The Devil Wore Sneakers (32 page)

Bella turned and put a finger on her chin. “Hmm, you’re a lilac.”

“I am?”

“You are.” Bella walked to the corner hutch and grabbed a cup.

The woman must have stashed cups all over the apartment.

Bella set it down before Lucy. “Isn’t the painted flower pretty on the white china?”

“Beautiful. Lie down, Target.”

Her pet lay down and rested his head on his outstretched paws.

“I knew you’d like the color.” Bella sank onto the chair across from Lucy. “Why did the police chief arrest Liam for killing Ryan? I bet that horrible Matt Hastings murdered everyone.”

“When we went to the station last night, I found out Matt claimed to be hiding out in a homeless shelter a few miles from Hawick Falls the evening Ryan was shot. Sullivan is verifying his alibi. I wish I could help Liam.”

“If Matt didn’t kill Ryan, then Sullivan should keep looking for the real killer.”

Visiting Bella wasn’t working out the way Lucy had hoped.

Bella’s eyes widened. “What about Ali’s boyfriend? Maybe he’s the killer. I hear a lot about crazy teenage killers.”

Time to change the subject. Bella hadn’t even put on the water. Did she just want Lucy to sit and appreciate the cups? Her gaze fell on the opaque jar labeled Tea sitting on a shelf above the stove. “I’ll get the tea.” She rose from her chair and reached up for the container.

“No.” Bella leaped up and cut in front of Lucy. Her eyes narrowed and her lips tightened, grim and threatening. “We can’t use those leaves. They dried up.”

“Oh.” Bella’s strong reaction was stranger than strange.

“I bought a box of Maple Leaf store bags,” Bella said as Lucy slipped into her seat. “I left them in the other room. I’ll get them and the cloth napkins I put away. The table will look pretty. Don’t run off. I’ll be back in a couple of minutes.”

What was going on with Bella and the tea? Was that the secret ingredient she’d added to the chocolate chips? Lucy stole across the floor. Target sat up.

Lucy grabbed the jar and opened it. The leaves were green, not brown and shriveled. Did they have the same scent as her cookies? She inhaled. The fresh chestnut odor hit her senses, but as she stared down into the container, something black snagged her attention.

What the heck? She tilted the glass jar and shook the contents to the side. The butt of a handgun appeared. Unable to stop herself, she reached inside and pulled up a .38 Special.

Chapter 46

Bella shot Ryan? Was it possible? Why? She loved him.

“The tea bags aren’t—” Bella froze as she entered the room.

Lucy snapped her attention to her. “You hid a .38 in the jar?” Why had she asked?
Act normal and get out of here
. “I guess you were scared after Ryan’s death.”

“Yes. Hank gave it to me.”

“Hank?” Was she lying? “Where did he get it?”

“He…” She blinked several times. “I don’t know. I have to change for work. He doesn’t want me to tell people I have it. I—” She stopped rambling and wrung her hands.

“I’ll go.” Fast. “I won’t say anything to anyone.”

“About what?” Hank stood in the doorway between the kitchen and living room. His glance sharpened and darted from the weapon to her face, searching for an answer.

Oh, my God. Talk your way out of this.
“Hank, when did you come in? Shouldn’t you be tending the bar?”

“I went to my truck and saw you walking up the hill. Bella’s usually at work by now, so I decided to check on her. I came up the front hall stairs.”

“Don’t be mad, Hank.” Bella’s face crumbled. “She found the handgun when I left the room.” Tears streamed down her face. “Don’t lock me up.”

Hank’s cold glare cut to Lucy.

Panic urged her to flee. “Well, thanks for showing me your place. I need to leave. You should head back, too, Hank. Sadie will miss you.”

“Hank,” Bella grabbed his arm. “Yes, I told you I threw the gun in your ice-fishing hole down at the river, but I couldn’t. It helped me speak to Ryan.”

“Stop talking, Bella. Lucy shouldn’t hear your problems.” Hank took a threatening step toward her, but he still blocked Lucy’s path.

Her mouth went dry. How would she get out? Where were the other stairs?

“I know I said I’d take care of the gun.” Bella wrung her hands. “You have to understand. Ryan told me to keep it. He’d be mad if I threw it out, and he wouldn’t come back.”

Sweat broke out over Lucy’s body. She glanced at Target. The dog was hiding under the table.

“Ryan wasn’t happy you shot him, Hank.”

“For God’s sake, Bella, shut up,” Hank yelled.

“Please, don’t yell. I needed to talk to Ryan again. I miss him. I tried to get rid of the gun the other day and hide it in Liam’s office, but I found Lucy in there. So I asked for a glass of water to get rid of her, but you came in. I’d already called the tip line and reported the gun was in Liam’s desk. The police searched, but there was no gun because I still had it and Hank, you had the rifles.”

Lucy’s mind spun. And she’d wanted to help Bella, who’d planned to frame Liam!

“I watched the cops go in when I was on the church steps.” She wiped a hand over her face. “Ryan and I were getting married.”

“Bella,” Hank hissed. “Ryan used you. He never was marrying you. Watson was a liar. He slept with you and his ex-wife. I followed her. I saw them together.”

Lucy made it close enough to reach down and grab Target’s collar.

“No.” Bella shook her head and covered her ears with her palms.

“He cheated on you with Clarissa. She couldn’t break away from him. You wouldn’t end it with him. The guy was poison.”

Forget the leash. Lucy grabbed the dog’s collar and slid behind Hank. The doorknob was inches from her grasp.

“Hank, you slept with Clarissa. Ryan loved me. You killed him because both Clarissa and I loved him.”

Please, let me get out. Please.
She twisted the knob.

“Bella, you always mess up my life.”

“No, I don’t. I fix it. Lucy, wait.”

She tossed a glance at Bella.

The young woman was running at her, a teakettle clutched in her raised hand. Lucy ducked to the left. The edge of the kettle crashed against her shoulder. Pain vibrated down her side. She wobbled on her feet and stumbled against the chair, which broke her fall as she slipped to the floor. Fighting the burning hurt, she tried to gather her scattered senses.

“I make everything right,” Bella announced.

Target lowered his head and growled.

Hank or Bella was going to kill her. Fear ripped through Lucy.
Get up. Get up
. She moved her hand to brace herself and saw it. Lying by her hip was her key chain from her pocket. The mini stun gun! She covered it with her palm.

“Take the dog when you get rid of Lucy, Hank. Get rid of him too this time, and not on a street. He sheds on my rug.”

Lucy couldn’t control her trembling. The .38 was in the jar, but Hank and Bella were in front of her. He turned to her. “Guess you can go visit your scum brother.” He bent toward her.

She flipped the tiny on button with her nail and fired. A crackling followed by sparks lit the small space between herself and Hank.

He went spastic, his eyes blank. He fell forward. His skull clipped the wall as he crashed next to her and lay still.

Bella screamed, “Hank. Hank.” She collapsed on her knees on the other side of her brother. “Get up. Don’t be dead. Don’t be dead.” Her sobs pierced the air as she rocked back and forth.

Lucy pushed to her feet while keeping her stun gun aimed at the hysterical woman. She’d no idea if any charge was left. She shoved her hand into her pocket for her phone, backed up and managed to grab the jar with the .38 Special.

Chapter 47

The day passed in a haze of legalities. Sullivan arrested Hank and Bella. Lucy gave her statement. Liam’s lawyer stopped by the Moose to assure Lucy that Liam would soon be free. At six pm, Sullivan called and set an appointment for eleven the next day. He refused to discuss Liam when she asked questions about him.

She woke throughout the night, counting down the hours until she entered the police station.

When the time arrived, she hustled down Main Street, waving to the cars that honked hello to her. Sullivan sat in his office behind a desk with a pile of folders on top. She perched on the fold-up metal chair. “When will Liam be released?”

“First, Lucy, I’ll update you on your brother’s investigation. My men discovered evidence that Ryan sold test answers to a few of the students in his tutoring group. Ali was one of them. Her boyfriend, Tate, had been jealous of Ryan’s meetings or tutoring sessions with the girl. In reality the sessions were just a way for him to pass on the exam questions. As we theorized, to get even, Tate posted the funeral picture online and glued the coins on the door.”

Lucy’s stomach fluttered with nerves over the truth. She knew this brother. “I appreciate your clarifying what went on between Ryan and Ali.” At least her brother wasn’t a pedophile.

Sullivan jumped into his next revelation. “The police searched Hank and Isabella Jackman’s apartments yesterday. They found a burner phone he used to send anonymous threatening messages to his ex and one to you at the Barley House. He probably hoped you’d think Clarissa sent it since he was angry with her for sleeping with your brother. But he couldn’t stop seeing her either. He has already confessed he’d gotten your number from Father Francis by pretending he wanted to contact you about Ryan’s funeral.”

Hank had seemed so normal.

“We found the rest of your grandfather’s rifles hidden in his shed. What looked like one of your dog’s white hairs was in the case.”

She edged forward on the seat. “Will you need a sample from Target?”

“Not at this point.” Sullivan stuck a toothpick in the side of his mouth. “We traced the tip about the rifle behind the Dumpster to Hank’s burner.”

“So Hank left the weapon near the garbage.”

“Hank or his sister. My men had already gone through the trash and the surrounding area during the Moose search. There was the chance McAllister moved the rifle around, so we took him into custody. Hank must have planned to sell the gun collection when the case cooled.”

She sat back. The truth thundered in her head.

“And McAllister will be released from the county courthouse in an hour.”

She went still, swallowed, and asked, “Liam’s free?”

“Charges dismissed. I let them know you’d be there to meet him.”

She sprang to her feet. “Thank you, Chief.” She paused and rummaged in her purse and produced the wrapped sandwich. “My thanks for arresting the real killer.” She set the food in front of him. “Bologna. I made it this morning since I knew you’d give me good news with Hank and Bella’s arrests. Enjoy, Chief.”

She dashed across the floor to the exit.

* * *

Liam stepped out into the sunshine with his lawyer beside him. “Ah, freedom!” He inhaled the fresh air and held onto the feelings of relief that consumed him. He had his life back.

“Liam! Liam!”

Lucy? He spun toward the corner. She was running down the concrete walkway in her blue fleece jacket. He blinked while excitement lurched in his chest. The woman he’d spent the last few nights dreaming about was here in the flesh.

“I guess you have another ride.” His lawyer nudged him with a grin.

Liam broke into a sprint and grabbed Lucy in three strides. She let out a gasp of surprise as he lifted her into the air with a laugh. He grinned and set her on her feet. “You’re here and I’m a free man.”

She caught her breath. “I came as soon as Sullivan told me you’d be released. Gage brought me. He’s parking.” Her eyes clouded with tears. “I can’t believe everything is over.”

“And I’m coming home, Luce.” He reached out and touched her cheek. “I missed you.” Then he frowned. “And I almost had a heart attack when I heard about you and Hank. If I’d been there, the guy wouldn’t be breathing.”

“Then you’d be staying in jail for sure. What I want is—”

“Liam,” a man yelled. “What will you do first when you get home?”

He looked over her head. A group of men and women, some with cameras, approached from the parking lot.

“Who are they?” Lucy asked.

“Press.” He grabbed her hand. “I hope Gage chose a close spot. We might have to run to his truck.”

“More are coming.” Lucy pointed to the end of the sidewalk, where a local news van pulled up.

“Who knew I was a celebrity?” Liam said, wishing he were alone with her. “C’mon. Let’s go find our ride.”

The media approached and moved with them as they attempted to make their getaway. They peppered them with questions about Matt and Ryan. Cameras and phones snapped away. Liam and Lucy crawled across the walk on a wave of congratulations and queries.

A whistle drew Liam’s attention. He glimpsed Gage on the edge of the crowd, waving to him.

Liam paused and held up a hand. “Thank you for the good wishes. I want to resume my life in Barley as quickly as possible. Everyone who has supported me is invited to the Mad Moose to celebrate and ask more questions.”