“Did she call the cops?”
“No. I’m calling Nick next. I just wanted you to know first, so Nick couldn’t say to stay out of it.”
“Call him right now. We don’t need to do anything to put Tiffany in more danger than she may already be in. I don’t want that on my conscience.” Charles disconnected without saying good bye.
It took every ounce of power to keep from flooring the accelerator. I had to stay cool. I dialed Nick’s phone.
“Detective Christianson.”
“Is this a work phone, or your private cell number?”
I could hear the exasperation in his voice. “What do you want, Mimi?”
“That Irma lady called. She said to get back to the barn right away.” I loved being the messenger.
“What the fuck? She called you?” Exasperation didn’t quite describe his voice now.
“Don’t kill the messenger. Jeez. She said she was afraid of you. And with an attitude like that, I don’t blame her.”
“Where are you?” Nick asked warily.
“In my car. Why?” I sure as hell wasn’t going to tell him I was on my way to the candle barn.
“Stay put, Mimi. I’ll take care of it from here.”
I didn’t say anything and disconnected.
My phone rang. It was Nick. I let it ring. Oh, boy, was I going to be in a world of hurt.
CHAPTER 18
How Charles was able to get to the barn before me was a secret he’d never share. But his Spyder was sitting in Irma’s driveway. I pulled up behind it and got out. I went around to the passenger side and let Lola out, too.
“Why did you bring her?” Charles rubbed between her ears.
“She was with me when I got the call.” I held Lola tight on the leash and let her know this was all business.
“Weren’t you at home?”
“No.” Shit was going to hit the fan when I told this story.
“Mimi?” Charles sounded admonishing, but he was just nosy.
“Fine. I took Lola to visit with Leonard.” I took a step back. I knew he wouldn’t yell, considering the situation, but I thought for sure he’d get in my face.
“Brilliant! Why didn’t I think of that?” He squatted down and rubbed Lola’s ears. “So what did you find, my little darling?”
“Nothing. That shithead put a gun in my face,” I said.
Charles jumped to stand in front of me. “What? Mimi, you went alone? That was stupid. I thought you went back with Nick. What the hell were you thinking?”
“I certainly didn’t think Leonard was a nut job that was going to pull a gun on me. I was thinking Lola might smell something from Tiffany in that house.”
“I’m guessing he didn’t even let you in the damn house.”
A light flickered, and we both turned.
“Who’s there?” Irma asked.
“Irma, it’s Mimi and Charles,” I whispered.
“I told you to come alone.” She flashed the light in my eyes.
“No, you didn’t.” Crazy lady.
“It’s okay Irma, I’m just here to be sure Mimi doesn’t get hurt.” Charles used his most compassionate tone.
“It’s Mrs. Tucker to you.”
I saw Charles flip her the bird and nearly choked on a giggle.
“Irma, what’s going on?” I moved to her side, out of the flashlight’s glare.
“There’s movement down there. I saw people in the barn, but no cars.” She shined the light across the road.
“Mrs. Tucker, aren’t you afraid you’re going to scare whoever it is off with that light?”
She swung the light around into Charles’ face. “What do I give a shit? They’re trespassing on my property.”
“Well then, why aren’t you down there with your fucking shotgun then?” Oh, Charles had had enough of this old bat.
“Do I look like I can handle that shotgun and this flashlight at the same time, you idiot?” She hit him in the arm with the light.
Before she knew what was happening, Charles had taken the flashlight from her grip and turned it on her. “You aren’t a very nice old lady. And if I was you, I’d watch very carefully every time I crossed the street from here on out.”
Irma Tucker took a step forward and got right in Charles’s face. “Fine. You hold the light and I’ll go get my shotgun.”
I finally stepped in. “No, don’t bother. I have Lola here, and she’ll guide us in. Charles is probably carrying his Walther PPK anyway.” I looked at him. “Right?”
Charles gave Irma back her light, whipped out his gun and a smaller flashlight. “We’re good. Let’s go.”
I led the way across the road, holding Lola close at hand. I stopped and handed the leash to Charles. “Hold her a minute.”
I went back to my Land Rover. In the back seat, I scrambled for Tiffany’s skirt. Maybe this was a better use of Lola’s abilities, anyway. I closed and locked the car, then took the leash back from Charles.
Lola obediently sat, every muscle prepared to launch. I looked both ways on the road, put the skirt to Lola’s nose, said, “Lola, suchen,” and unsnapped the leash.
Lola dashed across the yard like a shadow, sniffing and following a trail. I took the light from Irma and followed Lola’s path with the light. I lost her when she went around the far side of the barn. I didn’t even wait for approval from Irma and Charles before dashing across the road to find her. Lola was my baby, and I’d be damned if I was going to let her out of my sight.
I sprinted across the asphalt road and slid across the gravel on the shoulder of the other side. I went straight down, landing on my butt, and the flashlight went flying. I’m not sure what hurt worse, my butt, the gravel digging into my palms, or my ego. And I didn’t have time to think about it, because just then I heard Lola whimper.
Behind me, Charles said, “Holy shit. Lola, you’re getting prime rib for a month, you wily coyote.”
Abandoning his attempt to help me up, Charles made a mad dash to the barn. I watched his shadow in the dark as I gingerly got to my feet.
Irma grabbed me by the elbow. “You okay?”
I nodded, as if she could see it in the dark. I took a step forward and went right back down. I couldn’t believe it. I’d wrenched to my ankle.
“No, you definitely are not okay.” The old woman lifted me off the ground like a sack of grain, and hauled my arm up around her shoulders. “And I know you aren’t going to be happy just waiting here. I sure as hell ain’t. Let’s see what’s going on.”
Irma Tucker hauled my butt down that driveway to the barn like an Olympic weightlifter. We reached the doors just as Charles was poised to ram them open. I could hardly believe the pace at which Irma moved, heaving my (not too tiny) frame along with her.
I saw Charles come to an abrupt stop right before slamming into the door. The outdoor light came on, and I watched Bridget Garrison walk out the door with Tiffany Anderson.
I slumped to the ground, taking poor Irma with me. I was exhausted, hurting like hell, and relieved at the same time. Tiffany was alive.
“Stop right there.” The voice came from behind me, but I saw Charles in front of me with his weapon pointed at Bridget. I twisted around to see Nick standing there with his weapon pointed at Charles. Piper had her gun leveled at Bridget.
No one moved. Tiffany looked like a deer in the headlights. Bridget stood frozen. Charles never wavered, his gun still pointed at Bridget’s head.
“Charles, put the gun down,” Nick said, as he walked toward them.
“Nope. I’ve got a better shot than you do. I’ll put it down when you get here next to me.” Charles never looked away from his target.
Nick dropped his gun to his side and sprinted down the driveway. When he was within steps of Charles, he raised his gun again, and Charles dropped his.
In all of this, Lola never left her spot by the door. Charles said, “Lola, comen se bitte.”
His German sucked, but Lola understood what he meant. She imm
ediately stood and trotted to him. Charles grabbed her collar and she jumped up in his arms. Now there was a sight, the dapper Charles holding an eighty-pound Doberman while she licked his face. But who was he to complain? She’d done her job better than we could.
I’d never been so proud of my baby. I just wished Dominic could have been here to see what an incredible dog she turned out to be.
The spectacle only lasted a moment, before Charles put her down. He said, “Tiffany? Do you like dogs?”
Tiffany smiled. “Yes.” She approached with caution, then bent down and patted Lola on the head. Lola pushed her face at Tiffany, begging for more petting.
“Bridget, what’s going on here?” Nick’s gun was still aimed at the woman.
“I can explain.” She raised her hands in a show of resignation. “I’m not going anywhere. You can put the gun down.”
Piper came down the hill and took Bridget’s hands down one at a time, putting them in handcuffs behind her back. She walked her away from the barn.
Charles had Tiffany, who was holding Lola’s leash, and headed in the same direction.
All seemed quiet for the moment, and the collective sigh of relief was almost audible. Then there was a noise in the barn, and in a flash, everyone was on alert again.
Stephanie walked out with her hands in the air. “It’s just me. I don’t have a white flag to wave.”
Nick aimed his gun at Stephanie and approached her slowly. “Stephanie, don’t make any moves. I’m going to put my gun away and handcuff you.”
She only nodded.
Nick gently put the cuffs on Stephanie.
Suddenly, Tiffany let go of Lola’s collar and ran after them. “Wait.”
Irma Tucker grabbed the girl by the collar of her navy T-shirt. “Hold up there a minute, young lady. Let the police do their job.”
Dressed in a shirt and jeans that looked a bit too small, Tiffany struggled against Irma’s grip. “Let go of me, old lady.”
Irma, not taking kindly to being called an old lady, lifted Tiffany a few inches off the ground. “Didn’t your momma teach you no manners?”
Charles ran up to Irma. “I’ve got her.”
From where I sat, I said, “Be cool, Irma. This girl has been through a lot.”
Nick handed Stephanie off to a uniformed officer and came back down the driveway with a woman I’d never seen.
He walked up to Charles and Tiffany. “Tiffany, I’m Detective Christianson, and this is Nancy Waller. She’s from Child Protective Services, and she’s going to take you home.”
Tiffany’s body went limp. “I can’t go home,” she sobbed. “They’ll kill me.”
Charles dropped to his knees. “Who’s going to kill you, honey?”
I thought I knew the answer, and I’m pretty sure Charles did, too.
Tiffany sniffed. “My parents.”
Nancy Waller, a plump woman of about forty, said, “No one is going to kill you, Tiffany. We’re going to take you to a safe place until we can talk to your parents. Are you up for that?”
Looking more like a four-year-old than a fourteen-year-old, Tiffany walked away with Nancy.
Nick, Charles, Irma and I watched as they disappeared in the night.
I knew that’d be the last I ever saw of Tiffany Anderson. Somehow I knew her parents would put their would put their house up for sale, and move to a city where no one knew them or what had happened to their daughter.
Nick looked down at me. “What the hell? Get up, let’s go.”
I whimpered. “I can’t.” I pointed to my ankle.
CHAPTER 19
I can’t say that Nick was the world’s greatest nurse, but he sure tried.
It was decided that Lola would go home with Charles, and I’d get a ride to the hospital from Nick. How my car eventually got home, I have no idea.
The sun had risen on a new day when Nick finally made it back to the hospital to pick me up. I’d broken my ankle, but not too badly, just a chip off the medial malleolus. Or, as the doctor explained, the bony bump on the inside of my ankle.
Instead of taking me home, he brought me to his house, where he’d already set up his guest bedroom for my stay. He and Charles had been to my house to pick up some clean clothes, and anything “personal” I might need. After depositing me in bed, he left the room and came back with a tray bearing a huge box of donuts (glazed, and cake with sprinkles, my favorite) and a Starbucks peppermint/white chocolate latte, which he sat in the middle of the bed.
He carefully lay on the bed beside me and handed me the latte. “I heard donuts and coffee have amazing healing powers.”
I was starving, but not for food. I wanted to know what transpired while I was at the hospital.
“Can you tell me a story while I eat?”
Nick shook his head, but said, “Bridget had been at William’s house that day. Crissy had left her backpack there, and she’d gone back to get it.”
“The Twilight backpack?”
“Actually, it was Hello Kitty. When William didn’t answer the door, she figured he was at work. She had a key and let herself in.”
Listening to Nick’s words, I could almost have said them for him. What came next hurt worse than my ankle.
“Just as she grabbed for the backpack, she heard a noise down the hall and went to check, since she thought no one was home. She said the worst thing she expected was to catch her husband having sex with another woman.”
I swallowed hard, and put down my donut.
“What she saw was William in the process of trying to rape Tiffany.”
My bite of donut was starting to come up. Nick took my hand and held it tight.
“William was on top of Tiffany, with his pants around his ankles. Tiffany was crying and struggling to get out from under him. Bridget said before she knew what she was doing, she’d grabbed a crystal archery trophy he kept on his dresser and smashed in his head.”
I wanted to say, “Good for her,” but I kept my mouth shut.
“When William rolled off Tiffany, the girl scrambled out of the room. She went to the bathroom to throw up. That’s what the mess was.”
“So she got away without being raped?”
“Yes, but she’ll need counseling.” Nick sounded sad.
“Counseling is a good thing.”
“Absolutely.” He took a donut and took a huge bite. Swallowing, he continued. “When Bridget saw the rage in William’s face, she knew he was going to attack her, so she just kept bludgeoning him. She said she had no idea how many times she’d hit him before she remembered Tiffany.”
“Was she still in the bathroom?”
“She was gone. That’s when Bridget panicked. She searched the house, but couldn’t find her. When she went outside, she saw the girl walk into Leonard’s house.”
I sat straight up in bed. “That fucker. I knew he had something to do with this all along.”
“It was his idea to keep the girl, since she was the only witness. He and Bridget took Tiffany to the candle barn.”
My head was ready to explode with rage. “That’s kidnapping.”
“The plan was just to keep her until she calmed down, so they could explain that Bridget was using self-defense when she killed William. Basically, they all panicked.” Nick picked up my latte and took a long sip.
“Why did they keep her?”
“The girl was more terrified of what was going to happen when her parents found out than she was of the murder. She begged them to keep her longer, so her parents would be relieved and not pissed.”
I was skeptical. “And you believe that?”
“It’s not for me to decide. It’s for the courts.” Nick chewed on the half of a glazed donut he’d stuffed in his mouth.
“Courts? So what are the charges?” Curiously, I’d had it in my mind that there would be no charges.
Relieved to know that everyone was okay, I could feel the pain meds kicking in, and my eyelids grew heavy. I heard Nick say something about sec
ond-degree murder, or a plea or something, and I vaguely remembered hearing the words accessory and kidnapping.
Not sure if I was loopy from the pain meds, or the night without sleep, but as I drifted off, I thought I heard Nick say something about staying with him for at least a few days, until I was better.
When I came to, there was some sort of party going on in Nick’s house. Still a bit groggy, I could only hear muffled words and familiar voices. Not one to be left out of a party, I grabbed the cane Nick had put next to the bed in case I had to go to the bathroom, and hobbled into the dining room.
Finally, Nick had gotten someone to open a bottle of wine. Several bottles, in fact.
Jackie was the first to see me. “It’s about time you join us.”
“What’s going on?” I looked around to see Catey, Corey, Gemma, Charles, Piper and Nick, too.
Charles raised his glass in a toast. “We’re celebrating a new day!”
Piper pushed Charles aside. “I got my permanent assignment.” She looked over at Nick, who was toasting with a bottle of Pellegrino. “Nick is going to be my partner for good.”
Nick took a swig of the sparkling water, “Or for as long as she can stand me.”
Some things just feel better than painkillers. Knowing that Nick’s female partner had absolutely no interest in him was one of them.
Nick came over to me, and offered his arm to help me walk to the bar stool. “And someone else is getting a new partner, too.”
Gemma stuck her hand in my face. “See.” She flashed me a two-carat diamond engagement ring. “I’m getting married.”
My heart swelled. I knew that for all of Gemma’s teasing and flirting, she wanted to settle down. It was finally happening. I realized I’d never been introduced to her boyfriend, nor did I know she had one.
“I’m so happy for you,” I slurred. “But I didn’t even know you were serious.”
“Honey, if a multimillionaire from Dubai wants to marry me, I don’t have to be serious.” Gemma danced like a racehorse going to the starting gate.
“Before you set a date, let me sober up, so we can talk.” Even in my drug-induced haze, I knew this couldn’t be good.
Gotcha Detective Agency Mysteries Boxed Set (3 Books) Page 36
