by Nancy CoCo
“Shane and I are meeting for dinner at six to make our final choice,” Jenn said. “I want to see Paris in the springtime. He’s more practical and thinks we should go to Quebec instead.” She sighed.
“Quebec is lovely in the spring,” Frances said. “You can save money for a house.”
“Oh, we don’t have to save,” Jenn said. “That’s where I went this morning. We bought the old Carver cottage near Turtle Park.”
“You bought a house?” I asked. “How did you swing that?”
“The Carver cottage has been abandoned for a decade at least,” Frances said. “I heard it was on the auction block.”
“Yes,” Jenn said. “We got it for ten grand. It needs a new roof, new windows, new floors, new plumbing, upgraded electrical, and other minor upgrades. The basics like the roof, plumbing, and electrical will be done before the wedding so that we can move in and finish the rest ourselves. Shane and I are excited about doing a lot of the work.”
“I didn’t know Shane was into construction,” I said. Shane Carpenter was the crime scene investigator for Mackinac County, which included Mackinac Island and St. Ignace, which was a ferry ride away on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
“He put himself through college roofing homes,” Jenn said. “I’m going to do the decorating. Anything we can’t do ourselves will be done by Shane’s friends.”
“Sounds like fun,” I said. “But are you sure you aren’t doing too much?”
“Have you ever known me not to accomplish what I set out to do?” Jenn asked.
“No,” I said with a smile. “But you’ve never been the bride before, either.” I put Mal down so she could settle into her dog bed beside Frances. “Just don’t be afraid to ask for help. You have friends who are willing to pitch in.”
“I know,” Jenn said. “That’s why I love you guys. Okay, I’ve got to scoot. I promised to set up a cake tasting for Jessica Booth. She and Max, and the families are all in Chicago. Good thing I know some great cake shops in Chicago.”
“Wait, the Wilkinses aren’t local?” I asked.
“No, silly, that’s why we’re going to rent the entire McMurphy for the wedding weekend.”
“But don’t you want to be there for the cake tasting?” I asked.
“That’s why we have airplanes,” Jenn said. “Which reminds me, I have to call Sophie to schedule flights up and back for myself and the family. Got to run!” She hurried up the stairs behind the reception desk.
The McMurphy’s lobby took up the entire first floor of the building. At the front of the building, in the right-hand corner, was the fudge shop. I had walled it off in glass so that guests could watch the fudge making and my pets would be safely outside the kitchen.
Across from the fudge shop was a small, cozy sitting area with free Wi-Fi, a fireplace. and open views to Main Street. Behind the sitting area was Frances’s station, which included the reception desk and mailbox cubbies for the guest rooms. Across from that was another seating area with winged-back chairs, two comfy couches, and the all-day coffee bar.
Finally, there were two sweeping staircases to the upper floors on either side of the lobby and in the center of the back wall was an old-fashioned, open elevator for guests who couldn’t walk up the stairs.
“That girl has too much energy,” Frances said with a shake of her head. “But it’s great that she is going to fill the McMurphy with wedding guests.”
“I know two weeks out is the middle of June, but it’s been so cold this year. I hope it’s not too chilly for the reception on the rooftop deck.”
“We have the tower heaters,” Frances pointed out. “That was a good investment, by the way. Along with the white tent top in case of rain.”
“Those were for Jenn’s reception,” I said. “But if she keeps reserving the rooftop for her events, they will pay for themselves by the end of the season.”
“I don’t know where she gets her energy, but I’m glad she’s back.”
“Me, too,” I said. “Her time in Chicago nearly broke my heart.”
“We have Shane to thank for her return.” Frances looked down through her brown cat-eye glasses at her computer screen.
I agreed. Last fall Jenn had an opportunity to work for one of the most prestigious event planners in Chicago and we had all let her go. But by Christmas she had missed us and realized she couldn’t be away from Shane. So she had come back and proposed her own event planning business, to be run out of the McMurphy. I had agreed immediately, of course. Shane, on the other hand, had taken his time to welcome her back. But when he did, he did it with an engagement ring.
The dead of winter isn’t the best time to start an event planning business on Mackinac Island because it’s really isolated, so Jenn had gone back to Chicago until April to finish out her contract. It was great to see her so happy—even if she was making me wear a blush pink bridesmaid’s dress.
* * *
It was nearly nine p.m. and I was getting ready for bed when my phone blew up with a flurry of text messages. I heard the whoosh beep, whoosh beep, whoosh beep as the messages came through. It was not a good sound. I put down my hairbrush and picked up the phone, but before I could read the messages, the phone rang. It was Jenn.
“Jenn, what’s going on?” I sat down on the edge of my bed. Mal looked up at me from the floor while Mella leaped onto the bed and eased over to me.
“Shane didn’t show up for dinner,” she said. Her tone was one part angry and another part worried. “I sent him text messages, but he didn’t answer. I called and it went to his voice mail.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m in front of the Nag’s Head Bar and Grill,” she said. “We were supposed to meet here at seven. I waited until eight to call him. I mean, sometimes he can get caught up in his work at the lab. But he’s never been this late.”
“Did you call his office?”
“Yes,” she said and blew out a long breath. “He left at five. The ferry company says he was on the five-thirty ferry. So he’s here, but I don’t know where. I’m worried.”
“I’ll get dressed and meet you down there,” I said. “Call Rex and see if he might know what’s going on. I’ll text you his cell number so you don’t have to go through the police dispatch.”
“Thanks,” Jenn said. “I’m sorry, I know you like to go to bed early.”
“Don’t worry, just stay where you are and I’ll meet you.” I pulled on a pair of jeans and a thick, long, pullover sweater. Mal followed me around, wagging her stump tail hard. “Oh, you think you’re going out?”
She was totally going out with me. When it came to my friends and my fur babies, I would drop everything to make them happy. I put on her halter and leash. She grabbed her leash with her mouth and followed me out of the apartment, down the stairs, and out through the lobby.
Luckily I remembered to snag my jacket on the way out of the lobby. We stepped outside, and a brisk wind rushed off the lake, forcing me to zip my jacket quickly and pull my gloves from my pockets. Mal followed along beside me, carrying her leash. We were a block away from the bar when Mal spotted Jenn and sprinted toward her.
“Mal!” Jenn called her name and picked her up and scratched her behind the ears.
“I thought you could use a couple of friendly faces,” I said. “Did Rex know anything?”
“No,” Jenn said and I could see the dark shadows of worry on her face from the light given off by the bar. “He said it had only been a couple of hours and he was certain there was nothing to worry about.”
“But you’re worried,” I said.
“Shane’s never done this,” she said. “Never. And then to not pick up my calls or even send me a text . . . Something is wrong.”
“I agree,” I said and put my arm through hers. “But it’s freezing out here. Let’s go grab a coffee at the Lucky Bean and make a plan.”
“Okay,” Jenn said, sounding a little bit comforted by my and Mal’s presence. “I’m glad you cam
e. I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t just go home and wait. What if he’s lying in a street somewhere hurt?”
I gently guided her toward Market Street and the Lucky Bean, which was across from the police station. She clung to Mal like a lifeline. My pup loved the attention and I was glad I’d brought her. “I know Rex downplayed your concern, but don’t think he’s not looking for Shane, too.”
The streets were dark, lit by only a handful of replica gaslights that now burned electricity. A horse-drawn carriage went by, the hooves clipping at a slow. steady state. Mackinac Island banned all motor vehicles except for the fire truck and ambulance. It meant that most people got around by horse-drawn carriage, bicycle, or walking. I liked the fact that life moved at a slower pace here. It drew people to vacation on the island and enjoy a step back in time.
We got to the mouth of the alley that ran between Main and Market streets. Mal sniffed the air, barked, and leaped out of Jenn’s arms.
“Mal!” we both called at the same time as she took off, dragging her leash down the alley away from the McMurphy. We hurried after her. The alley was dark and filled with the trash bins and back-door decks of the apartments and shops that lined Main Street.
“I can’t see her,” Jenn said.
I pulled out my phone and hit the flashlight app. It lit a few feet in front of us. I heard Mal bark. We moved swiftly in her direction. Mal stopped and barked again. My flashlight caught the shadow of a man wearing a short coat. His back was to us and when he turned we recognized him.
“Shane!” Jenn and I said at the same time.
Shane turned back and the light from my phone glinted off something metal in his hand. Something dark dripped from what looked like a hunting knife. I stopped cold when I saw a heap at Shane’s feet.
“Shane?” Jenn slowed as her brain registered the scene.
“Call nine-one-one,” Shane said, his voice sounding shaky. “There’s been a murder.”
Chapter 2
“Shane?” Jenn said.
“Stand back,” he said. His hand shook. “This is an active crime scene.”
“Nine-one-one, what is your emergency?”
“Charlene,” I said, keeping my eye on Shane. “There’s been an incident. We’re in the alley between Huron Street Pub and Grill and the Lilac Bed and Breakfast. Please send the police and the ambulance.”
“I’ve notified them both,” Charlene said. “Allie, did you find another dead body?”
“I’m not sure,” I said. Jenn opened her mouth and I put up my hand like a stop sign. “There’s a lot of blood.”
“Well, thankfully you are close to the police station. You should be able to hear sirens.”
“I do,” I said and took Jenn’s hand and gently pulled her to my side.
Rex ran down the alley. He was wearing workout gear, but had his gun in his hand. Officer Brown was not far behind him, wearing his on-duty uniform and riding a bicycle. Behind him came the ambulance. The siren stopped and the lights of one of the few motor vehicles allowed on the island lit up the scene.
“What is going on?” Rex asked as he stopped between us and Shane.
“We came out to look for Shane,” I said and glanced at Jenn, who covered her mouth with her hand in horror.
“Looks like you found him,” Rex said and pointed his gun. “Shane, put up your hands and drop the weapon.”
Shane raised his hands in the air.
“Slowly,” Rex ordered.
Officer Brown ditched the bike and had his gun pointed at Shane. My heart pounded in my chest. “Do it,” Officer Brown said.
Shane nodded and slowly bent his knees, keeping his left hand up, and placed the knife on the ground a foot away from the person who was still bleeding.
“Now, stand up slowly,” Rex said, his expression grim. “Do you have any other weapons on you?”
“No,” Shane said.
“Take careful slow steps toward me and out of the scene,” Rex said and put his handgun in the back waistband of his running sweats. Rex was about five foot ten and had a shaved head, broad shoulders under the sweatshirt he wore. I always thought he had that action hero sort of look to him.
Jenn and I held our breath as Shane took slow careful steps toward Rex. He stepped in a straight line. We were all highly aware that Officer Brown still held a gun on Shane. Jenn had tears running down her cheeks. Mal sat beside Rex and appeared to be waiting to see if he needed any help.
Shane got to within a stride’s distance from Rex, who said, “Get on the ground.” His tone was very serious. Shane immediately did as requested. He was slow and determined in his actions. “Put your hands behind your back,” Rex said.
Shane followed through. Rex nodded toward Officer Brown, who put away his gun and cuffed Shane. Then he pulled him to his feet. Once Shane was cuffed, EMT George Marron hurried to the person lying in a pool of their own blood, his kit in hand. George was tall with copper skin and high cheekbones. He wore his hair traditionally long and in a single braid down his back.
We waited while George felt for a pulse. He looked up toward Rex. “He’s dead.”
“How long?” Rex asked.
“I’m not an ME.” George stood and carefully retraced his steps out of the crime scene. That’s when we heard a moan.
Adrenaline rushed through me. George whipped around, but the dead man didn’t move. Rex swept his flashlight over the scene and we all gasped when he discovered someone sitting with their back against the building. They had long hair and wore jeans and a sweatshirt.
George hurried toward them. Rex went with him. “Bring a gurney,” George shouted. The second EMT went running back to the ambulance and brought back the wheeled gurney. I’d never seen this EMT. He was young, maybe twenty-two, with short blond hair and a thin physique.
Rex hit his radio. “Dispatch, we’re going to need a medevac.”
I inhaled sharply. I’d never heard him call for off-island help before.
George and the new guy quickly rolled the person onto the gurney and took them into the ambulance.
“Where are they going to meet a helicopter?” I asked.
“They have to go to the airport,” Rex said. “Lucky for that woman, George is excellent with stab wounds.”
“Woman?” Jenn parroted. “Who? Do we know her?”
“Was the knife Shane was holding what stabbed her?” I asked.
The ambulance took off, leaving us in darkness once again except for Rex’s flashlight.
Officers Megan Lasko and Tim Jones showed up on their bikes.
“Seal off the block,” Rex ordered. “Call in the crime scene unit.”
“How?” Megan asked. “Shane’s here.”
“John Kingsma, over in Cheboygan,” Shane said. “He’s the next best CSI.”
Megan turned and looked at Shane, then nodded. “I’ll make the call.” Then she walked past Jenn and me and greeted us with a quiet nod as she went back to the mouth of the alley.
Officer Jones walked in a single line to the opposite side of the alley and strung up crime scene tape. In the dark, his movements were a circle of flashlight light bobbing up and down as he walked the tape across and then headed back our way.
“ME’s on his way,” Officer Lasko said. “I’ve strung crime scene tape at the mouth of the alley.”
“Keep watch over it until the medical examiner gets here,” Rex ordered. “Ladies, please follow me to the police station and refrain from speaking. I’d like to interview you separately,” he said as he moved to Officer Brown and took hold of Shane by the forearm. “Brown, stay here and guard the scene. I’ll send a couple of other officers to help until the ME gets here.”
“Yes, sir,” Charles Brown said.
Jenn and I followed Rex and Shane to the admin building. The silence was deafening, only broken by a few small sobs from Jenn. Shane didn’t say a word as he walked in step with Rex.
We arrived at the police station and waited in the lobby while Rex took Shane
away. Nearly an hour later, I looked at the time on my phone. It read two a.m. Mal slept quietly in my lap and I wondered how Shane was doing.
Rex stuck his head out into the lobby. “Jenn, could you come with me, please?” I picked up Mal and stood with Jenn. “Just Jenn right now, Allie.”
With a sigh I sat back down. Mal sat on my lap, alert to any changes that may be coming next. Another ten minutes went by and Rex walked Jenn out, along with Officer Phyllis Davis.
“What’s going on?” I asked, standing again.
“Allie, could you come with me, please?” Rex said. “Davis, see that Jenn gets home safely.”
I put Mal down and she picked up her leash and followed me through the door. Rex took me to the smaller interview room and waved toward the chair opposite him. I took it. Rex sat, too, and Mal jumped up into his lap. “Mal, get down,” I said. “Come here.” I patted my lap and she reluctantly got down and got in my lap. “Rex?”
“This will be a quick interview to get your statement,” he reassured me. “Can you tell me what happened?”
I recounted the story and that we followed Mal and found Shane.
“Did you happen to see anyone else in the alley?”
“No,” I said. “But I didn’t really look after seeing Shane or I would have mentioned seeing the woman who moaned by the building. I turned and called nine-one-one. Surely Shane would never hurt anyone.”
“But you saw him holding the knife, right?”
“Yes,” I said. “But that’s all I saw. It would be pure speculation if I said his holding the knife meant anything at all.”
“After you saw him, what did he do?” Rex asked.
“He said to call nine-one-one, and to stay back as he was standing in a crime scene,” I said. “Or something very close to that. I can’t remember exactly; it was a shocking sight, but I’m pretty sure that’s what he said because I called nine-one-one right after that.”
“Did he make any move to run away?” Rex asked.
“No, he stood perfectly still,” I said.
“Did you feel like you were in danger at any point?”
