A Felonious Frame (An East Pender Cozy Mystery Book 2)

by Leona Fox

  Ellen decided not to respond with words, only to smile slightly. “What were you going to go with the jewelry anyway? Surely if you sold it then people would know that Jack didn’t do it?”

  “Like anyone would care. We were going to wait a while and then sell it on the internet, all subtle so nobody would even know. It was the perfect crime.”

  “Except that it was against your own mother.” Again Chris tensed and he shot Ellen a dark look.

  Outside, Andy had heard everything and he rushed inside, battering the door open. Chris and Tilly looked shocked as he came rushing through. When they turned to look at Ellen they saw she was wearing a proud look on her face, for she had outsmarted them. They growled and bristled with anger and the two of them felt betrayed. Chris lurched forward, ready to strike Ellen. His biceps were bulging and his huge paw was curled into a ball, but just as he was about to release it Andy raised his gun and told him to stop. He read them their rights and cuffed the both of them. Kelly ran in later and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Ellen was safe.

  “Don't ever do that again,” Andy said to Ellen as he led the two prisoners back to his car.

  * * *

  Ellen and Kelly followed the car back to the station. They were there just in time to see Chris and Tilly get taken back into the cells, with deep scowls on their faces, glaring at Ellen. As they were being taken in, Jack was being released. As he passed them on the way Tilly spat at him. Jack didn't react. He looked shell-shocked but when he saw that Ellen and Kelly were waiting for him his face lit up and he looked happy for a change.

  “I don't know how I'm ever going to thank you for this,” he said, and hugged Ellen tightly.

  “You just go home and get some rest, it's been an ordeal for all of us,” she said.

  Jack nodded and slouched out of the station. Ellen looked over at Andy and smiled. He smiled back, and then she and Kelly walked out of the station, pleased that another case had been solved.

  Chapter 9

  When they left, Ellen and Kelly walked across the quiet road back to the car. They got in, and Kelly offered Ellen a lift home. They both reflected on the evening. Now that everything had been sorted out they were quiet, enjoying the peace, but there was something playing on Ellen's mind.

  “Kelly, are you okay?”

  “Yes, why?” she answered breezily.

  “You know you can talk to me about anything, right? I mean, I know we don't necessarily say it as often as we should but you are my best friend and I want to be there for you. There were a couple of things you said. There also was a look on your face when you said love makes people do strange things. It gave me the impression you wanted to talk about something. I just wanted to tell you that if you do, then I'm here. You don't have to worry about holding it inside anymore.” Kelly smiled and took a deep breath.

  “I know I don't talk about my past that much and there's a reason for that. I was...I had a long-term boyfriend when I was younger. It was one of those relationships where I just lost myself in it completely. I kinda forgot who I was and I lost connections with a lot. Then when it was over, I didn't know how to get the balance back in my life. The truth is it makes me feel really guilty when you talk about your regrets about not spending enough time with your parents because I've been going through the same thing. It's been ages since we've spoken to each other and I don't know whether it's too late to change it. I feel stupid for what I did in my youth. I was just...I thought being in love meant you had to give up everything else in your life. When that ended I didn't know how to go back and admit my mistakes to them. The longer it goes on, the harder it gets to repair the damage.”

  Her eyes glistened with tears and Ellen listened intently.

  “I didn't mean to make you feel guilty.”

  “No, I know, it's just...it got me thinking, that's all.”

  “I don't think it's ever too late. I'm not going to argue that it might not be hard but sometimes the things we have to do are difficult. I'm sure your parents are wondering the same thing. They probably miss their daughter as well, and I bet if you arranged to meet them they would be glad. Any awkwardness you'd be afraid of would be gone in an instant. I'm not going to tell you what to do because it's your life but if I were you I'd get in touch with them and arrange for a visit. If nothing else, you can at least say you tried and put your heart at rest.”

  Kelly seemed reassured by this and when they parted, Ellen felt glad that she had been able to help her friend. It reminded her that, no matter what kind of relationship she had with someone, there were always times when it needed work. She gathered up Scampy in her arms and carried him into her home, where he ran around while she prepared a late night snack. It had been a long and busy day indeed, and as she settled into bed with a book she felt pleased at all she had accomplished. She was glad Jack had been released. Although it would have been better had he not been arrested in the first place and her hunch been proven correct. She was sure that one day her hunch wasn't going to pay off and she would make a mistake. Thankfully that day wasn't today. After reading for a little while she felt her eyelids grow heavy and her breathing become deep. She nestled into the pillow while Scampy curled up at the end of the bed and the two of them fell into a deep slumber.

  The following day was normal. Ellen was glad when Jack showed up for work for she wasn't sure if he would come in. But he said he wanted to get things back to normal as quickly as possible. Now that he had been cleared people were eager to hear about the ordeal and Ellen never had seen Jack look so animated. He told them all what it was like to be in a cell, and there were even a couple of women who found his experiences rather attractive. Ellen smiled, pleased that he would come out of this ordeal a happier man. He thanked her profusely throughout the day, to the point where it became grating but she couldn't fault him for it. But there was still one person who needed to make amends. At the end of the day, when the cafe was shut, Andy came up and apologized to Jack.

  “I'm sorry for putting you through that. I hope you know it was nothing personal, I just had to go by procedure,” he said.

  “I understand completely and I don't hold you responsible at all. I'm just glad you caught them in the end.”

  “Well, that's all thanks to Ellen,” Andy said, and his gaze lingered on her.

  “Yes, maybe you should think about hiring her,” Jack said, and the girls and Andy smiled secretly to each other.

  They talked for a while when Kelly said she was going to have to leave because she was packing in the morning, which took Ellen by surprise.

  “I decided to take your advice and when I got home last night I called my parents. It was weird at first but we spoke for a while and it was just so good to hear their voices. When I suggested I could come visit them, they jumped at the chance and said anytime was good. So I figured I had wasted enough time already and I'm going tomorrow! It's only for a week or so, but it's a good start,” she said, and Ellen hugged her.

  To see her friend so happy warmed her heart. Shortly after she left Ellen told Jack she would finish cleaning up and that he should go home, leaving only her and Andy in the cafe. They laughed a little as they realized they hadn't really spoken since the incident in the police station. The lights were dimmed and candles flickered on the tables.

  “It was pretty risky going into that house alone. How did you know I was going to show up?” Andy asked.

  “Because I know you. I knew that once I told you what I was going to do you wouldn't let me do it alone.”

  “You could have just asked me.”

  “I know, but I was annoyed at you.”

  “Are you still annoyed now?” he asked, standing up and moving across to help her blow out the candles on the tables. She paused before answering.

  “A little bit, I guess. I know you just had a job to do but I thought we were better than that. I thought we were open with each other.”

  “We are. At least, I want us to be,” he said softly.

  She
turned to look at him and was struck by how his eyes glowed in the soft ambient light. Unlike Chris and Tilly, his eyes were filled with kindness. She got the feeling that she could have looked into those eyes for an eternity and still never have been bored.

  “I know we said we'd talk...” she began.

  “What I said on the phone...I've been wanting to say it for a long time I just didn't know how. I worked so hard for this job and somewhere along the way it feels like my life disappeared and I forgot to be human.”

  “I know how you feel,” she said, laughing slightly.

  “I think it's something to do with this town. East Pender is good for many things, but learning how to live is not one of them. It's easy to get lost in a routine here and it's not easy to meet eligible people. Truth is, it's been a long time since I've had anything like a date.”

  “Maybe then it's time for that to change?”

  Ellen's throat ran dry and the tension increased between them. She licked her lips and her mind grew blank and hazy as she tried to think of what to say, of what she wanted to say.

  “I just...do you think it's sensible of us, given that we almost work together? I hated the argument we had, and I'd hate to lose you as a friend.”

  Andy stepped forward and took her hand in his. An electric tingle shot up her spine as she felt the warm glow of romance flood through her. Being with him made her scared and excited, but she also felt like they could keep each other safe, and give each other something they both were missing.

  “I think it's time we stop worrying about all the bad things that could happen. If there's one thing this case has taught me it's that the important thing is the choices you make in life. Bad things always are going to happen but it only matters how you react to them. If you keep good people around then you're always going to have help. We're both good people Ellen, and I find that I think about you often, even if I find you incredibly infuriating sometimes,” he said, smiling.

  As he did so he raised a hand and brushed away the hair from her face. She felt his fingertips slide over her skin and closed her eyes, letting herself enjoy the moment before she felt him lean in and press his soft lips against hers in a tender kiss.

  * * *

  Find out what Ellen discovers in book 3 of The East Pender Mysteries Here: http://amzn.to/1QKr9AY

  To find out when Leona Fox has new books available and to get exclusive free ebooks sign up here: http://bit.ly/1EhSzvE