Murder in Cottonwood Springs: A Cottonwood Springs Cozy Mystery (Cottonwood Springs Cozy Mystery Series Book 1)

by Dianne Harman

“I don’t think that’ll be necessary, but thanks.” She smiled and waved as she walked out the front door. Fiona locked it behind her and started turning the lights off in the store.

  Brigid began driving home, and although she couldn’t put a finger on it, something was bothering her about the evening and Lucy’s death. She knew there were other pieces of a puzzle involved, she just didn’t know what they were. She had the feeling it was right in front of her and she was missing it.

  CHAPTER 12

  Brigid was distracted on the drive home. She knew she should keep her mind on her driving, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Lucy. Finding her friend lying dead on the floor had been the worst thing that had ever happened to her. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever be able to close her eyes again and not see her friend’s face. Unbidden tears flowed down her cheeks.

  As she rounded the corner and turned down the road to her home, she saw a sheriff's car parked in her driveway. She slowed down and pulled in next to it. Sheriff Rich climbed out just as she was putting her car in park. Brigid wiped her face before climbing out, not wanting him to see that she’d been crying. If Rich could hold it together, so could she.

  “What’s going on?” Linc asked as he came jogging up the road and stopped next to her car. “I saw the sheriff's car through the trees and was worried. Are you okay?” He was wearing a plain tee shirt and a pair of old jeans with streaks of dirt on them. It looked as if he’d been working in the yard earlier in the day and hadn’t bothered to change clothes.

  “I’m fine, Linc, but Lucy Bertrand was murdered over at the B & B,” she said, trying to hold herself together. Even so, her voice cracked and she had to clear her throat.

  “Oh, no. I’m so sorry,” Linc looked from Brigid over to the sheriff’s car, his eyes wide with concern. “Do they know who did it?”

  Brigid shook her head as Rich walked over to them. Brigid introduced them and said, “Why don’t you two come in? I think we could all use a little company,” as she waved both men towards the house. A moment later she asked, “Would either of you like something to drink? Maybe some tea or coffee?”

  “Thanks, I could use a cup of coffee,” Rich said as he walked towards an armchair in the corner of the great room.

  “I’d love some coffee, too,” Linc said as Jett exuberantly greeted him. He smiled and scratched the big dog’s ears.

  Brigid went into the kitchen and started the coffee before joining them. When she returned she said, “Is there something I can do for you, Rich?” she asked softly. He was pale and looked like a man who’d aged twenty years in the last few hours. Her heart broke thinking of what he must be going through.

  He took a deep breath before he began to speak. “Brigid, I can’t work on Lucy’s case, and that’s eating me up inside, but I know I wouldn’t be objective. It was my sister who was murdered, so I know I’m too close to it, but it’s driving me nuts. I trust my deputies, I really do. It’s just that Lucy and I were so close. When our parents died, she was the one who took over the job of raising me. She went from being my sister to my mom and dad overnight. It wasn’t an easy time for either one of us.”

  Brigid remembered Rich following his big sister around and being a pest in general when they were growing up in Cottonwood Springs. He was always threatening to tattle on them or trying to eavesdrop on their telephone conversations. If she had to guess, he was somewhere around seven years younger than his sister and a complete pain in her neck.

  The aroma of freshly made coffee stopped her reverie. She excused herself and returned a few minutes later carrying a tray with the coffee and cups on it. She poured a cup for each man, then sat back, waiting for the reason Rich had come to her home to talk to her.

  “Brigid, I know this may sound like an odd request, but I was wondering if you’d be willing to help my deputy, Corey Davis, with the investigation into Lucy’s murder?” Rich asked.

  Brigid looked at him wide-eyed. “You’re kidding, Rich. Me?” Brigid was shocked. “Why me?” She took a sip of coffee to hide her confusion.

  “I remember how smart you’ve always been. Even when I was a kid you noticed things other people didn’t. Remember the school cafeteria incident? You were the one who put two and two together and found out who was breaking into it. If I knew you were helping out, and kind of looking over things, it would make me feel a lot better. I’ve already talked to Deputy Davis, and he’s more than willing to have a little extra help.”

  “Rich, this is different from anything I’ve ever done. I mean this is serious. I wouldn’t even know where to start.” But as she was speaking, she remembered everything Missy had told her earlier that evening. Maybe she could be of some help. “Actually, you know what? I would be happy to help, but I can’t promise you anything.”

  “That’s all I can ask,” he said, taking a big gulp of coffee. “I’m just not sure what to do with myself since I can’t work on the case.” His hands were shaking, and he looked defeated. Just looking at him, one knew he was probably not the same man now as the man who had gotten ready for work that morning.

  “You probably just need some rest and a little time, Sheriff,” Linc said as he continued to scratch Jett’s ears.

  “That’s what one of my deputies told me,” Rich said as he downed the rest of his coffee in one big gulp.

  “Rich, sleep has never hurt anyone,” Brigid said softly. She leaned forward and lightly touched his arm. “Go home. Get some rest.”

  “I think I will. Thanks for doing this for me, Brigid.” He started to take his coffee cup to the kitchen, but Brigid stopped him.

  “Don’t worry about that, Rich. I’ll take it.” She took the cup from him and led him to the door.

  “I’m going to call my deputy now, and I’ll have him get in touch with you tomorrow. Again, thanks.”

  “I’ll do whatever I can, Rich. You get some rest.” Brigid hugged him and shut the door behind him.

  As soon as the door clicked shut, Rachele entered the living room, “Is something wrong?” she asked.

  Jett, who had been calmly lying at Linc’s feet hopped up and hurried over to Brigid. As she moved back to the couch, Jett followed, sitting at her feet.

  “One of my close friends, Lucy, who ran the local B & B, was murdered this evening. Another friend and I were the ones to find her.” Brigid blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall again. “I just don’t understand why someone would do such a thing. Lucy was a good woman.

  “She took over her parents’ B & B when they died unexpectedly, and then she raised her little brother. She always knew how to make the best out of any situation. I just can’t believe she’s gone,” Brigid couldn’t control her tears any longer and began to cry softly.

  “I’m sorry for your loss, Brigid. I can’t imagine how horrible it must have been to find your friend like that. She sounds like she was a wonderful person. I wish I could have met her.” Rachele sighed. “Well, I was just going to get a drink of water when I saw the sheriff’s car outside. I’ll leave you two alone.” She went into the kitchen and got a glass of water before disappearing back down the hall.

  Once Rachele had left, Linc stood up and moved next to Brigid on the couch. He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her, trying to comfort her. Brigid began to sob. She allowed herself to sink into Linc’s arms, feeling safe and secure, even if only for a little while. After her tears finally slowed and she could collect her thoughts, she pulled away from him.

  “Thank you,” she said quietly. “I really appreciate you being here for me and checking in when you saw the sheriff’s car.”

  “No thanks necessary, Brigid. I was worried about you. You should probably get some sleep, too.” He rubbed her back gently. “I hate to ask, but do you have a gun?”

  “A gun?” she asked. “No, of course not. Why would you ask something like that?”

  “Because a woman was murdered tonight, and nobody knows why right now. Add to that the fact you’re going to be helping
the sheriff’s department investigate her murder, and I think you really need one. I want you to take mine. I’ll come over tomorrow morning at eight to show you how to use it safely.”

  “Thank you, but I don’t think so. I hate guns, the NRA, all of it.”

  “Brigid, this isn’t about politics or social beliefs or any of that stuff. This is strictly about you being safe. I want to make sure you can protect yourself if necessary. Simply stated, if you’re investigating a murder, you need protection.”

  “You’re not investigating a murder, so why do you have one?” Brigid asked. She really didn’t see why the average person needed to carry a gun.

  “Most people in mountain communities have them, Brigid. I have one because I’m worried some client might decide to take it out on me when the stock market’s having a down day. Some people go a little crazy when it comes to their money. Kind of a ‘shoot the messenger’ sort of thing,” he sighed. “Look, it’s a real small pistol. It will fit in your purse with no problem. It’s so small I carry it in my pants pocket.”

  “Let’s see how it goes tomorrow morning. I’m not making any promises, though,” Brigid said.

  “Not a problem. I can work with that. Would you do me one more favor?” he asked, afraid he might be pushing his luck with her.

  “What now?” Brigid asked, laughing for the first time that evening.

  “Keep Jett with you. Take him with you when you leave the house.”

  “Why? Good grief, if I’m carrying a gun I don’t exactly need a big dog, too. Seems a bit like overkill to me.”

  “Actually, Newfoundland dogs are known for being excellent guard dogs, even though they’re really loveable and sweet. Besides, he’s massive. Nobody is going to try anything with this big guy next to you.” He turned and looked down at his feet, where Jett was lying. “Right, Jett?” Linc reached down and began to stroke Jett’s side affectionately. The big dog rolled over on his back and began wagging his tail, thumping it on the floor.

  “You don’t have a dog,” Brigid pointed out. “What makes you such an expert on them?”

  “Well, Miss Sassy Pants,” Linc said with a laugh. “If you must know, my brother has had a number of them over the years, so I’m very familiar with the breed.”

  “All right, you win. I’ll take Jett with me whenever possible.”

  “Good. Go get some rest. I’m going to head home, and I’ll pick you up in the morning.” Linc walked over to the door. “Be ready to show those targets at the gun range who’s boss.”

  CHAPTER 13

  The next morning, Linc showed up exactly at eight to take Brigid to the gun range. As they climbed into his truck, Linc could tell she was nervous.

  “What’s the problem?” he asked while he attached his seatbelt.

  “I don’t know if this is such a good idea,” she admitted. “I am not a gun person. I’m not sure I can pull this off.” She picked at some imaginary lint on her shirt.

  Linc smiled and took her hand. “Brigid, it’s okay. There’s no pressure here. I just want to make sure you’re safe at all times. How’s this? If, by the end of the day, you still don’t feel comfortable about the gun, you don’t have to keep it with you. I don’t want to force you to do something you don’t want to do.” Brigid looked up at him, relief spreading across her face. “But, I want you to give it an honest try, and if you feel okay with it, I want you to hang onto it until this whole thing is over. Is that fair?”

  Brigid nodded, “Yes, I can go with that.”

  There were two sections to the gun range, an indoor one and an outdoor one. Linc chose to take her outdoors. He had a feeling the cold cinder block walls inside the building might be intimidating and claustrophobic to her. He pushed the door open and led her outdoors. It was a beautiful, crisp morning, and the fresh air felt good on Brigid’s skin.

  While she was against guns in general, she had to admit that what Linc had said the night before made sense. If she was going to be looking for a killer, it was probably smart to be well protected. The fact she knew she could back out if she was terrible with it made her breathe much easier.

  “Okay, Brigid, this is fairly simple. First, you want to make sure you click the safety off before you try to use it.” He showed her where the little button was and how to push it. “Now it’s ready to fire. Pull this back, and it will load a bullet in the firing chamber.” He pulled back on the top of the gun and released it. “After that, hold it up, and look down the top of the barrel. That’s where the sights are. You want the two rear sights located right here to be on either side of the front sight up here,” he said pointing to each part. He held the gun pointed down range at the target the whole time.

  Linc fired a few rounds before handing the gun over to Brigid. “Now I’m going to put the safety back on, so you can practice holding it and aiming at the target without firing.” He did and then handed it to her.

  Even though the pistol was quite small, it was heavier than Brigid had anticipated, and it was cold. It struck her how easily people killed each other with such a small thing. It was a bit terrifying and humbling at the same time.

  “This really feels strange to me, Linc,” she admitted.

  “Give it time. I felt the same way, too, until I got used to it. As long as you’re smart and responsible, and you are, there’s no reason to be afraid of it.” Linc smiled encouragingly, and Brigid forced herself to relax. She followed Linc’s instructions and held the gun up. As she looked down the barrel and focused on the sights she felt her confidence waver.

  “Don’t think too much about it. Before you pull the trigger, take a deep breath, and then hold it. That will help you steady yourself,” Linc instructed.

  She clicked off the safety, took a long, steadying breath and then held it before pulling the trigger. The recoil of the gun surprised her. It had much more of a kick than she thought it would. Her first shot missed the target completely.

  “That’s okay. Just relax.” Linc moved closer. “Here let me show you.” He moved behind Brigid, wrapping his arms around her. He took her hands and held the gun up. “Look down the sights,” he said softly, his warm breath tickling her ear. “You’re the boss here. Always remember that. You’re calm and in control.” He adjusted her hands slightly “Pull the trigger with a gentle squeeze when you feel ready.” She held her breath and squeezed the trigger.

  “Wow, great job,” Linc said. “You hit the center mass on the target. Not bad for a newbie.” He gave her a high five after she clicked the safety back on.

  They spent a little more time talking about gun safety and how and where she should carry the pistol. Two hours later Brigid was finally starting to feel comfortable with it. After shooting numerous rounds and going through quite a few targets, she’d become fairly confident. As she was getting back into Linc’s truck, she felt a lot better about the whole thing than she had when they’d arrived at the range.

  “You did a great job. I’m impressed,” Linc said as he started the truck.

  “Thanks. I was kind of surprised myself,” she said with a smile. Her cell phone began to ring, interrupting their conversation.

  “Hello?” she answered, not recognizing the number on her cell phone screen.

  “Hey, Brigid. This is Deputy Davis down at the sheriff’s station. I was wonderin’ if maybe ya’ had a bit of time ya’ could come down here? Sheriff Rich said you’d be willin’ to help out with the case. I could sure use someone to brainstorm with fer a bit. He’s gonna’ be off fer a few days. It’s all been a bit much for him. Can’t say as I blame him.”

  “Sure. That’s not a problem. I feel so bad for him. No one should have to see their sister like that. Poor man,” she said. Linc was listening intently as he drove.

  “Jes’ wanted to make sure yer’ on board. I wanna’ get started soon as possible. Can’t waste time in a case like this. Every minute counts, and Lucy deserves to have her killer brought to justice soon as possible.”

  “I completely agree,
Deputy Davis. Give me about an hour, and I’ll be there.”

  “Works for me. See ya’ soon.” The deputy hung up and Brigid put her phone away.

  “What was that all about?” Linc asked.

  “The deputy wants me to go down to the station and help him brainstorm on the case,” she said as she looked out the window. “I hope I can help. Although I do pretty much know everyone around here, I’m still not entirely sure I can help.”

  Linc pulled into her driveway and shut off the truck. “Don’t underestimate yourself, Brigid. Although you may not be well-versed in the law, that doesn’t mean you can’t help. If anything, you may be even more of an asset than someone who is. People might tell you things that they wouldn’t tell an officer.”

  They got out of the truck and walked up to her door. “I hadn’t thought of that, Linc, but you may be right.” She remembered everything Missy had told her and wondered if she’d mentioned any of it to the deputies. Things were pretty much a blur after she and Missy discovered Lucy’s body.

  “Be careful and make sure you take Jett with you,” Linc said.

  “I will. I could use the company, so I’ll be sure and take him with me. Thanks for being patient with me this morning.” Linc went back to his truck and headed home while Brigid went inside her house to get Jett.

  As soon as she got inside, her cell phone rang and she saw Missy’s name on the screen. “Good morning Missy, how are you doing?” she asked as she answered the phone.

  “I’m doing okay. How about you?” she asked.

  “About the same. I’m getting ready to go down to the sheriff's office to talk to Deputy Davis. He wants me to help him with the case, since Sheriff Rich can’t take it.” Brigid opened the door to the back yard and stepped aside as Jett came trotting through the door.

  “Tell him I’d be happy to help, too. I’m worried about Jordan. He’s so upset. He feels like he let Lucy down,” Missy said.

  “Why does he feel that way?” Brigid asked as she headed towards the front door.