Phyllis nodded. “I didn’t have a lot in my purse, but I did have a nail file. I stabbed her in the throat. I didn’t even realize I was doing it until she was bleeding like a stuck pig. I stabbed her again … and again … and again. The wounds were small, but she went down quickly. But she wouldn’t die!”
Bay pressed her lips together, horrified. “Oh, my … why didn’t you call for help when you came to your senses?”
“And go to prison? That’s exactly what she wanted. She eventually died. It was almost four in the morning. I sat there and waited for her to quit breathing. I wanted it to go quicker, but I couldn’t bring myself to hurry things along. I didn’t know what to do when it was over, so I called Jim.”
“And he came running,” Bay muttered, shaking her head. “Then what happened?”
“We had to move her body,” Jim answered, a form of grim detachment settling over him. “I carried the body to my truck, and then we did some brainstorming. I figured that someone would eventually notice Penny was gone and I would be a suspect because people knew we slept together. The fact that she slept with everyone gave the police plenty of other suspects to consider. We wanted to avoid becoming suspects altogether. That was our main goal. That meant we needed to make it look like an accident or … .”
“The ‘or’ was easier,” Bay surmised. “You took Penny out behind the Dandridge and opened the wound in her throat with your knife. What about the DNA?”
“I hunt,” Jim replied. “I had a few carcasses in my garage, so I rubbed the pelts into the wound. I thought if I could confuse the medical examiner enough he simply wouldn’t be able to decide if it was an animal or human, and they’d have no choice but to let it go.”
“And you almost got away with it,” Bay muttered. “Then you heard a whisper on the trail, right? You heard the cops found some evidence, so you came out here to see if you could figure out what it was.”
“Pretty much,” Jim confirmed. “I planned to dump the knife in the lake. I bought a similar knife and planted it in Bob’s truck so he’d become a suspect if the cops ever bothered to search. All I had left to do was dump my knife. That’s when we found you.”
“And now we have to kill you,” Phyllis added. “We have no choice. I told you to run. I wanted you out of our hair. Now I’m kind of glad you didn’t listen. You’ve made things easier. You stuck your noses where they didn’t belong and … it’s time to die.”
She was so matter-of-fact it caused me to jerk my head in her direction. She gripped something in her hand. It was small and silver, a pink handle poking out of her fist. It had to be the nail file she used to kill Penny. I opened my mouth to warn Bay, but that’s when I realized Green was moving in my direction. Somehow they’d managed to communicate with each other without Bay and I noticing.
I was too surprised to make a sound. I tumbled backward, tripping over a fallen log in my haste to get away. I saw Bay grappling with Phyllis, but I couldn’t risk focusing on her when I had my own problems crashing this way.
“I really am sorry about this,” Green growled, grabbing the front of my shirt as he brandished the knife. “I have no choice. We need time to run.”
My first instinct was to scream as the knife closed in on my throat. Instead, anger overtook me and I felt something powerful rip free from my chest and strike the branch over his head. I lifted my arms to protect my face. Green gave me an odd look before glancing over his shoulder.
When the branch hit him, he pitched forward. He was all dead weight when he hit me. Thankfully I managed to deflect the knife. I felt his breath on my face as I shifted. He was out, but not dead. His body was too heavy, though, pinning me to the ground.
“What was that?” Phyllis screeched, her hand tangled in Bay’s hair. “I … what was that?”
Bay didn’t allow herself to become distracted, instead planting her foot in Phyllis’ abdomen and launching the woman into the air as she kicked out. I couldn’t see Phyllis’ face, but I heard her hit the ground with a sickening thud.
“Is she alive?”
“Who cares?” Bay muttered, catching her breath. “I … .”
The sound of pounding footsteps drew my attention. I saw two figures pushing through the foliage. “Is that more of Penny’s harem coming to kill us?” I asked, shoving against Green’s prone body with everything I had. “Good grief. I think I’m suffocating.”
Instead of another potential killer, Jack’s face swam into view. He was pale – almost completely white – but he looked relieved when we locked gazes.
“Are you okay?”
“Jack?” I couldn’t keep the surprise from my voice. “What are you doing here?”
“Saving you,” Jack muttered, wrapping his arms around Green’s waist and tugging him off me. His hands were gentle as they roamed my shoulders and arms once I was free. “Is anything broken?”
“Just my pride,” I admitted, ruefully rubbing my sore behind. “I smacked my butt when I fell.”
“I saw.” Jack’s expression was hard to read, his dark eyes almost black as he stared. “You’re lucky that branch fell when it did. I was trying to get to you, but you were too far away.”
“You saw all of it?” Bay asked, her eyes accusatory as they fell on Landon. “Why didn’t you come in sooner?”
“Because you were busy getting confessions out of them. I thought I had more time,” Landon replied, stroking the back of her head. “We got here as fast as we could. It would’ve been helpful if you’d kept them talking a few minutes longer.”
“Oh, whatever.” Bay crossed her arms over her chest as she watched Chief Terry – I didn’t even see him arrive – slap a pair of cuffs on a disoriented Phyllis. “You could’ve been quicker. I’m all dirty.”
“Yes, well, that’s the important thing,” Landon teased, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth.
I risked a glance at Jack and found him staring in the same direction. “How did you know to come?”
“I didn’t,” Jack answered, turning back to me. “Landon somehow knew.”
Landon nodded. “If there’s trouble, it always finds Bay.” He pulled his pouting blonde in for a hug, resting his cheek against her forehead. “She’s a trouble magnet.”
“I still can’t figure out how that branch fell,” Jack mused, shifting his attention to the broken limb on the ground. “I mean … what are the odds?”
I exchanged a quick look with Bay and then mustered a watery smile. “I guess we were just lucky.”
“Very lucky,” Jack agreed, grabbing my hand and pulling me to a standing position. “Come on. Let’s get you out of here. I’ll bet you could use a soft place to sit.”
“You don’t know the half of it,” I grumbled. “My butt will be black and blue for days.”
“You should get someone to rub that for you,” Bay said pointedly, inclining her chin in Jack’s direction.
I pretended I didn’t grasp the reference. “I’m fairly certain a bath will do.”
“You don’t know what you’re missing,” Landon offered, pulling Bay to her feet. “The post-takedown massage is the highlight of every dangerous situation Bay finds herself in.”
“I’m not rubbing you,” Bay growled.
Landon smiled as he slung an arm over her shoulders. “We’ll see.”
“Yeah, we will.”
Despite my discomfort, I couldn’t help but smile. “So … it wasn’t Bigfoot after all.”
“No,” Jack agreed. “But that doesn’t mean he’s not out there. It simply means he’s not here right now.”
“I guess not.”
Thirty-One
“How are you feeling?”
Chris’ face was the first I saw the next morning when I trudged out of my room, suitcase in hand. He loitered in the hallway, a hangdog expression on his face. He’d been crushed upon hearing about the confessions, trying to muster an argument about them covering for a hominid-like creature, but no one would listen.
“I’m f
ine.” Chris was listless as he stared at one of the family portraits, an oil painting featuring a formidable woman who shared Tillie’s mischievous eyes. “I might be a little depressed.”
I couldn’t blame him. My adrenalin pumped for hours the previous day, but when it crashed, so did I. After ten hours of sleep I felt relaxed and refreshed. I figured the disappointment would set in eventually. I wasn’t quite there yet.
“There will be other chances,” I offered. “I’m sure of it.”
Chris forced a tight smile. “Me too.”
I watched him shuffle down the hallway, fighting the urge to chuckle at his depression. He had a dramatic streak that made me laugh, but even the determined scowl couldn’t diminish his attractiveness.
The door next to the portrait opened, allowing Jack to exit. I shifted my eyes to him, pursing my lips as I debated how I wanted to deal with our relationship. Holding a grudge seemed petty. He did his best to save me, after all. Sure, he had a huge ego, but that didn’t mean he was a bad guy.
“Are you depressed too?” I asked.
Jack shook his head, his eyes flashing. “No. It went largely how I thought it would. Er, well, I guess it went how I thought it would other than you almost getting stabbed.”
“Yeah, I’m kind of upset,” I admitted, shifting my suitcase from one hand to the other. “It is what it is, though.”
“You’re alive. That’s the most important thing.” Jack grabbed the suitcase from my hand, taking me by surprise. “I’ll carry this.”
“Why?”
“Because you fell and hurt yourself.”
“I’m fine. Just a little sore.”
“Because you almost got stabbed,” Jack added.
“But I didn’t get stabbed.”
“Just let me carry the suitcase and pipe down,” Jack grumbled, following me to the stairs. “Do you have to be so difficult?”
I shrugged as I descended the wide staircase. “You’ll get used to me. Perhaps you’ll even grow to like me. Of course, you won’t like me in a romantic way – you’ve made your feelings on that perfectly clear, even though I don’t like you that way either – but I’m sure we’ll muddle through.”
Jack made an exaggerated face as he shook his head. “You’ll never let me live that down, will you?”
“Nope.”
“Well, something to look forward to.”
The Winchesters met us in the lobby so we could check out as a group. I caught a glimpse of Bay’s hair through the window overlooking the front porch, so I said hasty goodbyes to Winnie, Twila and Marnie before stopping in front of Tillie. She looked me up and down a moment, her expression unreadable as she leaned against the panel next to the front door.
“I think I’m going to miss you,” I admitted.
“I won’t miss you,” Tillie replied. “You guys have all been pains in the keister.”
I leaned in and whispered. “I know you’re all talk.”
Tillie’s lips curved a bit, but she didn’t indulge in a full-on smile. “That’s a possibility.”
I moved to walk away, but she grabbed my wrist, lowering her voice so only I could hear as she leaned forward. “If you need help with something … .”
“Bay told you.” My stomach twisted. “I … .”
“Don’t worry about it,” Tillie whispered. “I’ve kept more secrets than anyone knows. I’m good at it. Besides, Bay didn’t tell me anything. I figured it out myself and grilled her. She rather reluctantly confirmed a few things, but she never betrayed you. I won’t either.”
“I … well … thank you.”
Tillie nodded and released me, mustering a genuine smile as I stepped through the door. I felt Jack close the distance between us as he followed me outside.
“What was that?” he asked when we were clear of the Winchester matriarch.
“Just a little gossip between friends,” I replied, turning to find Bay waiting for me at the bottom of the porch stairs. I hurried down, giving her a quick hug before she could wave off the gesture. “I’m glad you came. I wasn’t sure you’d get here before we left.”
“I wouldn’t miss saying goodbye.” Bay looked well rested. I didn’t miss Landon dropping a conciliatory hand on Chris’ shoulder behind her. He seemed amused by Chris’ demeanor, but he didn’t openly make fun of the man. For that I was thankful … and also a little disappointed. “Did you and Landon make up last night?”
“We didn’t fight.”
“You kind of fought,” I argued.
“That was nowhere near close to a fight,” Bay countered. “Of course, that didn’t stop us from making up just for the heck of it.”
“I’m going to put your suitcase in the Tahoe and say goodbye to Landon,” Jack interjected, his eyes bouncing between Bay and me. “We have to be at the airport in a few hours.”
I nodded in gratitude. “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
I waited until I was sure Jack was out of earshot, his head bent close to Landon’s and his attention fully focused elsewhere. “Did Landon question you further about the branch?”
Bay shook her head. “You don’t have to worry about that. Even if he suspected anything, he’d attribute it to me. You’re fine on that front.”
“I hope so.”
“I know so.” Bay pressed a card with her name and cell number into my hand. “If you need anything … even just to talk … don’t hesitate to call.”
“I will.” I almost choked on the words and needed a moment to collect myself. “Thank you for everything you’ve done.”
“I haven’t done anything,” Bay cautioned. “You did everything you needed to do on your own.”
“I didn’t find Bigfoot.” It was meant to be a joke, but I sounded a bit bereft.
“Didn’t you?” Bay arched an eyebrow. “You saw something in the woods that night. Landon questioned Phyllis and Jim extensively. They said they weren’t out there that night. They’ve admitted to killing Penny and disposing of her body. They also admitted to breaking into Penny’s apartment after the fact to make sure there was nothing to tie her to Bob or Jim. Why would they lie about that?”
“But … .” I broke off, uncertain. “Do you think I really saw Bigfoot?”
Bay shrugged, holding her hands palms up. “I think there’s more out there than meets the eye. I also think you’ll find answers to all of your questions if you give it time.”
“All of them?”
“All of them.” Bay rested her hand on my wrist and leaned in closer. “I know you don’t know the people in your group very well yet, but you have time. I think most of them are probably trustworthy.”
I nodded in agreement. “Millie.”
“And Jack.”
I tried to hide my grimace … and failed. “Jack won’t understand. I don’t know him well.”
“I think you’re wrong, but it will be up to him to decide,” Bay argued. “Remember, Landon didn’t stay the first go-around. He took a step back because he needed to think. That didn’t mean he wasn’t trustworthy.”
“But he loved you.”
“Not then he didn’t. The love came later.”
I shifted a glance to Landon and found him staring fondly at Bay’s profile. “I’m not so sure about that. They say people don’t fall in love at first sight – not really, I mean. I think Landon did. I think from the moment he saw you that you were it for him.”
“That’s a nice thought, but the reality was vastly different,” Bay countered. “Still, you have plenty of time. You picked a career in which you’re going to have plenty of adventures.”
I brightened considerably at the notion. “I think you’re probably right.”
“And, even though I know you don’t want to hear it because you’re stubborn, I don’t want you to rule out Jack,” Bay pressed. “Landon said he was desperate to get to you when they realized we were unaccounted for. Men like Jack – men who are willing to risk their lives for the mere idea of someone else �
�� are one in a million.”
I flicked my eyes to Jack as he conversed with Landon, banter flying easily back and forth between them. “Maybe.”
“If anyone should know that, it’s me,” Bay said, running her hands down my arms. “Don’t shut him out before you know if you want to let him in. That’s all I’m saying.”
“I’ll give it some thought.”
“You do that.” Bay gave me a hug and stepped back when Landon moved in to join us.
He extended his hand while slipping his free arm around Bay’s shoulders. “Good luck, Charlie.”
“You, too. Make sure you take care of Bay.” I fought the urge to burst into tears. I barely knew these people, I reminded myself. I had no idea why it was so hard to leave them.
“You can count on it,” Landon said. “You take care of yourself.” He shifted his eyes to Jack. “Listen to your security chief, too. He knows what he’s talking about.”
“Did he pay you to say that?”
Landon grinned. “Call it … intuition.”
“Yes, well, intuition tells me it’s time to leave,” Jack said, gesturing toward the Tahoe. “Saddle up, Charlie. It’s time to say goodbye.”
“Let’s go.” I nodded. “Adventure awaits, right?”
Jack’s smile was small but heartfelt. “Adventure awaits. Now, let’s roll. We can’t start another one until we leave this one behind.”
As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. So that’s exactly what I did.
Witchin’ USA
A Moonstone Bay Cozy Mystery
One
“Welcome to Moonstone Bay. We have eight hotels, fifteen bars and hundreds of shopping destinations. Where can I take you?”
I arched an eyebrow as I stared at the man standing next to what could loosely be described as a taxicab. He was handsome – in a work out four hours a day, five days a week sort of way – and his brown hair was a tad unkempt. Given the cut of his cheekbones and broad shoulders, the messy hair made him all the more appealing. Sure, the Hawaiian shirt and chinos tempered his sex appeal, but not by much.
Witchy Dreams Page 76
