Candy-Coated Secrets (16 page)

“I’ve seen her before. I’m sure of it, but I can’t remember where. She could be a carny.” I tried to sit up and groaned. My hands clutched my middle, and I grabbed the bowl.

“Are you going to throw up?” Joe stepped back. My cousin had a phobia about vomit. Worse than mine. An upchuck, and we run.

“I’m trying not to.”

Pale beneath his tan, Joe set his pen to the paper. “Can you describe her?”

“Pale and blond, I think.”

“That’s not very helpful.”

“It’s the best I can do.”

He sighed and replaced the paper and pen in his pocket. “You should go to the hospital. You probably have a concussion.” Joe bent, laid a kiss on April’s forehead, then left.

“I’m not going to the hospital. As soon as the room stops spinning, I’m going to find out who the woman is. She needs us.”

Ethan pushed April to the farthest end of the sofa and sat next to me, pulling me into his arms. “That’s why you do this, isn’t it? To feel needed?”

“To help.” And the familiar hunger filled me. Finding Millie dead, presumed a suicide, although I knew someone staged her death, was different. For Millie, I was too late. For this other woman—well, I needed to help.

Aunt Eunice told me God gives everyone a gift. I didn’t want the only gift He gave me to be candy-making. I wanted to leave a legacy. To make a difference in the world—in someone’s life. What better way than to save her life?

A tear trickled down my cheek. As a child, I’d been unable to save my parents. They’d been going out to dinner, and I’d thrown a fit, not understanding why they’d leave me with a babysitter. My last sight of my mother had been her pale face, smiling at me, and her slender white hand lifted in farewell. I’d pouted, refusing to return the smile or the wave. She’d died in a hit-and-run. The case remained unsolved. I didn’t want the sight of another woman’s face through a car window to go unnoticed.

Ethan drew a finger across my cheek, wiping away my tear. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“That woman needs our help.”

“Joe will handle it.”

“No, I need to do this.” I sniffled. April handed me a box of tissues. Her eyes swam with unshed tears. “When I set out to solve the diamond case, it was just playing. Trying to prove that I could do more than shop for fancy clothes or make delicious candy. Then things got personal, and I was forced to discover who killed Terry Lee. It wasn’t me who solved her murder. Things happened by chance.

“The woman in the car reminded me of my mother. What if I’m the last friendly face that woman saw before she dies? I owe it to her.”

Ethan turned to me. His eyes shone, digging into my soul. “Then I’ll help you. By your side, all the time, keeping you as safe as I’m able.”

Then I remembered where I’d seen the woman before.

Chapter Nineteen

Uncle Roy argued when I called and told him I’d be spending the night at Ethan’s, even though I’d done so hundreds of times growing up as April’s best friend. Being an adult and sleeping under the same roof as my fiancé didn’t sit well with my old-school uncle. After I made every promise under the sun that I’d be sleeping in April’s bed and that she’d be home the entire time, I finally had him convinced everything would be on the up and up.

I lay with an aching head and listened to my friend snore beside me. Footsteps scuffed outside the door as Ethan made his way down the hall to his room.

My heart warmed at his assurance to help me. I remembered seeing the frantic woman laughing and smiling with Eddy Foreman at the carnival. Funny how his name kept entering the picture. He was the right size for my gorilla friend, too.

The days of the fair were winding down. Tomorrow I’d inform Aunt Eunice we were closing the booth. Anyone who wanted to buy candy would have done so already anyway. We wouldn’t lose many sales. Then I could concentrate on wandering around, spying, eavesdropping; whatever it took to become a first-rate detective and help this woman.

It occurred to me that I might be too late to save her life. I’d read reports of missing people usually being murdered within the first two hours of their disappearance. If that should be the case, God willing, I’d do everything in my power to make sure her abductor was brought to justice. Joe would have to arrest me again to keep me from this. What other way could I settle the restlessness in my soul?

When I woke the next morning, the throbbing in my head had lessened. April was gone, and the smell of frying bacon wafted through the open bedroom door. I grabbed a flowered robe from a nearby chair and rolled out of bed.

Having been in Ethan and April’s home many times, I knew exactly where they kept the ibuprofen and made a beeline for the medicine cabinet. Three little rust-colored pills later, I shuffled to the kitchen with the speed of a snail.

Ethan stood at the stove wearing a ruffled canary yellow apron over a royal blue polo shirt and black dress pants. He brandished a spatula. What an appealing sight. “A man after my own heart.” I wrapped my arms around his waist and laid my cheek on his broad back.

He turned. “Good morning, beautiful. How’s your head? Are you hungry?”

“Starved. Love the apron, by the way, and my head is much better.”

Ethan moved my bangs aside to take a look. “Okay, sit. The apron was my mother’s. My more manly apron is dirty.” He waved the spatula toward the kitchen table where two plates waited on navy vinyl place mats.

“Where’s April?”

“Work.”

I glanced at my watch. Seven o’clock. “You’re going to be late.”

“I’ve got thirty minutes before my first class. Everything’s finished.” He slid eggs and bacon onto my plate, then went back for his. “Eat up. I’ll drop you at home on my way.”

Twenty minutes later I stood on the front porch of my house, staring through the screen at my frowning uncle. “You still a good girl?” He glared at me.

“Good grief, Uncle Roy.” My face heated. “What a question. Of course I am. Are you going to let me in?”

He pushed open the screen. “Just checking. A looker like you has to watch out. Ethan’s a good man, but he is a man.”

“And I’m a responsible adult. April is a very suitable chaperone.” I placed a kiss on his ruddy cheek. “Thanks for worrying about me. Where’s Aunt Eunice?”

“In the kitchen cooking you breakfast.”

“I’ve already eaten.”

“Eat again. Don’t hurt her feelings.”

Great. It’s a wonder I don’t weigh three hundred pounds.

Aunt Eunice set a plate of pancakes on the table before I took my seat. “Did Ethan take care of your head?”

“Yes.” I stared at the stack of pancakes, sighed, and reached for the powdered sugar.

“You shouldn’t eat so much sugar.” Aunt Eunice sat across from me and folded her arms on the table.

“It’s not as much as syrup. That’s too sweet.”

“What happened last night?”

I recounted the events, leaving out my personal guilt over watching my mother drive away. “I’m going to find out today who the woman in the car was. You sell the last of the candy and return the refrigerator.”

“Kind of bossy, aren’t you? That knock on the head doesn’t give you the right to order me around.”

“I’m sorry.” I pushed aside my plate. “You’re right. You didn’t raise me that way. Do you mind closing up the booth?”

“What’s wrong with your food?” The way my aunt’s eyes searched my face, I knew she asked in a roundabout way what was wrong with me. She’d always been able to see right through me. I wasn’t ready to admit to her that I blamed myself for the way my parents had left the house. Stressed because of an ungrateful child. Not today, maybe never. But, I did owe her good manners and love. Not only because of the sacrifice she’d given in raising me, but because I loved her.

“Nothing.” After pulling the plate back to me, I shoved a huge bite in my mouth. “See?”

“Okay. No, Summer, I don’t mind closing the booth.” A smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “And you shouldn’t stick so much in your mouth. You’ll choke.” A gleam appeared in her eye. “Once I’m finished with the booth, I’ll go around asking questions. We’ll have to be sneakier about it, though. I don’t relish being arrested again.”

“You can’t be for asking questions.” Can you? I speared another forkful of pancake. No. My Dolt book actually suggests interrogating people. They wouldn’t recommend a person do something if it was against the law, would they?

Like a starving child at a buffet line, I stood on the midway and surveyed the milling carnies and fair attendees. Although at least twenty trailers were lined up behind the fun house, I couldn’t determine which belonged to Washington.

Eddy Foreman waved his arms, shouting orders to a ride operator. He seemed as good a place to begin as any.

“Summer!” His demeanor changed. His frown flipped to a smile. His cologne almost overpowered me as he flung an arm around my shoulders. He flipped up my bangs. “What’s with the bandage?”

“Just a bump.” I took a deep breath, choked on aromatic fumes, and decided to plunge into asking questions. “The other day I saw you speaking with a blond woman. She wore the cutest pair of jeans. I’ll just die if I can’t get a pair for myself. Do you know where I can find her?”

“Lacey?” Eddy shook his head. “She hasn’t shown up for work today. That’s her brother I was talking to. He hasn’t seen her since yesterday. It’s difficult to get good help nowadays, you know?”

He’d been steering me toward the back of the fair, stopping in front of a trailer. Sally held court, lazily fanning her face with a sheet of paper folded accordion style. Her love interest handed her a glass of what looked like iced tea.

“Summer.” Sally waved and I slid from beneath Eddy’s arm. “Sit right here, sweetie. How you been? See you later, Eddy.”

I perched on the edge of a rickety wood-slated stool. It wobbled beneath me. “I’m fine, thank you. And you?”

“Never better.” She snapped her fingers. “Woodrow, get my friend a drink. You want some tea? That’s Woodrow, my boyfriend. Isn’t he the cutest thing?”

“Absolutely.” If you liked the miniature type.

He handed me a glass, and his lips twitched in a semblance of a smile, only to disappear as quickly. Mississippi mud-colored hair circled a bald spot on top of the man’s head. Eyes of the same color lowered beneath bushy brows. The man was anything but cute, but to each his own.

Another man stepped up behind them. He paused at the sight of me, then ducked out of sight.

“That’s Grizzly Bob,” Sally explained. “He’s not very social, but he’s great with the animals. Him and Woodrow are friends. Ain’t that right, Snookums?”

Woodrow bobbed his head. “We sure are. How’s your drink? Do you need more ice?” He fussed with the pillows behind her back.

Sally patted his cheek. “He’s so good to me. A real prize. Woodrow would do anything for me.” A hard glint shone in her eye, just for a second, as Sally stared at me. “He’d even die if I asked him to.” The cold look disappeared, replaced by a smile. I wondered if I’d imagined it. “How many women can boast of that?”

I sipped the tea. Raspberry, my favorite. “Not many. Sally, have you seen Lacey today?”

“Lacey Love? I don’t even think that’s her real name. That woman’s a harlot. What do you want her for?” Sally tipped her glass and drained the sweet liquid.

“I heard she was missing. I’m just curious.” At least I had a name to go with the face that haunted my dreams last night.

“Uh-huh. Word around the fair is that you, missy, are a Nosy Nelly. People don’t like that.”

I handed my half-finished drink to Woodrow and stood. “Is that a warning, Sally?”

“Heavens, no.” She giggled. “I’m just stating a fact. I wouldn’t like anything to happen to you. I’m your friend.” Sally leaned forward as far as her bulk would allow. “Listen, Summer. There’re all types of people hired to work these carnivals. Most of them are good people, but not all. You keep asking questions, somebody is going to get upset.”

Sounded like a warning to me. Suddenly, I didn’t feel as comfortable with Sally being my friend. I shivered. “Thanks for the advice. One more thing. I need to ask Washington a question about my booth. Can you point me in the direction of his trailer?”

Sally’s eyes narrowed. “Last one on the right. The one that’s painted the color of split pea soup.”

Did all the carnies get their paint from the “oops” aisle in the local paint store? A rainbow of garish colors surrounded me as I made my way to the end. Baby poop yellow. Orange red. A washed-out blue. Washington’s trailer sat right where Sally said it would and was definitely the color of peas. I shivered. I detested that particular vegetable.

Before I could knock, the door swung open and Washington beamed down at me. “Miss Summer. Come in. To what do I owe this surprise?”

Although I burned with curiosity to inspect the inside of where he lived, self-preservation prevailed, and I stopped at the front door. I craned my neck to peek inside.

A chocolate micro-fiber sofa took up one entire wall of the tiny living room. A brass-and-glass coffee table, every inch covered with Precious Moments knickknacks, sat in the center of a faded Oriental rug. Prints of famous artists covered the walls. Definitely not purchased on a carny’s pay. Desire to see the rest of his home tugged at me.