by Lyndsey Cole
Roxy raced barking up the stairs.
By the time Annie got her bearings, Liz was kneeling at her side and Roxy was licking her hand. “I’m so sorry. I thought it was Olive following me up here.”
Annie pushed herself up on her elbows. Everything still worked with only a couple of throbbing aches where she had fallen on the palms of her hands. “Olive? In my house?” Never mind that Liz was there.
Liz held a hand out to help Annie to her feet. “I called her to apologize for accusing her of stealing my beaded clutch. Sometimes I just can’t keep my mouth closed and I told her I was coming here to get it from you.”
“You thought she came to ambush you?”
“I saw her drive by slowly. Your car was here but no one answered. I sort of panicked when you didn’t answer the door so I let myself in to wait for you. When I heard footsteps on the porch, my mind raced with all kinds of possibilities. I freaked out thinking it was Olive, and ran up here to hide.”
“The first possibility wasn’t that it was me entering my own house?” Annie asked. She stared at Liz.
Liz crunched her lips to one side. “It should have been my first thought but I had Olive on my brain. Are you okay?”
Annie sat on her cedar chest, trying to slow her breathing. “I think so. I just need a couple of minutes to let my body slow back down to normal. You really gave me a fright, Liz.” Annie patted Roxy’s head and waited for some strength to return to her legs. She didn’t want to stand too soon and risk another fall.
She sucked in a final deep breath. “I’m going downstairs to make some peppermint tea.” Liz followed her out of the bedroom.
Once downstairs, Annie went through the normal activity of filling the tea kettle with water, carrying the selection of teas to the counter, and getting two mugs out. Liz chattered about her plans. Her words went in one ear and out the other.
Liz sat on a stool at the counter and dropped her bag on the floor. She unzipped her jacket and slid her arms out of the sleeves. “It sure is warm in here.”
Annie poured hot water into a mug for Liz. “It’s the fireplace. It makes the house nice and toasty.”
Liz nodded. Then said, “So, I stopped by to pick up my beaded clutch. You told me last night that you have it.”
“That’s right. I do have it.” Annie stood across the counter from Liz and sipped her tea. She looked up and her eyes were drawn to a sparkle hanging from Liz’s neck. Heather’s diamond pendant rested on a background of red. The sparkling diamond was the perfect complement to the sweater. “You still have Heather’s necklace? Shouldn’t that stay with Danny?”
Liz stroked the gem between her two fingers. “Wade gave it to me for my birthday. Why should I give it back?”
“Because it was stolen from Heather?” Annie couldn’t believe she even had to explain this to Liz.
Liz shrugged. “Danny didn’t ask to keep it. Besides, Heather stole a bunch of stuff herself.”
“And that makes it okay for you to keep her necklace that, by all rights, belongs to Danny?” Annie felt her blood pressure rising.
Liz rested her elbow on the counter and leaned her chin on her palm. “Something I’ve been wondering, Annie.” Liz paused. “Since we’re talking about stealing, how did you end up with my beaded clutch after Heather stole it?”
Annie blinked a couple of times as she prepared her words. “How do you know that Heather stole your clutch? What else do you think she stole?” Icy fingers crawled up Annie’s back.
“A bunch of clothes—a scarf, some socks, a sweater—stuff like that.”
“A red cashmere sweater?” Annie stared at Liz.
Liz’s eyes darted around the kitchen. “Just give me my beaded clutch. I don’t want to talk about the other stuff; that’s Olive’s problem, not mine.”
“That would be convenient for you, wouldn’t it? I suppose you already know that several of the items Heather stole have disappeared. I thought Olive was padding the list of stolen items but she wasn’t, was she?” Annie cocked her head. Her gaze traveled from Liz’s face to her red sweater and back up. “As a matter of fact, it would have been easy for someone to steal some items from Heather’s overnight bag.”
Annie’s heart raced. Sweat trickled over her skin inside her shirt. Without letting her eyes leave Liz’s face, she lifted her tea to take a sip. Her hand shook, sloshing some of the hot liquid over the edge of her mug.
Liz laughed, the nervous twitter of someone who just realized her carefully laid plans were crumbling like a stale Christmas cookie. She slid off the stool and moved to the end of the counter. “The clutch, Annie.” She held her hand out.
A low, almost silent growl came from Roxy who remained at Annie’s side. She sensed something had changed.
“You didn’t think this part of your plan through very well, Liz.” Annie took a step back. Roxy stayed at her side. “Heather stole a red cashmere sweater from Olive’s store. The only way you can be wearing that sweater is if you stole her overnight bag after you killed her. What happened? Did Heather demand more money from you in exchange for giving the beaded clutch back?”
Liz’s eyes narrowed to slits. “I already paid her five hundred dollars. That stupid old lady. She thought she could outsmart me; set up a meeting but pretend she forgot the beaded clutch in her car.”
Liz took another step closer to Annie. Roxy’s growl deepened.
“When we got to her car, she fiddled around in that ratty old bag saying she had the clutch there. She surprised me for a fraction of a second when she pulled out a gun instead. Stupid move. She didn’t count on me being much stronger than she was or the fact that I’ve done a lot of target practicing with Wade.”
Annie wanted to keep Liz talking. She inched another step back. “And you just couldn’t resist another shiny gem, could you? You had to steal her diamond necklace when you grabbed her overnight bag thinking the beaded clutch would be inside. How furious were you when you turned her overnight bag inside out and couldn’t find your clutch?”
“Enough talking. I need that beaded clutch. I’ve got a buyer lined up but he’s losing patience with this delay in handing over the gems.”
“Gems? Clever how you hid some gems among the beads on that clutch. But what about the opal and diamonds from Camilla’s necklace? You stole that, too, didn’t you?”
“Piece of cake. That fool forgot to lock her case after Heather examined just about every piece of jewelry she had.”
Roxy stayed close to Annie. She whined. “Very clever to put the remnant of Camilla’s necklace and Heather’s diamond pendant in the overnight bag before you planted it in Randy’s house. Everything almost worked out for you.” Annie took another step back and felt the counter behind her. “Almost, but not quite. Who would know, except for Danny, about his parent’s initials on the back of the diamond pendant you couldn’t resist stealing?”
“I’ve lost my patience, Annie.” Liz looked at Roxy and pulled her foot back.
It was the distraction Annie had waited for. She only needed that one quick glance Liz made toward Roxy to give her time to turn and reach for the rolling pin that hung on the side of her cupboard. Her fingers stretched.
But Liz’s reaction was lightning quick. She grabbed Annie’s arm, twisting it behind her back in one whirlwind move. “It’s too bad I didn’t find that clutch before you came home. We could have avoided all this mess. I like you, unlike that weasel Heather.”
30
Unfortunately for Liz, Roxy reacted before anyone could even blink. When the terrier’s teeth clamped around Liz’s wrist, the kitchen echoed with painful shrieks.
When Liz screamed, her hold on Annie’s arm loosened enough to allow her to twist free.
Roxy growled. Her head, taking Liz’s wrist along for the ride, shook from side to side.
“Get your dog off me!”
Annie dialed 911, yelling into her phone over Liz’s screams and Roxy’s growls. As soon as she heard someone is on the way, she let
herself breathe again. She grabbed Roxy’s leash off the coat rack. Working as quickly as possible, she looped one end around Liz’s free arm before she told Roxy to let go. Forcing Liz to sit in a dining room chair, Annie secured both arms behind the chair’s back.
Annie leaned on the counter. Her legs were weak, her breath came out in gasps, and her shirt was drenched with sweat. She was relieved to let Roxy keep guard and make a low growl every time Liz moved a muscle.
After what felt like hours, but was probably only five minutes, the door burst open. Detective Christy Crank, along with a gust of cold air, rushed inside.
Christy looked at Annie, Roxy, and Liz before a smile spread across her face. “You caught someone breaking in, Ms. Hunter?”
“That’s the least of her problems, Detective Crank. Liz here has a lot of explaining to do, but from what she has already shared with me, she is a gem thief and a murderer.”
Annie found Liz’s sling bag that had been kicked under the table during their scuffle. She dumped the contents on the table. “Just as I suspected.” Annie held up a baggie with an opal and several small diamonds. “Show these to Camilla; I’d bet a dozen of Leona’s pretzel hugs that these are hers.”
“Pretzel hugs, huh?” Christy licked her lips. “You’re making my mouth water.”
“Oh, and check with Olive about this cashmere sweater that Liz is wearing.”
Christy’s eyebrows bunched together in confusion. “She stole from her employer, too?”
“Not exactly. She stole from Heather after she murdered her. Her greed is what did her in.”
Liz sat with her head dropped low to her chest.
Christy led Liz out to her Dodge Charger, giving her the prime backseat spot.
Annie sank onto the couch with Roxy leaning as close as possible. She licked Annie’s cheek. “Yeah, everything’s okay now. Thanks for figuring out who the bad guy was.” She wrapped one arm around Roxy and pulled her closer. “You’re amazing. Have I told you that yet?”
“I can never hear it enough.” Jason’s gentle voice startled Annie. When she turned around, he added, “Oh, I thought that compliment was meant for me, but I see you were talking to Roxy.” He grinned. “When it comes to protecting you, Roxy can’t be beat.”
They—Annie, Roxy, and Jason—sat quietly for a minute or two. Jason broke the silence. “I saw Christy drive out with Liz in the backseat. What happened?”
“Now that I look back, I should have suspected Liz.”
Annie’s phone vibrated in her pocket, interrupting her thoughts. “It’s Leona. I’m sure I’m in trouble with her.” She hit the speakerphone button.
“Hi.”
“What are you doing?” Leona asked. “I thought you’d be here by now.”
“Well, I had an unexpected visitor.”
“Don’t say another word, just get over here before I completely fall apart.” Leona’s phone went dead.
Annie laughed because, really, what else could she do to release all the adrenaline and tension that had surged through her body?
“What’s so funny?” Jason looked at her with concern etched on his face. “Are you okay?”
Between fits of laughter, she managed to nod her head and tell Jason, “I think I’m okay. I will be okay.” And as soon as she got herself completely under control, she told him the rest of the story. “It was Liz all along. Not Randy or Wade or Brian or Olive. And the scariest part is that Liz might have gotten away with everything—the murder and the stolen gems—if she hadn’t stolen Heather’s necklace and the red cashmere sweater or come back for that silly clutch.” Annie shook her head. “I knew I was missing something but I didn’t see it until Liz was sitting right here in our kitchen drinking tea. I looked at her and an image of Heather wearing a red sweater, her favorite color, and a necklace she never took off made all that happened become crystal clear.”
“Unbelievable, Annie. How do you feel about getting to the Blackbird before Leona makes good on her threat and actually does fall apart?”
“It will be a welcome change, to say the least.”
Jason patted Annie’s leg. “What do you still have to do?”
“Wrap the wedding present, get dressed, and . . . I guess that’s about it.”
“Get moving while I tidy up down here.”
Annie nodded and pushed herself off the couch. Roxy followed her upstairs.
She opened her cedar chest and lifted out the log cabin quilt that had been stored inside for Leona’s wedding day. She buried her nose in the cedar scent and inhaled before she carefully folded it and wrapped it with layers of rainbow tissue paper. A silver ribbon and bow held it all together.
After Annie showered, she slipped her bridesmaid dress on. As she stood in front of her mirror, her fingers rubbed over her new snowflake necklace. She smiled at her reflection.
“Wow.” Jason stood in the doorway.
“You like my new dress?”
He shook his head and walked closer. “No. I love it.”
Jason stood behind Annie in his dark gray suit. “Ready to go?”
“I’m ready.” She picked up her gift and followed Jason downstairs. Roxy never left her side.
By the time they finally pulled into the Blackbird, it was well past the time Annie had promised to arrive and several other cars were lined up along the driveway.
“Uh-oh,” Annie said. “It looks like we’re the last ones here. Leona will be fit to be tied that we’re late.”
“I don’t think so. After everybody hears that Heather’s murder is solved, you’ll be the hero.”
“And Roxy,” Annie added. She leaned down and patted her faithful companion.
“And Roxy.”
They didn’t even have the door closed before questions were hurled at Annie from every direction. She laughed. “Let me get out of the cold and sit down. Don’t worry, I’ll tell you all every single detail.”
Leona put her arm around Annie and led her to the couch in front of the fire in the living room. Roxy curled up next to her. “As soon as word got around about Liz, we’ve all been sitting on pins and needles waiting for you to get here.”
A pitcher of eggnog and a variety of bite-size appetizers tempted Annie. Leona poured her a tall glass. “Here. Take a sip.”
She did but with everyone hovering and trying their best to be patient, she only took one sip before she shared what happened with Liz.
“I can’t believe it,” Leona said. “She seemed like such a nice young woman.”
“Randy said he didn’t think Liz deserved Wade and I guess he was right with that observation,” Annie said.
“Christy stopped by earlier,” Leona said. One hand went to her neck and the other held Danny’s hand. “She returned Heather’s diamond necklace. What do you think?”
“It’s beautiful, Leona.” Annie noticed that Thelma’s yearbook was opened to the page with Heather’s high school photograph. She had a lovely smile as her eyes stared out from the photo.
“We’re all here, so let’s get going so we can get to the fun part,” Leona said.
Danny and Leona stood in front of the fireplace while Martha, as a Justice of the Peace, read Robert Frost’s poem about taking the road less traveled before she pronounced them husband and wife.
Champagne glasses were filled, toasts were made, and, of course, an unbelievably delicious feast was served.
As the evening wore down, Danny joined Annie at the edge of the group, holding Thelma’s yearbook. “Thank you for bringing me this. I never even had a photo of my mother for all these years. I want to have a copy made of this page.”
Annie nodded and hugged Danny. She whispered in his ear, “I think Heather got her wish.”
Camilla clapped her hands. “Attention everyone, time for gifts. I made this for the two of you.” She handed a box to Leona. “Danny, get over here. This is for you, too.”
Leona, like an impatient five-year old, wiggled in place until Danny joined her. She opened the lid.
Her eyes grew to the size of a round Christmas ornament. “It’s stunning.” Leona lifted up a stained-glass snow flake.
“It’s for the top of your tree. And if you position a light behind, it will be even more beautiful.”
Annie carried her gift to Leona. “I’ve had this in my cedar chest just waiting for this day.”
Leona slipped the ribbon off the package and the rainbow paper fluttered to the floor. “Oh, Annie. This is the finishing touch for the bed Danny made.” She pulled Annie into a tight hug and whispered, “I’m so glad Liz didn’t hurt a hair on your head or I’d be in jail now for killing her myself.”
“Thank Roxy. She saved the day.”
Danny cleared his throat. “Leona?”
Leona gave one last squeeze before releasing Annie. She turned around. “What’s in that big box, Danny Davis?”
Danny grinned from ear to ear. “You’ll have to open it. It’s for you. From me.”
Leona’s eyes filled with tears. She rubbed her finger under her nose and quickly wiped under her eyes. “Is that why you’ve been spending so much time in your workshop?”
“Just open it, Leona.” Danny held his hand out for Leona to move closer while he balanced the box.
Without even trying to be careful, she pulled on one corner of the paper. A blackbird was revealed. She tore through the rest of the covering until the sign, in all it’s amazing glory, stood in front of Leona.
Her hand covered her mouth. “Blackbird Bed and Breakfast,” she read. “I don’t know what to say.”
Everyone laughed.
“That’s a first,” Danny mumbled.
“You are amazing.” Leona hugged Danny who almost lost control of the sign but managed to lean it against the couch just in time.
“It’s beautiful,” Leona said.
Jason put his arm around Annie’s waist and whispered in her ear, “But not more beautiful than you.”
Thanks for reading Merry Buried Christmas. Click here and start reading my next book in the series today!
