by K E O'Connor
“So, that’s how you do it,” Archer said. “I wondered what your secret was to holding a successful event and remaining so calm. I should try that next time I’m on a covert mission.”
A small grin crossed my face. “Iced water and heaps of luck are what works for me.”
“Is that a yes to you being my date for the theme park?” Archer asked.
I sensed he wasn’t taking no for an answer. And Archer wasn’t a man to be refused. Why shouldn’t I say yes? He was a good-looking guy and fun to be around. “You’re welcome to hang out with me when you can find me. Like I said, I’m not going to have much time to spare.”
“That’s good enough for me,” Archer said. “I’ll insist on at least two rides with you. Do you enjoy a good ride, Cassie?”
“Erm, well, they usually make me sick.” A blush crept across my cheeks.
“I’ll be gentle with you.” Archer leaned forward and kissed my cheek before leaving the room without a backward glance at me or Nick.
I looked at Nick. His hands were clenched around a bundle of papers that were at risk of getting screwed into a ball. I hoped it wasn’t an important report he held.
I looked down at Stool, who was slumped on the ground, his head on his front leg, refusing to meet my gaze. Somehow, I’d managed to annoy him as well.
Placing my empty cup on the table, I straightened the hem of my blouse. “What time can I open the park?” I asked Nick.
“You can open it now,” he said curtly. “I’ll come by this afternoon and remove the crime scene tape so the ghoul train can be tested if it needs to be.”
“Okay, thanks. I’ll go over there and let the staff know what’s happening.”
“You do that,” Nick said.
“Have you got any more news about Lucas Pemberley?” I paused by the door. “Has he confessed to Edward’s murder yet?”
“No,” Nick said.
“Is that no more news, or no to a confession?”
“It’s a no, it’s none of your business.” Nick didn’t look up from the paperwork in his hand.
I sighed as I pulled open the door and walked away without saying goodbye. So much for the truce we’d attempted last night.
We were back to fighting. Some things never changed.
Chapter 11
I spent the rest of the morning getting the park back into operation. Staff were called in to continue their shifts, and I took two hours walking around the entire site, getting hot and sweaty as I inspected everything.
It was pretty much as I’d left it when I’d shut down the park. By lunchtime, the familiar sound of the electronic equipment operating the rides buzzed through the park like a persistent wasp. It wasn’t quite the comforting sounds of sea and seagulls I was used to, but it was my life now. I had to get used to it.
I was in the theme park office when Nick walked through the doorway. “I’ve removed the crime scene tape from around the ghoul train. You’re free to use it.”
“Okay, thanks.” I felt awkward in his presence after our recent bickering.
Nick’s gaze went around the office, and he seemed reluctant to leave. “This is different from the tourism center.”
“I prefer my old space,” I said. “I’m still not sure everything’s in the right place here.” I looked at the large oak desks, rows of filing cabinets, and sleek computers.
Nick’s gaze stopped at the three handmade trinkets I’d hung in the window. “They’re nice.”
I gritted my teeth, waiting for him to begin another interrogation about the trinkets and what made them special. “I think so. That’s why I make them.”
“I still have the one you made me in the station reception,” Nick said.
I took a breath and waited. Any second now, the questioning would start. I’d have to hold back my urge to beat Nick over the head with a stapler.
“So, you’re seeing Archer?” Nick asked.
That wasn’t the question I thought he’d ask. “Not really. Well, he’s coming to the opening event and wants us to go on a few rides together.”
“I imagine he does.” Nick quirked an eyebrow. “Just don’t let him take you on anything you don’t want to try.”
“I won’t,” I said. “Most of the rides make me sick, anyway. I was always the girl who held the bags and coats when my friends went on rides when we were kids.”
Nick smiled. “I’m more of a sedate ride person, too. I never saw the fun in being swung upside down repeatedly and having cold water chucked in my face. I’m good on the shooting range, though.”
“You should challenge Archer to a competition,” I said.
Nick tilted his head to one side. “I don’t have anything to prove to Archer. We have our own specific skill sets.”
I wasn’t sure what that comment meant. “Are you bringing anyone to the opening?”
“I wasn’t planning to,” Nick said. “I expect Stool will tag along and see how many discarded ice cream cones he can eat before he makes himself unwell.”
“I thought you might be meeting Beth,” I said.
Nick frowned and scratched the stubble on his chin. “The girl who works in your ice cream and candyfloss store?”
“Yes, the girl you showed around town.” I shook my head at his feigned ignorance. “She’s pretty, blonde, and excitable. I imagine she’s your type.”
“Blondes aren’t my type. Although, Beth is nice. If she’s working at the opening, I’ll say hello and treat her to some candyfloss if she isn’t already sick of the stuff.”
“She likes you.” I had no idea why I said that. I’d never had a conversation with Beth about who she was interested in dating, or even if she was single. But I’d seen them together. You didn’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to realize she liked Nick.
“Well, that’s flattering,” Nick said. “But like I said, blondes aren’t my type. My fiancée was a brunette.”
Nick had a fiancée? “I didn’t know that.”
“Why would you?” Nick said. “You’ve never asked about my personal life. I need to get back to the station.” He left the office before I had a chance to gather my thoughts.
Nick Morton used to be engaged? What happened to his fiancée? Maybe she’d left him because he was so grumpy? Or, more worryingly, did something bad happen to her during the uprising? It would explain why he was so distant and offhand around people. It would also explain why he held so much resentment toward the zombies.
I was getting ahead of myself. I bet she left him for someone who knew what a smile really was.
I leaned back in my seat and sighed. Nick Morton was one complicated, difficult man. I didn’t have time for that right now. I had a theme park to get ready and not much time to do it.
Chapter 12
“Take those boxes to the ghoul train. I need these files taken to the office. That pipework is for the replacement valves at the log flume, and make sure Simon has turned up for his shift.” I barked out orders to the staff in front of me, pointing at each of them in turn as I issued my instructions.
It was two days until the opening and things were frantic. The media had gone into overdrive, excited to the point of fanaticism about a zombie theme park opening on the outskirts of Zee Town. Tourists had already begun arriving, and those who hadn’t found somewhere to stay in town were camping outside the gates. There were over thirty tents and camper vans lined up outside, the occupants eagerly waiting to get inside and be the first visitors through the gates.
“Thanks for all pulling together on this. Have a good day, everybody. Let me know if there are any problems.” I dismissed the staff team and walked back into the office.
I looked at Zara, who sat quietly behind her desk. “Now we’ve dealt with that lot, why don’t we have a drink?” My thoughts briefly went to the idea of a huge bucket of pina colada, complete with fresh fruit and a long straw. It was just what I needed to complement this balmy summer day.
“Beef broth?” Zara asked.
“On t
ap as usual.” I grabbed her a broth and pulled an iced tea from the fridge in the back room.
“Knock knock.” Jen rapped her knuckles against the office door. “I’m looking for somebody called Cassie March. She’s about my height, short, dark-bobbed hair, and usually rushing around surrounded by an air of efficiency. She’s been reported missing. Her last known whereabouts were this theme park.”
“Very funny.” I beckoned her into the office. “You know I’m here. And you know how busy I am with this park.”
“I do, but I still miss you,” Jen said. “I’ve not seen you at Laura’s diner, and we haven’t had lunch in forever.” She placed a bag on my desk. The scent of warm cinnamon and sugar drifted out.
“We had lunch this week.” I peeked into the bag. Inside were some of Laura’s cinnamon and raisin cookies. “And we were at the book club stuffing our faces with Chinese food only a few days ago.”
“It feels like months to me.” Jen sat in the seat opposite me and extracted a cookie from the bag. “I still can’t get over how fancy this place is.”
“Neither can I.” I took my own cookie. “I feel as if I need to get a whole new wardrobe to fit in properly.” I looked at the plain white sundress I wore. I’d be in the official park uniform, smart black pants and a black shirt with the park’s logo on the breast pocket, come opening day. But for now, whilst the tourists were outside, I let the staff team wear whatever they needed to get their jobs done without expiring in a pool of sweat.
“Alex said you and Nick went out together.” Jen gave me a wide eyed look. “You kept that quiet.”
“Oh, we went out, but not on a date,” I said. “He wanted to give me information about the case. It didn’t go so well. I left early. It was either that or slap Nick for being so nosy.”
“That explains why Nick’s in such a foul mood,” Jen said. “Alex reckons he’s been snapping at everybody. He even threatened to fire Julia.”
“Why would he do that?”
“He caught her gossiping with Alex and said it wasn’t appropriate for police employees to discuss confidential matters,” Jen said. “You know what he’s like.”
“Don’t blame me for his foul mood,” I said. “It’s his default setting.”
“But Nick actually asked you out?” Jen took a bite of her cookie.
“It wasn’t a romantic evening,” I said. “We mainly talked about the case and discussed suspects. He’s having doubts about the tourist he arrested for Edward’s murder.”
“Yes, Alex mentioned him as well,” Jen said. “Did you end up arguing like you usually do?”
“It was nothing.” I glanced at my scarred hand. “Nick’s just a pain.”
“A pain who can push your buttons.”
I sighed. “He was asking about my past. Personal questions I didn’t feel comfortable answering.” I looked at Jen and held out my hand to her, displaying the scar.
“Nick wanted to know about the bite mark?” Jen knew I’d been bitten during the uprising, but not the whole truth. Not what happened after the bite occurred. Only one person knew about that. Selina gave me regular health checks, just to be on the safe side. And she’d never tell anyone what happened to me.
“He won’t leave it alone,” I said. “Ever since the incident with the rabid zombie, it’s like he’s on some mission to discover what happened. It’s not important. Not anymore. However, I get the impression he’s not going to stop until he discovers the truth.”
“You could tell him what happened,” Jen said quietly. “I’m sure he won’t judge you. Nobody would.”
I withdrew my hand. “I don’t want people to know. It might make them look at me differently.”
“Your scar makes you special,” Jen said. “That’s nothing to be ashamed of. And everybody in Zee Town knows how amazing you are. That won’t change if they know about your past.”
“I’m not ready to share.” I ate my cookie in silence. “Other than that small matter, I was having a decent conversation with Nick about the case. He also doesn’t think Sebastian is involved in Edward’s murder. Worryingly, he does have concerns about Danny and his lack of an alibi. What’s worse, Nick has some doubts about the prime suspect.”
“Lucas Pemberley?” Jen asked.
I nodded. “He’s supposed to have an alibi. He was talking online to a friend. I was thinking that this guy could have rigged his computer to make it look like he was online. Then he snuck out and killed Edward.”
“I wish that were true,” Jen said. “Alex also let on that this guy’s alibi checked out. His computer showed he was active online the whole time. He couldn’t have committed the murder.”
“Maybe Selina was wrong on the time of death?” I suggested. “Lucas could have killed Edward earlier in the evening. Selina’s great at what she does, but even she can’t be one hundred percent accurate as to the time of death.”
“Are you going to suggest that to her?” Jen said with a grin.
“Not a chance. I will see if Nick wants to ask that fun question at some point if no new suspects show up,” I said.
“Well, the evidence they have has convinced Nick that Lucas isn’t the main suspect anymore. He’s let him go.”
“Lucas must have done it,” I said. “Nick should do more digging on this guy.”
“With no solid evidence, they couldn’t hold him any longer. He’s not allowed to leave town, so he’s still under suspicion,” Jen said.
“If it’s not Sebastian, and it now sounds like isn’t Lucas, who does that leave?” I asked.
“Danny Wade,” Jen said. “Alex reckons Danny’s now the main suspect.”
“Nick said Danny is hiding something, but he couldn’t figure out what it was,” I said. “Any idea what deep, dark secret Danny might be hiding?”
“I can’t think why Danny won’t reveal everything to Nick,” Jen said. “This is serious. He could go to prison. He’s at risk of being charged.”
“For something he didn’t do,” I said. “There has to be an explanation why Danny has no alibi. He couldn’t have killed Edward. I don’t think they even knew each other that well.”
“I could ask Alex for more information,” Jen said. “See if he knows more about what Danny might be hiding.”
I looked at the staff rota on my desk. “There’s no need. Let’s go straight to the source. Danny’s working a shift today. We can ask him ourselves. Maybe he simply needs a little convincing to be honest with Nick. He might not even realize he’s in Nick’s firing line for this murder.”
I hurried out of the office with Jen and over to the ghoul train. I spotted Danny straightaway. He stood behind the controls, an intent look on his face as he studied the panel.
“How are things with the train?” I asked him as we approached.
Danny looked up and smiled, but it wasn’t one of his usual bright, carefree smiles. “She doesn’t seem to have suffered any ill effects from her recent shock. I’ve finished a test of the whole circuit. Everything’s running fine.”
“And how about you?” I asked. “I heard Nick’s been questioning you about Edward.”
Danny’s smile faded. “He thinks I did it. I’ve told him I’m innocent, but he doesn’t believe me. It doesn’t help that I can’t supply him with an alibi.”
“You can’t think of anybody who saw you that evening?” I asked. “Don’t you usually play golf on Wednesdays?”
“Yes. Normally, you can’t keep me away from the place,” Danny said. “A beautiful sunset and a quick nine-hole session, followed by a drink at the Black Dog. It’s the perfect way to spend an evening. I didn’t go there on the night of Edward’s murder.”
“Why not?” I asked. “Did you have something else on?”
Danny shrugged and inspected the rings on his fingers. “No, I just didn’t feel like it.”
“So, what did you do?” Jen asked. “We don’t mean to pry. Cassie and I want to help you clear your name. Nobody thinks you’re involved in Edward’s death.
Maybe we can help you.”
“I guess that won’t go as far as providing me with an alibi,” Danny said, hopefully. “I promise you, I wasn’t involved in Edward’s death. I just had the bad luck of finding the body. I wish I’d never moved him or checked to see if he was alive. I acted on instinct.”
“You like to help people. You’d have helped Edward if you could have,” I said. “But neither of us can supply you with an alibi. That would get us in trouble with Nick. And you know what he’s like when he takes a disliking to someone.”
“I do,” Danny said. “I spent several hours in an interview room with him. He doesn’t let go when he thinks he’s onto something. Nick’s wrong when it comes to my involvement. Sure, I can’t prove where I was, and I did have Edward’s blood on my hands, but not because I killed him.”
Danny hadn’t answered Jen’s earlier question. “What were you doing that night?”
“I was on my own,” Danny said after a short pause.
“At your apartment?” He shared an apartment with a golfing buddy of his, Lee Samsung. They were often seen together, enjoying a pint or two of cider at the Black Dog or out on the golf course.
“Yes. I was in my room all evening.” Danny scuffed his feet on the ground.
“Did Lee see you?” I asked. “You must have left your room at some point in the evening.”
“No, he wasn’t in that night,” Danny said. “I was on my own. There are no witnesses to back me up. I know it doesn’t help much with proving my innocence. All I can say is that I didn’t do it. There’s no reason for me to want to hurt Edward. I liked him. He was a quiet zombie. He kept to himself, but always did the work that was needed. Why would I want to hurt him?”
That was what puzzled me. There was no motive. Danny was friendly with everybody, and Edward was an easy zombie to get along with. I was missing something, but I couldn’t figure out what it was.
“What about sending any messages or phoning people?” Jen asked. “Did you make contact with anybody during that time?”
“No. Nick’s confiscated my phone to double check my movements and who I might have spoken to,” Danny said. “He won’t find anything incriminating.”
