Facials & Fugitives (A Cozy Spa Mystery Book 4)

by Jenn Cowan

  Josh glances down at his bruising hand and bleeding knuckles.

  Punching someone in the face isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Hopefully, Josh hasn’t broken his hand. I hurry around the counter to check out his hand, but Hailey brushes past me with Josh following her like a lost puppy. I frown and trail behind them. When they reach the bathroom, she yanks him inside and slams the door in my face.

  I blink. Stunned by what transpired moments ago. Josh isn't the kind of person to use his fists to solve problems. He's never hit anyone in his life. He's also acting strangely. I think about what Amber said. Did Hailey put a spell on Josh?

  5

  It’s Saturday night, and usually, Josh and I are eating pizza and watching movies on my couch, but not tonight. A veggie pizza is sitting uneaten on the coffee table, and the menu screen is taunting me on the TV above the fireplace. I glance at the clock for the tenth time, well maybe the fifteenth. It’s pushing nine. I sigh, recheck my phone and sag down into the leather couch. He hasn’t called. Hasn’t even texted. It’s so unlike him. Surely, they’re finished at the station by now.

  Josh took Hailey to the police station to visit her sister. I tagged along and even tried to see Maggie, but Hailey insisted I go home and rest after a busy day at the spa. My dad’s still working on the details of Maggie’s case, but she’s still not talking to anyone. Hailey is hoping to get Maggie to talk to her and tell her what happened and where to find Roger’s body. That was over five hours ago. Where are they?

  Outside, a car door slams and I hear laughing. I pop up from my seat and brush the curtains aside to see who it is. My heart sinks when I spy Josh and Hailey heading toward his house. I hold my breath and pray Josh glances over at my house, all lit up, and remembers we have our standing movie night.

  Nothing.

  He disappears around the corner with her.

  What is going on with them? I mean Josh is supposed to be my best friend. Maybe more. Didn’t he still want that? However, you weren’t sure. Kept him waiting. Look at Travis. He got tired of waiting and moved on with Allison. You can’t expect Josh to wait on you forever. He wants a family. Kids. He’s not getting any younger, and neither are you. Ugh. My inner voice mixed with my mother’s words echo in my ears. She told me this just a week ago when we chatted about the pros and cons of Josh and me dating.

  I slump back into the couch and sigh. The house is too quiet. It’s usually filled with actors' voices mixed with our laughter. Now, the only sound I hear is the ticking of my clock on the wall. I watch the second hand go around once then get up and put the pizza away.

  Church'll come early tomorrow, so I guess I'll go to bed. It’s nine o’clock on a Saturday. How lame am I? I don’t have a husband, no kids, not even a date. I should go out.

  Yes.

  That’s what I’ll do.

  I glance down at my pink PJ’s with red lips on them. I better change.

  A few minutes later, my copper colored hair's in a braid to one side, I’m wearing skinny jeans, which are partly covered by my knee-high brown boots and I have on an off the shoulder green sweater that matches my eyes. I grab my purse and keys and head out to my Jeep.

  The cold night air hits me, and I contemplate going back in for a jacket, but know if I do I might lose my courage. I haven’t gone out by myself in a while. All the murders around Daysville have kept me home. Mainly, someone who won’t be named because he forgot our date, I mean, movie night, won’t let me go out on my own.

  I slide into my Jeep, thankful Josh and I drove separately to the spa this morning since he likes to sleep in on Saturdays and I hit up the farmers' market before the spa opens. If we hadn't, there's no way I would go over to his house and ask for my Jeep keys. I back out and flip on my headlights.

  Eddie’s house is lit up. Violet’s car is in the driveway. He mentioned last week he’s thinking about proposing. I think everything that happened with his parents really affected him. He spent years trying to find his mother's and grandparents' killer. Now that we have, he can finally move on with his life. I’m happy for them. They do make a cute couple, and Violet has finally stopped giving me the stink eye, so hopefully, we can be friends.

  I shiver as I drive through the empty streets. It must be the nip in the air, so I crank up the heat to ward off the cold creeping into the Jeep. October nights are either really chilly or extremely humid. There is no in between in Missouri.

  I turn down Main Street and check out Pete’s Pizza Palace. Pete has a couple of pool tables in the back and Saturday nights are always great for a friendly game of pool. To my surprise, the lot’s empty. Huh? I wonder where everyone is. Maybe last night’s bonfire wore everyone out, or they heard about another murder in town and are staying in until it’s solved. I bet no one wants to find the body. That would keep me inside. Why am I driving around again?

  I sigh and push the thought of the murder from my mind. It only makes me think about Maggie and Maggie makes me think about Hailey, who is with my best friend as we speak. My pulse starts to race, so I take another cleansing breath and think about what to do to keep my mind off…well, you know.

  I could call Nikki, but she’s probably out with Bobby. Plus, she would question me about why I’m not with Josh, and I can’t even deal with that tonight.

  I turn off Main Street and head toward the church. The moon is shining over the graveyard, and I shiver again. It’s eerie to see all those headstones lit up in the moonlight. I swing into the church parking lot and make a U-turn to go back the way I came. I brake for a second and glance over at the café. There are a few cars in the lot, but it looks pretty dead in there. No one is singing along with the jukebox. Friday and Saturday nights are karaoke nights at the café, but it doesn’t look like anyone is partaking in that tonight.

  The idea of going to see a movie pops into my head, but a glance at the clock tells me I’ve missed the last showing.

  Maybe a drive through town will help me clear my head. In high school, we would make a loop down Main street and head out past the mayor’s Estate, the old mayor that is, and then back into town. When the old mayor put in a circle drive, all the kids started to make the loop around his driveway. Of course, that was when April was in high school and leading the pack, so he didn’t seem to mind it, but when she graduated he put up a gate. Now, the kids do doughnuts and burnouts in front of the gate.

  I smile thinking about all the nights Travis, and I cruised down this strip, listening to eighties music, laughing and holding hands. A tear drops down my cheek without me even realizing it. I swipe it away and think about something else.

  Josh and I used to make this loop together when Travis was busy with work or sports. I would always have to talk him into it. He was such a hermit in high school, still is. Josh would moan and complain, but once he was cruising along, he loved it. We loved it.

  Ugh. No more thinking about Travis or Josh. No more men. Think of something else or nothing at all, Autumn.

  I know I said I wouldn't think about Maggie, but something keeps nagging me.

  The police haven’t found Roger Gallahan’s body so is he even dead?

  No body. No murder, right?

  I sigh, knowing it’s not that simple.

  Maggie had Roger's blood on her. Travis sent me a text confirming it was his after I asked about it. If she didn't kill him, how did it get there and why would she confess to killing him, if she didn't?

  I drum my thumbs on the steering wheel while Willie Nelson serenades me from the speakers.

  What happened? Did they fight? Over the jewels? Stolen jewels, according to Travis. When he asked Maggie about them, she indicated Roger gave them to her. Did he really or was she his accomplice?

  I wonder if Hailey found out anything about Roger. If she did, wouldn’t Josh have brought her straight over to my house? Maybe…maybe not. Maybe they told Travis everything and think he’s more capable of handling this case then I am. The thought stings slightly. I know I’m not a trained profess
ional like Travis, but I have solved three cases in the past few months, so that has to count for something, right?

  I slow down when I get to the mayor’s gate. The white two-story is dark. It reminds me of a mini replica of the White House. Big white pillars out front, a balcony overlooking the yard and a large black iron gate surrounds the manicured lawn. The mayor…or should I say, the previous mayor since Bobby is now the mayor of Daysville, wanted his house to stand out in Daysville and does it ever.

  I turn the wheel to make a loop back into town when I see a flash from one of the bedroom windows. My heart starts to pound, and my palms start to sweat. I blink and focus on the house. Maybe it was my imagination, then I see it again. Someone is in the Mayor’s house, and it’s not the Mayor.

  No, he’s been gone for a couple of weeks to Chicago, supposedly on business, but rumor has it, he’s in rehab for alcohol addiction. Some say it's due to the stress of the trial, which is still ongoing because he refuses to take a plea deal. He’s claiming he’s innocent, but there’s so much evidence against him that there's no way he's getting out of it. He turned to the bottle and ended up in the ER more than once.

  Dr. Gregory stepped in and asked Bobby to take him to a center in Chicago. He won’t be back for another couple of weeks. The caretaker nor the maid live in the house and if they were checking on things, they certainly wouldn’t be using a flashlight to get around.

  No, someone’s in the house.

  6

  I turn the Jeep around and make it look like I’m heading back to town. Once I can barely see the house, I pull over to the side of the road and call Travis.

  “Autumn? Why are you calling so late? Is everything OK?”

  I’d roll my eyes at the "calling so late" comment if I weren’t laser-focused on the Mayor’s house. I unbuckle my seat belt to get a better look. “Someone’s inside the Mayor’s house.”

  “What? Bobby’s house?”

  I scoff. “No. The old Mayor. Someone's in his house.”

  “Why are you at his house? Isn’t it movie night?”

  My heart squeezes at his comment. Everyone knows Josh, and I have Saturday movie nights…everyone except Josh. “I went for a drive. Made the old loop we used to do in high school,” I pause and wait for him to say something, but when he doesn’t, I continue, “I’m parked a little way down from the mayor’s house and see someone inside with a flashlight. Doesn’t the mayor have an alarm?”

  “Autumn, are you in your Jeep?”

  “Yes. Why?”

  “Stay put. I’ll be right there. Don’t move. Don’t get out of the Jeep. Just stay there.”

  “OK.” I hear keys jingling then muffled voices. One, I’m pretty sure is Allison’s, then a door slams, and I hear Travis’s SUV startup.

  “Autumn, are you still there?”

  Before I can say anything, I see headlights in my rearview mirror followed by the sound of crunching metal, and I lurch forward. My head hits the steering wheel, and I see stars. Not literal ones, but I think I momentarily black out.

  I groan and rub my head. It’s throbbing. I blink and try to lift my head. My neck is stiff, but I can turn it. I lean back in my seat and take a deep breath. I’m in my Jeep. Why am I in my Jeep? Then it all comes back to me. A nighttime drive, someone inside the mayor’s house, calling Travis and someone rear-ending me.

  I rub my head again. A small lump’s forming above my eyebrow, but I think I’m OK. I fumble around for my phone, but I can’t find it in the dark. Travis is probably having a panic attack right now. We must have gotten disconnected when I was hit and dropped it. I reach over and open the door. My phone clatters to the ground. Great. I probably cracked my screen. I scoop it up and hit the side button to get a light. No cracks and no Travis. He should be here soon. His house is only about a ten-minute drive from here. The other driver hasn’t gotten out yet so I should probably check on them.

  The cold night air hits me, and I regret not grabbing my jacket before I left the house. I rub my arms up and down to try and warm myself then make my way to the back of the Jeep.

  Smoke is billowing out of the car behind me so I can’t see who’s in the driver’s seat. I cough and wave a hand in front of my face to ward off the smell. Should I be concerned about the car exploding?

  I take a quick peek at the damage to my Jeep. The bumpers crushed in and the brake lights shattered. I cringe thinking of how much this is going to cost. Hopefully, the other driver has good insurance.

  I approach the car slowly, wondering if I should wait for Travis to get here, but what if whoever is in the car needs medical attention. I walk up to the window wondering exactly where they came from because I didn’t see a car pass me when I pulled over and the Mayor’s house is at the end of the road.

  Maybe this is the intruder.

  My heart kicks up a notch, and I scold myself for not grabbing the mace out of my purse. Although in my defense, I did hit my head and may have a slight concussion, so my brain isn’t firing on all cylinders.

  “Hello? Are you hurt? Do I need to call an ambulance?” I peek in the driver’s window and see a man probably about my age with short dark hair and a scar running down one side of his face. His eyes are closed, his head's tilted to one side, and he looks pale. “Are you OK?” He doesn’t look familiar. He's not a native of Daysville. I lean closer and notice blood all over his flannel shirt and jeans.

  I fumble with my cell phone and am about to call for an ambulance when lights' flashing behind me catch my eye.

  Travis.

  Oh, thank the good Lord.

  Travis jumps out of his SUV and rushes toward me. He’s dressed in jeans and a gray sweater with black loafers. His red hair's slicked back, a look I don’t particularly like, but heard Allison does. “I told you to stay in your Jeep. Why did you hang up on me?”

  “I didn’t mean to.” I gesture to the smoke coming from the car. “He rear-ended me. I think he’s hurt. He’s not conscious, and there’s blood all over his clothes.”

  “Are you injured?” Travis gives me a once-over then approaches the car when I shake my head. “Sir? Sir, can you hear me?”

  The driver doesn’t respond.

  Travis opens the door and checks for a pulse. His head drops, and he sighs.

  “Is he...” my voice trails off.

  “He’s dead.”

  My jaw drops. “What? How? It was a fender bender.”

  Travis doesn’t respond as he studies the man. “I don’t think the accident killed him.”

  I glance over his shoulder. “Why do you say that?”

  "Nothing is sticking out of his abdomen. There's no broken glass. No clear cause of all this blood."

  I shiver and cross my arms. “So why run a car with a dead body in it into my car?"

  Travis shrugs then swipes a hand over his chin. “Maybe whoever was in the old mayor’s house saw a vehicle parked on the side of the road and thought it was the perfect opportunity to get rid of the body. Make it look like an accident.”

  “But it wasn’t an accident.” I start to shake and not from the cold. Reality is sinking in, or maybe it’s my concussion. I should probably go to the hospital, but the thought of someone running a car with a dead guy into my Jeep makes me lightheaded. Were they going to try and blame me for his death? I’m spiraling, but I can’t stop myself.

  As if he can read my mind, Travis takes me by the hand then lifts my chin, so I’m looking him square in the eye. “You didn't do this, Autumn. I’m almost one hundred percent sure this is Roger Gallahan, but I want the ME to verify it.”

  I gasp. “Are you sure?” I peer over his shoulder at the man in the car, and suddenly all my crazy thoughts stop and I’m in full sleuth mode. “There isn’t any blood on the floor.”

  “What?” Travis cocks his head to the side like he’s confused by my statement.

  “There’s no blood on the floorboard. The amount of blood covering this guy's shirt and jeans should be soaking the seat and the floorbo
ard if he was killed in the car, right?”

  Travis spins around, studies the car and nods. “So that confirms, he wasn’t killed in the car. Someone put him in it.” He studies the car then mumbles, "Why are you in here?"

  I step up behind him and offer, “Maybe to cover their tracks. You guys have been looking for the body. You were probably going to find it eventually. It’s kind of hard to hide a body before the stench gives it away…that is unless you store it in a freezer…or…” I stop talking because Travis is staring at me like I’m a serial killer or maybe he’s just amused. I blush and am thankful it’s pitch dark outside.

  He smirks. “I didn’t realize you knew so much about how to hide a body. Should I be getting a search warrant for your deep freeze?”

  I bump his shoulder and snort. “You know how much I love a good mystery. Anyone who watches crime shows knows how to hide a body.”

  Now it’s Travis who snorts. “Those crime shows sure do make my job look glamorous…I wish it were the case sometimes.” He sighs. “I better call this in.” He starts to turn and then hesitates before saying, “Don’t touch anything. I’ll be right back.”

  I hold up my hands then place one over my heart as if swearing to touch nothing.

  He smiles and shakes his head then jogs over to his SUV to call in the body.

  The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and I feel like someone is watching me. I glance around but can only see a few feet in front of me. The moon is casting a haunting glow over the old mayor’s house, and I stare at it for a few minutes. Everything is quiet. There’s no sign of anyone in the house anymore. Was whoever in the house responsible for the murder? For the accident? If not, was someone trying to steal something from the mayor, old mayor? Ugh. I’m so not good with change.

  Something moves in the bushes next to me. I jump back and almost call out to Travis, who is still talking on his cell phone. It’s probably just an animal looking for its dinner. The bushes rustled again, and I almost turn back around when I spot someone running in the opposite direction.