“This night sure took a turn for the—” I’m about to say better when my foot glides right off the hay bale that’s acting as a stepladder and Everett catches me in his arms.
“Whoa!” he says as the momentum sends us spinning, and I laugh as we come to a complete stop just shy of the petting zoo.
“Looks like fun,” a masculine voice calls out from behind, and Everett swings me back around, only to have my heart stop cold.
“Noah?” I squint into the darkness, hoping against hope it’s just Ken, the owner, wanting to give me the final count on how many devil’s food cupcakes to bake for the Fall-O-Ween Fest—but this is me we’re talking about. That handsome brick wall of a man glowering at us is in fact Detective Noah Corbin Fox.
“I”—he hitches his thumb over his shoulder, his face looking morbidly long—“was just asking the owners about Hunter. They were kind enough to show me the application he filled out just a few days before he passed.” His jaw squares out. “And yes, I was going against orders and investigating. I guess I’m not too fond of the rules myself.” His eyes hook to mine before he traces out my body with his gaze.
“Oh, no, no, no,” I say, caught off guard that I’m still tucked high in his stepbrother’s arms.
Everett lands me safely on my feet and takes a deep breath. “It’s not what it looks like.”
“It’s not?” Noah twitches his head at us incredulously. “Of course, it is. The two of you were enjoying one another’s company.” His voice dips low, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say he was struggling with the words. “I guess I’m okay with that.”
“You guess?” My heart slaps wildly against my chest. “You either are or you aren’t.” There. I said it. If Noah has any feelings for me whatsoever, this is his moment to speak now or forever hold his peace. Didn’t those kisses mean anything to him? Although, to be fair, he could say the same to me.
My phone bleats in my pocket before he can answer, and I quickly scan over it.
“Oh no,” I say, looking up at both Noah and Everett. “It’s my sister. She says she thinks her garage may have been broken into.”
Noah leans in, rife with concern. “Tell her to call the police and get back in her car. Do not go in the house. I’m on my way. Everett, you keep Lottie here until I give you the all clear.”
He takes off, and I choke on my next words before taking Everett by the hand and hightailing it to the parking lot.
“Come on, Everett. I don’t care what he says. You’re taking me to my sister’s.”
“But Noah—”
“Noah will have to live with it.”
Just like I might have to live without him.
Chapter 32
We find Lainey perched by the open mouth of the garage, the police already there with two squad cars. It’s a horrible sight to see your sister’s house lit up with blue and red strobing lights in the night.
“Lainey,” I say, lunging at her with a hug. Everett sped just as fast as Noah did to get here, but Noah still managed to beat us. To be honest, it felt like I was caught up in some testosterone-fueled game as they kept trying to outrun one another. I’m not sure what happened between the two of them, way back when, but this screams unresolved childhood issues.
I spot Noah already deep inside the garage speaking with a member of the sheriff’s department.
“Tell me what happened?” I ask my sister as I quickly inventory all of the boxes from my old apartment, a few of which have toppled to the side.
My sister wraps her arms around herself as she turns to look inside. “Well, I came home and the garage door was ajar. I couldn’t figure out why, so I figured it must have been that rash of break-ins we’ve been having.”
Everett strides up next to me. “Is anything missing?”
Lainey shrinks a bit in her oversized plaid coat. “I can’t tell. I mean, it’s all your stuff, Lottie. How would I know if anything was gone?” She threads her arm through mine. “Does anything look as if it’s missing to you?”
I take a step inside, and Noah tips his head over at me, the look of grief slightly veiled in his eyes.
“Actually, it looks as if everything is present and accounted for.”
“Look at this”—Everett points over to a couple of bricks that are bucking in the driveway and a loose one tossed to the side—“it looks like your door may not have shut properly.”
“Oh no.” Lainey tips her head back. “I had it open before I left, looking for a bin of books I’ve been meaning to donate.” Lainey is forever donating books to the library. She once told me that working at the library felt as if she were visiting old friends. And she would be, considering half the books are donated from her private collection. “I guess it was a false alarm.”
“Not to worry.” The sheriff standing next to Noah comes over. “Better safe than sorry. It’s an odd thing, but those robberies seemed to have come to a stop abruptly a couple weeks ago. Whoever was doing it has either been caught or killed.” He nods our way. “Goodnight, folks. We’re heading on out.” He takes off, and my mouth falls open as a thought comes to me.
I glance over to the spot Noah was standing in, but he’s gone.
The sound of a car purring to life ignites behind us, and I turn just in time to see him taking off with a wave.
Everett huffs at the sight, “Don’t take it personally, Lemon. It’s me he’s ticked off at. I can promise you that.” He offers Lainey and me a slight bow. “Enjoy the rest of your night, ladies. I’m glad it was nothing.”
We watch as he takes off, and my sister lands her head on my shoulder.
“You really showed up with the cavalry. Have you settled on one yet?”
“Yes, I’ve settled on one. It’s just that he can’t seem to settle on me.”
“Option B isn’t so bad himself. Honestly, there are no wrong choices here.”
“There’s a wrong choice, all right,” I say, turning back around and looking into the cozy little garage—“and that choice would be me.”
“Oh, you.” Lainey is quick to swat me. “So, I guess those garage thieves moved on after all.”
“Or died.” I can’t help but think it’s the latter. “I’m starting to wonder if I knew Hunter Fisher at all.”
* * *
The next few days are maddening with nonstop baking as dozens upon dozens of devil’s food cupcakes are frosted in festive Halloween hues of orange, purple, and green, festooned with meringue ghosts, bright blue wizard hats, and licorice spiders.
But my mind is far from the task at hand. I can’t help but mull over the case while I pour batter into another batch of cupcake molds. As far as I’m concerned, Bear isn’t at all a suspect, but then, I guess I can’t really take anyone off the list just yet. Then there’s Chuck Popov, who as Bear suggested didn’t lend Hunter a dime. Although, Hunter could have borrowed money from Chuck behind Bear’s back. And Chuck did seem a little rough around the edges that day when I mentioned Hunter’s name. Perhaps he was just a disgruntled colleague? However, if Hunter owed him money, people can get unfriendly real quick when a little cash comes between them. Not that I’m assuming it was a small sum Hunter borrowed. But, as for now, that’s just my imagination running wild. Until something solid comes up, Chuck isn’t really on my radar. Then there’s Mom’s new boyfriend, Wallace, who said he tried to get Hunter a loan but failed. That actually penciled out. And interestingly enough, led us to evidence of Hunter’s stripper ex-girlfriend, the one with the kid. And, of course, there’s Micheline Roycroft. She didn’t do it. I’d stake my life on it. Although, she was useful in tipping me off as far as where I could find Stella. Stella. I shake my head. She was so angry. For an ex-girlfriend, she sure as heck didn’t so much as shed a tear. Come to think of it, she didn’t look too torn up at his funeral either. Stella. Maybe once I recuperate from tonight I’ll head back to Girls Unlimited and have another chat with her? I’m sure Everett won’t mind one bit escorting me back to that flesh-fest. I roll my eye
s at the thought.
Keelie helps me transport the multitude of boxes to the McMurry Pumpkin Patch with just minutes to spare before the Fall-O-Ween Fest gets underway.
The crowds have already descended upon the place with costumes that range from adorable to looking like they outright belong in a horror movie. Keelie and I lean toward the adorable end of the spectrum with Keelie dressed up as a fairy in a pale green tutu and sparkly leotard to go along with it. Her makeup looks as if a fairy herself showed up to apply the magical wonder, but Keelie being Keelie has decided to vamp the look up a bit with some heavy eyeliner for dramatic flair. And have I mentioned that her leotard is low-cut in the front and that tutu hardly covers her rear?
“You’re going to freeze to death,” I say, shivering myself.
“I told you. I’m determined to find my fae prince who will wrap me in his strong arms and return the feeling to my s-s-skin.” Her teeth chatter as she says it. “You’re no better yourself.”
I glance down at the short blue dress and my tall black boots with their cute crisscross pattern running down the front. That badge on my chest is proudly glinting in the light, and the patches that read police over my sleeves look official. Keelie lent me a pair of official handcuffs she swiped from her father, and I’m terrified I’ll do something dumb like lock myself in them, so I’m letting them dangle from my belt for now as a flashy accessory.
“I know.” I shiver. “But I couldn’t help it. There’s some irony to it. Besides, when Lily said she’d bring in one of her spares for me, I had no idea it would be so suggestive.”
“Please”—she tips her head back and laughs openly at the thought—“everything that girl does is suggestive.”
“Amen to that,” I say as a giant mass of humanity fills the pumpkin farm as far as the eye can see. The entire grounds are decorated with scarecrows and skeletons, witches and ghosts. The nonstop screams from the haunted hayrides can be heard for miles despite the fact they have speakers set up and are blaring Halloween-themed music on a loop.
“No, no.” Keelie shakes her head at something behind me. “Do not turn around.” Her hands grip me by the shoulders. “Say, I really want to try that blue cotton candy. How about we each get one and see who can finish up the fastest?”
“We already know it’s going to be me. We do that every year, Keelie,” I say, straining to turn around. “What is it that you don’t want me to see?” I break free from her hold, and as soon as my eyes snag on a horrible sight, the wind gets knocked right out of me.
“Well then.” It comes out with a contrived sense of strength. “I guess we really are over.”
Off in the distance, standing in line for the coveted haunted hayrides are Noah and Ivy Fairbanks. Her long, red hair glimmers like copper as she laughs at something he said, and my heart breaks just witnessing the event.
I stagger backward until I end up at the petting zoo and spot a familiar stripper dressed as a scantily clad bunny—far more than she wears most weeknights. She’s on her knees helping the little child in her arms pet a baby goat, and I gasp when I see the little boy’s face. That dirty blond hair, that olive skin—sure, a lot of people have those physical attributes, but that face looks a little too familiar. I’ve seen that face a thousand times before, and it wasn’t on him. A dark-haired man steps in front of the boy, blocking him from my view, and I glance up to find the man who was comforting Stella at the funeral, the same one who saved me from the scaffolding the day Hunter died.
A crowd moves in between us, and I lose them in the happy chaos of the evening.
Kids shout into the night at the trunk-or-treat lot next to me, and suddenly this entire farm is nothing but a cacophony of sounds.
Just as I’m about to pull out my phone and call Noah, I suddenly remember we’re not exactly on speaking terms, and he just might be having the time of his haunted life with Ivy on that spooky hayride.
I glance over and spot the haunted corn maze and frown. That about sums up my life. Everywhere I turn there’s a dead end—or a dead pet. And right about now, I’m not crazy about either.
“Lottie!” a cheery voice calls out, and it’s Molly with Ken trailing by her side. “You did a fantastic job on the cupcakes! You really are a genius in the kitchen.”
“And you’re far too kind. It was really—” I’m about to segue into an entire litany of self-deprecating thoughts when I spot Micheline Roycroft standing next to Bear, and the two of them seem to be having a heated debate while they each hold one of my genius cupcakes in their hands. I’m betting they’re not anywhere near the topic of my IQ. “I’m sorry. I see someone that I need to speak with. I’ll be right back.”
I speed over just as Bear and Micheline hit a lull in their argument.
“Happy Halloween,” I say, looking to the both of them without the aid of a smile. Truth be told, there’s not a hint of anything cheery in my voice either. I’m a bit peeved at them at the moment, because it’s becoming clear the two of them know more than they’re letting on.
“You look great, Lot.” Bear frowns while craning his head past me.
Micheline is dressed as a vampire with trails of fake blood running down her chin. She looks past me as well, and I follow her gaze to where Stella and the little boy were just a moment ago.
“That’s him, isn’t it?” I look back to the two of them accusingly. “Hunter had a son. That’s why he had to keep borrowing money.” A slap of shock detonates over me all at once as the pieces to the puzzle fall into place. “And the two of you knew about it.” I shake my head incredulously. “Why? Why keep it a secret?”
“Lottie,” Bear moans. “Hunter didn’t want anyone to know.”
“Why? It’s his kid! Hunter loved children. He would have made a great father.”
“I agree.” Micheline nods, but those wild eyes are saying something else entirely. “But you don’t know Stella. She’s a nightmare to deal with.”
“Was she threatening him?” I step in front of Bear as I demand the answer. “Do you think Stella or that creepy boyfriend of hers did this?”
Bear’s face hardens to flint, and he takes off into the crowd without warning.
“Bear!” Micheline calls after him. “We’re not finished,” she shouts before threading through a thicket of people, and she too is gone before I can stop her.
“Oh my God,” I whisper as I pull out my phone once again. A part of me demands I call Jack, Keelie’s father, the captain of the Ashford Sheriff’s Department, but my fingers find another name, and I put in a call to that number instead. But Noah doesn’t pick up. I bolt into the crowd in the same direction Bear and Micheline took off in and run for what feels like half a mile before I head away from the crowd to catch my breath. From the corner of my eye, I spot a dark-haired man looking at me just as he ducks into the haunted corn maze, and hot on his heels are Stella and that sweet baby who bears a striking resemblance to his father.
My heart drums up my throat as I head on over.
Corn Maze, I hit send before I realize I sent it to Noah and not Bear.
But I don’t waste time rectifying the error. Instead, I head over to the haunted corn maze myself and step on in.
It’s time to confront the mother of Hunter’s child, and maybe his killer as well.
Chapter 33
T here have been moments in my life that I’ve been morbidly afraid, frightened out of my mind for far lesser reasons. But at this moment, entering into a dimly lit maze—haunted at that—I’m riding the zenith of terror. I’m so far outside of my mind with fright it almost feels sublime.
The corn maze is a walled-in wonder filled with erroneous twists and turns—and don’t forget a horror around each corner. I should know, I’ve been once before—ironically while I was dating Bear. I screamed until my vocal cords went out and finally closed my eyes and made Bear get us the heck out of there. I swore I would never subject myself to the terror ever again and, yet, here I am. My feet move brazenly at a quickened cli
p in hopes of catching up to Stella and her man.
The sound of a child crying can be heard at a distance, and my pace picks up. No sooner do I round the next corner than a zombie-looking creature jumps out at me with a tiny zombie baby doll in her arms, and I snatch it from her without thinking.
“Hey, lady”—the zombie woman calls after me as I take off—“where you going? That’s a part of my bit! Ah, geez.”
Her voice fades to nothing as I bullet past vampires jumping out of caskets, monsters and maniacs, werewolves and space aliens. I pass a small crowd of teenagers who scream their heads off as I bolt past them with the zombie baby still in my hands, but I’m a woman on a mission, and I’m not stopping until I get the truth out of Stella.
The violent sound of a power tool grows in ferocity as I propel myself from one dead end to the other, and I pause, holding onto my knees, panting so hard I start to feel light-headed. The glint of something small and furry wraps around my ankle, and a shrill scream unleashes from me as I try my best to stomp the life out of the creature. But the tiny beast only lifts its cute little face at me and appears to chatter out a laugh.
I suck in a quick breath as I bend over and give the ghostly little cutie a scratch over his back.
“You scared the living daylights out of me.” Another breath hitches in my throat as an idea comes to me. “Take to me to Hunter’s killer! I’ve got an entire fleet of deputies I can employ to wrangle them to justice. Wouldn’t you love that?”
Its bushy little tails whips back and forth, and it takes off without so much as a wink.
“Here goes nothing,” I say as I follow along after it.
It leads the way straight to a split in the road, and for the life of me I can’t tell which direction the sound of that buzz saw is coming from.
“Just FYI,” I whisper to it. “I’m practically allergic to spooks. If at all possible, I’d like to avoid anyone who’s even remotely near a chainsaw.
The tiny fuzzy creature chirps up at me, and I’d swear I was just laughed at by dead vermin. It leads to the right where the maze opens up to a clearing, and I spot a couple with a baby up ahead.
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