Poison Me (17 page)

Jake was standing above her. “You ready?” He offered her a hand up.

When Chanel stood, they were only inches apart. “For what?”

He took her hands and started dancing to the music, swinging her out, then into his chest. She laughed and tried to keep up. He twirled her, flipped her, and her favorite—pulled her in close a few times. Singing along to the song, she was having a great time until her bare foot struck a rock.

“Ouch.” She let go of his hands and started hopping on the other foot.

Jake lifted her into his arms as easily as a twenty-five-pound bag of sugar. “Are you okay?” He held her foot up, trying to inspect it in the near darkness.

“It’s okay,” she said. “I just banged it on a rock.”

“I forgot you were barefoot.” His breath came in short puffs, his face inches away.

“I’m fine,” she said, forgetting the pain as she reveled in his touch.

The song ended and a slower song began. Jake swayed with her in his arms.

“You should put me down,” she said. “I’m too heavy for you to hold.”

He pumped his eyebrows. “I’ll put you down after.”

Chanel’s breath caught as his peppermint-scented breath touched her cheek. “After what?” she whispered.

Jake’s lips pressed against hers and she didn’t need another answer. She wrapped her arms around his neck, lifting herself closer into his embrace and returning the pressure on his mouth. Pleasure radiated from her lips and throughout her body. He gently set her on her feet, wrapped his arms around her back, and continued working his magic on her mouth.

Suddenly, the music stopped. Then a car door slammed and tires squealed into the night. Chanel jumped and pulled away from Jake. They stood watching the vehicle’s taillights disappear.

“That was weird,” she said.

“Weird?” he asked. “Maybe I need to try it again and see if I can get a better analysis.” He kissed her and she responded wholeheartedly, trying to remember if Ace’s touch had ever felt this good.

When Jake finally released her and she could speak again, Chanel said, “I didn’t mean the kiss. I meant the music stopping and that car.”

Jake laughed. “I know what you meant, I just wanted an excuse to kiss you again.”

“You don’t need an excuse,” she said, her face growing warmer.

His hand trailed up her arm and to her face. He stroked her cheek with a feather-light touch, then bent to touch his lips to hers again. “So I can do that anytime I want?” he asked against her mouth.

She captured his mouth with her own. Much later she pulled away and said shyly, “Sure, if I can have the same privileges.”

He chuckled. “Sounds like a fair trade.”

A car drove past, its wheels spewing gravel at Jake’s truck. He winced. “Wonder if that’s the same idiot that came by before.”

Chanel shivered, suddenly afraid of the dark night.

He wrapped his arm around her. “You’re cold.”

She tried to smile. “My clothes haven’t dried out yet.”

Jake lifted her into his arms and carried her to the truck.

“You’ve really got to stop doing that,” she said. “You’re going to break your back.”

“It’d be worth it.”

He settled her into the truck and hurried to retrieve their fishing gear and the blanket. Then he climbed in the driver’s side, tucked the blanket around her, and stole a quick kiss.

He pulled away from her and reached to turn the key but stopped. “The interior lights didn’t come on,” he muttered. He flipped a few switches. Nothing happened. “They didn’t just turn the music off,” he said.

Jake leaned across her and retrieved a flashlight from the glove box. After popping the hood latch, he swung open his door. Chanel waited, wondering what was wrong and praying she wouldn’t have to walk back to the retirement center in heels or barefoot.

Less than a minute later, he closed the hood and opened the truck door. The interior light illuminated the cabin. He climbed into the truck, and the engine fired on his first try. He gave her a tight smile. “Those kids must’ve thought they were funny.”

“What did they do?” She clutched the blanket between her fingers.

“Nothing big. Disconnected the battery cable.”

A shiver ran the length of her spine. “Do you think they were just messing around?”

Jake untangled her fingers from the blanket and wrapped his hand around hers. “Kids don’t have much to entertain them when they live this far away from the city.”

Chanel clung to him. “Guess I’ve spent too much time in Vegas where you have to be cautious.”

“Yeah. There’s nothing to worry about in a safe little town like Preston.” He winked and pulled her closer. “Besides, you’ve got me.”

She laughed. “How could I need anything else?”

Chapter Fifteen

Ruby watched Jake walk Chanel to her apartment door. With one arm around her waist, he drew her close and brushed his lips over hers. “I can’t wait to see you tomorrow,” he said against her lips.

Chanel pressed herself against him. “I wish it was already here.”

They kissed again. Ruby wished she and Ellie weren’t eavesdropping, but she did enjoy watching Jake look so smitten. She’d spent eight long years praying for a woman to capture his heart.

Ellie’s cackle interrupted the young couple. “As much as I’d like to feast on this show,” she said, “you two need to break it up.”

They jumped apart and whirled to face Ellie and Ruby.

“Aunt Ellie.” Jake sighed. “Hi, Grandma.”

Ruby clenched her fists and nodded a greeting.

Jake lifted one brow. “You okay?”

“No,” Ellie answered for both of them. “Nice shirt.” She smirked at Chanel’s body-hugging apparel. She grabbed Chanel’s waist, then jerked away. “Why are you all wet? What have you two been… Never mind, you’ll have to fill me in later. We’ve been waiting here forever for you. Marissa is missing. She doesn’t answer her phone or the door. Her apartment is locked, which is really scary because she hardly ever remembers to lock her door, even when I tell her to.”

Ellie chugged a breath and continued on the exhalation. “I can’t get a hold of the cleaning chick for a key, and the cranky managers told me not to disturb them after hours, so we need your master key.”

“Wait.” Jake held up a hand. “What do you mean Marissa is missing?”

“And how is my key going to help if she’s missing?” Chanel asked.

Ellie dug her fists into her hips and sighed. “Clues. We need to know where she’s gone. She was acting sick today, coughing and sneezing, so I went to Friday-night poker alone. I went to check on her and pounded on her door for five minutes. I’ve been dialing her number every few minutes for the past hour. Something’s wrong I tell you. We’ve got to get inside her apartment and make sure she’s okay.”

Ruby gnawed on the inside of her cheek. “Maybe the murderer got her.”

Ellie glowered at her friend. “Hush,” she hissed. “Don’t even think it.” She held her hand out to Chanel. “The key.”

Chanel gripped her key ring, focusing on Jake. “Will you come with us?”

“Of course.”

Placing a hand on Chanel’s back, he reached for Ruby with his other hand.
Where is Michael?
she thought. He had yet to return from his search of the garden.
Please, Lord, don’t let Marissa be lost out there in the dark somewhere. Or worse, don’t let her be poisoned.
Her grip on Jake tightened. She couldn’t lose Marissa.

They hurried down the hallway. Twenty feet from Marissa’s door, they saw it fly open. Ruby rushed to meet her friend and reassure herself that her fears were ridiculous.

The thin policeman who’d come the night of Anne’s and Richard’s murders exited Marissa’s apartment. Ruby’s jaw dropped and she felt faint.

“Jake.” The officer extended his hand, but focused his beady eyes on Chanel’s chest. “How you doin’?”

“Steven.” Jake nodded. “What’s up?”

“There’s been another death.”

“Who died?” Jake asked.

Ruby wanted to cover her ears and run.

“Marissa Graham,” the officer said.

“No!” Ellie cried out, shrinking against the wall.

Ruby swayed as her heart repeated Ellie’s cry of anguish. Jake caught her before she fell. She leaned against him.

“No, not Marissa!” Ellie shrieked. “Please, Lord, anyone but her.”

Ruby couldn’t speak, but inside her brain was screaming.
Not Marissa. Please, not my sweet friend
.

The officer looked at Ellie. “Oh.” He took a deep breath. “Oh, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.” He jammed a hand through his thinning brown hair, lifting his chin to Ruby. “Mrs. Graham was one of your friends, wasn’t she?”

Yes,
Ruby thought,
Marissa Graham
is
one of my dearest friends, not was.
She closed her eyes. This couldn’t be happening. Who could murder someone as fun and innocent as Marissa?

“No, no, no,” Ellie repeated over and over, blue-veined hands covering her eyes.

Ruby watched her friend with a clamped jaw. No. Marissa was fine. The man was lying to them. Ruby broke from Jake’s grip.

“Grandma?” he said.

Ignoring him, she raced past the cop, yanked open Marissa’s door, and scanned the room. Marissa’s overstuffed chair¾empty, Marissa’s couch—empty, Marissa’s kitchen nook—empty. “Rissa?” Ruby called, hating the squeak in her voice.

Jake, Chanel, and the officer appeared in the doorway. Ellie’s cries could be heard from the hall. Ruby tore through Marissa’s bedroom, bathroom, and closet. The place smelled of Marissa’s favorite pear-scented lotion.

The grief welling in her chest made it difficult to breathe. She finally gave up her search, trudging back down Marissa’s short hallway and entering the living area, not sure that she could face the group waiting there.

Jake hurried to her side as Chanel looked on with eyes full of pity. Ruby held onto Jake desperately, her throat constricting.

Michael appeared in the doorway. “Did you find her?” Ruby asked.

He shook his head once, glanced around the room, and hurried to her side.

“Marissa’s dead,” Jake whispered to Michael.

Ruby clamped her hands over her ears and moaned. Jake buoyed her on one side, and Michael wrapped his arm around her waist.

“Where is she?” Ruby’s voice was a creaky rasp. She coughed once and tried again, begging the officer to tell her this was all a big mistake, that Marissa was fine and would be back any moment. “Where is she? You snuck her out of here without us seeing,” she accused. “Where’s Marissa? I want to see her.”

“Sorry.” Steven shrugged. “She loaded the body quick.”

“She? Who took Marissa?” Ruby whispered.

The policeman ran his tongue along his lips, casting a sidelong glance at Chanel. “The mortician—you know, Mrs. Smelter.”

It was true. Marissa was dead.

Ruby collapsed. Michael cradled her in his arms. She buried her head in his chest and prayed for the pain to stop.

***

The ten-minute drive into town was made without conversation. Jake reached for Chanel’s hand across the console. If Ellie noticed from her perch behind them, she didn’t say anything. Jake was grateful she had finally stopped murmuring, “No, no, no. Not Marissa. Not my Rissa.”

The tires had barely stopped turning when Ruby flung open the back door of the truck and slid to the sidewalk, pulling Michael with her. They raced toward the door of the mortuary, Ellie on their heels. Jake and Chanel hurried to catch up.

Ruby pounded on the door, and soon it swung open. Mrs. Smelter’s sweet smile disappeared when she saw the five downtrodden faces before her. “Oh, you poor dears.”

“Don’t patronize us,” Ruby countered. “Show me her body.”

Mrs. Smelter shook her head. “Why don’t we go into my office, I have some soothing herbal—”

“Now!” Ruby demanded.

Jake watched helplessly, wishing he could comfort his grandma, but knowing it was best to stay out of her way right now.

“I don’t know.” The mortician bent toward Ruby and said softly, “Looking at a deceased loved one before I get her fixed up can be…upsetting.”

“I’m already upset. Now get out of my way.”

Mrs. Smelter stretched to her full five feet four inches. “Now dear, you must have some reason for wanting to see the deceased, but I don’t think this is a good idea.”

Jake wished the woman would stop saying the word “deceased.” How was his grandma going to deal with losing one of her dearest friends? Anne and Richard’s deaths had been hard, but Jake knew Marissa and Ellie were the sisters Grandma had never had. He wanted to take her in his arms, but she stood there so strong—back rigid, brown eyes snapping at the mortician.

“Marissa Graham was one of my best friends. Now she’s…” Ruby obviously couldn’t say the word. Michael squeezed her hand. She glanced up at him, almost as if filling herself with his strength, before turning back to the mortician. “You have Marissa’s body, and I am going to look at her.”

Ruby pushed past Mrs. Smelter. Michael ran flank. Ellie was just behind Ruby, trying to catch a full breath.

Mrs. Smelter fell into line before Jake and Chanel, huffing to keep up. “I know we all need closure, but I’m not sure why you must see the body tonight. Can’t you wait until the viewing?”

“No,” Ruby said.

There was a long silence before Jake said, “Grandma feels that someone—”

“Jake!” Ruby cut him off.

He shook his head, but didn’t say another word.

They entered a stainless-steel room. Marissa lay on a white-shrouded table, eyes shut, pink lips soft, small hands folded across her stomach, her beautiful white hair blending into the sheet beneath her. Jake’s eyes were riveted to Marissa’s body. How could her spirit be gone? Just yesterday she’d been swimming in his pool and laughing at Ellie.

After one glance, Ellie fell to her knees and shrieked. Michael’s grip on his grandma intensified. Ruby cast Ellie a compassionate glance, disengaged herself from Michael’s arms, and approached the table. Michael looked on with concern but didn’t stop her.

Mrs. Smelter grabbed Ruby’s arm. “Now you’ve seen your friend, but I need to ask that you not touch the body.”