Chapter 23
At the police station, I gave my statement and related everything I could remember from the time I left Boney's, until the time the Lincoln struck the light pole. Stone and Wendy had arrived at the police station before us, and they were waiting impatiently for us to get there. They both rushed up to hug and kiss me when I stepped into the station in front of Wyatt.
After making sure I was going to be okay, Wendy headed back to the inn. Before she left, she assured me my facial cut would heal sufficiently without stitches. Stone sat through the debriefing period with me, holding my hand tightly to give me moral support. My hands were still shaking slightly from the ordeal I'd just been through.
Halfway through the question and answer session, the chief of police stepped into the room and said someone had called in about finding a yellow Jeep upside down in a ditch out on County Road Thirteen. The chief had sent out a wrecker from Doug's Towing to bring the Jeep back to town. I knew it was going to need a great deal of bodywork before I drove it again.
The chief also told us Jeffrey Hobbs would be interrogated thoroughly, before being charged with, most likely, a number of crimes. It was doubtful he'd ever see the light of day again, he said, which pleased me immensely.
Once he was brought to the police station from the Wheatfield Hospital in St. Joseph, where his head wound was being stitched up, and a cast put on his wrist, he would be thoroughly interrogated, booked and arrested, and then held in the county jail while awaiting arraignment.
The chief expressed his relief that the murder suspect had been apprehended, and that the abduction had turned out the way it had. He thanked me for my part in the apprehension of Jeffrey Hobbs, and then asked me to never insert myself into a police matter of this nature again. Stone and Wyatt both nodded their heads in agreement with the chief. I just smiled, and agreed the apprehension of Mr. Hobbs was a great relief, and the abduction was resolved to my liking too. I made no promises about the future. Never say never, I thought to myself once again.
* * *
"You're not cooking tonight," Stone told me as he drove me back to the inn. "Wendy is at the inn, explaining today's activities to the Dudleys, who should have arrived home by now. I'm treating you, Wendy, and the Dudleys, to dinner out tonight. Then you are going to take a long, hot soak in the tub and relax by the fireplace while we watch TV."
"Well, you won't hear any arguments out of me. This has been the most distressing day of my life. I really didn't think I'd live to see you and Wendy again. It reminded me, once again, of just how much the two of you mean to me. I love you so much, Stone," I said.
"I love you more," he replied.
* * *
We had a very pleasant evening. The Dudleys were understanding of our failure to inform them about the recent murder in the inn. They'd known someone had died, but they hadn't realized the murder had taken place at the inn. It didn't seem to bother them too much. They were relieved the situation today had turned out in the fashion it had. They had thoroughly enjoyed their stay, and would be recommending our establishment to family and friends, and would no doubt be back again for future family events.
I fell asleep watching TV with my head on Stone's lap. The next thing I knew I was waking up to a bright, sunny day. The snow had all melted, and the sun was warming the air up. It looked promising for a beautiful autumn day. It was after eight, and Stone had fed the Dudleys cold cereal and pastries. They were now packing up and getting ready to head home to Oregon.
I got dressed and came down to the kitchen for my first cup of coffee, just before Wyatt popped in the back door of the inn. He sat down at the kitchen island next to Stone. I poured him a cup of coffee, and offered him the tray of leftover pastries. He selected a cinnamon roll and then asked me how I was doing.
"I feel fine today, Wyatt. I got a good night's sleep and my heart rate has finally gone back down to normal," I said. "Thank you for reacting to my phone call yesterday in the manner you did. Your quick wits probably saved my life."
"You're welcome. I'm glad you called when you did, and that you were smart enough to kick out the taillight in the Lincoln yesterday. We teach that in a self-defense class we give periodically at the college," Wyatt said. "Of course, having your arms and legs tied up made it more difficult for you, but thank God you found a way. You know, Lexie, with your impulsive nature, it wouldn't hurt you to enroll in the course the next time we offer it."
"After the events of yesterday, I'll certainly consider it. What did you find out in the interrogation of Jeffrey Hobbs?" I asked.
"Once he was backed into a corner, he admitted he killed Walter. He also owned up to ramming you with his car in the hospital parking lot. He'd followed you there after recognizing your Jeep driving through town. He said he'd first seen you in it in the parking lot at the college during cheerleading practice. Any idea why he kept referring to you as Rhonda Reed?"
I gave him an exaggerated shrug of my shoulders, knowing Wyatt wasn't fooled by the sheepish look on my face.
"Did he say why he killed Walter?" I asked, hoping to change the subject.
"He knew Walter had asked his daughter to marry him, and Hobbs was dead set against it," Wyatt said. "Jeffrey was sure Sidney would eventually agree to marry Walter. After all, they'd been together for the greater part of three years. Both he and his wife had tried to talk her out of the marriage, but she kept telling them she was old enough now to marry anyone she wanted to marry, and they couldn't stop her. He said he didn't have anything against Walter personally, but he was determined to see his only daughter married to someone who could provide well for her and their children. He didn't see how a man, working as a teacher, or worse yet, a missionary, could provide a very stable future for Sidney and her offspring. Jeffrey and his wife both also feared their daughter would marry Walter and move to Albuquerque with him so Walter could take over his father's heating and cooling business. To them, this was an even worse scenario, to be so far from their only daughter and future grandchildren."
"But killing Walter to prevent such a scenario? That seems awfully mercenary to me," I said. "I can't imagine anyone wanting their child to marry for money, as opposed to marrying for love."
"Me neither. They're hardly 'parents of the year' material. Mr. Hobbs also admitted to stalking you. The fact you were so adamant about talking to Sidney concerned him. He thought that investigative reporters were often more determined and diligent about rooting out the truth than the detectives. I'm not even going to ask you how and when you became an investigative reporter. I'm not sure I want to know."
"Probably best not to," I agreed.
"Anyway, Hobbs said he sent Sidney and her best friend down to Kansas City on a shopping spree the day of the murder to provide his daughter with a verifiable alibi, and also to ensure he could get to Walter while the boy was alone."
"Is Jeffrey Hobbs a diabetic?" Stone asked.
"Jeffrey is an internist in St. Joseph," Wyatt continued. "He has a private practice there. That's why he knows about insulin and hypoglycemic coma, and also why he has access to insulin. He makes good money for his family, and they live in the upper-crust part of town here in Rockdale, in the new Walnut Ridge Estates subdivision."
"So Jeffrey—Dr. Hobbs, I should say—wanted his daughter to marry a doctor like him?" I asked.
"Or a surgeon, a lawyer, or even the CEO of a large firm. He just wanted Sidney to be able to continue to live in the manner she was accustomed to," Wyatt said. "He said he felt desperate, knowing Sidney was in love with Walter, and not knowing how he could legally prevent her from marrying him. His biggest fear, he said, was that they'd run off and elope. He felt he had to do whatever he could to prevent Sidney from marrying Walter. He couldn't stand the thought of a common man in a blue-collar job being his son-in-law. The only certain way he could come up with to get rid of Walter was to kill him, in order to assure marriage to him was no longer an option for his daughter."
"I guess he accomplish
ed his goal," I said. "Sidney will never marry Walter now. Instead she'll see her father spend the rest of his life in prison, and know it was he who killed the love of her life. What a sad story. She'll really be devastated now. She's lost both her boyfriend and her father. I assume she knew nothing about her dad killing Walter, did she?" I asked.
"Oh, no, and neither did his wife. She was as flabbergasted as Sidney was when the detectives went over to inform them of Jeffrey's arrest," Wyatt replied. "What a shame. It's so awful for the two of them."
"Yeah, it really is a shame," Stone said. "And Walter seemed like such a nice and thoughtful young man. I would have been proud to call him my son-in-law."
"He was a young man who wanted to spend his life helping others," I added. "I don't think he cared at all about having a lot of material things, and I seriously doubt Sidney did either, or she wouldn't have fallen in love with a man of his convictions."
"Speaking of helping others and getting married, Lexie, have you considered my suggestion from the other day?" Stone asked.
I didn't know if he was proposing marriage, or just asking me to move in with him full-time at the inn, but either way, I told him I would be thrilled to make the Alexandria Inn my new home. I could no longer imagine my life without Stone in it. I would put my house in Shawnee on the market in the near future and begin selling and/or transferring all my belongings. I knew Wendy would also be relieved to see me become a permanent resident at the Alexandria Inn.
"Oh, well, it's about time. I'm thrilled for the two of you," Wyatt said. "And, Lexie, I probably don't even have to tell you this, but a newspaper reporter was interviewing the chief when I left the police station yesterday, and your name will be all over the front page of the Rockdale Gazette, and probably multiple other newspapers tomorrow morning. Kind of like it was last year after you helped solve the murder case involving Veronica's father."
"I was afraid of that," I said.
"Me too," Stone agreed. "But something tells me it is something I better get used to."
The End
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Page forward for Recipes from HAUNTED
followed by an excerpt from
WITH THIS RING
A Lexie Starr Mystery
Book Four
Recipes
Frightening Fingers and Blood
2 cups brain matter (or substitute with shredded white cheddar cheese at room temperature)
1/2 cup butter (room temperature)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (can use more if you want spicier)
1 jar of purchased salsa or roasted red pepper dip
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Pulse in your food processor butter, cheese, flour, salt, and cayenne until it comes together and forms a soft dough. Remove the dough from the food processor and put in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. Once removed from the refrigerator, scoop out mixture with a medium cookie scoop or a couple of tablespoons. Take each scoop and hand roll into the shape of a finger and make sure to use a fork to lightly score the knuckles. Bake for approximately 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly brown. If any of the fingers break they are still yummy finger pieces so don't waste them. Cool and enjoy. Tray these fingers with a big bowl of salsa or roasted red pepper dip (blood) in the center of the tray for dipping.
Red-Deviled Eye of Newt
1 dozen eyes of newt (or substitute with hard-boiled, shelled eggs)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon relish
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sweet pickle juice
Small jar green olives with pimentos
1 tablespoon red food coloring
1 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup warm water
Slice eggs in half so that that each egg piece is round and not oval. Scoop out the yellow to mix in a separate bowl and flake the yoke with a fork and add in the mayo, relish, salt, and pickle juice. Stir and refrigerate mixture until the eggs are ready to fill.
To dye the egg whites, first cut a small piece of the rounded bottom of each egg to make a flat part so the egg will sit flat and not roll. Next mix 1 cup vinegar, 1 tablespoon red food coloring, and 1/2 cup warm water, and pour in a shallow pie plate. Place egg halves down into the mixture with the flat base side of the eggs not getting in the dye if you can help it. Let this sit for about 10 minutes and then using gloves, take the red egg eyes out of the mixture and dry right side up resting the flat base side on paper towels until ready to fill.
Using a pastry bag, fill each red egg side with the chilled eye mixture and top each egg with a green olive with pimento pushed slightly inside the filling for stability.
Chill until ready to serve.
Chocolate Tarantula Spiders
1 (6-ounce) package dark chocolate chips or semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup Red Hots (or other small red candies for the eyes)
2 cups hair of the dog (or substitute with crispy chow mein noodles)
Place the chocolate chips in a glass bowl and melt in the microwave on high for approximately 1 minute. Stir and melt more if the chocolate isn't smooth. Then add in the chow mein noodles until they are all coated, being careful not to crush the noodles.
Drop heaping tablespoons of the mixture onto rolled-out waxed paper into small mounds. Leave a few noodles in the bowl for the legs. Next add these noodles with your fingers to create spider legs off the sides of each mound. Press in the Red Hot candies or other red candies to create eyes.
Refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes and enjoy.
Bleeding Heart Fudge
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup (5-ounce can) evaporated milk
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 package cinnamon baking chips (10 ounces)
1 bag cinnamon imperial candy (9 ounces)
1/2 teaspoon warlock blood or cinnamon oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Line an 8-inch square baking pan with waxed paper. Combine sugar, evaporated milk, all but 1/4 cup of cinnamon imperials, butter, and salt in medium, heavy-duty saucepan. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly until cinnamon imperials are melted and mixture is smooth.
Stir in cinnamon chips, vanilla, cinnamon oil, and marshmallows and mix thoroughly. Pour into prepared baking pan and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup of cinnamon imperials. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm. Lift from pan and remove wax paper. Cut into pieces.
Page forward for an excerpt from
WITH THIS RING
A Lexie Starr Mystery
Book Four
Excerpt from
With This Ring
A Lexie Starr Mystery
Book Four
by
Jeanne Glidewell
I woke up in the midst of a nightmare about three o'clock in the morning. In the dream, I'd been standing in front of Tom Nelson, who held an open Bible in his hands, and I was surrounded by all my family and friends. I was wearing my lovely pink silk dress, and my hair, recently permed and highlighted, looked as good as it was ever going to look. My nails, all manicured and painted, also looked terrific. The cakes, punch bowl, and flower arrangements were all positioned perfectly. The guests were all smiling in anticipation. Even the pair of dove
s that had been delivered an hour earlier, as planned, were cooing quietly in their cage and waiting patiently for their chance to fly free after the vows had been exchanged. Everything was in perfect order for a picture-perfect wedding.
The only thing missing was the groom. Stone was nowhere to be found. Neither Randy nor Wendy knew where he was, and he hadn't mentioned being late to Detective Wyatt Johnston or to his nephew, Andy, either. The grandfather clock just inside the back door struck half past the hour of three, and there was still no sign of Stone. He had skipped out and left me standing at the proverbial altar. I'd been afraid he'd take a long, hard look at all my inherent faults and weaknesses and come to his senses before the big day, but I hadn't expected him to change his mind at the very last moment. I hadn't expected him to humiliate me this way.
I looked around at the crowd who were now all laughing at me as they began to realize what was happening. Even Paula Bankston's dogs, Tiny and Moose, were perched on chairs in the back row, snickering as only a tiny Chihuahua and a massive mastiff can do. This should have clued me in that it was only a dream, but it didn't. Nor did the dancing clown with the creepy makeup, or the fact that Sheila had morphed into my late, great-grandmother and was serving hot dogs and peanuts to the crowd. I hadn't remembered inviting Joe Namath to the wedding either, but there he sat in the third row.
It was only when Frieda, the vocalist from church, began singing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" that I woke up, bathed in sweat. I was relieved to discover I'd only been having a nightmare, and that my fiancé was lying in bed next to me. I tried to go back to sleep, but only managed to doze off a few times, while spending the rest of the night tossing and turning. It was a wonder I didn't wake Stone up with all the thrashing I was doing trying to find a position that would put me back to sleep.
With my mind racing in numerous directions, I knew the chances of me falling back to sleep were remote. I was worrying about every little aspect of the wedding to be held tomorrow, afraid some critical detail had slipped my mind. I was wondering also if driving by the Webster's house in the morning was a good idea. It had been very important to me to see Pastor Steiner's killer apprehended before another minister stepped in to officiate our wedding, but all my efforts so far had been fruitless, causing me nothing but grief, embarrassment, fear, and humiliation, not to mention a broken wrist. Wasn't it better to leave well enough alone, whether the killer was ever brought to justice, or not? I flipped over in bed for at least the hundredth time while I mulled it over.
Lexie Starr Cozy Mysteries Boxed Set Page 57
