Fudge-Laced Felonies (8 page)

My face flamed. I’d been acting like a child. Not sitting still and paying attention to those around me instead of the pastor. I’m sorry, Lord. I promise to do better. And I did, keeping my eyes glued to the pulpit.

After church, an empty afternoon beckoned. Torn between digging up my yard, searching for whatever my night visitor had been looking for, or learning how to be a private investigator, the yard won. What if there were more diamonds buried beneath my roses? overalls with fuchsia-colored flowers, let the dog out, and then hurried to my garden. Perched on my pink kneepad, I dug beneath one bush after another.

Two hours later, I brushed a dirty forearm across a sweaty brow and stood to ease the kinks out of my back. I’d found nothing besides worms and roly-poly bugs. Not to mention the hassle Truly proved to be as she nosed around the holes and got in my way.

“Summer, what are you doing?” Ethan leaned against the house, ankles crossed and hands shoved into the pockets of a pair of blue jeans. He looked divine.

Why did I continue to find myself in embarrassing situations? I glanced at my dirt-encrusted overalls. “Uh, pruning?” Sorry, Lord. Another untruth. Remorse rose in my chest.

“What are you looking for?”

I never could get anything past him. I sighed. “Diamonds. I didn’t find anything. I’m trying to figure out what my nighttime prowler is looking for.”

“Maybe it isn’t in the rosebushes.”

“It isn’t.” I glanced around at the holes beneath what I’d hoped would be my blue ribbon winners. “I wasted an entire afternoon.”

“Something learned is never wasted.” Ethan took up the shovel I’d discarded. “If you’ll get us something to drink, I’ll fill these holes for you. Oh, and you have dirt across your face. It’s kind of cute.”

Dirt? Horror. I sprinted for the house and into the bathroom. Sure enough, a wide swath of dirt cut across my face. I pulled off my gardening gloves and tossed them in the corner. Then I grabbed a washcloth from the side of the tub and dabbed at the dirt, trying in vain not to wipe away my makeup. I couldn’t face Ethan without my bravery mask. And I definitely couldn’t change my clothes. He’d think I was trying to impress him.

I tossed the rag into the sink with disgust and took my dirt-covered, smeared face back to the kitchen. Upon opening the refrigerator, I discovered a pitcher of lemonade. I set the pitcher on the counter and grabbed two glasses from the cabinet next to the sink. My gaze fell upon Uncle Roy’s toolshed.

That’s it! The misplaced shovel. Leaving the drinks where they sat, I bolted out the back door, letting the screen slam behind me. Ethan called my name. The sound of a thud reached me as the shovel hit the ground.

Uncle Roy always left his toolshed unlocked so neighbors could borrow whatever they needed. Occasionally, a tool would stay at someone else’s home, but Uncle Roy believed in sharing, no matter whether the user returned the item.

I threw the shed door open with a bang and peered into the dim recesses of the wooden building. Shovels, hoes, and rakes found a home in a plastic trash bin, while many implements I couldn’t name hung from neat pegs on one of the walls. Uncle Roy’s assorted plastic bins sat stacked in the corner. The perfect quick hiding place.

Ripping the lid from the top bin, I shoved my arm deep into birdseed. A fit of sneezing seized me, and Ethan gently moved me aside.

“Here. My arms are longer. What exactly am I expecting to find? If it’s a mouse, I’ll deal severely with you later.” He plunged his hand into the seed until his elbow disappeared.

Ethan, afraid of mice? I covered my hand to stifle a giggle. I found mice cute. Especially the small gray ones with big eyes and ears.

“Aha!” Ethan pulled out a navy coverall. “This it?”

Had to be. I stepped forward and took the clothing from his hand. “I’m pretty sure this is what my nocturnal predator wears.” I held it against me, delighted to see it was several sizes too big. This didn’t mean, necessarily, that the person wasn’t female, just that he or she wore a larger size than I did.

“They must’ve changed here for easy access. Less obvious than if they’re walking the streets in everyday clothes.” Ethan turned and scanned the walls.

“If you dig deeper, you might find something else.” I tossed the coverall on a shelf. “Maybe the other garden glove.”

“No, I think we should call Joe.”

“That could take an hour! If we find something, we’ll put it back.”

Ethan shook his head. “We’ve messed things up enough. You’re inviting the wrath of Joe.” He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and punched in a set of numbers.

I wasn’t afraid of my cousin.

While Ethan occupied himself calling Joe, I shoved my arm into the bin with enough enthusiasm that seed spilled over the top. Within seconds, I came up clutching a blue-flowered gardening glove. I shoved it back inside, avoiding Ethan’s glare. lay in bed that night with the investigation book lying open beside me and warm feelings for Ethan in my heart. He’d been angry with me for continuing my search. It didn’t help that my hunch about the shed had proven true.

Ethan and Joe had both made a big deal about why God had burdened them with a knucklehead like me. I knew neither of them could stay mad forever. But I promised to think before acting in the future.

The next morning dawned bright. I woke with a stiff neck that couldn’t keep me from following up on what I’d read in my Dolt book the night before. I’d scanned the table of contents and decided to start with neighborhood investigation. I had to work that day, so the street where the candy store sat would have to do as my neighborhood. The major goal for the day—the jewelry store and the newspaper.

One of the things I’d have to work on, according to the book, was getting my suspect to like me. This wouldn’t be hard with Ruby and Mabel. They already did. Terri Lee, on the other hand, might be a challenge.

Aunt Eunice and I whipped up a batch of butterscotch fudge before I took off my apron. I would’ve liked for her to go with me to interrogate Ruby and Mabel, but after her outburst the other day, I changed my mind. I’d been honest about wanting to stop by the jewelry store and could tell by the inquisitive look on her face that she was dying to know why.

Before she had a chance to get nosy, I headed out the front door and down the sidewalk. Shadow Jewelers stood one block over in an impressive redbrick-fronted building. Opening the glass doors with brass trim, I heard soft music playing in the background. I stepped farther in and inhaled the pleasant aroma of something floral.

Terri Lee wasn’t behind the counter. A rather plump woman masked in pancake makeup greeted me with a huge smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Welcome. How may I help you?”

“Is Terri Lee in?”

“Are you a friend of hers?” The woman looked down her nose at me and curled her lip. I smoothed my hand down my jeans, wishing I’d worn something classier.

“More like an acquaintance.” How could I get this woman to let me see Terri Lee without arousing suspicion? “I’m interested in possibly having her design a piece of jewelry for me.”

“How wonderful, but I’m afraid Terri Lee isn’t in. Apparently she’s picking up a shipment of supplies for her jewelry as we speak. Would you like to leave your number?”

“No, thank you. I’ll try to catch her another time.”

Great. Strike one.

Back on the sidewalk, I turned left, walked half a block, and entered the nondescript plaster building that housed Mountain Shadows’ only newspaper. Ruby sat behind the receptionist desk, a Hollywood magazine in hand. She didn’t look much happier to see me than the woman at the jewelry store.

“If this is about the pictures for the paper, Summer, it isn’t my fault.” Ruby smacked the magazine on the desk. “Mabel hasn’t written the story yet. The diamonds and the dead boy are bigger news.”

“That’s okay, Ruby. I figured it was something like that.” Actually, I’d forgotten all about the pictures with everything else that had been going on. Now I’d practice my new investigative skills. “How did the guy die?”

Ruby leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Homicide. Stabbed multiple times in the back.”

That would explain the blood on the gardening gloves. “Wow. Wasn’t he here to see Terri Lee Rupert?”

“That’s what the Ruperts claim, but if you ask me, that girl doesn’t seem too broken up about her beau being dead. She’s been making moon eyes at Ethan Banning. Oh, add the jailbird to the list of her prey.”

An ice-cold fist gripped my heart. “Really?”

“Yep. Seen ’em with my own eyes, and you know nothing gets past these baby blues. Not ten minutes ago, she and Ethan strolled into the diner across the street.”

I spun around. Would it be too obvious if I went over there for lunch? I didn’t care. Aunt Eunice could handle the store for another half hour. “Do they have any suspects in the boy’s death?”

“Not a one.” She retrieved the magazine from the desktop. “I’d best be getting back to work. I wouldn’t want anyone saying I don’t earn my pay.”

I turned to stare out the window at the red awning of Lou’s Diner. The large plate-glass window sent off a glare in the noon sun, and I couldn’t see anyone sitting inside. With a deep breath, I exited the newspaper office, crossed the street, and pushed through the swinging doors of the diner before I lost my nerve.

Ethan’s laugh was the first sound I heard. Then he called my name as he waved me over. “Come sit with us.” He motioned to the chair beside Terri Lee. “We haven’t ordered yet.”

“I’m ordering takeout.” Now why did I say that? Why did I insist on being antisocial with Terri Lee around? There was no reason I couldn’t sit with them. I could’ve interrogated her. And watched Ethan’s reaction.

“Are you sure? We’ve plenty of room.” My gaze zeroed in on the fine laugh lines around his eyes, and it took everything I had to shift my attention to Terri Lee. “I stopped by the jewelry store today. Thought maybe the two of us could get better acquainted. The lady behind the counter said you were picking up a shipment of gems.”

“That’s true. High-quality diamonds. Several first-water quality.” Terri Lee smoothed a napkin across her lap. “I plan on picking them up after lunch.”

First-water quality? Sounds impressive. “Aren’t you afraid of carrying diamonds around? Especially after someone buried a pile of them in my yard?”

“They did?” She pierced me with a gaze of steel. “Oh, you hadn’t heard? Must’ve happened before you came to town. Whoever buried the diamonds left a bundle of cash, too.” I gave her a thin-lipped smile. “Hope to see more of you. Bye, Ethan.” I left the diner before it occurred to me I hadn’t purchased anything for lunch.

Within seconds, my cell phone rang. A glimpse of the caller ID showed Ethan. My heart skipped a beat. I was in trouble. “Hello.”

“What were you trying to prove? Why must you be so rude?”

“Was I?” I leaned against the wall of a store a couple of doors down and stared at the sky. For someone exhibiting signs of jealousy, I wasn’t gaining any points with the object of my affection. My throat tightened.

“You know you were. Terri Lee could use a friend. She just moved back to town.”

“I said I went by the jewelry store to get to know her.” I studied the cuticle of my thumb.

“You’re acting very strange, Summer.”

“Are you still sitting there with her? Please tell me you aren’t speaking to me this way in front of someone.” The thought hurt.

“Of course not. I excused myself and said I was going to the men’s room.” His sigh sounded heavy through the phone. “You all but accused her of knowing about the diamonds.”

“Well, she’s a likely suspect. She could profit from the diamonds. And don’t forget, she’s supposedly meeting someone to get a shipment. Most people wouldn’t let it be known they were picking up a fortune in diamonds.”

“You’re impossible.” He sighed again. “Did you apologize to Joe about messing up his crime scene?”

Oops. I’d forgotten. Kind of on purpose.

ght="0"Summer?”

“No, I didn’t. I don’t want him to keep me from searching. I want to see whether the person comes back.”

“That’s dangerous! We don’t know what kind of person we’re dealing with.” The conversation ended.

I poked my head around the corner to make sure Ethan didn’t follow me and headed toward the police station. If Ethan wanted to be a goody-goody, I had some groundwork to do. And fast.

I marched west to the newly constructed brick police station. In the reception area sat one of my neighbors, a widow by the name of Mrs. Hodge.

“Good morning, Mrs. Hodge.”

“I wish I could say the same, Summer.”

“Is everything all right?” I plopped into the vacant plastic seat next to her.

Mrs. Hodge twisted a white handkerchief in her thick, veined hands. “Twice within the last few nights, someone has trampled across my garden.” She leaned toward me. “Once I could’ve sworn they stared in my bathroom window. I can’t handle a Peeping Tom, Summer. I just can’t.” Tears welled in the old woman’s eyes.

“I don’t blame you.” I patted her hand. The skin felt dry beneath my fingers. “I’m sure the police department can help you.” And maybe I can get some clues. So far, this neighborhood investigating is paying off. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to come by tonight and take a look around. Someone’s been doing the same to me. Maybe we share a nighttime visitor.”

“Oh, sweetie, I’d sleep so much better tonight if you checked things out for me. Bring your handsome boyfriend with you. You two looked lovely at the ball.”

My boyfriend? I wish.

“Summer.”

I glanced up into the stern face of my cousin Joe. “Excuse me, Mrs. Hodge.” I leaned to whisper in her ear. “I’ll see you tonight. Around dark.”

“Thank you.” A tear slid down the old woman’s cheek. “I’ll make tea.”

My heart ached at her apparent loneliness. I resolved to make an effort to visit more often.

After patting her shoulder, I stood as tall as my petite frame would allow and planted fists on my hips. “Yes, Joe.”

He cocked his head toward his office and spun on one heel, leading the way. Yep, I was in trouble.

Joe’s office, actually a corner of the large room, was set apart with padded partitions. I sat straight backed in another plastic chair, crossed my ankles, and stared at the red-faced man in front of me. It seemed obvious he was losing the battle to control his temper. His face turned an unbecoming shade of cherry red.