I internally cringed when Davis and Noah landed at the bottom of the staircase, the duo exchanging amused glances before focusing on our small group.
“Are these the people you’re here to see?” Dad asked, shifting from one foot to the other as a chill dropped over the room.
“They are,” Chief Terry confirmed, narrowing his eyes. “These are the people investigating Bay for murder.”
Whatever he expected Chief Terry to say, that wasn’t it. Dad’s mouth dropped open as his gaze bounced between faces. “You can’t be serious.”
“How have you not heard about this?” Landon challenged, pinning Noah with a warning look before turning to Dad. “It’s been all over the television and radio.”
“I heard that a body had been found on The Overlook grounds,” Dad replied, clasping his hands together in front of him. “I didn’t know Bay was a suspect.”
“The body was found right in front of the guesthouse,” I explained. “I woke up right next to it.”
“You woke up?” Dad scratched his cheek. “I’m not sure I understand … and what happened to your neck?”
“Someone broke into the guesthouse,” Landon supplied. “Someone grabbed her around the throat in her own home, squeezed until she thought she was going to suffocate and then slammed her head into a wall. Whoever it was hurt her … and then left her to wake up next to a body.”
“Landon was on an undercover case,” Chief Terry offered, taking pity on my shaken father. “Two people escaped arrest when the warrants were served. One of those people ended up dead in front of Bay’s house. The other is still missing. We believe he’s responsible, but … .” He broke off, casting a helpless look in Davis’ direction. “Other people think Bay’s to blame and are treating her abysmally.”
“I see.” The last part of the statement seemed to shake Dad out of the confused fog invading his head. “And these two individuals are treating her poorly?”
“They searched the inn yesterday,” Aunt Tillie said, taking a menacing step in Noah’s direction and grinning when he inadvertently reacted to the movement by taking a step back. “They didn’t find anything, of course. I’m a rule follower and would never break the law.”
“Of course,” Dad said dryly, shaking his head. “I guess I’m confused about this.”
“There’s nothing to be confused about, sir,” Davis said, adopting a smarmy tone. “We’re simply investigating a brutal murder that happened to occur at your daughter’s domicile. We’re certainly not fixating on her to the detriment of other suspects.”
“Oh, he talks all fancy and stuff ’cause he wants to confuse us,” Aunt Tillie shouted, mimicking a stereotypical country bumpkin as she danced in her spot. “Aw, shucks. I think he believes he’s bamboozled us.”
“I think you’re right,” Landon said. “As for the rest, if you weren’t focused on Bay you wouldn’t have searched the family home. You would take one look at the evidence – the fact that she was terribly hurt and left outside in the elements – and realize that she’s not the one putting others in danger. She’s in danger herself.”
“What do you mean by that?” Dad was beside himself. “And you, young lady, why didn’t you call to tell me you’d been attacked? It seems to me that’s something a daughter should tell her father.”
“Oh, well … .”
“Don’t yell at her,” Chief Terry and Landon barked in unison, squaring their shoulders as they faced off with Dad.
“It’s okay,” I said, holding up my hand. “I should’ve called. I just … that night was a mess. I was confused when I woke up.”
“And why weren’t you with her?” Dad asked, his voice full of unbridled accusation as he glared at Landon. “You two are usually joined at the lips and hips. Why weren’t you there to protect her?”
“Well … .” Landon looked caught. “The thing is … um … we were kind of fighting at the time.”
“Really?” Davis leaned forward, intrigued. “Is that because you had a sexual relationship with the victim? I know you’ve denied it, but I don’t believe you.”
“Of course you don’t,” Landon gritted out, his temper getting the better of him. “You don’t believe anything that’s not handed to you on a silver platter. I didn’t have a sexual relationship with Becky Patterson. I have a sexual relationship with my girlfriend. It’s a very nice relationship.”
One look at Chief Terry’s dark expression and the uncomfortable way Dad stared at nothing on the wall told me Landon had gone too far. “That was probably an overshare,” I whispered.
“Yeah, I heard it the second I said it,” Landon conceded. “It was already too late to take it back. Just pretend I didn’t say anything and eventually they’ll get over it.”
I wasn’t so sure, but I opted to let it go. “I didn’t kill Becky. I mean … I didn’t even know her last name. How would I find her to get her to show up at the guesthouse?”
“I’m thinking that she showed up to stake her claim to Agent Michaels and you responded out of jealousy,” Davis replied. “You killed her in a fit of rage and then decided you needed to cover it up.”
That didn’t make much sense. “So … what? I strangled myself, slammed my own head against the wall in the foyer and then somehow floated to the spot in the doorway after I was unconscious?”
“You said you woke up in the doorway,” Davis clarified. “We don’t have proof of that. No one saw you at the time and can testify to the fact that you were ever unconscious.”
Landon slipped his arm around my waist and jerked me closer, as if he wanted to protect me from Davis’ innuendo even though it was obviously too late. “I know what you’re doing, Davis. I know why you’re doing it. I’m not an idiot.”
“I would never suggest anything of the sort,” Davis said, outwardly congenial even though his eyes flashed with annoyance.
“You shouldn’t fool yourself into believing that your boss doesn’t know what you’re doing,” Chief Terry offered, taking me by surprise with the edge tinging his voice. “We had a long talk yesterday. I understand why I can’t investigate the case. My relationship with Bay’s family creates a conflict of interest. You don’t have carte blanche to do whatever you want, though. Your own superiors are concerned that you’re so fixated on Bay.”
The words were enough to knock Davis off his stride, though only marginally. “I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t care,” Chief Terry said. “I’m not the type to get my feelings hurt because you call me a liar.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because I’ve had enough,” Chief Terry replied without hesitation. “You two are only here because you hope Jack offers dirt on Bay. That’s why you selected this inn. Don’t bother denying it, Agent Glenn. I’m well aware that you know who Jack is, thanks to your previous stay in town.
“Bay has been through enough over the past few weeks. I won’t idly sit back and watch you mess up her world even further,” he continued. “I’m tired of you. I’m tired of Brian Kelly. I’m also tired of trouble finding Bay even though she’s a good girl.”
“You’ve got him fooled,” Landon teased, slinging an arm over my shoulders. By all outward appearances he was calm and collected. I knew he was ready to pounce should Noah insert himself into the conversation. Like all cowards, though, Noah appeared comfortable hiding behind someone else.
“What else has Bay been through?” Dad asked, focusing on Landon. “What else is happening?”
“Well, we’re living in The Overlook, and Brian Kelly is trying to oust Bay from the newspaper,” Landon replied. “Bay and I were separated for almost a month. We’re over that, though. Right now, our biggest concerns are these two idiots and Brian Kelly, because they think she’s a murderer and Kelly is trying to steal her job.”
“Brian Kelly is trying to fire Bay?” Dad’s expression was thoughtful as he turned to Chief Terry. “That’s why you’ve been approaching area businesses and asking them to turn on Kelly?
”
The question was like a punch to the stomach. “What?”
“Don’t worry about it, Bay,” Chief Terry supplied. “I told you I would fix the Brian Kelly situation and I meant it.”
“You’re trying to rally the area businesses to choose Bay over Brian,” Landon noted, his lips curving. “You’re going to force his hand.”
“I’m going to do what’s right.”
“You and I should talk,” Aunt Tillie said, grinning. “I’m kind of planning to do that myself, although I’m going to use a dress, clown makeup, tweezers and lighter fluid before getting my shovel to finish things off.”
“What is it with you and your shovel?” Davis asked, annoyed. “You’re not strong enough to bury a body.”
Everyone familiar with Aunt Tillie’s wrath sucked in a breath and waited for her to explode. Instead she chuckled, the sound low and eerie. “I’m going to enjoy ramming those words down your throat. As for the lodging arrangements, it’s time for you to grow a pair, Jack. These men are trying to hurt your daughter. They’re trying to use you to do it.
“Now, I know you like to whine and complain about your relationship with Bay and how you think it’s lacking,” she continued. “I’m not going to try and stop you. Your relationship is lacking. You’re still her father. You need to act like it.”
Dad stared at her a moment, unblinking. I recognized the moment he made his decision.
“Trooper Davis and Agent Glenn, I’m sure you understand that this arrangement is no longer going to work,” Dad said. “I’ll have your bills ready so you can square up once you pack your bags. We’ve appreciated your patronage at the Dragonfly but it is no longer wanted or appreciated.”
Aunt Tillie crossed her arms over her chest and grinned. “And that’s how it’s done.”
Twenty-One
Chief Terry and Landon called in enough markers within the state police hierarchy that I was allowed to reclaim the guesthouse after lunch. Landon accompanied me to the house, but cautioned me not to be too excited about sleeping under my own roof. The sinking feeling in my stomach told me he was right when I surveyed the mess.
“I don’t understand why they did this.”
The guesthouse had been trashed. The couch had been upended, the cushions scattered about. All of the cupboards in the kitchen were empty, the sheets stripped from the mattress in the bedroom, and all of my clothes tossed on the floor. Then, after making a mess, the state troopers walked over everything for two days.
“I’m sorry, sweetie.” Landon’s earlier anger had dissipated over soup and BLTs for lunch. It was back with a vengeance. “We’ll clean it up.”
“Yeah.” Cleaning it up wasn’t the problem. I felt violated – by the cops more than the guy who jumped me – and I couldn’t wrap my head around the mess. “I only wanted to come home.”
Landon looked as if I’d shoved his heart in a vise and started squeezing. “You’re coming home tonight. I’ll make sure of it.” That was the exact opposite of what he’d told me during the walk from the inn.
“How? Look at this. It’ll take me a full day just to do the laundry.”
“You’re not alone,” Landon reminded me. “There are a lot of people willing to help.”
“I can’t bother them with this.” I didn’t want to take my frustration out on Landon, but he was the only one present. “They have their own lives, their own responsibilities. This is my responsibility.”
“You didn’t do this, Bay,” Landon argued. “You don’t have to shoulder everything yourself. You think I’m a martyr, but I know you’re one. If we ask for help … .”
“I’m not asking for help.” I was firm, but I forced a smile for his benefit. “You don’t have to be here. You should go back to the inn. I bet Twila will make you cookies if you ask nicely.”
Landon stared at me for a long time, silent. Finally he licked his lips and opened his mouth. “I’m going to run up to the inn for cookies because now that’s all I can think about. I also think you need a few minutes to decompress, and you don’t want to do it in front of me for some reason. I respect that, but I will be back … and soon.”
I heaved a sigh, amused. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Landon cupped the back of my neck and thoroughly kissed me, allowing me to lose myself in him for a bit before separating. “Lock the door while I’m gone. I’m not joking about being away for only a few minutes. Until this is over, I don’t want you here by yourself for an extended amount of time.”
“I’ll miss you terribly during your absence.”
I jolted when Landon unleashed a playful swat on my rear end before wagging a finger as he trudged toward the door. “I’ll let the sarcasm go because you’re obviously upset … and I don’t blame you. This is not acceptable. I’ll be lodging a complaint with the state police and FBI regulation committee.”
“What good will that do?” I challenged.
“It won’t do anything for us today,” Landon conceded. “It will earn Noah a black mark on his record, though, and he’s a guy who obsesses about his record.”
“Oh. So you’re saying it’s sort of insidious. It’s like that time we locked Clove out of the guesthouse and told her Bigfoot was in the area, and then asked Martin Henderson to walk his really big dog past the property.”
Landon pursed his lips to keep from laughing. “It’s exactly like that.”
“Okay. I’ll see you in a little bit.”
“You’ll see me very soon,” Landon corrected. “I’m only grabbing cleaning supplies and cookies from The Overlook, and then I’ll be right back.”
I knit my eyebrows, confused. “Cleaning supplies?”
“Please. I know you don’t have any here. You guys don’t clean. You trust that maid gnome thing you made up to cover that fact.”
He wasn’t wrong. “We need garbage bags, too.”
“I’m on it.”
“And maybe some caffeine.”
Landon paused near the door to study the lock. “We need to switch out the front and back locks. I won’t feel comfortable until we upgrade the security here.”
“I’ll be here when you get back.”
“You’d better be.” Landon’s tone was no-nonsense. “I can’t take another bout of fear where you’re concerned. It would break my heart.”
“Oh, now you’re playing dirty.”
“I use what I have to use,” Landon said. “I’ll be back. Just … be careful.”
“I’m always careful.”
“Be ten times more careful than that.”
I SPENT the next twenty minutes gathering laundry into a big pile. When someone knocked at the door I opened it without checking, expecting Landon and his cookies. Instead I found a furious Chief Terry.
“You don’t look through the peephole before you open the door?” he barked, causing me to take a step back. “You were attacked in this place a few days ago. I’d think you’d have more sense.”
I stared at him, blinking rapidly, and then surprised myself when I burst into tears. Chief Terry instantly relaxed. “I take it back. Do whatever you want to do.”
For some reason, simply seeing his familiar face was enough for me to give in and allow the past few days to wash over me. “Everything is such a mess.” I threw myself at him, burying my face in his chest as he hugged me. “What am I going to do?”
“Oh, sweetheart, everything will be fine. I promise.” I couldn’t ever remember Chief Terry crying, but his voice cracked now, forcing me to lift my flooded eyes and search his face. “It’ll be okay, Bay. We’ll fix all of this.”
I wanted to believe him. Everything inside of me screamed to give in and let him baby me. I worried that if I fell down – even for a moment – I would never get back up. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize.”
“I cried on your shirt.” I wiped at the smudge my mascara left on his pocket. “Have you really been trying to pressure the business owners to turn on Brian?”
Chief Terry shrugged. “I don’t like him. It wasn’t exactly a hard decision.”
“Are they going for it?”
“Most of them are,” Chief Terry replied. “I know you don’t believe it, Bay, but people like you.”
“Mrs. Little?”
“She’s working with Brian.”
I stilled. “Seriously?”
“I can’t prove it in a court of law, but I saw her going into the newspaper office last night after dark,” Chief Terry replied. “She runs the same ad every week, so … I don’t think it’s much of a leap to believe she and Brian are in cahoots.”
I smirked. “I’m not sure how I feel about you using the word ‘cahoots.’”
“And I’m not sure how I feel about the tears.” Chief Terry used his thumb to wipe my cheek. “Bay, you’re a good person. I know it seems that bad things are stacking up on you right now, but everything will get better. I firmly believe you’re going to get everything you want and deserve.”
“It doesn’t feel that way,” I admitted, gesturing toward the mess. “All I could think about was coming home. I don’t hate staying at the inn, but I want to sleep in my own bed. I know it sounds whiny, but … there it is.”
“It doesn’t sound whiny,” Chief Terry countered. “I guarantee you’ll sleep in your own bed tonight.”
“How?”
“I didn’t come empty handed.” Chief Terry held up the brown bag I missed upon initial inspection when he first walked through the door.
“What’s that?”
“New handles and deadbolts so we can change out every lock in this place.”
“But … how did you know?” I asked, confused. “Landon said we needed to do it a few minutes ago, but he’s up at the inn getting cookies.”
Chief Terry smirked. “Do you really think the boy is getting cookies right after he saw this mess?”
“I … no.” Things clicked into place. “He’s getting people to help us clean.”
“There you go.” Chief Terry tapped the spot between my eyebrows. “Now you’re thinking. I worried you forgot how to reason things out there for a second.”
Murder Most Witchy (Wicked Witches of the Midwest Book 10) Page 20
