by Cindy Bell
“Okay, okay.” Ally blinked back tears of panic. “I’ll do what you ask. Just don’t hurt her.”
“Just don’t hurt her.” He shook his head. “I’ll keep that in mind. Now, come here.” He gestured for her to walk towards him.
Ally’s feet felt cemented to the floor. She willed them to move, but the fear that coursed through her body locked up her muscles.
“Now!” He bellowed and waved the knife in front of him.
“Yes, okay.” Ally’s lungs filled with air as she gulped down a breath. Reluctant steps led her to the door.
“Keep going.” He put his hand on her shoulder.
Ally was tempted to look back over her shoulder. Instead, she kept her attention focused on each step in front of her. The laundry room was almost completely dark with the blinds pulled down. In the corner of the room, she spotted Jill. Her hands were tied to a pipe in the corner. A blindfold covered her eyes, and duct tape covered her mouth. Ally trembled. Would he bind her? Or would he just get rid of her?
“We have company, Jill. Maybe worrying about the life of another person will get your tongue moving. Ally, say hello.” He gave her shoulder a stern squeeze.
“Hello.” She gulped out the word as she trembled again.
Jill tugged the rope around her wrists against the pipe. She tried to speak, but only a faint sound made it past the duct tape. As much as Ally wanted to help her, the terror that rocketed through her nerves urged her to run. She started to turn back to the door, but her captor blocked her way.
“You’re not going anywhere, Ally.” He pushed her towards the corner beside Jill.
“Who are you?” Ally stared at the man and attempted to figure out his identity. In her panic she couldn’t pinpoint the voice. Could it be Henry? His voice sounded so different. Jeff? Her heart pounded at the thought. “Why are you doing this?”
“Who I am doesn’t matter. All that matters is that Jill has something I need. If she would just cooperate, neither of you would be in this position. You two should talk.” He leaned down and ripped the tape off Jill’s mouth.
Jill gasped, then took a deep breath.
“Please, just let us go.” Ally winced as he tied her hands to a pipe a few inches away from the pipe that Jill’s hands were bound to. “You’ve made a mistake. You can still help yourself by telling the truth.”
“The truth?” He chuckled, then tightened the rope. “The truth is, if either of you so much as squeak loud enough for me to hear, you’re both going to spend your final moments in this room. Ally, I’m trusting you to talk some sense into Jill. Your life depends on it.”
As he headed out of the room, Ally felt some relief that he hadn’t blindfolded her, or taped her mouth. But the ropes he tied around her hands were tight and strong.
“Jill, are you okay? Did he hurt you?” Ally gazed at the woman, whose blindfold still covered her eyes.
“I’m okay. He roughed me up a little, but nothing too serious.” Her voice wavered. “Ally, I’m so sorry, no matter what he tells you, I can’t do anything to save us.”
“What do you mean?” Ally leaned as close as she could to her. “Do you have what he wants?”
“No, I don’t have it. I was at the hotel. I wanted something of Martin’s to remember him by. Even though he broke up with me, he was still important to me. I just wanted a keepsake to help me deal with the grief of his death. I still had my keycard from when I spent a few nights with him, so I was going to try and let myself in. But when I arrived, the door was already open.” Jill sniffled and shifted her body on the cold floor. “I heard some noises inside. I should have just alerted a staff member, or called the police. But I was curious about who it might be. I pushed the door open and went inside.”
“What did you see, Jill?” Ally held her breath as she realized that Jill likely saw her captor. Maybe Ally couldn’t recognize him, but Jill might.
“The place was a wreck,” Jill whimpered. “I should have run, Ally. I should have screamed for help. But everything just happened so fast. He restrained me before I could do anything to stop him. So much stronger than I ever thought he was.”
“Jill, who was it? Who attacked you? Who abducted you?” She reached her hand as far as she could, but she couldn’t touch Jill’s hand.
“Trent,” she whispered the name, as if she might be afraid to speak it. “Trent attacked me. He knocked me down and threatened me. He said that Martin gave me something that he wanted, then he forced me to drive him back to my house in my car. I thought it would end then, when he saw I didn’t have it. But he’s convinced that I’m hiding it.”
“Trent!” Ally’s eyes widened. Trent, who hadn’t actually had a good view of the spot where Jeff handed over the knife. Trent, who had met with a member of the hotel staff, who gave that staff member money. Ally’s head spun as she realized the small thing the staff member handed him must have been a keycard. He had broken into Martin’s room. But why? “What is he looking for, Jill? What does he think you have?”
“A ticket.” Jill gulped out the words as tears rolled down her cheeks. “A lottery ticket. But I swear, Ally, I don’t have it. He says that Martin asked him to pick him up a ticket, but he didn’t have any cash, so he promised Trent that he would split the winnings with him if he covered the ticket for him.”
“It won?” Ally’s eyes widened as her heart sank.
“Yes.” Jill trembled. “He thinks Martin gave it to me, but he didn’t, I swear he didn’t.”
Ally bit into her bottom lip. With that much money on the line, she doubted that Trent would let them leave alive.
Chapter 16
Charlotte glanced at her phone for the third time. She frowned at the sight of Mrs. Bing’s name. She’d called several times in a row.
“It’s okay, I told you, you can answer it.” Jeff rubbed his hands together.
“No, Jeff. I just want to be with you.” Charlotte moved to silence her phone, but her heart skipped a beat. “Actually, it might be better if I just see what she wants. She’ll just keep calling otherwise and might even show up.”
“Go on.” He nodded, then gave her knee a light pat. He picked up the remote beside him and paused the movie that played on the television in his living room.
“Hello?” Charlotte braced herself for the latest rumor.
“Charlotte! Where is Ally? I’ve been trying to reach her. Those animals are on the loose! They’re marching right down the middle of the road. Well, I should say Arnold is marching, Peaches is riding on his back. Animal control is trying to catch them, but Peaches keeps swatting and hissing at them.”
“What? Are you sure it’s them?” Charlotte’s mind spun.
“Am I sure that it’s the only pet pot-bellied pig and orange cat in town? Yes, I’m sure.” Mrs. Bing laughed. “You should see these poor men trying to wrangle them.”
“Oh no. I’ll be right there!” Charlotte jumped to her feet. As she grabbed her keys and purse, Jeff stood up as well.
“What is it, Charlotte? Is everything okay?” His eyes met hers.
“I’m not sure. Arnold and Peaches are on the loose, and Mrs. Bing can’t reach Ally.”
“I’ll drive.” Jeff grabbed his keys on the way out the door behind her.
“Thanks Jeff.” She sighed as Ally’s phone rang and rang. “She’s not answering. She said she was going to visit with Jill.”
“Call Luke.” Jeff turned down the road in the direction of town.
“Do you think I should?” Charlotte looked over at him, a bit surprised that would be his first thought.
“Absolutely. Ally could be in trouble, he should know.” Jeff took a sharp breath, then laughed as he slowed the car. “There’s your pair of escapees.”
Arnold held his head high as he marched along the road with Peaches settled on his back. It was certainly a strange sight to see.
“Arnold!” Charlotte stuck her head out through the window. “What are you two doing!”
“I’ll call
Luke, you get the animals.” Jeff turned on his hazard lights and stopped the car a few feet away from the pair.
“Thanks Jeff.” Charlotte sighed with relief as she hurried over to the pig and the cat. She placed her hands on her hips and glared down at them. “You know better than this. Why would you be on the road?” She scooped Peaches up first, then caught Arnold by the collar and guided him towards the car. After a quick wave to the animal control officers, she hoisted both animals into the back seat of Jeff’s car.
“We don’t know where she is. Charlotte’s worried. I just thought you should know. We’re going to head over to Jill’s.” Jeff glanced over at Charlotte as she settled in the front seat. “Okay then, we’ll meet you there.” He hung up the phone. “Luke’s on his way to Jill’s, too. Let’s hope that’s where she is.”
“Maybe she just forgot her phone at home.” Charlotte’s cheeks flushed as panic started in the pit of her stomach. She guessed that Ally had left the door open at the cottage, and if she’d left her phone behind, too, then she must have been in quite a panic. What if she hadn’t left of her own free will? “Hurry Jeff, please.” Charlotte grabbed his free hand.
“I’ll get us there, don’t worry.” Jeff turned down the road that led to Jill’s house.
“It’s dark. There aren’t any lights on.” He looked over at her as he pulled into the empty driveway.
Tires screeched as Luke’s car took a sharp turn onto the street. “Are you sure she came here?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” Charlotte looked up and down the street. “I don’t see her car, though.”
“Maybe she came and left.” Jeff winced as Luke pulled up behind them. “Maybe you should talk to him.”
“Okay, I will.” She stepped out of the car.
“Charlotte, what’s going on?” Luke hurried over to her.
“The animals were loose, and Mrs. Bing couldn’t contact Ally. I’ve tried as well, she seems to be missing. I could be overreacting, but she told me she was going to speak to Jill.” Charlotte looked up at the house. “It doesn’t seem as if anyone is home, though.”
“I’ll take a look.” Luke jogged up to the front door and pounded. “Ally, are you in there? Jill? Open up!” He pounded again.
“I’ll try the back.” Jeff offered as he joined them on the walkway.
“I’ll go with you.” Luke rounded the house. “Charlotte, stay with Arnold and Peaches.”
Charlotte looked back at the car and realized that in her hurry she had left the door open. She didn’t see a pig or a cat in the car.
“Oh dear!” She frowned as she turned back to the house. She caught sight of an orange tail as it slithered around the other side of the house. “Peaches! Get back here!” She heard a snort in response. “Arnold!” She huffed as she followed after them. The pair huddled up at a door at the side of the house.
“The back is locked up tight, too.” Luke announced as he and Jeff rounded the side of the house.
“Can’t you just bust in?” Jeff frowned.
“Not without a warrant, or cause.” Luke narrowed his eyes. “This isn’t a cowboy movie.”
“I didn’t say it was.” Jeff glared back at him.
“Both of you, stop!” Charlotte snapped at them. “Ally’s in there, and they know it.” She pointed at Arnold and Peaches. Peaches pawed at the door, while Arnold dug at the ground in front of the door.
“Let me take a look.” Luke tried to push the door open, but it wouldn’t move. He shined a light through the window at the side of the door. There was a small gap between the blinds and the wall. “Someone’s in there!” He tried to push harder at the door. “This isn’t going to budge.” He tried the window, but it was locked up tight. He stretched and tried a small window high up the wall. His fingers just reached it, and he managed to tug it open. “I’m going in.”
“Wait.” Jeff grabbed his arm. “It’s too high up, how are you going to get in there, I can help you in.”
“I’ll be fine.” Luke adjusted his belt, then tried to hoist himself in through the window.
“Let me help you, Luke.” Jeff crouched down and offered his hands. They were stacked on top of each other, palms up. “I’ll give you a boost.”
Charlotte shooed Arnold and Peaches away to give them room.
“All right.” Luke frowned and stepped on Jeff’s hands. He hoisted him up. Luke managed to grab onto the window, pull himself up and climb through feet first. Charlotte was impressed by his strength.
The moment Luke’s feet met the floor, a shout echoed through the room.
“Someone else is in there!” Jeff gasped, then swung the full force of his body into the door. As it crashed open, he stumbled inside and rushed forward.
“Jeff!” Charlotte tried to catch his hand, but he moved too quickly. She peered around the corner of the door.
“I will kill them both right now!” Trent shouted as he swung a knife wildly between the two women tied up in the corner.
“Trent, stop this!” Ally glared at him. “It’s over. You’re never going to get that ticket. It’s gone. Your best chance now is to throw yourself on the mercy of the courts, but if you cause any more harm, there won’t be any mercy.”
“She’s right.” Luke held his hands up high. “I can help you through this, Trent, whatever has happened, I can help you.”
“No one can help me!” Trent gulped out as the knife fell from his hand. “He should have given me the ticket. I bought it. I used my dollar. Do you know what he did when I asked for my share? He laughed and threw a dollar at me.”
Luke tackled Trent to the floor, and quickly handcuffed him, while Jeff untied Ally and Jill.
“Are you two okay?”
“I think so.” Ally looked over at Jill. “Are you?”
“Yes.” Jill rubbed her wrists. “I’m just so glad this is over. I can’t believe you killed him, Trent.”
“I had to. I needed the ticket, it was the only way I could get it back.” Trent frowned as Luke pulled him to his feet. “I knew about Henry’s bladder problem, so I switched the knives when he went to the bathroom. I figured no one would blame me because I’m nothing but a stagehand. And I was right.”
“No, they blamed me instead.” Jill shouted at him.
“And me.” Jeff glared at him. “And Henry almost jumped off a bridge! All because of greed.”
“It just wasn’t fair!” Trent shouted. “Why does he get everything? He got Jill, and Leanne, he got fame, and wealth, and then he got to win the lottery, too? It’s not right.”
“Murder isn’t right.” Luke gave his arm a tug. “Let’s go.”
As Charlotte and Jeff led Ally and Jill out of the house, Ally looked over at Jill.
“I promise I won’t tell anyone, did Martin give you the ticket?”
“No. Of course not. But.” Jill paused, then smiled a little. “I stopped by Abraham’s this morning, and he mentioned something about he and Martin making amends. He said he was going on a vacation to pick up some very valuable antiques.”
“You think Martin gave it to Abraham to make up for their bad business deal?” Ally’s eyes widened.
“Maybe. Maybe he wanted Abraham to cash it and they would split the cash. Maybe Martin was worried that if he cashed the ticket it would be leaked to the press and he didn’t want the fact that he won the money revealed. Maybe he thought he could kill two birds with one stone. The truth is, we may never know.” Jill took a deep breath as she stepped outside the house. “Honestly, just being able to breathe feels like winning the lottery to me right now.”
“You’re right.” Ally took a deep breath as well. As her grandmother filled her in on Arnold and Peaches’ antics, she scanned the street. “Where’s my car?”
“And mine?” Jill narrowed her eyes.
“I think these belong to both of you.” Luke walked over with two sets of keys and two cell phones. “Trent says they’re on the next block, I’ll have a patrolman go with you to make sure they’re safe.�
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“Thanks.” Ally met his eyes and held them. His phone beeped. He took it out of his pocket and looked at it, his eyes widened.
“I just got confirmation that Abraham just cashed the winning lottery ticket.” Luke nodded. “At least that mystery is solved.”
“You saved our lives, Luke.” Ally put her arm around him.
“I’m pretty sure Jeff saved mine.” Luke looked towards the man who stood beside his car in the driveway. “He’s a very brave man.”
“And if it weren’t for Arnold and Peaches, we might not have known that you two were in there.” Charlotte shook her head as she gazed down at the animals. “I suppose you can’t get in trouble for wandering now.”
“No, nothing but treats for these two.” Ally glanced over at Jill. “Why don’t you stay at the cottage with me tonight? I don’t want you to be alone.”
“Thanks Ally, I’d love that.” Jill hugged Ally.
Ally hugged her in return and felt a rush of relief. Martin’s killer was behind bars, Blue River had a new millionaire, and best of all, she and Jill had rekindled their friendship. She really couldn’t think of a reason to buy a lottery ticket, when she already felt like the luckiest person in the world.
The End
***
Thank you very much for reading Devil’s Food Cake and Drama. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. You can sign up for my newsletter to be notified of my latest releases so you don’t miss out on the special new release price at
http://www.cindybellbooks.com
Also by Cindy Bell
Chocolate Centered Cozy Mysteries
The Sweet Smell of Murder
A Deadly Delicious Delivery
A Bitter Sweet Murder
A Treacherous Tasty Trail
Pastry and Peril
Trouble and Treats
Fudge Films and Felonies
Custom-Made Murder
Skydiving, Soufflés and Sabotage
Christmas Chocolates and Crimes
