Mission to Murder (A Tourist Trap Mystery)

by Lynn Cahoon

  I sipped my drink. “So the person who took her, she didn’t like.”

  “Or didn’t know.” Greg leaned back, his sunglasses hiding his eyes so I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

  I thought about Brenda at the shop and the way Fifi reacted to Ray. I leaned closer. “I told you about Fifi going all pit bull crazy on Ray the other day, right?”

  Greg lifted his glasses and glared at me. “When were you hanging out with Ray again? I swear, Lille’s going to take you out. You need to stay away from him.” Greg fell silent, and I didn’t push it. He had the cop look on.

  “You told me about the dog incident. Sorry I overreacted.” He drained his beer and ate the last chip. “Ready to get back to our date?”

  I took a big gulp to finish off my drink. As the frozen delight went down my throat, my head exploded. Too cold, too fast—brain freeze. I put my hands up to my nose and breathed the warmed air in slowly. Slowly the pain went away. I sighed, then smiled. “I’m good.”

  “You don’t lie well.”

  “Sorry.” I stood and waited for him to join me. The sunlight bouncing off the clear blue water of the pool caused me to slip my sunglasses off the top of my head and cover my eyes.

  Greg took my arm in his and kissed the top of my head. “I’m not.”

  Monday morning I found my latest novel and Emma next to me on the mattress and the sun shining in the windows. I never set an alarm for my days off. Ever. I took the early bird shift at the store so on my days off I deserved a few more winks of sleep. Unfortunately, my internal clock usually went off earlier than I’d like.

  Today was no exception. Six A.M. on the dot according to my Mickey Mouse clock on the nightstand. Emma licked my arm as soon as she saw my eyes open.

  “Hold on, I’ll let you outside.” I walked to the bedroom door and removed the chair from under the knob. Now it was habit, even though Greg had given my house the all-clear last night. Until Craig’s murder was solved, I figured a little paranoia couldn’t hurt.

  Sauntering down the stairs, I let Emma out, transferred the wet clothes to the dryer, and made coffee. Sitting at the table, I started the rest of my weekend list. Jimmy Marcum had some papers for me to sign for the business. It seemed like we were always filing some business license or something. Last spring, Jimmy saved my butt when the city tried to condemn my house without giving me time to repair. Now they only talked to Jimmy. No more process servers showing up at my door.

  I didn’t think Mayor Baylor had given up on his quest to annex the property. Before, he’d wanted me to sell to a condo developer who actually was being manipulated by a girlfriend who thought the house hid buried pirate treasure. Now rumor was he wanted to build a South Cove tourist center, and since my property was the closest to the highway, I was the logical choice to condemn in order to build his vision.

  Except I didn’t want to move, sell, or even think about the possibilities. I don’t know why whenever he got an idea, it always focused on my house or my business. After the run-in with him and his wife last weekend, I was beginning to think our good mayor didn’t care for me much.

  Not that I cared a whit what he thought.

  Glancing down at my list, I’d written three things: Jimmy, shopping , and laundry. Since it was just me, housecleaning only hit my to-do list once a month or if I was expecting company. And neither of those two qualifiers were in store for the next week. I did need to get a new dress for the mystery launch party. I’d kept myself from checking over the book order this week. Jackie had handled it all, and even though I could have determined who the author was, I was enjoying the mystery, too.

  I poured a cup of coffee and then added one more item to the list. Not that I’d forget, but so I could check it off: Take Emma for a run.

  By four, Emma and I had run, the laundry was done, and I was on my way back from Bakerstown. Everything had gone like clockwork. To reward myself, I was scarfing down a fish sandwich from one of the fast food heaven places the city council regulations didn’t allow in South Cove. I’d turned up the stereo, Dixie Chicks blaring from the speakers, when the speed of my Jeep started to slow.

  Frowning, I pushed harder on the gas pedal. Nothing. Then I saw the display where my speed digitally displayed the last time I’d noticed. Low Fuel Warning, it flashed. And apparently, the light had been flashing for a while, because now it wasn’t just low, but nonexistent.

  I eased the car over to the side of the road and pulled out my cell. I got Greg’s voice mail. I wasn’t far out of town, maybe ten miles. I could walk, but I’d bought ice cream at the store. I’d hate to have that melt and seep over my brand-new carpet in the back. Gritting my teeth, I left a message—come save me. I would get lecture number three: “Don’t ever pass a gas station if you have less than a half a tank.”

  We’d been dating less than a year, so we didn’t have many stock lectures. But this one was high up on Greg’s worry list. I guess him being in law enforcement, he saw the other side to being stranded. Worse than melted ice cream.

  I finished my fries and wondered if I should turn off the stereo. How much did it take to drain a battery? I was considering my answer when I saw an older pickup stop behind me.

  I groaned. My knight in shining armor was Ray Stewart. I locked the doors and rolled the window down a crack, not enough for him to get a hand inside. I’d seen too many movies where the kidnapped woman had been Tasered by someone they knew. He might be a local, but I wasn’t stupid.

  I watched in my side mirror as he ambled up to the Jeep, glancing in the back to see my grocery sacks. His smile creeped me out a tad. When he reached the driver’s side door and leaned over, putting his hands on top of the car, his smile widened when he saw me sitting there.

  “Well, hello, beautiful.” He leaned back and took a second look at the Jeep. “I didn’t recognize you outside of that beat-up piece of crap you usually drive. I guess the rumors were true.”

  I kept my hand on my cell, hoping Greg would call back. Anytime now. “What rumors, Ray?”

  “The old bat must have left you some bank.” He smiled and the gold tooth glinted in the sunlight. “I figured it was small town rumors.”

  “I don’t have time to chat.”

  He burst out laughing. “Honey, it looks like you have all the time in the world to talk with me. Where you going to go?”

  I held up my cell. “Greg’s on his way.”

  Ray took a step back and held up his hands in mock surrender. “Ooooohhh, I don’t want to upset your cop boyfriend. Do the two of you barbeque baby back ribs? Or does he consider that cannibalism?”

  “Not funny.” For the first time, I glanced at Ray’s eyes. He’d pushed back his aviator wrap glasses on top of his greasy, too-long hair when he saw I was in the car. The degree of bloodshot made his eyes almost red, and I wondered if he was coming off a bender or on something worse. I focused on his pupils, but before I could determine whether they were dilated or not, he noticed my interest and flipped the shades down.

  “Bright out here,” he commented. “Why don’t you open your door and we can go wait in my truck for your boy toy?”

  I wondered if that line ever worked on anyone. “I’m pretty comfortable here. But thanks.”

  His lips curved into a smile. “Then why don’t you open the door and let me slip into that leather seat next to you.” He leaned in closer. “I’ve never done it in a brand-new car before.”

  And you’re not going to today, either. I stopped myself from gagging. Just then I saw a car coming down the road heading out of town. I reached down and flashed my lights, hoping the driver wouldn’t think Ray and I were talking. The blue crossover pulled in front of my Jeep and Bill Simmons got out.

  I let out a breath. Ray stepped back as Bill approached.

  “I’ve got places to be.” Ray waved at the approaching Bill, then leaned in again and licked the window. “Maybe next time, sweetheart.”

  I shuddered, not able to control the physical reactio
n this time. I thought I’d vomit. Bill stepped in front of the Jeep, watching Ray get back into his truck and speed away. Once the truck was out of sight, he approached the door as I pushed it open and jumped out of the car, needing some fresh air.

  “You okay?” He quickly assessed my stance, head down between my knees trying to breathe. He put his hand on my back, comforting and solid. His voice was low. “Jill? He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

  I shook my head and wiped at my eyes, hoping Bill hadn’t seen the tears. It had been stupid. I’d never been in any real danger, but thinking about the uncloaked hunger in Ray’s eyes made me shiver again. I started pacing between the two vehicles. Taking one, then two deep breaths, finally I trusted my voice. “I’m fine. Ray’s a …” I searched for a word.

  “Jerk, scary, monster. Stop me if I’m getting warm.” Bill took my arm and led me back to the Jeep, pushing me gently into the seat.

  I laughed. “Take your choice.” I waved my hand at the car. “I ran out of gas. Can you give me and my groceries a ride to my house?”

  Bill nodded. “Unlock the back and I’ll load the bags in the trunk while you get settled.”

  The phone rang when I was composing myself. Greg, I saw on the caller ID. “Hey. I guess I don’t need you after all.”

  “What happened?” I heard noises coming from the phone, lots of voices.

  “I ran out of gas. Stop, I know what you’re going to say, but I’m fine.” Now, I added silently. “Look, Bill Simmons is here, and he’s taking me and the groceries back to the house. Can you come by later and we can pick up the car?”

  “I’m sending Toby now. He’ll take care of it. I can’t leave right now.”

  I grabbed my purse and waved to Bill, who had finished loading up my groceries. Locking the doors, I leaned against the car, wanting to finish this conversation out of Bill’s earshot. “You don’t have to send Toby. Come by later, when you’re not busy. And before you yell at me for not telling you, Ray Stewart had stopped and was being his usual jerk self. But he left when Bill arrived.”

  At first the phone sounded dead and I thought I’d lost the connection. Then Greg asked, “Ray was just there? Where are you exactly? And which way did he leave?”

  CHAPTER 20

  Toby showed up at the house almost as fast as we did. The other part-time deputy, Tim, sat in the passenger seat of the cruiser. Toby helped Bill carry in my groceries. I stood at the counter, putting away my softened ice cream, promising myself as soon as the house was empty, I’d pull the carton back out and fill up a large bowl. Then I’d sit on the porch in my rocker and eat until I didn’t feel dirty anymore.

  When Bill brought in the last bag, he tapped my arm like we were old college buddies. “Look, if you need anything, let me know.” He inspected me. “You’re sure Ray didn’t hurt you?”

  I shook my head. “No, but he scared the crap out of me. Thank you again for stopping. If you hadn’t …” I paused, not wanting to go any further with the thought. Whips and chains and kidnapped woman’s faces on milk cartons went through my mind. I realized Bill was still watching me. “Really, I’m fine. Just not a big Ray fan right now.”

  At that, Bill laughed. “Besides Lille, who is?”

  He nodded to Toby, who stood at the doorway to the living room. As Bill passed by, Toby focused on me. “I’ll be right back.”

  I heard him follow Bill out to the front door, and like what happened with Greg yesterday, I heard the door locks engage. I put the groceries away and pulled out a bottle of wine.

  “I’m checking the house, then we’ll go get your car.” Toby’s voice jerked me back to reality.

  “Duh. I guess I’ll get a glass later.” I reached for the refrigerator door.

  Toby frowned. “Go ahead. When I said we, I meant Tim and me, not you. You are supposed to stay put until Greg comes this evening. You’ll only be alone for twenty minutes tops. I already stopped for a gallon of gas.”

  “You’re staying?” This overreaction of Greg’s had to stop. “Look, Ray’s a jerk. We know that. But he didn’t hurt me. I don’t need a babysitter.”

  Toby cocked his head at me. “I wasn’t supposed to say anything, not until Greg got here.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  Toby led me to a kitchen chair and lowered me into the seat. He sat next to me. “Look, Jill, the reason Greg’s not here is we’re executing a search warrant.”

  My heart started pounding. “They think they found the killer?”

  Toby shrugged. “I’m not sure about that. But, Jill, Greg’s over at Ray’s. That’s where we’re searching. And there’s a warrant out for him on the breaking and entering of the crate. He’s a person of interest.”

  I felt the blood drain from my face. I saw my reflection in the glass over a framed photo of me and Miss Emily sitting out on the porch. I appeared paper-white.

  I wondered if Ray had known the cops were out at his place when he found me. Had he thought he’d run upon a pawn to barter with? Thank God for Bill. I was going to have to send over a few cakes and coffee for his bed-and-breakfast. A “thanks for saving my life” gift. I realized Toby was watching me. If I didn’t want him to reach over and feel my forehead for a fever, or worse, rush me to the emergency room, I needed to respond. “Oh.”

  Toby still looked like he was going to bundle me off to the hospital.

  “Wow. That’s a lot to take in.” Taking a breath, I added to my original statement with a small smile.

  This time I saw the guy physically relax. He tapped his fingers on the table. “You going to be okay alone for a few minutes? Should I call Jackie and have her come over?”

  My eyebrows raised. “You’ll be gone ten minutes. I think I can handle being alone for almost thirty before I do something stupid.”

  Toby chuckled. “Greg said something similar, but he didn’t want me to leave you alone at all. But he also didn’t think I’d get you in the back of the patrol car again.”

  “No way.” I cringed. Then I thought of Tim sitting in the front of Toby’s cruiser. I narrowed my eyes. “Hey, you told me no one sat in the front.”

  Toby had the good sense to blush. “I didn’t want to move everything for a five-minute drop-off. Sorry.”

  “See if you get a raise next year.” I stood and went back to the fridge to pour my wine. “Go get my car. I’ll be fine.”

  Toby stood and started checking doors and closets. I watched him search the downstairs and then upstairs. When he came back down, I asked, “Satisfied?”

  “Seriously, Jill, if something happened and I didn’t check, my butt would be in so much trouble.” He smiled. “It’s good to be the police detective’s girl. Especially since you can’t seem to stay out of harm’s way.”

  “Now you’re working on a pay cut.” I followed him to the door, holding up a hand when he opened up his mouth to speak. “Yeah, I know, lock up and don’t let anyone in.”

  “I love giving my boss orders.” Toby tapped two fingers on the brim of his hat. “You might want to keep your cell with you, as well. Just in case.”

  When I locked the door, I regarded Emma. “I guess it’s the two of us.”

  I curled up on the couch and turned on the television, searching until I found an old movie and got lost in a land of wizards fighting the constant battle of good and evil. Sipping on my wine, I wondered when I’d fallen into the fray. I pulled a crocheted blanket over my legs and laid my head on a pillow.

  A banging noise woke me. I clicked off the television, noticing night had fallen. I checked my cell, no missed calls. Had I imagined the noise? It sounded again, and I realized someone was at the door. Groggy from sleep, I walked over and peeked out the window, worried Ray Stewart would be on my porch. My shoulders dropped when I saw Greg standing in front of the door.

  I unlocked and opened the door. “What time is it?”

  “Late.” He pulled me into his arms and kissed me. Gentle yet demanding. When he was done, I closed and locked the
door behind him.

  “So, you have a bad day?” I led him to the kitchen, grabbing my half-full glass of wine as we passed by the coffee table.

  He went to the fridge and held out a soda. “Bad and not over yet. I needed to see you for a minute. I’ve got to get back to the station. You want one?”

  I nodded and took the offered drink. My neck felt like I’d slept on the couch, kinky and out of sorts. I stretched my head one way, then the other, and sat at the table. “You want to talk?”

  Sometimes he said yes. Sometimes, when it was bad, we talked about anything but what he was working on. He controlled the conversations—I knew sometimes he needed a break. I would have. This time he surprised me.

  “I was worried about you. Bill said it looked like Ray was giving you a hard time.” Greg took my hand, rubbing his thumb on my palm.

  I wouldn’t tell Greg everything; it would only make him mad. But there wasn’t a reason to lie, either. “He was a jerk. What’s new about that?”

  “But he scared you. Bill said you were in tears.”

  I thought about the relief I’d felt when Ray drove off. Had he threatened me? Or had I only felt scared? Or was there even a difference? “I let him get under my skin. Bullies know how to terrorize you without even saying anything wrong. I wonder if he plays those mind games on Lille. I never understood what she sees in him. Maybe he’s brainwashed her?”

  Greg chuckled. “Leave it to you to worry about someone else when you were the one in danger.”

  “Was I, really?”

  Greg’s hand tightened on mine. “I believe so. But you were too smart for him. Locking yourself in the car, keeping the cell close, even flashing your lights at Bill. You weren’t a victim. Maybe that’s why he keeps coming back. To see if he can break you.”

  “Did you catch him?” I wondered if Lille would even let me eat in her diner again. Especially if word of his terrorizing me started running through the rumor mill.

  “Not yet.”

  Greg’s words chilled me. He opened the soda and took a long drink.