Neighing with Fire: A Mystery (Colleen McCabe Series) (13 page)

“But what does this have to do with someone framing Myrtle for the fire or Denny’s death?” Colleen asked. “Myrtle wasn’t the one extorting or blackmailing people.”

“Don’t you see? With Myrtle out of the picture, there’s nobody on Tour-zilla’s case about the horses. Everyone knows how Myrtle felt about Denny Custis. She’s the perfect scapegoat.”

“She wasn’t still spying on Denny, was she?” Bobby asked.

She and Nellie exchanged a knowing look.

“Nell, tell me she wasn’t still dressing up in that stupid disguise.”

Nellie smiled weakly and shrugged.

“I told her to cut that out,” he said, exasperated. “Maybe Mother should be in a cell. At least that way she can’t get into any more trouble.”

“Bobby Crepe!” Nellie said, scolding him.

“It’s true,” he said, not giving ground. “Father always knew how to keep her in line, but since he’s been gone…”

Nellie gently squeezed his arm. “Your father had a special way with her.”

Colleen shifted her weight. Children squealing, Sparky barking happily, and cheers from proud parents filled the air. Bobby clearly didn’t have more to offer. “Why don’t you get back on the grill,” she said. “I’m sure Aaron could use the help.”

Bobby returned to the grill and Aaron patted him on the back.

“I don’t blame Little Bobby for being upset,” Nellie said. “Sometimes Myrtle can be, well…”

“Myrtle?” Colleen offered.

Nellie smirked. They watched Jacob, the boy she had spoken with earlier about seeing Myrtle, running through the obstacle course. He wore a serious look of determination as he tackled each element at lightning speed and rescued the stuffed cat. Jacob’s parents cheered loudly and Chip, who was standing at the finish, gave the boy a high five.

Chip caught Colleen’s eye. “A future firefighter,” he said with a grin and held the boy’s hand in the air.

“Sign him up,” she said and then turned to Nellie. “I’m glad you told me about the tour company, but it’s a bit of a stretch to think that somehow they set Myrtle up. They didn’t make her go to the house to confront Denny. She did that all on her own.”

“Does that mean you’re not going to investigate?”

“I just don’t see the connection. I wish I could do more.” Colleen moved to go.

“Wait,” Nellie said, grabbing her arm. “What if someone knew Myrtle was at the house, waited until she left, and then started that fire?”

Nellie’s determination to clear her friend was admirable. But that’s not what made Colleen reconsider helping her. Nellie’s suggestion of another person at the house was a theory she, too, had entertained. Now Nellie was providing her with a possible suspect and motive.

“Okay,” she said. “I’ll let Bill know. While I’m at it, is there anyone else I should mention that you think might have an interest in Myrtle taking the blame for Denny’s death?”

“The only other person I can think of who’d like to see Myrtle take the fall would be Rosalinda.”

“Rosalinda Hawthorne? At the wildlife education center? What beef does she have with Myrtle?”

“Two words … piping plover.”

“But Myrtle told me they had made nice and even successfully collaborated to get the tour vehicle sizes restricted in the sanctuary.”

“A temporary cease fire,” Nellie said. “Those two are too much alike to get along. Good for the horses and plovers, bad for peace and harmony.”

“So with Myrtle locked up for the fire and Denny’s death, both the tour company and the piping plover folks have their biggest headache out of the way,” Colleen said, thinking aloud.

“Bingo.”

She sighed. “Sounds like someone needs to talk to Rosalinda.”

“You’re a good kid. Myrtle always said you were her favorite pupil.”

Colleen raised a brow, skeptical. “Myrtle picks at me because she likes me?”

“If she didn’t,” Nellie said, “she wouldn’t waste her breath.”

Aaron rang a bell signaling that the food was ready.

“Hey, Chief,” Bobby called. “If you want something to eat you should grab it quick.”

“Thank you,” Nellie said, grabbing Colleen’s hand and squeezing it. “You go eat. I know my way to the front.” And with that she disappeared around the corner of the building.

She needed to tell Bill about what she had learned from Nellie and wanted to talk to Pinky about his relationship with Autumn, but right now her stomach was churning. Maybe there was a way to kill two birds with one stone. She crossed to Aaron and Bobby, who were occupied with serving barbecue chicken, hot dogs, and burgers to eager guests.

“I think I’ll take you up on that offer,” she said, reaching the chefs. “Can I get the food to go?”

“Sure thing,” Aaron said, grabbing aluminum foil. “One of each?”

“How about two of each.”

“Lady, you eat a lot,” said a little boy behind her.

“It’s not all for me. I’m taking some to a friend.”

“A friend,” Bobby said to Aaron, and gave him a knowing look.

“Is that food ready?” she asked.

Bobby tried unsuccessfully to hide his grin and assisted Aaron with wrapping the food. Since when had it become a big deal to take a friend food? Aaron handed her the food and two bottled waters in a plastic bag.

“Thank you,” she said.

“I hope Bill likes it,” Bobby said with a cheesy smile.

“You want extra clean-up duties, don’t you?” she teased, and left to check on Sparky.

She found her canine pal resting in the shade. She could tell he was tired. Since the children were now occupied with eating and other activities, it was a good time to give Sparky a break.

“Come on, boy,” she said, untying his leash. “Want to go for a ride?” Sparky pulled himself up, wagged his tail, and sniffed at the food. “Maybe Bill will have a treat for you.”

She entered the station and nearly bumped into Jimmy on his way out.

“Hey, Chief,” he said. “You leaving already?”

“I’m heading over to give Bill information that might help with the case.”

“The homicide or arson?”

“Both, actually. I shouldn’t be long.” She moved to leave then turned back. “Oh, Jimmy … the game day … great idea.”

Jimmy beamed. “It was, wasn’t it,” he said and exited.

She made her way through the building and crossed the lot to her SUV. She secured the food in a storage container to keep Sparky from sneaking into the bag, hopped in behind him, and steered onto Dolphin Street. She contemplated driving to the wildlife education center to follow up on what Nellie had told her about Rosalinda Hawthorne, then reconsidered. If Bill thought the lead was worth pursuing, he’d want to be present for any questioning.

Chapter 12

Colleen parked
next to the Sheriff’s Department, relieved to have left the frenzy of the game day behind and eager to discuss the latest news about the case with Bill. She hoped that she could convince him to let her talk to Pinky about Autumn. How she was going to do that, though, she had no idea.

She grabbed the food from the storage container on the backseat, leaped out, and waited for Sparky to follow. Instead, he looked at her and yawned.

“You can’t stay in the car, buddy. It’s too hot.”

Sparky responded by putting his head down.

“Treats,” she said, knowing the word would get his attention. Sparky’s ears perked up. He padded across the seats and jumped out.

She held the department’s front door for the Border collie, greeted the woman behind the reception window, and strode to Bill’s office. His door was open a crack. She peeked in, observed Bill reading files at his desk, knocked, and entered.

“Hello,” she said, Sparky trailing her.

“Hey,” he said, his face brightening.

“I brought you lunch from the station,” she said, holding up the bag. “Aaron, the guy that does the OBX Barbecue Stand, was on the grill.”

“That sounds perfect,” he said, coming around his desk and motioning to the conference table.

“I’ve also found some things out about the cases,” she said, removing the food from the bag and setting it before two chairs at the table.

“Hold on,” Bill said and grabbed a notepad from his desk.

“First food. I’m starving.” Sparky whimpered at the food smells. “I’m afraid I’m not the only one,” she added.

Bill opened a desk drawer and held out a bone-shaped treat for Sparky. The dog took the treat and flumped to the floor to crunch on it.

“Thank you,” she said. “I had promised him.”

She and Bill dug into the food. It was expertly cooked and seasoned with Aaron’s secret mix of spices.

“This is amazing,” he said between chews. “Now I see what everyone has been raving about.”

“We should do well with donations today,” she said. “So how have things been with Pinky and Myrtle?”

He took a swig of water before speaking. “They’re in holding. You should hear Myrtle telling Salvatore it’s like
Orange Is the New Black
.”

She chuckled at the reference to the edgy television show about female inmates. “Myrtle does have a flair for the dramatic.”

“As long as she’s not dramatic with the press. The last thing we need is someone thinking our accommodations are subpar.”

“Please. Everyone knows what a tight ship you run. Someone could probably eat off of those floors.” He looked at her, unconvinced. “Okay, maybe not eat off the floors, but you and I both know how comfortable the holding area here is compared to a lot of places.”

“Maybe too comfortable where Salvatore is concerned. He seems completely indifferent to being released.”

I bet I know why, she thought.

“What are you thinking?” he asked, noticing her silence.

She had been hoping to speak with Pinky alone to find out what his connection with Autumn was before getting Bill involved but didn’t see how that was possible now. “It’s just a hunch, but I think Pinky’s protecting someone.”

“Who?” he asked, picking up his pen.

She covered the pen with her hand. “Hear me out before you write anything down.”

He set down the pen and leaned back in his chair. “I’m listening.”

“You know how I was up in Carova with Myrtle before Rodney picked her up? Well, afterwards, I ran into someone who I think might in some way be involved with Pinky.”

“By involved you mean…” He raised a brow.

“I don’t know,” she said. “But she’s been at the house that burned and she knows Pinky. He could be protecting her because they’re either in some type of relationship … or she had something to do with the arson.”

“But why would a woman involved with Salvatore burn his house? Did they have a fight?”

She shook her head. “She wasn’t angry with Pinky as far as I could tell.”

“Then why would she destroy his property?”

“The target might have been Denny. I think she’s part of the group protecting the piping plover. Apparently, Denny removed fencing from around the plover nests that were on his property. She had plenty of materials in her house that could have been used as accelerants.”

“You were in her house? Who are we talking about?”

Colleen was hesitant to name Autumn. If the woman’s only crime was being romantically involved with Pinky, then a lot of women would want to be charged with that offense. She’d hate to have their relationship exposed unnecessarily, since both obviously wanted to keep it a secret. Plus, Autumn was Fawn’s aunt and that meant she was soon to be family for Chip. The last thing she wanted to do was bring unpleasantness into Chip’s and Fawn’s lives so close to their wedding—especially since she was supposed to be helping with the wedding, not ruining it.

“Couldn’t I just talk to Pinky, see what he says?” she asked.

Bill’s cheeks flushed pink. “What is it with you always wanting to give Salvatore a pass?”

“I don’t think he did it.”

He shook his head. “I can’t do it.”

You mean you won’t, she thought. It had been worth a shot, but there was no getting around Bill. Continuing to try would only make him more suspicious about her feelings toward Pinky, as ridiculous as that seemed.

“The woman is Autumn Harkins, Fawn’s aunt, and, I might strongly add, my guy Chip’s soon-to-be aunt.”

“Oh.”

“Now you see why I want to handle this delicately. There could be repercussions at the station.”

He nodded, fully appreciating the predicament she was in. “Tell me what you know.”

She briefly ran down her meeting with Autumn, her observation of the accelerants, and Autumn’s apparent concern over her ex as Bill scribbled notes and asked follow-up questions. When she was done, he put down the pen and cracked his knuckles. He didn’t like it, but he agreed that it would be best for Colleen to talk to Pinky. She could speak with him in an interview room and Bill could listen and watch from behind the two-way mirror.

They left Sparky snoring peacefully under the table in Bill’s office.

“How’s it been in there?” Bill asked Rodney when they reached the door to the holding area.

“Quiet. At least the singing has stopped.”

“Singing?” Colleen and Bill said in unison.

“‘We Shall Overcome,’ I believe. She even got Salvatore to join her for a verse.”

“You’re kidding,” she said, finding it hard to imagine what a duet between Myrtle and Pinky might sound like.

“You sure you gotta go in there and stir them up?” Rodney asked.

“I’m afraid so,” Bill said, and opened the door.

She and Bill entered the holding area, which looked more like a hospital waiting room with bars than it did a jail. The tiled walls and floor gleamed in the bright fluorescent lights and the metal benches were covered with blue vinyl pads for comfort. There were even partitions near the sinks and toilets for privacy.

Myrtle crossed to the bars. “I knew you’d come,” she said to Colleen.

“Nellie was quite persuasive,” Colleen said.

“So am I to assume that this visit isn’t for me?” Pinky said, feigning disappointment.

“Actually, it is,” Bill said. “We have a few questions we’d like to ask you.”

“Don’t say a word,” Myrtle said to Pinky. “Remember, nobody likes a rat.”

Pinky chuckled, said, “My lips are sealed,” and gestured as if locking his lips and throwing away the key.