Caramel Killer: A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 12

by Kathleen Suzette

  “You never saw who did that?” I asked. “It happened right in front of the bookstore?”

  She shook her head. “No, I didn’t see who did it. I guess I was busy with customers. It’s odd that no one else saw it, but if they did, they weren’t telling me about it. Well, it’s not good to dwell on the past too much. And I’ve got to finish my ride and get back to the shop so Beth can go home for the day. It’s been nice talking to the two of you.”

  “See you later Sonia,” I said. We watched as she rode off.

  “See you,” she called over her shoulder.

  “I didn’t realize she had that much trouble with Fagan. I did know there was some trouble between the two of them, of course, but I would still think she would be at least a little concerned about you finding his killer.”

  “Some people are so wrapped up in themselves that they don’t think about others,” Ethan said. We headed back to his car. We both needed to get back to work.

  Chapter Eighteen

  It was two days later when I drove toward the edge of town. I didn’t have any place in particular to go, but I found myself heading out to the highway in the direction where we had found Fagan’s body. I had no business going there, and it wasn’t exactly what I had planned, and yet, here I was.

  Five minutes later I saw an unexpected and peculiar sight. Dave Jennings and Jeff Lukens were stopped on the side of the road and Dave was on the ground next to their car, changing the tire. They both looked in my direction as I drove closer, so I pulled off the highway. I might have continued on had both of them not seen me, but when we made eye contact, I felt compelled to stop.

  “Hey guys,” I said, getting out of my car. “Having a little car trouble?” I walked closer to them.

  Dave nodded. “Yeah, must’ve hit something sharp in the road. We’ll have it fixed in no time though.”

  I looked from one to the other. I hadn’t expected to see the two of them together and it suddenly made me feel sick. They both had pointed a finger at one another as Fagan’s killer. I couldn’t remember either of them mentioning that they were friends, but here they were, looking as friendly as could be. It seemed like being friends with the person that you’re accusing of murder might an important thing to mention.

  “What’s going on, Mia?” Dave asked from where he lay on the ground. He had some tools lying next to him and his hands had black smudges on them.

  I smiled, wrapping my arms around myself. I should have worn a coat. “I just saw the two of you parked here on the side of the road, and I thought I’d stop and see if you needed any help.”

  He looked at me with one eye open as he worked. “Do you know how to change a tire, Mia?”

  I shook my head. “No, I sure don’t. Did you try calling a tow truck to help with it?”

  “We don’t need a tow truck to help change a tire,” Jeff said and chuckled. “We can handle it on our own.”

  I nodded and looked at him, then glanced at Dave again. “So, were the two of you going someplace? Out of town, maybe?”

  “We’re headed to my cabins,” Dave said as he worked on the tire. “There’s a football game on tonight and sometimes I get a little drunk. I don’t want to drive anywhere and put my life and everyone else’s on the road at risk.”

  “Oh, I see. So just a private little party?” I asked. Everything in me said this was not good. I wished I hadn’t pulled over.

  “It’s a private party unless you want to join us,” Jeff said.

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “I don’t think so. I didn’t realize the two of you were such good friends. Out here having parties and all. How long have you been friends?”

  Jeff shrugged and leaned against the car. “It’s a small town. I got lots of friends. Can’t remember when we first met. Why?”

  I didn’t answer him. I was sure that one of them did it. At this point, I was also sure that many of those friends he said he had didn’t have a good reputation, and he was the sort of person that would kill another.

  “Has your boyfriend found Fagan’s killer yet?” Dave asked without looking at me.

  “You know how the police are. They don’t like to tell everything they know, but he did mention that he was close to making an arrest. Tell me Dave, who do you think killed Fagan?”

  He looked at me and I saw the tiniest hint of panic in his eyes. “I have no idea, Mia. Why would you ask me?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. It seems like everybody’s got an opinion as to who might have killed him. It’s interesting hearing people’s ideas on the subject. Don’t you think it’s interesting?” I stared at them, waiting for an answer.

  What I was really interested in was what the two of them were doing together. And whether the two of them had been together the night Fagan was murdered. If he had been killed in that cabin, it wouldn’t have taken much for them to haul him off and leave him in the woods.

  He looked away and continued working on the tire. “I don’t know if I’d call it interesting. You never know, sometimes people just say stuff to say stuff. I bet no one in this town even knows who the killer is. I’d be surprised if the police were able to find the killer based on anyone’s opinion on the matter.”

  “You never can tell. Sometimes people tell all the deep dark secrets that are in their hearts under the guise of trying to help find the killer. Sometimes people know things that would surprise you.” I looked at Jeff. He was watching me intently. “Don’t you think so, Jeff? Don’t you think people tend to share their deepest darkest secrets in the middle of a tragedy?”

  He was quiet a moment before answering. “I suppose some do. And I suppose tragedy can make some people just clam right up. And besides, what’s your definition of tragedy? Sometimes people get killed because they were doing the wrong thing at the wrong time with the wrong person. That might not be a real tragedy. Not when the victim was up to no good.”

  “Is that what happened to Fagan? Was he doing the wrong thing at the wrong time with the wrong person?”

  He shrugged. “I have no idea. He probably did something foolish, and he paid for it.”

  “I’m about to get this tire put on,” Dave said without looking at me. “And then we’re going to drive out to the cabin. If you don’t want to join us, maybe you can excuse us so we can finish up here.”

  “Well I don’t mean to hold you up,” I said lightly. “I know that football game is important to you guys. Personally, I’m not much into sports. But I know Ethan really enjoys them and he doesn’t miss a football game unless he absolutely can’t avoid it.”

  “Football is the only sport that counts,” Jeff said with a grin. “It’s the only sport I bother watching.”

  “So you’re a real fan of football?” I asked him.

  He nodded. “Sure am.”

  “Place any friendly wagers on those football games, Jeff?” I was pushing things, and I knew it. But I needed to know the truth.

  He stared at me, then glanced at Dave. “No, that would be illegal. I can’t imagine doing something illegal.” He grinned.

  “Right. You wouldn’t want to do something like that.”

  “Mia, if you aren’t going to get down here on the ground and help me change this tire, why don’t you make yourself scarce?” Dave said. He held a wrench in one hand and there was a black smear on his forehead now.

  “You don’t want me helping with that tire. It would probably fall off while you were driving. I’ve got to get going anyway. I hope you have a good football party.

  Neither of them answered as I got into my car. Instead of heading down the highway in the direction I had been going, I turned around and headed back to town. When I got there, I texted Ethan and told him about the two of them being together. There was something up with them. And I was pretty sure I knew what that something was. Either they had worked together to kill Fagan, or one of them had done it alone and the other was ignorant of it. It made me wonder if one of their lives was in danger—hanging around a killer could get
you killed.

  Chapter Nineteen

  When I texted Ethan, he said he was going to head out to the cabins and see what Dave and Jeff were up to. I hoped he arrested them. Or at least, arrested one of them. They had both been so sure that the other was Fagan’s killer. It was all a pretense. I knew that now. Obviously, at least one of them was lying. And the only reason they would do that was to cover for their own guilt.

  It was my day off from the candy store. With Black Friday over and done with, things were getting busy and I knew my time off from the store would be limited until after Christmas, so I decided to use the rest of the day to relax and do absolutely nothing productive. I had already stopped by Amanda’s and gotten the last of the pumpkin spice lattes and now I was headed to the bookstore to get that new book I had been meaning to buy. I had finished the romance I had been reading two days earlier and my hands felt empty without a book in them.

  I pushed the door open and inhaled the scent of a Christmas cookie candle burning. “There’s that Christmas spirit,” I said to Sonia. She was sitting on the couch, reading a mystery book. Three other customers browsed the shelves and turned to look at me when I disturbed their quiet. I smiled at them and headed over to Sonia.

  “Good morning, Mia,” she said as I took a seat in a chair. “How are you this lovely morning?” She had a throw blanket across her lap and a cup of coffee on the table next to her.

  “I’m doing just fine,” I said. My mood had suddenly lifted. Ethan was arresting Fagan’s killer, and all would be right with the world again. It almost made me giddy with excitement. We could spend a nice, peaceful Christmas season now that the killer was about to be put behind bars, and I was looking forward to it.

  “Did you come to find a new book? I brought some brand-new romances in. And by brand new, I mean they aren’t used, as well as being new to the shop. I think I told you I was working on getting more new books in.”

  “You did. That’s great news. I bet you’ll sell a lot more books this Christmas season. People will be looking for gifts.”

  She nodded. “I think so, too. I also got in some new bookmarks, calendars, and puzzle books. I’ve been adding to my inventory as I’ve been able to afford to do it.”

  I took a sip of my coffee. “Well, I for one, am glad you're able to do it. I love books and I just know you’re going to be doing more business as a result of bringing in the new books, and that makes me happy for you.”

  “Thanks, Mia. Is your mother out of those cute caramel turkeys? I bought one the other day, and it was so tasty, I need to get back in there and get another. Or two.” She grinned at me.

  “I think she had a few left, but never fear. She said she was going to make some reindeer for Christmas using the same recipe.”

  “Then I’m in luck,” she said and chuckled. “I’ve got a sweet tooth and your mother has the cure.”

  “She sure does,” I said with a grin. “I’m going to take a look at the bookshelves and see what I can see.”

  “You do that.”

  I headed over to the romance section and was happy to find an entire bookcase full of new books. I looked through them and found some titles by my favorite authors. I read over the back of the books and after twenty minutes, I’d found three that I decided I just had to have. The mysteries called to me with their cute covers and I took a look at them and decided I needed one of those, too.

  “All right, Sonia, I think I’ve found what I need.” I walked slowly to the front counter, glancing around the shop in case I was missing out on something. When I got to the counter, I waited to be checked out, setting the books down while Sonia marked her place in her book.

  “Oh, goodness, you do have a few there,” she said when she went around to the back of the counter and began ringing up my books. “I love a good story. Almost anything will do.”

  I chuckled. “I told you I thought you’d do a great business with the new books. I don’t mind used books, but it’s always nice to have new ones. I’ll have to tell my mother you’ve got some in.”

  She nodded. “I’m okay reading either new or used. Are any of these going to be gifts?”

  I looked at her, suddenly feeling guilty. I should have been shopping for gifts, but I was spending money on myself, instead. “Uh, nope. They’re all for me.”

  She laughed. “That's okay. We need to indulge sometimes, and what better way to do it than with books?”

  “I agree wholeheartedly,” I said. “What’s this?” I picked up a bookmark in a small basket near the cash register.

  “Those are some bookmarks I had printed up with the store name and phone number,” she said. “You’re welcome to them. They’re free.”

  “How sweet, thank you,” I said, looking at the bookmark. It was made of heavy cardstock and it had a pretty lace design printed on it with a short grosgrain ribbon running through a hole at the top. The store name and hours were printed in gold cursive. “It’s very cute.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  My eyes went to the basket again. Beneath the bookmark were some medallions. I picked one up. “You still have some Pumpkin Hollow Days medallions left?”

  “Yes, I put them up there so if any of the customers want the leftovers, they can take them along with a bookmark.”

  I stared at it. It was the same style medallion that I found where Fagan had died. My eyes went to her, and she was looking at the medallion I held. “You got some of the ones with Hollow misspelled. I thought they collected all the ones that weren't handed out.”

  She smiled at me and shrugged. “I guess I forgot to give them all back. I can’t imagine how they could have misspelled Hollow. Can you?”

  “No, I can’t imagine. You know what’s odd?”

  She shook her head slowly. “No, what?”

  “There was one of these misspelled medallions on the ground where Fagan’s body was found. I wonder how it got there?”

  Her eyes met mine. “Well, I can’t imagine. Maybe it fell out of his pocket. He may have gotten some, too.”

  I kept looking at her, trying to work something out. “Except that he didn’t. I asked Gina Van if they had gotten any of the misspelled medallions in, and she said they didn’t because Fagan didn’t get down to the chamber of commerce until two days after the medallions had been given out. By then, the mistake was discovered, and the merchants had given them back and a new order was placed. They didn’t get any corrected ones until more than a week later.”

  She narrowed her eyes at me. “So? What difference does it make?”

  “Did you kill him, Sonia?” I asked.

  “What? I’ve never heard anything more ridiculous in all my life.” She snorted and rolled her eyes, and for a moment, I thought I was wrong. But something told me otherwise.

  “You did it because you couldn’t stand him. You almost seem obsessed over the things he did. And you just couldn’t stand it, could you? From what other people have said, I see it was you that tormented him and not the other way around.”

  She gasped. “I did not torment him! It was he that tormented me! It was all his fault!”

  The other customers in the shop turned to look in our direction. “And you couldn’t take it anymore, right? You killed him.” I gripped the edge of the counter, as anger rose up in me.

  She gritted her teeth and her cheeks turned pink. “So what if I did? What if I killed him? He had it coming. He brought it on himself. It’s his fault, and if you tell your boyfriend I did it, I’ll deny it. I’m a little old lady and no one is going to believe you.”

  “Except that you’re being awfully loud, and there are witnesses.” I glanced at the other customers in the shop.

  She turned to look at the other customers. When she turned back to me, her face was pale.

  Chapter Twenty

  “Wow, this caramel turkey is awesome,” Ethan said. “I’ve said it before, and I'll say it again. Your mother is a candy-making genius.”

  “Isn’t she though? These
were the last two,” I said, as I finished mine. I laid my head on his shoulder as we watched A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving for the second time. The Christmas season was just beginning, but I wasn’t ready to let go of the fall. It would be a year before we got to enjoy pumpkin spice anything unless I made it at home. But there was something satisfying about being able to go almost anywhere and buy a pumpkin spice latte, or scone, or muffin. Call me lazy, but I preferred that to making something myself.

  “Your mother is a genius,” he said again.

  “Agreed. So, tell me what she said.” Boo jumped in my lap and I ran my hand over his back. Licorice was sitting in front of the fire, enjoying its warmth.

  “You know that backpack she wears while riding her bike?” He turned to look at me.

  “Yes,” I answered.

  “She keeps a gun, among other things, in there. She’s afraid someone will hijack her bike. Or something like that. She started to ramble after a while and that’s the closest I can get to understanding her reasoning for it.”

  “She did say she was always prepared.”

  He chuckled. “She said she frequently rides down that dirt road we took the day we found Fagan, and when she saw his car there, she went in search of him.”

  “Why would she do that unless she intended to kill him?” I asked. Licorice jumped onto the couch and sat beside me, ignoring Boo.

  “That’s what I said, but she maintains she saw his car parked there on the road and thought someone might have needed assistance.”

  “And she killed him instead of assisting him?” I looked at him, one eyebrow raised.

  He chuckled. “She said he was drunk and threatened her, so she shot him in self-defense.”

  I sighed. “Okay then, what was Fagan doing in the woods when he was supposed to be going home to his wife?”

  Boo head bumped my hand when I stopped petting him, so I scratched his head.

  “There was a lot of alcohol in his system, like I told you before. I have to wonder if he took the wrong turnoff when he was supposed to be going to the cabin further down the highway. I’m not sure why he was going there in the middle of the week, but I suspect he might have been wanting to sober up some before he went home since his drinking caused strife between him and his wife.”