The Hidden Corpse

by Debra Sennefelder

  Jane smiled. “Her feathers are definitely ruffled.”

  Hope laughed. It felt good to laugh, even though her ribs hurt. “When aren’t they ruffled?”

  They continued their walk again. The warm sun felt good on her face and walking with a friend lifted her spirits.

  “It’s a shame you missed Lily’s funeral. The readings Cal selected were so beautiful and poignant,” Jane said.

  Before Hope’s doctor cleared her for minimal activity, like she was doing now, Cal had the funeral for his wife. She hated missing the service and called Cal to express her condolences. He thanked her for finding Lily’s killer and told her he’d be leaving Jefferson for a while. She understood and wished him well.

  They’d almost reached the inn when a honking car drew their attention to the curb. She recognized the car immediately. Detective Reid.

  “Wonder what he wants,” Jane whispered as Reid exited his vehicle and stepped up on the curb.

  Hope shrugged. She’d given her statement once the emergency room doctor declared her stable enough to talk. What he wanted now was a mystery.

  Bigelow growled as his haunches raised. He shifted from laid-back, easygoing to fierce protector. He definitely deserved an extra biscuit when they reached the inn.

  “How are you feeling, Miss Early?” He glanced at Bigelow, who’d positioned himself between Reid and Hope. The detective looked relaxed. Either it was casual day at the police department or he was off duty because gone were his blazer and dress pants. Instead, he sported a polo shirt and a pair of dark gray cargo pants. His polished oxford shoes were replaced by a pair of canvas slip-on sneakers.

  “Better. Thank you.” Not knowing what he wanted to talk to her about put Hope on edge a bit. Since the fire, she’d become very aware of her body and her pulse rate picked up.

  “Is there something we can help you with, Detective?” Jane must have sensed Hope’s discomfort. “We’re just on our way to the inn.”

  “I won’t keep you then. I just wanted to let you know we have Cranston in custody. He was apprehended in Ohio and is being returned as we speak. He’s confessed to the murders and arson.”

  Hope’s throat got tight with emotion. She’d been looking over her shoulder for Everett since the day he set fire to her house and left her to die. She worried if he learned she was still alive he’d return to finish the job. Now she could stop worrying and maybe now the nightmares that plagued her would end.

  “It’s about time. I can’t believe he’s been on the run for so long.” Jane patted Hope’s arm. “It’s over now.”

  “Yes, it is,” Hope managed to say.

  Reid rubbed the back of his neck. “Unfortunately, not all crimes are wrapped up as quickly as television portrays. Cranston’s confession has also led to an investigation into Milo Hutchinson and Lionel Whitcomb. We’re not sure where it will lead at this juncture.”

  “How long has this corruption been going on right under the noses of you and the rest of your colleagues?” Jane wasn’t about to let Reid off the hook just yet.

  “I assure you that if there’d been any prior allegations of impropriety, we would have conducted a thorough investigation.”

  Hope had to give him credit for not sounding defensive at Jane’s very direct question.

  Jane let go of Hope’s arm and stepped forward. She looked up to Reid. “The reality is you needed to have the case handed to you on a silver platter. I dare say, Hope is owed a deep appreciation by your department for the work she’s done. She solved the murders of three people.”

  Reid shoved his hands into his pants pockets. There was a small part of Hope that enjoyed seeing him squirm.

  “On behalf of the Jefferson Police Department, please accept our appreciation for your assistance in this matter.”

  Hope wondered how much that hurt Reid. “You’re welcome.”

  “However, there were two murders. Hans Vogel wasn’t murdered,” he informed them.

  “He wasn’t?” Hope and Jane asked together.

  “His autopsy came back and his cause of death was a heart attack.”

  “Poor man.” Jane lowered her gaze for a moment.

  “Miss Early, I’m sorry about your house. I know how much it means to you.”

  He actually sounded sincere. “Thank you. The damage can be repaired.” She had her contractor, Liam Ferguson, on the job, and he was working hard to get her back home as soon as possible.

  “I’ll let you two continue on your way. Have a nice day.” He turned and went back to his vehicle.

  “Come on, dear. Sally is waiting for us.” Jane started walking. “You know, you should receive a medal for what you did.”

  Hope didn’t want a medal. She didn’t want a ceremony. She didn’t even want an article in the Gazette written about her. She just wanted her home put back together. And maybe a soak in a hot bath. She and Bigelow caught up with Jane. Until she could climb into a tub, having tea with two friends would be good.

  * * *

  “I’m pushing my guys as hard as I can so you can get back home soon.” Liam Ferguson wiped his sweaty forehead with a bandana. The sixty-something contractor had been by Hope’s side since the day she closed on her dream house. While she did a lot of the work herself, there were some things she needed to outsource, like the kitchen remodel and the building of the garage.

  “I appreciate all of the hard work.” Hope stood on her lawn, riveted by the sight of her farmhouse. Her lower lip quivered at the sight of the damage caused by the fire. Her first visit back to the house three days earlier overwhelmed her and she cried for most of the day. Now, standing there, she had more resolve, but it was still difficult.

  She remembered the first time she saw her house. It was a wreck. Neglected and unloved, it’s charm long gone. But she saw potential. Yes, potential was a real estate buzzword to sell money pits, but that wasn’t the case with the farmhouse on Fieldstone Drive. It wasn’t going to be a complete money pit. It had good bones. The structure of the house was sound and so was the foundation and roof. What was needed was a complete gut job on both floors and the front porch needed a good cleaning, the floorboards refinished and a new coat of paint. She was willing to roll up her sleeves and put in the countless hours of work to make the home shine again.

  And once again, the house needed to be made shiny again. Luckily, the fire department responded quickly, so her house wasn’t a total loss, like Peggy’s beloved home. The fire didn’t have time to spread throughout her house but enough damage was done to force Hope to move out.

  “There’s no sign of structural damage.” Liam shoved the bandana into his pants back pocket. “We’re replacing the insulation and drywall. And you see my guys up on the roof?” Liam pointed to the front part of the roof past the covered porch. His leathery, tanned skin gave testament to his countless number of hours on roofs over the years. “A section needed sheathing and shingles.”

  On her previous visit, Hope was allowed inside the house to do a quick tour. Her heart sunk when she saw all the caked-on smoke damage. The walls, fixtures, floors, and ceilings were all black. Luckily, Claire was with her and gave her a quick pep talk, reminding Hope the damage could have been a lot worse. And she could have died. So, a little soot wasn’t the end of the world.

  “It’s a miracle,” she said.

  “I’d say so.” Liam looked down the street. “Tomorrow we’re knocking down the Olson house completely. Shame. It was a beautiful house.”

  The news hit Hope like a punch to the stomach, and she flinched. She couldn’t imagine losing her house completely. She turned her head and followed his gaze down the street. Tomorrow there would be a pile of rubble where the once-spectacular Victorian house stood. Sadness sagged her shoulders. “I should let you get back to work. Thanks for the update.”

  “I promise you it’ll look like it did before. Trust me.” Liam squeezed Hope’s shoulder to reassure her and then walked back to the house, his limp from a fall off a roof years ago
prominent. He shouted out something to one of his workers that she couldn’t make out.

  “This is so unreal. I can’t believe all of this happened right here on our quiet little street.” Dorie Baxter approached Hope with a pet carrier.

  Hope turned, raising her hand to shield her eyes from the sun. No doubt Dorie’s shock was shared by all of the residents on the street. She stepped forward and met Dorie halfway.

  “How are you doing?” She wrapped her free arm around Hope and hugged her tightly. A soft meow came from the carrier.

  “I’m good.” Hope sucked in a breath. Even though she knew what she’d find when she arrived at her house, she was still overwhelmed by the sight. “Thanks for asking.”

  Dorie let go of Hope. “Hon, you know I’m always here for you. Now, are you sure you want to take the cat?”

  Hope looked at the carrier. Fluffy little Princess was homeless. Her owner was dead. Her caretaker’s husband was allergic to her, and so was Meg. The cat had nowhere to go except to the animal shelter if Hope didn’t take her.

  “I feel so bad not being able to keep her.” Dorie lifted the carrier to bring Princess to eye level. “She’s such a sweet girl.”

  Hope peered into the carrier. Princess was a ball of fluff curled up with her eyes wide open. She looked nervous. Poor thing. Like Hope, she’d been through a lot, and Hope couldn’t let her go to a shelter. “I didn’t know Meg was allergic to cats.”

  Dorie slid a dubious look to Hope. “Neither did I.”

  Hope wouldn’t be surprised to find out Meg suffered from no allergies. Hope hated to think the worst of Meg, but she was confident the only inheritance the woman wanted from her aunt was the insurance money on the house, not a cat.

  “You know I don’t like to pry, but I have to ask you. Has Meg thanked you for discovering the person responsible for her aunt’s death?” Dorie handed the carrier to Hope.

  “She sent me a text message a couple of days ago and thanked me.”

  “A text? Nothing else?”

  Before she could reply, Drew drove up to the curb. “Are you ready?” he asked after the passenger window lowered.

  “Yes, we are. Dorie, I’ll see you in the morning when I come by to feed the chickens.” The barn wasn’t damaged, so relocating the chickens wasn’t necessary. Ethan had volunteered to take care of the chickens until she got the all-clear from her doctor. She owed him big-time and not just for feeding her chickens, but for everything he’d done for her since moving back to Jefferson. Hope opened the back passenger door of Drew’s car and set the carrier on the backseat. She waved good-bye to Dorie and slid into the front passenger seat.

  “We need to go to the pet shop to get some things for Princess.”

  “Did you tell Claire you’re bringing the cat to her house?” Drew pulled his car from the curb and headed in the direction of Main Street.

  “No, not yet. But it shouldn’t be a problem. Princess is so little. And she’s a cat who lived with an elderly woman. She’s so docile. She won’t be any problem.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  “Yes.” Hope was confident Princess would behave. Rather, she was worried about Bigelow. She didn’t know how he’d react to a cat. He was okay with the chickens, so she was hopeful he’d get along with Princess.

  “What’s going on with the cookbook? Have you spoken with Calista yet?”

  “I did. I have an extension due to what happened. Since I’m feeling better, I’m going back to work tomorrow.” Not having the pressure of a looming deadline was a big help with her recovery. Her doctor wanted her to remain as stress free as possible. As for her blog, she had several weeks of content in queue while she recuperated. “How’s it going at the newspaper with Norrie?”

  “She’s all over this corruption story now. I almost feel sorry for Milo and Lionel Whitcomb.” Drew laughed. He reached a stop sign and waited while another car made a turn. “Do you think next time you could sit the investigation out and let me handle it?”

  “Are you still upset by what Norrie said?” Inwardly Hope cringed when she remembered Norrie’s sharp words about Drew tagging along with his friends to get a story. “It was you who broke the story on the bookkeeper who embezzled church funds and because of your reporting about the volunteer thrift store, enough money was raised to repair the shop’s roof. You’re a good reporter.”

  “A good investigative reporter is only as good as his last story.”

  “If there’s a next time, it’s all yours.” God willing, this last adventure into amateur sleuthing would be her last.

  “Much appreciated.” Drew perked up. He flicked on his turn signal and waited to make a left turn into the parking lot behind the pet shop.

  “I have a list on my phone of everything Princess needs.” Her phone rang and she pulled it out from her purse. The caller ID said it was Ethan.

  “Hi,” she said after swiping her phone on.

  “Where are you?” Ethan asked.

  “Drew and I just arrived at the pet shop. I need to pick up things for Princess. I heard about Everett.”

  “He’s going away for a long, long time.”

  “He should rot in prison.”

  “He will. I was calling to see if you wanted to have dinner tonight.”

  “Dinner? Sure. Claire won’t mind if I cook tonight. Actually, I’d kind of like to cook.”

  “No, that’s not what I had in mind.”

  “What were you thinking?”

  “I was thinking of taking you out to a nice restaurant.”

  Is he talking about a date? Keep calm and don’t jump to any conclusions. Remember the last time I suspected I was on a date.

  “Sounds nice. What time?” Hope asked.

  “I’ll pick you up at seven. Oh, one more thing. You looked beautiful in that dress the other day. See you later.”

  Her breath caught as the call disconnected. I looked beautiful. Butterflies swirled in her stomach. It has to be a date.

  “What’s going on?” Drew asked.

  A slow smile eased onto her lips. “Dinner.”

  “It’s more than dinner. I can tell by the look on your face.”

  “Just dinner.” Hope opened the door and stepped out of the car. She then opened the back door and grabbed the carrier. “I don’t have all day.” She had to prep for a date with Ethan.

  “A-ha. You know I’m going to find out.” Drew followed Hope into the store. “I’m a highly skilled investigative reporter.”

  * * *

  Hope opened the door of Claire’s house and found Ethan on the front step, dressed up and more handsome than ever. She wasn’t used to seeing him outside of his uniform or jeans. Boy, did he clean up nicely. Her insides got all warm and fuzzy.

  For the first time since Everett tied her up and set her house on fire, her nerves settled and she felt she could breathe again. While she had been busy preparing for dinner, all of her aches and pains seemed to vanish. She had been more consumed with finding the right dress to wear from Claire’s closet. Luckily, they wore the same dress size and shoe size, so she’d selected a pale coral sheath dress and a pair of nude heels. She’d snagged one of Claire’s designer clutches and swept her hair into a French twist. She’d added her gold stud earrings and a simple heart necklace and was ready to go as soon as she grabbed a wrap.

  “You look beautiful.” Ethan held out his hand for her.

  Her cheeks warmed as she placed her hand into Ethan’s. He’d traded in his pickup for his sleek black convertible for the evening.

  “Thank you.” She adjusted the sheer wrap around her shoulders.

  “Is everything going well with Claire? She’s okay with the cat and dog?”

  “Of course she is.”

  It was a slight fib. Claire was willing to tolerate Bigelow because his manners showed a hint of improvement. The cat? Well, she wasn’t thrilled Princess used one of her upholstered armchairs as a scratching post. Hope had to tack the cost to repair the damage to th
e chair to her renovation budget. Maybe Princess would eventually use the new scratching post Hope introduced her to. Or else she’d be paying for a lot of furniture repair.

  “I sense you’re leaving something out.”

  “Princess is settling in. It’s all new to her.” A loud bark sounded from the back of the house. Really loud. Then she heard Princess’s piercing screech followed by something crashing to the floor. She winced. Then she heard Claire’s shrill voice.

  “Oh, boy. We better get going.” She pulled the door shut and hustled down the front steps, pulling Ethan behind her. She dragged him in a mad dash to his car. “Get in!”

  He attempted to open her door, but she shooed him away. “Get in and drive!”

  Just as Ethan turned the ignition on, the front door opened and Claire came running down the front steps.

  “Hope! Get back in here and manage your zoo!”

  Ethan drove the car to the end of the circular driveway and Hope looked back, waving to her sister. As they passed through the gate at the end of the property, Hope leaned back into the car seat and looked over at Ethan. He returned the look and smiled. He reached out his hand and took hers to hold tightly.

  She was going on a date with Ethan.

  Recipes from Hope’s blog,

  Hope at Home

  LEMON RICOTTA COOKIES

  posted by Hope Early

  I’m in love with the brightness lemons bring to any dish but when you make it a central part of a cookie and add in a sweet and tangy glaze you’ve baked an irresistible cookie that is delightful year-round.

  Yield: about 3 dozen

  Ingredients:

  2 cups granulated sugar

  2 lemons, zested

  2½ cups all-purpose flour

  1 teaspoon baking powder

  1 teaspoon salt

  1 stick unsalted butter, softened

  2 large eggs

  1 container (15 oz.) whole milk ricotta cheese

  3 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed