by Ellery Adams
Hester released an exasperated groan. “How were you going to dodge the shit storm that was bound to hit once people realized their houses weren’t going to be built?”
“Easy,” Annette said. “I’d quit. After all, I’m just the real-estate agent. I’m not the builder. Besides, Collin and I were—”
“Going to drive off into the sunset together?” Nora guessed. “He never mentioned a Cayman Island sunset, did he?”
Annette’s eyes blazed with renewed anger. “No.”
“Don’t let him play you, honey.” June pushed her cell phone across the table. On the screen was the U. S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of North Carolina website. “There’s a number listed under the about link. If you tell them everything, you might just get a slap on the wrist. Otherwise, Hester can show you the alternative.”
Hester pulled a sheet of paper out of her pocket and unfolded it. “The first case is the most recent. The real-estate agent was sentenced to forty-six months in prison.” She slid the paper over to Annette. “There are more examples, but you get the idea. Forty-six months in prison.”
Annette scanned the printout before flicking it back toward Hester. Nora felt her patience evaporating.
“Our friend was arrested for a crime she didn’t commit. You, on the other hand, are actually guilty. So take out your phone and make the call. This is your one chance. And I kind of hope you don’t do it because I’d love to see you in an orange jumpsuit. Maybe, if you behave yourself, you’ll be allowed out for litter collection. If so, I’ll make sure to throw a greasy cheeseburger wrapper and a handful of leftover fries your way. I can ride by, nice and slow, on my bicycle. It still works, despite your trying to run me off the road.”
“It was my car, but I wasn’t there!” Annette cried. “Collin asked to borrow my keys, which I thought was weird because he had his truck, but I didn’t want to ask him in front of Vanessa and the sheriff, so I just gave them to him. I’m telling you—I’m not a killer!”
Nora recalled how she’d rode up to the model home that day to find Annette, Collin, Vanessa, and Sheriff Hendricks together. They looked like they’d just finished a meeting.
“Who rode in your car with Collin? The sheriff?” Nora asked.
Annette grimaced. “That pig left after you and I came inside to take care of your paperwork. Collin and Vanessa had things to discuss, so they talked in the garage. They were still there when you pedaled off.”
“Your boyfriend’s a murderer,” Hester said. “And the woman he’s going to run away with is his real partner in crime. They’re the Bonnie and Clyde of this story. You’ve been used.”
With a trembling hand, Annette picked up June’s phone and cradled it in her palm. Her eyes were moist with unshed tears. “Collin didn’t kill Neil. He sent me a text, with a photo, from the train minutes before Neil died. And the night of Fenton’s death, Collin was with me. It was the first time we’d ever spent a whole night together.”
“Smart,” Nora mused aloud. “You serve as Collin’s alibi and Vanessa serves as the witness. Not that due process of the law matters, because the sheriff is already in the Pine Ridge pocket.”
“So Sheriff Toad or Big Brother Dawson is our murderer,” June said.
Nora kept her eyes locked on Annette, silently willing her to make the right choice.
“I know you’re hurting,” Nora whispered. “And there’s more hurt waiting ahead. Listen to me, Annette. The only way out is through. We all have to pay for our mistakes, but you don’t have to go through this alone. We’ll go through it with you. All four of us—Estella included—know what it’s like to face a trial by fire. Some of us more literally than others.”
The kindness of Nora’s offering cracked the last of Annette’s defenses and she began to cry. June moved to her side and soothed her with soft words and a gentle touch. “You’re stronger than you know, honey. You’re stronger than Collin Stone believes you to be. Show him what you’re made of.”
Wiping her eyes, Annette nodded. “That asshole. He’ll be sorry he used me.”
Focusing on June’s phone again, she frowned.
“My password screen came on. Hold on a sec.” June punched in some numbers and returned the phone to Annette. “There you go, hon. Let’s get this party started.”
“So the party’s in the kitchen?” a man called out from the front of the house.
Nora’s blood turned to ice. She hadn’t heard a car engine or the sound of anyone approaching the model house. But the heavy tread of boots moving over hardwood floors was unmistakable.
And there was more than one set.
Collin Stone appeared in the kitchen. Sheriff Hendricks followed closely behind.
“Put that down, sweetheart,” Collin said, moving to Annette’s side. When she hesitated, he stroked her cheek with his index finger.
His touch was clearly tender, but Annette flinched like she’d been slapped. Nora wondered if, all this time, Annette had been waiting for Collin to touch her this way, and now that he had, it was too late.
She made to slide the phone across the table to June, but Collin snatched it out of her hand and examined the screen.
“Oh, Annie.” His voice was soft and sad. “I thought you cared about me.”
“I did care!” Annette snarled at him. “You lied to me. About everything!”
Behind Collin, the sheriff chuckled and tapped his temple. “The light bulbs are coming on, eh, blondie?”
Collin cast a backward glance at the tubby lawman. “There’s no need to insult Annette, Sheriff. We wouldn’t have made it this far without her. These other ladies are a different matter. They seem determined to cause trouble in your peaceful burg.”
The sheriff hooked his thumbs through his utility belt and swayed on the balls of his feet. “I know how to handle women who don’t know their place.”
“Shut up,” Nora said, too exasperated to remain silent. “It’s over for both of you. Do you actually think we’d come up here without making our own phone calls first?” She stared down the two men. “You’ve been so busy manipulating, deceiving, and underestimating women that you couldn’t possibly conceive that a group of women could ruin your plans.”
The sheriff removed a plastic wrist tie from his pocket. “The only thing you’ll be doing is remaining silent. I’m taking the three of you in.”
“On what trumped-up charge?” June demanded coolly.
“I’ve got quite a list.” The sheriff’s mouth curved into a self-satisfied grin. “You three, plus Ms. Estella Sadler, murdered Mr. Parrish and Mr. Greer. After Ms. Sadler was hauled off to jail, the rest of you committed B-and-E by letting yourselves into Annette’s office as well as Ms. MacCavity’s hotel room. I’ve got you on multiple thefts too. Hotel key cards, confidential documents, etcetera.” He placed another wrist tie on the table. “You sure you made those phone calls, Ms. Pennington?”
Nora’s thoughts were racing. She’d missed something.
Not something. Someone. Another local fed this collection of scumbags information on the Secret, Book, and Scone Society’s every move. A person who’d gained Neil Parrish’s trust while ratting on him to his partners. A man others viewed as sincere, friendly, and wholesome. A hard and humble worker. An everyman’s man.
“Jesus.” Nora closed her eyes and pressed her fingertips against the lids as if she could block out the terrible truth.
The sheriff began to laugh. “Now the brunette is having a light-bulb moment! You gals are always a step behind, aren’t you?” He cast a nervous glance at Collin, who was staring at him in disapproval. The sheriff’s mirth dissipated.
It was all Nora could do not to punch the sheriff in the face, but her anger made it difficult to concentrate and her friends were now frightened. Nora couldn’t allow that. She couldn’t let them down after they’d come this far.
“We left a name off our list,” she said to June and Hester before turning back to the sheriff. “I suppose Bob did the dirty work.
I really can’t picture you squeezing through that hole in the fence above the train tracks. Bob’s much leaner than you.”
Next to Nora, June sucked in a shocked breath.
Sheriff Hendricks refused to be goaded. “Everyone loves a bartender with a kind face and a generous pour. Neil was deep into his cups the first two nights of his stay.”
“That’s enough—” Collin tried to cut in, but Nora talked over him.
“He told Bob lots of secrets and Bob decided to profit off of them. But he couldn’t kill a Pine Ridge partner without your blessing, Sheriff. Especially with your brother’s involvement in the fraud ring.”
The sheriff moved his face so close to Nora’s that she could see every pore. Sweat glistened on his forehead and dampened his sideburns. “Most men can’t get ahead acting like Boy Scouts. We have to make real hard choices. We try to do right by our families. We pay the bills. We save for houses, schools, cars, clothes, vacations. There’s never enough. We can never work enough hours or bring enough money home to make anyone happy.”
Behind the sheriff, Collin was nodding in agreement.
“Is that why you hate women?” Nora asked. “Because a woman made you feel like your efforts weren’t enough?”
“Not just one woman. My mama, my wife, my daughters—they’re all the same.” Raspberries of heat mottled the sheriff’s neck and cheeks. “Nag, nag, nag about everything I’m not doing. Never a word about anything I’ve done. All that I’ve given them. No thank-yous. Nothing. My only escape is going online. But in the end, I have to go back to three generations of sour faces and complaining.”
Nora was stunned by this revelation. Because the sheriff felt unloved and unappreciated by his family, he treated all women like second-class citizens. She hadn’t expected him to bare this secret side of himself. “But you found a way to make that extra money. Through Pine Ridge. Did it make a difference at home?”
“I’m not going to share a cent of it,” the sheriff said with a triumphant gleam in his eyes. “I’m going to buy myself a sweet fishing boat and spend my free time on the lake. No women allowed. I’m done letting them run my life.” He backed away from Nora and shook his head, as if he’d divulged more than he’d intended. Pointing at Annette, he narrowed his eyes. “Speaking of time, the ball is over for you, Cinderella. Go home. And you know what’ll happen if you talk. So don’t talk.”
Annette paled and looked at Collin. “Why did you do this to me?”
“I’m sorry,” Collin said. “I didn’t think you’d take it so hard. In my defense, I never made you any promises. I only offered you a chance to make some extra money and to have a little fun too.”
“But why did you have to use me? If you never wanted me in the first place . . .”
Collin spread his hands. “I had to keep you under my thumb. I’m sorry. Really. But you’ll be okay. You’re young and pretty. Plenty of men will line up to share stir-fried bok choy with you.” When Collin spoke next, his voice was hard. “Don’t get dramatic.”
Nora willed Annette to go without protest. Once she was back in Asheville, Annette’s fury over being used and betrayed would override whatever fear she felt now, and Nora believed that the real-estate agent would willingly turn herself in if it meant getting revenge against Collin Stone.
Sheriff Hendricks pointed at the wrist ties on the table. “Well, Cinderella? Should I get out another one?”
Annette threw Collin a look of pure loathing before she hurried out of the kitchen. Moments later, Nora heard the sound of the garage door going up. Then down.
“Maybe we shouldn’t have let her go,” Collin said.
“She can’t say anything without incriminating herself,” the sheriff replied. “How would she explain where she got the cash for that Beamer?” He turned to Nora again. “It was Ms. MacCavity’s idea to push you off the mountain, by the way. She said you were the head of the snake. Guess she was right.”
June laughed. “Honey, your metaphor’s all wrong. All of our heads are covered in snakes. We’re all gorgons. Like Medusa.” She wriggled her fingers in the air. “And we’re going to turn you to stone.”
The sheriff glared at June. “Are you threatening me?”
Hester barked out a laugh and Nora knew there was no humor behind it. Her friends were angry. “Sheriff Toad has no clue who Medusa is. He’s a man who used his badge to betray the people who voted for him. I wonder if he realized that his amphibian appearance earns him ridicule throughout the county.”
The sheriff’s doughy face was now the color of ripe cherries. He whipped his gun from his holster and pointed it at Hester.
“I will not stand for disrespect. Not from you. Not from anybody.” The sheriff’s eyes were manic, and Nora realized that he was out of his depth. The small-town lawman was fine with bending the rules in exchange for a quick buck, but he clearly preferred to leave the plotting and the dirty work to others. The amount of perspiration beading his brow and soaking into his uniform blouse collar spoke volumes. Sheriff Hendricks was uncomfortable with this situation. And he wasn’t really in charge. Collin was.
Nora waved her arms, forcing the sheriff to look at her. Baiting him was the wrong way to go. She needed to try to reason with him.
“What will you do now?” she asked. “Shoot three unarmed women in cold blood? How will you explain that? There can only be so many murders in a town this size before the media gets wind of what’s happening and descends. And where will Collin and Vanessa be when they arrive?”
Collin put a hand on the sheriff’s arm. “Can we wrap this up, Todd? I’d like to call it a day.”
Sheriff Hendricks snorted. “That makes two of us. Okay, gals, stand up and put your hands behind your backs. Move nice and slow now. I don’t want to get rough.”
“You can’t frame us for Neil’s murder or paint us as accessories for Fenton’s,” Nora protested. “It won’t work. We have no motive for killing those men.”
“She has a point, Sheriff,” Collin said mildly. “Maybe we need to tie up our loose ends here and now.”
Nora, who couldn’t keep her eyes off the black maw at the end of the gun, felt her panic rising. She could talk circles around Hendricks, but Collin Stone was another matter. He was a sly charmer who would do anything to achieve his goal. The combination of those traits made him extremely dangerous.
Sheriff Hendricks looked unsettled. “I’m not shooting three women in this kitchen.”
“I’d never suggest such a thing.” Collin gave the sheriff’s shoulder a brotherly squeeze. “Let me help you secure the ladies and I’ll tell you what I have in mind.”
Collin plucked a wrist tie off the table and walked behind Hester’s chair. “Ms. Winthrop, if you would?”
After shooting a frightened glance at Nora, Hester put her arms behind her back. Collin wrapped the tie around her wrists and pulled. There was a high-pitched zip as the plastic tightened. Hester winced, but she made no sound.
“Your turn, towel lady,” the sheriff cackled.
“How does it feel, Sheriff?” June’s mouth asked wryly as she offered the sheriff her hands. “Having to do whatever the boss man says? Because we all know who’s in charge here, and it ain’t you.”
Collin wagged a finger in front of June’s face. “If you keep disrespecting the sheriff, I’ll have to gag you.”
June fell silent.
Collin stepped up to Nora. With disconcerting gentleness, he moved her arms until her hands met behind her chair. After he’d finished binding her wrists, he leaned in close and whispered, “I enjoyed our time together in the bookstore. You’re like Vanessa, you know. Smart, intuitive, and easy to talk to. Unfortunately, you still have to die. And I want you to know that the method I’ve chosen isn’t personal. It’s just the best one for several reasons.”
While Nora took this in, Collin gestured for Sheriff Hendricks to join him on the other side of the room. Nora watched as the sheriff’s expression registered overt surprise.
&n
bsp; After a long hesitation, he nodded and cast a sympathetic glance at Nora. When she saw the dread in the lawman’s eyes, she knew what Collin had planned for them.
“It is personal, you bastard.” Infusing her voice with all the venom she could muster, Nora locked eyes with Collin. “And it’s cruel. But you’re a cruel and selfish man. Look at the future you’re inflicting on your wife and children.”
Collin dropped his gaze and Nora believed she might have actually gotten to him, but when he faced her again, she could see the determination in the set of his jaw. “My wife won’t miss me. Neither will my kids. They’ve built a life that doesn’t include me. Like the sheriff here, I’ve been a good provider, but somewhere along the way, I became an outsider in my own home. When I met Vanessa, we connected on every level. We could talk about books the way you and I did in your shop, Nora. But we could also talk about real estate, food, wine, the places we wanted to travel to, and so much more. She’s my other half. I just didn’t know it until we met.” He smiled. “I’m going to live life for myself now, and no one’s going to get in my way.”
Collin left the room.
“What’s he going to do?” Hester asked. She sounded like a scared little girl.
Nora didn’t reply. She watched Sheriff Hendricks move to the cooktop. He turned on the burners. Once all five were ringed with a high flame, he spoke.
“Remember those bored teenagers? The ones who broke into this place just to see if they could?” The sheriff wasn’t looking at the three women, but at the dancing flames. “They came back. Only this time, they upped the ante from breaking and entering to arson. Dumbass kids. They didn’t know people were inside. No one was supposed to be in the house this late.” He sighed. “The aftermath will create lots of wagging tongues. Folks will make up all sorts of tales about what you gals were doing here. Drinking? Taking drugs? Selling drugs? It doesn’t matter. Eventually, the good people of Miracle Springs will forget you. They’ll find something else to talk about and we’ll all move on.”
