craftfield 01 - secrets untold (11 page)

He glanced around as if ensuring no one was around. Somehow she knew he was going to pull the trigger. Every second he delayed was the chance of someone coming into the shop. He turned back to her, a sneer on his face.

“Farewell, Lily.”

“Wait.” She took a side step, hoping he’d believe she was moving closer to the form rather than the metal ice cream scoop. “The cops will be here any minute.” In fact, they were feet away.

He laughed. “Why? Do you have secret alarm button?”

“No, something even better.”
Think Lily, think
. What could she say that would throw him off? The image of her mom slapping him floated before her. “We’ve security cameras. Installed them last month.”

“Where?” He glanced up, nervously.

“There’re made to look like sprinklers. The company’s new, so they took a while to find the footage of my mom’s murder.”

“You lie.”

“So what did you say to my mom that made her slap you?” He’d have to believe her lie about the cameras now. No way would he understand that she had seen what had happened in a vision.

He snarled and dove over the counter for her. With all her might, she snatched the ice cream scooper and sent it flying, straight for his hand. He howled, but the gun exploded. The bullet slammed into her side and knocked her backwards.

Behind her, she thought a large dog growled. She hit the tile hard, the force of it knocking the breath out of her. Her side ached like someone had played golf with a sledgehammer and her body was the ball.

Davis rose, clutching his hand, his face red. “Stupid bitch!”

The gun had slid several feet from them. If she didn’t get it, he’d finish what he’d started and kill her. She forced her body to rise. Damn, her ribs burned from the movement. Had she fractured them? Terror raked through her. Where the hell was Jarred or Wells?

“Help me!” she shouted. She didn’t care if the deputies had enough evidence now or not. Her life was on the line and this guy was trying to kill her.

Before she stood, Davis grabbed the gun and was turning toward her.

“Drop it!” Jarred yelled coming from the supply room.

Blood was smeared across his white dress shirt and there were bloody wounds down his arms. What the hell happened to him?

“Might want to check with your supervisor, Wells, on that one.” Davis smiled.

What was he talking about?
Lily glanced back to Jarred.

“I already have.” He nudged with his gun, pointed at Davis. “Now drop it. I won’t ask a third time.”

Davis paled, then Michael came out from the supply room, his hair disheveled and blood coating the side of his mouth.

“What the hell is going on?” She glanced from Michael to Jarred and back again, but they ignored her, keeping their attention on Davis. In order to keep from falling, she held onto the counter, her legs liquefying. God, she’d almost died. Right here. Right where her mom had been killed.

“There are no security cameras. Wells would have told me and taken care of them.” Davis narrowed his eyes at Lily as if debating going ahead and shooting her anyway, no matter the consequences. “How did you know she slapped me?”

Lily crossed her arms over her stomach, the movement sending a sharp pain to her side where the bullet had hit the vest and bruised her. No way would she tell him about her dreams and visions, they’d lock her up in a padded room. “Easy. You’re so obnoxious and my mom was so stubborn, I figured you’d said or done something that pissed her off. It was a gamble and it paid off.”

A clank sounded as Davis dropped his gun and put his hands up. Jarred dashed around the counter and gave the businessman his rights while he handcuffed him and took him outside to a waiting squad car.

“You okay?” Michael asked.

“Yeah.” Shock pouring through her as the reality of everything slammed into her. “W-What happened?”

“Before Davis arrived, I went out back to make sure he didn’t come in that way and surprise us.”

“I didn’t see you do that.”

“Hey, I have years of practice of sneaking past my parents to go out partying. You think I can’t walk right past a distracted young woman who’s watching the door like the bogeyman might burst through?”

“Guess you’re right.” She shrugged. “So what happened?”

“Wells had knocked Jarred out.” He stuffed his hands into his front pockets. “Figured both Davis and Wells had guns, I didn’t, so I got some water and revived Jarred. Told him what was happening and he figured Wells was the bigger danger. Both of them struggled. I got locked in the freezer for my trouble.”

Lily reached out to thank him and jerked her hand back, feeling his skin colder than the ice cream. “Oh my God, you’re freezing. We need to get you to the hospital or something.”

“I’m fine, Lil.”

A peace she couldn’t explain settled over her.

Jarred stomped in, shaking his arms from the snow that covered him. Rushing over, he nearly knocked Michael out of the way. His fingers were warm as he cupped her face. “Are you… Did he hurt you?”

“I’m fine.” Behind Jarred, Michael mouthed goodbye and left them alone.

Jarred hauled her into his arms. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve known Wells was in on it. I risked your life.”

She trembled. “This wasn’t how I thought it was going to happen,” she said against his shirt, his body warming her. Wells and Jarred were supposed to protect her. Run out and yell “
freeze!”
as soon as Davis showed probable cause. She could’ve died.

“No, it’s not. That guy would’ve killed you. Probably me too.” A rumble sounded in his throat that reminded her of the sound of the growling dog earlier, but that had to have been her imagination.

“What happened back there?” She stepped back to see his expression. “I didn’t hear anything, yet you and Michael both look like you fought quite a battle. Well, except for a dog.”

He gave her a cocky smile. “I think you were too distracted by adrenaline to hear us.”

“What about Davis?” she asked. “He didn’t even flinch.”

“Probably cause he figured Wells would win. He didn’t count on Michael being there to help. I was releasing him from the freezer when I heard the gunshot.” His hazel eyes darkened. “I should’ve left him there and come straight to help you.”

She entwined her fingers into his shirt as she leaned against him. The adrenaline that had kept her upright was vanishing and she didn’t think she could stand on her own. “Michael could’ve frozen to death if left in there too long. What if you hadn’t succeeded against Wells? What if he had shot you?” Michael’s skin had felt like ice, yet he appeared to be okay. Later she’d check on him. Shit, she could’ve died.

“I’m glad you’re all right.” He let out a breath and ran his thumb across her bottom lip.

She pushed aside all the fear and doubt that had boiled over inside her since her mom’s death. Somehow, she believed her mom’s spirit had helped her through this with Davis. That her mom would’ve wanted her to continue running the ice cream shop.

Now, she wanted to take a chance on finding her own happiness and trusting in love. Rising on her tiptoes, she kissed him. His lips were soft and warm and sending shivers through her entire body.

Chapter Fifteen

Halloween decorations bobbed and swayed along the street as Lily sat with Jarred in his Jeep as they drove to her mom’s funeral. Jarred drove with one hand, the other clasping hers. This had been hers and her mom’s favorite time of year. Dressing up, free candy, and lots of haunted house visits. The ache of her loss of her mom pressed against her chest. Halloween would never be the same. She would always remember her mom’s funeral. At first, she thought about postponing the service, but she needed to bury her mom and try to move on. Besides, her mom would have thought the idea cool to be buried on Halloween.

“The church is past the gate in the back.” Lily swallowed, and her voice sounded hollow. Finally, her mom would be laid to rest. They’d captured her killer. Well, both of them. As far as she was concerned, Wells was just a guilty as Davis. He’d tried to cover up his business partner’s mistake. Deputy Wells had given Davis too much credit, signing as a witness to several business transactions with the lure of a percentage of the proceeds for each one. Lily knew cops didn’t make much money, but she wanted to believe they were all honest. Wells was so involved in making money that he’d let his conscience slip.

Her hands knotted in her black lace dress. No sign or word from her aunts.
Even spreading out the search didn't reveal where they were. There'd been no reports of planes crashing or boats sinking, so she didn't think they were at the bottom of the ocean. She struggled between worrying about them being abducted to them simply being drunk and passed out.

Jarred pulled into an empty spot in the parking lot. “Ready to do this?”

“No, but I have to. Need to.” She exited the Jeep and Jarred walked beside her.

Inside the church, her mom’s white coffin was lined with flowers. At the edge of the back pew, Lily froze. How was she going to get through this day? The rest of her life? No more could she share secrets with her mom. Tell her interesting things she discovered, or people she met. Damn, her mom had never met Jarred even. A sob tore from her throat and her knees wobbled.

“Take a breath, it’s okay. We have time before the funeral starts. You don’t have to rush this.”

“I know.” She squeezed his hand. But it was time she said goodbye. Nothing would bring her mother back or change the past, no matter how hard she wished she could. Using his presence as strength, she slowly stepped forward. The distance between her and her mom’s coffin felt like miles. She lifted her chin and forced her feet to move faster. When they reached the platform, Jarred released her hand.

She turned to him, questions on her lips.

“I’m right here if you need me, but I think this should be your time alone with her.”

Nodding, she faced the coffin. He was right. This would be the last time she was alone with her mom and could see her body. After this, she’d have to visit her gravesite, but it would only be dirt and grass and a tombstone she’d see. Agony slammed into her and she took a faltering step forward.

Her mom lay in the casket, her makeup done to hide the grayness of her skin. Dark hair curled around her mom’s face. She looked peaceful against the silk pillow.

“Mom,” Lily croaked out. “I miss you so much already. I-I wish more than anything that you were still here with me. That I’d told you about the dream. Maybe you’d have believed it was a premonition and taken precautions.” Her breath hitched. “I’m so sorry, Mom. I should’ve trusted you… told you what was happening. Maybe together we could have stopped this.” Rawness scraped her insides, leaving her burning inside. She let her tears flow until she hiccupped. Not turning around to see if Jarred or anyone else had entered the church, she cried until she took a shuddering breath and the tension in her chest lessening some.

She wiped away her tears. “I’m continuing the shop, Mom. It was your dream, but it’s become mine now. I’m still going to nursing school, but I’m cutting back my hours. Your tragedy has taught me to value life… to value time before it's gone forever. Tomorrow’s Halloween. Don’t go scaring too many kids now that you’re a ghost, okay?”

Lily bent down and kissed her mom’s forehead, and whispered, “I love you, mom.”

***

Lily was glad Jarred had brought her early to the funeral. It gave her the opportunity to say goodbye to her mom and compose herself before everyone arrived. Amanda walked over and gave Lily a hug. Each cried and hugged more, Lily pulling away first.

“Guess it was good that Jarred told me to come early.” Amanda wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

“Yeah, he's pretty cool.” Jarred was in the back of the church talking with the pall bearers including Michael.

Her ex caught her staring and winked. She laughed and Jarred smiled, his eyes meeting hers and the intensity of both empathy and compassion took her breath away. If her mom were alive, she'd love the idea of Michael and Jarred being part of her pall bearers. Mr. Griffin was another. The other three were regular customers and friends of her mom: an older man and his teenage son, and a teacher of Lily's from tenth grade.

Soon the church filled with friends and customers and even a few people Lily had never seen before. Her mom's old boss and the rest of the wait staff showed up.

“We closed our restaurant so all of us could come.” The man said, smelling of grease and cooked meat.

“Thank you.” Lily patted his hand. “Mom would be happily surprised.”

He nodded, tears filling his eyes. “We took up a donation. It’s not much, but everyone chipped in.” He handed her a stuffed envelope.

It didn't matter how much it was, the fact that they’d done it at all made her chest tighten. “Thank you. I really appreciate this.” As soon as she could do so without a wall of sorrow crashing down on her, she'd have a meal at the restaurant where her mom used to work and leave a huge tip for everyone.

“The minister wants to start, is that okay with you?”

“Sure.” She took a deep breath. This had it be done, no matter how much she wished she wasn't here and that her mom was home or watching the shop. “He can go ahead with the memorial service.”

Jarred squeezed her shoulder. “I'll be right back.” He whispered something to the minister, then came back to her and sat on the pew beside her.

His presence was comforting. Amanda was on her other side, then Michael. Her aunts should be here with her.

The preacher's sermon faded as Lily stared at her mother laying in the coffin. Weeks ago, she'd never have guessed that her mom would be dead and would never get to talk to her again. Tears burned her eyes, and she didn't know if she’d ever be able to think of her mom without the pressing sorrow weighing on top of her chest.

Too soon, everyone was shuffling towards her and giving her a hug, muttering their condolences. She just wanted this day over. Her face was frozen with a small smile as she greeted each person. Amanda stood beside her, since Lily's aunts were not here. Even though her dad wouldn't be here, since he’d died in jail when Lily was a toddler, she’d believed someone from her dad's side of the family would come. Glancing around the church, she didn't notice anyone out of the ordinary. All here were customers, ex-coworkers, and friends.