the paper, either. This town needs you, Nikki. This town needs a woman who will search for the truth no matter what. You have a gifted mind and don't ever forget that.”

“But what about my son?” Nikki asked.

“Well,” Lidia said in a loving, motherly tone, “our children will live their lives and we, their parents, must live our lives. And don't forget, you have me at your side. I'll keep you out of trouble.”

Hearing someone knock at the front door, Nikki knew it was Hawk by the cute knocking pattern he liked to do. Hugging Lidia, she walked to the front door and unlocked it. Hawk appeared, wearing a bright orange hockey jersey. “Donuts?” he asked, carrying a white paper bag.

“Oh, Hawk,” Nikki shielded her eyes against the bright orange jersey, “you're going to send me into shock.”

“Very funny,” Hawk said, stepping into the store. “Oh, by the way, Lane's wife was transferred to a hospital in Los Angeles. I spoke with a doctor there. He said it might be touch and go for a while, but it's possible she might live out a full life. The hospital is going to try a new experimental drug.”

“That's wonderful,” Nikki said, reaching into the bag and taking out a glazed donut. “What about Mr. Lane, Hawk? What will happen to him?”

“Well,” Hawk said, taking a bite of a powdered donut and getting some on his face, “Lane's lawyer has marked him as a fruitcake. The courts bought it, hook, line, and sinker. Lane is going to be transferred from the jail he's being held at to a mental hospital for the criminally insane in Seattle.”

“Good,” Nikki said, walking back to the front counter.

“Need I remind you that nutcase was going to kill us?” Hawk told Nikki, following behind her.

“I know,” Nikki said as she began to inventory the chocolates with her eyes, “but Hawk, I can't help but feel sorry for Mr. Lane. I know, I know, he killed two people, and for that, he deserves to spend the rest of his life in a mental hospital where he can't hurt anyone else. But you saw how much he loved his wife.”

Hawk decided not to place his case out on the line. What was done was done. The important thing was that innocent lives were saved, the bad guy was where he belonged, and he was back home with Nikki. “Let's forget about Lane,” Hawk told Nikki and finished off his donut. “The real reason I came by is because I have some bad news.”

“Bad news?” Nikki asked.

“I have to drive down to New York tomorrow. An old friend of mine was shot. I want to see him. I was wondering,” Hawk paused and scratched the back of his head, “if you might like to come?”

Lidia stuck her head out of the office. “Yes, she would mind. Nikki is staying put where I can keep an eye on her.”

“Lidia is right, Hawk. I really do need to focus on the store, and I still haven't reported to the paper, yet. I would love to come, but I want to stay home. Please don't be upset.”

“Oh, no, I'm not upset,” Hawk promised Nikki. “Well,” he said and quickly kissed Nikki goodbye, “I better get some work done today before Pop cans me. I'll see you for lunch.”

“Okay.” Nikki smiled and let Hawk out. Leaning against the front door she closed her eyes. “You big lug, how are you going to go to New York alone?”

“Oh no,” Lidia said, rushing up to Nikki. “I want you where I can see you.”

“He's so helpless, though,” Nikki told Lidia. “Maybe I better go with him. Someone has to take care of the big lug. I mean, you see the way he dresses. The man obviously needs help.”

“We all need help,” Lidia sighed and then laughed. “All right, go to New York with Hawk. Just stay out of trouble.”

Nikki laughed. “We'll try. But honestly, Lidia, maybe a crime-infested city is the safest place to be.”

Lidia thought about Nikki's statement. She diffidently agreed.

Outside the morning continued to blossom under a soft, warm, blue sky as the world woke up.

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* * *

W
endy Meadows is
an emerging author of cozy mysteries. She lives in “The Granite State” with her husband, two sons, two cats and lovable Labradoodle.

When she isn’t working on her stories she likes to tend to her flower garden, relax with adult coloring and play video games with her family.

Get in Touch with Wendy

• @wmeadowscozy
  
• AuthorWendyMeadows