“Surely someone would’ve recognized him lurking around the time of Brodwell’s death,” Dot said.
“He was wearing a disguise to remain incognito,” Lucy patiently explained. “He’s a high profile local businessman. Someone would have recognized him.”
“There’s still the possibility it could have been Luke,” Margaret said.
“That’s why we’re here.” Lucy reached for the door handle. “We need hard evidence, something to link Harding to Brodwell’s death. Who’s up for a dumpster dive?”
Margaret wrinkled her nose.
Ruth shook her head. “Designated driver. I’m driving the getaway vehicle.”
Rose shook her head. “I went on your last exploit. It’s someone else’s turn.”
“I’ll go,” Dot said in a small voice.
“You already had a run in with the cops,” Lucy said. “We can’t chance a second confrontation. If we get caught, the police will arrest you.”
All eyes turned to Alice. “Oh Miss Lucy. You know how much I care for Mr. Brian, but a dumpster?”
“I knew you’d step up to the plate.” Lucy slid the side van door open and hopped out. “Whoops! Almost forgot my party pooper.”
“Party pooper?” Ruth lifted a brow.
“My gun,” Lucy said as she reached in her purse. She pulled out the small handgun and tucked it into the waistband of her jeans before she untucked her shirt to cover the weapon. “I wish I’d brought some gloves.”
Ruth didn’t answer as she leaned across the passenger seat, reached inside the glove box and pulled out a pair of latex gloves. She tossed them to Alice.
“Thanks Ruth,” Lucy smiled. She turned to Alice. “Let’s go Geronimo.”
Alice made a cross sign. “I hope you know what you’re doing.” She reluctantly followed Lucy out of the van.
The women stepped behind the van and strolled down the sidewalk. As they got close to the restaurant, Lucy spotted a gravel path that ran along the side. “Let’s take this.” The women veered off the sidewalk and crept along the path. It led to the edge of the marina.
Lucy and Alice made a hard left and followed along an unpaved alley until Lucy spotted the back of Barnacle Bill’s Seafood Restaurant. Directly behind the restaurant were several trashcans, neatly lined up in a row.
Beyond that was a large, green double dumpster. “You stand at the front and keep watch while I check out the trash.” Lucy slipped on the rubber gloves Ruth had given her and bent down as she crept along the back wall of the restaurant.
When she reached the trashcans, Alice, who hovered near the front of the building, gave Lucy a thumbs up.
Lucy gently lifted the lid on the first plastic trashcan. It was full of soda cans. She sifted through the top layer before closing the lid and moving on to the next trashcan.
The second one was full of recyclable paper products. “At least he’s environmentally friendly,” Lucy whispered to herself.
The next can was full of glass bottles. The only thing left was the large dumpster. Lucy carefully lifted the lid and lowered it off the back. She stuck one foot on the ledge and pulled herself up, peering over the edge.
The dumpster reeked of rancid meat and rotting fish. Cough. Lucy started to gag. She covered her face with one arm and gripped the edge of the dumpster with the other, as she teetered precariously on the ledge.
Something inside the dumpster caused her eyes to burn so Lucy hopped off the ledge. She stepped to the side in an attempt to slip past the dumpster when she accidentally kicked a stray beer bottle with the side of her shoe, sending it rolling down a small incline.
She watched in horror as the glass bottle picked up speed and collided with the side of the brick building. It made a sharp thunk. The noise echoed in Lucy’s head. It sounded like a cannon.
Lucy’s eyes widened as the back door of the restaurant flew open and Bill Harding pushed the screen door open. “What’s going on out here?”
Harding’s eyes met Lucy’s eyes. He looked down at the rubber gloves she was wearing and then at his open dumpster. “You were digging around in my trash?”
“I uh.” A rush of adrenaline shot through Lucy. She did the first thing that came to mind…run.
“Let’s go!” she yelled at Alice, who was still keeping watch near the end of the building.
Alice took one look at Bill Harding and raced down the sidewalk. Lucy was right behind her.
Lucy didn’t slow her pace as she reached in her waistband and pulled out her gun. She didn’t plan to shoot Bill Harding unless he shot first, but she also didn’t want her weapon, which was pressing into her ribcage, to go off accidentally.
Lucy could hear Harding’s heavy steps grow louder. He was gaining on her. She ran toward Ruth and the van as fast as she could.
Lucy had one more corner, one more turn before she reached the van.
Up ahead, Alice flew off the edge of the sidewalk. She lost her footing, lunged forward and fell to the ground.
The side van door flew open. Rose bolted out of the van and in one fell swoop, reached down, scooped Alice up and whisked her into the van. The door slammed behind them.
Ping. A small noise ricocheted off the light pole. Lucy instinctively lifted her hands to cover her head. Harding was shooting at her!
Ping. She heard it again.
The van was close now.
PING. There was a third ping, this one much louder.
Lucy’s feet pounded the pavement and she willed herself to move faster, but it felt as if she was moving in slow motion. She could see Ruth’s terrified gaze through the driver’s side window. She could feel Bill Harding breathing down her neck.
The sound of police sirens filled the air and drew closer.
Lucy flung herself around the side of the van at the same time a police cruiser, lights flashing and sirens blaring, sped through the intersection, one street over.
There was one more deafening PING and Lucy was certain Bill Harding was finally going to hit his mark…her.
The side door opened. Margaret reached out and yanked Lucy inside. Dot flung the door shut and flipped the latch to lock it.
Lucy rolled onto her back and clutched her chest as she gasped for air. “I thought I was a goner.”
She rolled over, her eyes frantically searching for Alice. “Are you okay?”
Alice nodded, her eyes filling with tears. “Rose…she saved my life.”
“Aw, it wasn’t nothin’.” Rose’s face beamed as she waved her hand in the air.
Lucy’s cell phone chirped. It was Gloria. “Hello?” A breathless Lucy answered.
“Where are you? Are you near Barnacle Bill’s? You need to get out of there!” Gloria shouted. “Bill Harding killed Sean Brodwell, he may have killed Luke’s girlfriend and if he finds out you’re on to him, he’s going to kill you.”
“Now you tell me,” Lucy groaned. “How did you get the cops over here so fast?”
“Cops? I didn’t call the cops,” Gloria said.
Lucy lifted her eyes and stared at Ruth who was grinning from ear-to-ear. “Nevermind. I think I know who did.”
Lucy pulled the phone away from her ear. “Did you call the cops?”
Ruth shrugged. “I thought you could use a little help. I told them that someone was breaking into Barnacle Bill’s Seafood Restaurant.”
“I wasn’t breaking in. I was searching the trash,” Lucy said. “We need to get out of here before police realize the call was a false alarm and Bill Harding comes after me again.”
Ruth shifted the van into drive. “I might take him out with my bare hands. That jerk shot my van!” She narrowed her gaze and stared at Lucy. “Or did you shoot my van?”
“Of course not,” Lucy argued. “Harding shot it.”
“Did he ding it?” Ruth asked.
“Gee Ruth, I should’ve stopped to check it out before climbing in the van,” Lucy said sarcastically.
“We need to get out of here,” Dot interrupted.
<
br /> “I guess I’ll have to wait until we get to the motel to check for damages.” Ruth glanced at her side mirror and then pulled onto the street. “You didn’t happen to see what kind of gun he was using?”
Lucy rolled her eyes. “It was loaded. That’s all I know.”
When they reached the motel, Ruth eased into the back of the parking lot. “I hope Harding doesn’t start looking for us.” Everyone hopped out.
Ruth was the last to exit the van. She climbed out, shut the door and then slowly wandered down the side of the van.
The rest of the group headed toward their rooms but Lucy hung back. She would feel terrible if Ruth’s van was damaged. “I’m sorry Ruth. Your van took a hit for me.”
Ruth dropped her hand and faced her friend. “I would rather have the van take a million hits than for a single bullet to graze one of my best buds.”
“It looks like she made it through unscathed.” Ruth, never one for displays of affection, hugged Lucy. “Now don’t ever let it happen again.”
Chapter 24
Brian, Gloria, Ruth and Alice marched into the police station and over to the counter.
“We believe we may have new information in Sean Brodwell’s murder investigation,” Brian told the officer behind the counter.
“We have already made an arrest,” the man said calmly. “An informant turned the suspect in.”
“Was it William Harding?” Gloria asked.
“I’m sorry. I can’t divulge that information. I do believe Detective Flint and Chief of Police Grobe plan to hold a press conference later today.”
“So I’m free to leave the island,” Brian said. “It’s over.”
The four of them headed back to the van and climbed in. Gloria was relieved police had finally made an arrest. She only hoped they had arrested the right person.
The group spent the afternoon exploring the island, ate an early dinner and headed back to the motel to wait for the evening news.
When the five o’clock news aired, Gloria was on pins and needles. There was a breaking news story, and Detective Flint and Chief of Police Grobe appeared on the screen. While the two men addressed the camera, they flashed a picture of a solemn-faced William Harding in the corner of the screen.
Police didn’t identify the informant, but Gloria suspected it was Luke Chalton. They explained that local businessman William Harding had been charged with Sean Brodwell’s murder and they were re-opening the investigation into Miranda Farver’s death based on new evidence.
After the story ended, Gloria turned off the television set. “I knew it!”
“How did you know?” Brian asked.
“Sean Brodwell was blackmailing the Thorntons. He met with Luke Chalton and somehow found out Luke was the middleman and the real kingpin was William Harding. Think of it. Barnacle Bill’s is in the perfect location. All of those yachts and fishing boats, coming in and out of the marina. Harding was smuggling drugs into the U.S. Luke was his mode of transportation.
Gloria continued. “Maybe Luke had a few too many drinks and told Sean Brodwell that Harding was the kingpin. Brodwell got the bright idea to blackmail Harding so Harding killed him.”
“What if it was Luke and he’s framing Harding?” Margaret asked.
“Nope. It’s not possible.” Gloria shook her head. “Luke has a set ‘business’ schedule. He arrives on the island Wednesday evening. He leaves early the next morning for the next leg of his trip. Brodwell was murdered a couple days later. It couldn’t have been Luke. He wasn’t here. Our waitress the first night at the restaurant confirmed that when she said Luke came in every Wednesday, sat at the bar, paid cash and visited with Harding.”
“And Luke said the same thing to me,” Lucy said. “Sean Brodwell isn’t a local. The only people or place we can link him to is Luke Chalton, the Thorntons…”
Brian finished Lucy’s sentence. “And Barnacle Bill’s.”
“I’m ready to go home,” Brian said.
“Me too,” Alice smiled. “It’s time for the lovebirds to reunite.”
“Not only that, we have an engagement party to throw,” Gloria said. “We need to get you two married before anything else happens.”
“Maybe we should elope,” Brian joked.
“You can’t do that,” Alice said. “We will follow you.”
“Vegas, here we come,” Margaret quipped.
***
Gloria eased Annabelle into Andrea’s driveway and stopped behind her young friend’s pickup truck.
Brian, who was sitting in the passenger seat, reached for the door handle and then froze.
“What are you waiting for?” Lucy asked. “Get in there. Your fiancée is waiting on you.”
“I-I’m nervous,” Brian admitted. “What if she changed her mind again and this is the end?”
Gloria reached over and squeezed his hand. “Brian. If Andrea planned to end your engagement, she would’ve done it already. She came home. She came home to you. She also knows you drove halfway across the country with a carload of crazy women to bring her home.”
“Not to mention a van load,” Lucy added.
Brian rubbed his brow. “This whole clunk on the head and not remembering her has been nothing but a nightmare.”
“Oh…grasshopper,” Gloria joked. “Love and marriage is a rocky road, but you can do it. This was a test and you both passed.” She nudged him on the back. “Now get in there and kiss and make up.”
Brian grinned. “Yeah, you’re right. Who wouldn’t love this mug?” He tilted his chin and batted his beautiful blue eyes before swinging the door open and stepping out of the car.
He turned to Alice, who was sitting in the back seat. “Don’t you want to go too?”
“Oh no.” Alice shook her head. “I won’t be home until later this evening. Pierce is waiting at Dot’s Restaurant for me. We have a lot of catching up to do. Don’t wait up for us.”
Brian started to close the car door.
“Wait!” Alice shouted.
“Huh?” Brian swung the door open again.
“Stay away from the big bottle of love potion in the spice rack. It’s for the honeymoon.”
Brian rolled his eyes. “I’ll be sure to steer clear Alice.” He blew Alice a kiss and then closed the car door before strolling across the drive and to the front porch.
The front porch door flew open and Andrea flung herself into Brian’s arms. They disappeared inside the house and the door closed behind them.
“Now that’s what I call a happy ending,” Lucy sighed.
The end.
The Series Continues…Book 15 Coming Soon!
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Garden Girls Christian Cozy Mysteries Boxed Set Books 1-3
Who Murdered Mr. Malone? Book 1
Grandkids Gone Wild: Book 2
Smoky Mountain Mystery: Book 3
Death by Dumplings: Book 4
Eye Spy: Book 5
Magnolia Mansion Mysteries: Book 6
Missing Milt: Book 7
Bully in the ‘Burbs: Book 8
Fall Girl: Book 9
Home for the Holidays: Book 10
Sun, Sand, and Suspects: Book 11
Look Into My Ice: Book 12
Forget Me Knot - Book 13
Nightmare in Nantucket – Book 14
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Hope Callaghan is an author who loves to write Christian books, especially Christian Mystery and Cozy Mystery books. She has written more than 45 mystery books (and counting) in five series.
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Cherry Cream Cheese Surprise Recipe
Ingredients:
From Scratch Pie Crust: (8 or 9 inch pie crust)
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon shortening (Crisco) OR 1/3 cup lard
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
2 to 3 tablespoons cold water
Steps: Cut shortening into flour and salt until particles are the size of small peas. Sprinkle in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with a fork until all flour is moistened and pastry almost cleans side of bowl (1 to 2 tablespoons water can be added, if needed.)
Gather pastry into a ball. Flatten the ball on a lightly floured cloth-covered board. (A hard, floured surface will also work.)
Roll pastry 2 inches larger than inverted pie plate using floured rolling pin. (Note: I use a lightly floured spatula to loosen the piecrust from the surface.)
Fold pastry into quarters, unfold and ease into lightly greased pie plate, pressing firmly against bottom and sides of plate. Trim overhang excess and then press fork tines along rim of pie plate.
Nightmare in Nantucket (Garden Girls Christian Cozy Mystery Series Book 14) Page 13
