Candy-Coated Secrets

by Cynthia Hickey

  Of course. My gaze met Ethan’s. Grizzly Bob was already behind bars. At the thought of two people hiding behind a gorilla mask, taking turns stalking me, a cold sweat collected beneath the sweater I wore.

  “What time last night?” Ethan took my arm.

  “Late. We were already in bed when the dog’s barking woke us. Maybe midnight?”

  “Later than that, Mom,” Junior said. “I stayed up to watch cartoons on cable. Maybe two o’clock.”

  Ester rolled her eyes. “He don’t listen very good. But with Harvey gone so much, I don’t have the strength for heavy discipline. The boy plumb wears me out at times.” She led the way up the porch steps and into the house. Complete disarray greeted us in the form of clothes scattered across furniture, cabinet doors hanging open, and dishes left in the sink and on counters.

  “Looks like they were searching for something. They’ve destroyed your house.” I stepped farther into the kitchen. “We need to see whether anything is missing.”

  “Nah, this is how it always looks. I’m not much of one for housekeeping, either. I like the lived-in look. As for stealing, we don’t have anything worth somebody taking.”

  The dreaded flush crept up my neck. Open mouth, insert entire leg. Ethan fought back a grin.

  “It doesn’t look like anyone’s here now.” Ethan headed for the back of the house. “Let me have a look around, make sure everything’s fine. You should probably call the police and let them know you had an intruder.”

  He reappeared moments later with a shivering Chihuahua in his arms. “Here’s your fearless protector. Found him hiding under the bed.”

  “Momma’s little Snookums!” Ester hugged the dog to her bosom. “If you find Harvey—Lord, we pray You keep him safe—tell him to get his rear end home.”

  “Will do.” Ethan ushered me out the front door. “Do you want us to call the police for you?”

  Ester waved us off. “I’m gonna call ’em now.”

  I glanced back at her over my shoulder while Ethan and I walked across the yard. “She doesn’t seem too concerned, does she?”

  “She’s used to her husband being gone.” He opened the truck door for me. “It’s the way of life for women who marry carnies. They either go with them or stay behind.”

  “I’d be scared spitless if my husband was gone and someone wearing a gorilla suit came to my house.”

  “You’ve had worse.”

  “And I was terrified each and every time.” I slid inside the truck. “Two gorillas, Ethan. That’s why they always seem to be wherever I am. Woodrow had plenty of time to drive out here last night after we left. We need to check on Sally. She could be lying dead right now.”

  Ethan shook his head. “He suspects you of peeking in his window. If you show up, he could confront you. We’ll go to the station and tell them our suspicions.”

  Does he always have to play things so safe? A sigh escaped me. “I really enjoy you as my sidekick, Ethan, but you sure do hold me back.”

  He took my hands from my lap and folded them with his. “Let’s pray for Harvey’s safety and then head to the station, okay?”

  I nodded and bowed my head, struggling to focus on Ethan’s simple prayer of protection and discernment. Instead, my mind raced like a whirling twister. The few clues I’d gathered sucked up like debris and turned muddy, hard to see through. Were Woodrow and Grizzly Bob working together? What part did Sally play in all this? I didn’t believe her to be completely innocent or clueless.

  And what motive could they all have? That’s the part where I got lost. I couldn’t believe the acts of violence were because of money. Too simple, and I couldn’t see the relation between the victims, other than the fact they all worked for Rick Foreman, who was also missing.

  Lord, make things clear, please. Ethan’s amen jerked me back to the cab of his truck. Shame flooded through me. I wasn’t even a decent enough person to stay focused during a prayer for someone’s safety.

  Words my aunt spoke to me last July echoed through my mind. I am spoiled and selfish! How can anyone love me, much less God? I vowed to do better. To make myself worthy of His love. Starting with saving Harvey. I’d failed with so many others, but this time I would triumph.

  I stayed lost in my self-accusation while Ethan drove us to the police station. It took fifteen minutes for someone to greet us and another ten before they were able to tell us who was acting chief while Joe lay in a hospital bed. Eventually, an officer who didn’t look old enough to be out of the academy strolled up to us, his face wearing the telltale signs of stress in lines around his eyes and mouth.

  “I’m Lieutenant Downs. You’re looking for me?”

  Ethan shook the man’s hand. “We’d like to speak with you about what we are assuming could possibly be an attempted murder.”

  “Assuming?”

  I rattled off the events of last night. The officer’s frown deepened.

  “You were peeking in someone’s window.”

  Did Joe impart his wisdom of repeating what I said to his officers? “Yes. We’d like for you to send someone to check on Sally.”

  Lieutenant Downs scratched his forehead. “I don’t have the manpower. Eddy Foreman is putting pressure on us to find his dad, we still haven’t found Lacey Love’s body, Mrs. Hodge and Pete were murdered, Grizzly Bob is talking a lot of nonsense, and now Harvey’s wife called and said a gorilla visited them last night. That’s not taking into account that her neighbor swears she saw Bigfoot cut across her property last night. Until we get a call, giving us more to go on than your assumption, well, my hands are tied. Why don’t the two of you go out? Give us a call if you find anything.”

  “Uh, well, I kind of left a piece of my blouse hanging on a nail outside Sally’s window. They’ll know we were spying. Or at least someone was.” Did the guy really tell us to go on our own? Maybe Joe could stay in the hospital awhile. I’d have more freedom.

  Downs shrugged. “Like I said, my hands are tied. If you’ll excuse me.” The man turned and marched away, shouting orders at a rookie drinking from the water fountain. “We don’t have time for that! Get out there and start solving this case.”

  Ethan glanced down at me. “Want to go see Joe?”

  “Definitely.”

  Joe sat propped up in bed staring mournfully at a bowl of chicken broth when we entered his room. “Hey.” He didn’t even look up. “I’ll be your best friend if you bring me a double cheeseburger.”

  Ethan laughed. “You are my best friend. You look like a puppy dog that’s just had its bone stolen.”

  “I’ll be godfather to your future children.”

  “Already done.” Ethan lowered himself into the vinyl chair beside the bed. Joe turned his head and scowled at him.

  “My, my, we’re a bit cranky this morning.” I pulled a hard chair next to the bed and handed Joe a bag from the nearest fast food joint. “Stop whining. We brought you lunch.”

  “Did y’all come here to cheer me up? You’re doing a poor job.”

  “Whose bright idea was it to put Lieutenant Downs in charge?” I crossed my arms. “The man is clueless.”

  Joe switched his gaze to me. “Mine. I’m still in charge; he’s helping by being my eyes and feet.”

  I filled my cousin in on the happenings of last night and this morning. His face reddened until I feared for his blood pressure.

  He redirected his scowl back to Ethan. “I thought I told you to keep her out of trouble.”

  Ethan shrugged. “Other than tying her up, I felt going along with her was the safest thing to do.”

  “Right. So what is it you two super sleuths want from me? If you hadn’t noticed, I’m a bit indisposed.”

  “And feeling sorry for yourself,” I added.

  “What we want, Joe. . .” Ethan leaned forward, “. . .is some advice. Obviously Downs isn’t going to check things out at Sally’s. Should we?”

  “If you really think her life is in danger, you should go, because I don’t p
ersonally think there’s anything to worry about her getting hurt. But I need to warn you.” Joe shoved aside his rolling tray. “Harvey isn’t missing. He’s hiding. Came to see me yesterday. Said his life was in danger, and his family would be safer if he took off for a while. I’m not sure Sally is an innocent victim here.”

  It reassured me to know the feelings rising in me weren’t part of my imagination. “Did Harvey happen to mention to you that he thought there was an ulterior motive for Sally asking me to walk Ginger to the fairgrounds? Because just yesterday, you were under the impression this case was solved.”

  “Yes, and I’m beginning to agree with him. This isn’t about money; I’m willing to bet my career on that. There’s something more, and if I wasn’t tied to this bed, I’d be finding out.”

  “Then we’ll have to hit the pavement for you.” Ethan rose and clapped a hand on Joe’s shoulder. “We’ll keep you informed.”

  Joe’s hand rested on top of his friend’s. “Thanks. You two be careful.” As we walked from the room, he muttered, “I can’t believe I’m letting my scatterbrained cousin loose on a murder investigation. I am desperate. Ethan, don’t let her out of your sight.”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  So, do we wait for cover of darkness or go now?” I linked my arms through Ethan’s.

  He raised his eyebrows. “I thought you were worried about Sally.”

  “Not as much after hearing Joe echo the same thoughts flitting through my mind. I still think Woodrow is up to something, though.”

  He looked taken aback.

  “It isn’t you someone’s trying to kill.” I yanked open the car door and slid inside.

  “No, it’s the woman I love.” Ethan moved behind the steering wheel.

  I burst into tears. Digging into my purse for a Kleenex, I blurted out the awful feelings of guilt and unworthiness I’d been carrying around inside me. I wiped my nose and filled out the details with my thoughts of selfishness and the inability to turn my burden over to God, then finished with my desire to save Harvey. With the knowledge of his being safely hidden away, I admitted to feeling a little let down. I didn’t know where to go from there.

  The tender smile Ethan gave set me to hiccuping. “The thoughts and feelings you’re experiencing aren’t a surprise to God. He knows the number of the hairs on your head, which is quite a feat.” He patted my unruly mane.

  I pushed his hand away. “Then why am I still having such a hard time?”

  Despite my halfhearted attempts to keep him at bay, he pulled me into his arms. “Until you come to terms with the fact you weren’t responsible for the death of your parents, until you’ve forgiven yourself, you’re going to struggle with accepting God’s forgiveness.”

  “You sound like Aunt Eunice.”

  “Wise woman.”

  I giggled and wiped my nose with the soggy Kleenex. “I’m just feeling sorry for myself. It’s getting a bit old having people try to kill me.”

  His chest rumbled with laughter beneath my cheek. “I imagine it is. Let’s get something to eat before we head to the fairgrounds. Woodrow knows we’re suspicious. I don’t think he’ll try anything else anytime soon.”

  “Those books I bought on being a detective haven’t helped much, have they? Maybe I need to go back to the bookstore.”

  “Come on, Nancy Drew. I’m hungry.”

  In the restroom of the diner, I splashed my swollen eyes with cold water. After checking beneath the stalls to make sure I was alone, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. “Okay, God. I heard once that sometimes, well, probably most of the time, we have to actively give up our burden. So, I give it up. My guilt, my shame, the whole shebang. It’s Yours. I don’t want it back. If I try taking it back, knock me upside the head. Not too hard, but enough to get my attention.”

  It took several long minutes, but the load on my shoulders started to lift. My spirit began to soar. I realized I’d probably have to do the handing-over thing again tomorrow and each day after that until I got it right, but the peace I felt at the moment made the future handing over seem like child’s play. I knew I wanted the feeling to last and would be willing to do my part for God to keep the reins.

  “You look better,” Ethan remarked as I slid into the booth across from him.

  “I had a little talk with God. Amazing how that makes you feel, isn’t it?”

  “Absolutely. I ordered you a double cheeseburger, same as me. Is that all right?”

  “Wonderful.” I couldn’t seem to wipe the face-splitting grin from my face. Biting into the jumbo burger almost accomplished the fact, but it wasn’t until Woodrow stepped beside the table that my smile faded. Funny how the sight of a gun tucked into someone’s waistband has that effect.

  “Ms. Meadows. Mr. Banning. You two need to come with me. No yelling, no crying out for help, or I’ll shoot one of these people who are innocently enjoying their dinner. I would regret doing that.”

  “How did you know we were here?” I grabbed my purse.

  “Small town. I’ve been following you since you left the hospital. Let’s go.”

  What happened to the meek man who hid in Sally’s shadow? My gaze met the steely one of Ethan. A muscle ticked in his jaw. Uh-oh. I recognized the look. My gentle giant was angry. He tossed some cash on the table.

  Woodrow ushered us ahead of him to the parking lot. “You drive, Mr. Banning. Your lovely fiancée will sit between us with my pistol aimed at her side. Do I need to shoot her in the foot to show you how serious I am?”

  Ethan shook his head and yanked open the driver’s side door. “You’re being very clear with your intentions, Mr. Bell.”

  “Ms. Meadows.” Woodrow motioned for me to open the passenger side and slide in. Our captor followed suit. “Now, isn’t this cozy? Drive to the fairgrounds, Mr. Banning. My love awaits. She has quite a story to tell.”

  “So you didn’t kill her.” I could have bitten my tongue as Woodrow’s face turned a fire engine red.

  “Why do you think I want to kill the woman I love? I’m doing all this for her.”

  “Why? Why Millie and Lacey? Where’s Mr. Foreman?”

  “Millie and Lacey were Grizzly Bob’s doing. Not mine. I’ve no idea where Foreman is. Ran off with his money most likely. Probably figured out we were aiming to relieve him of it. Women have very loose tongues, wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Banning?”

  Ethan clenched his jaw and continued driving.

  “They figured out what you were up to, didn’t they?” It was about money. So cliché. “If it’s money you want, why me?”

  “I’ll let Sally explain that, my dear. We thought we’d kill two birds with one stone upon arriving in Mountain Shadows, so to speak.”

  Ethan jerked the wheel, knocking Woodrow against the door. The man didn’t loosen his grip on the gun. “Do that again, and you’ll be carrying your pretty little woman, minus a few toes, into the trailer.”

  For the first time in my life, I wanted the drive down Highway 64 to the fairgrounds to take forever. In a town the size of Mountain Shadows, it couldn’t. Ethan stopped the truck behind Sally’s trailer. We sat silent, as twilight approached.

  “What are we waiting for?” If the man wanted me to hear something, then I wanted things to move. All I received for my question was a jab in the ribs with the gun.

  Another first for me, sitting there not speaking. A huge accomplishment of which, under different circumstances, I would’ve been proud. I stole a glimpse at Ethan’s profile. His jaw still twitched. His gaze remained straight ahead, and I could almost detect the wheels working in his head as he tried to figure a safe way out of our predicament. I squeezed his hand and received a reassuring squeeze in return. He’d find a way out of this. I knew he would.

  Once darkness fell, Woodrow slid from the truck and motioned for us to follow. “Let’s go. She’s waiting and making her wait too long isn’t wise.”

  “Well, we wouldn’t want that now, would we? We waited until dark. What was that
all about?”

  Ethan gave me a sharp look at my wisecrack.

  “Don’t make her angry, Miss Meadows. The dark is the best place to hide when you don’t want to be seen. Isn’t it?” Woodrow shoved his pistol into the small of my back. I winced against the sharp pain, certain I would be sporting a pretty purple bruise tomorrow. If I lived through the night. I gave myself a mental shake at the path my thoughts took.

  “I wouldn’t speak unless she asks you to. Sally hasn’t been in the best of moods since Ginger was shot.”

  Good grief. They act like the elephant died.

  We mounted the steps in silence. Ethan opened the door and entered first, I went second, followed by my shadow, Woodrow. Sally sat on the sofa, thick ankles propped on the coffee table. She waved us toward a couple of kitchen chairs lined up in front of her.

  “I’m sorry you’re here, Mr. Banning. It’s Summer I want. You’re an inconvenience really.” The mood felt surreal; the little girl voice spilling from the mound of woman opposite us. Her eyes glittered like the reflection of the moon on dark ice.

  I raised my hand. Sally crooked an eyebrow. “Yes?”

  “Uh, Woodrow told me not to speak until spoken to, but—” I lowered my hand and folded it with the other one in my lap.

  “Get on with it. Time is wasting.”

  “I have to admit to some confusion, Sally. What exactly is it you want from me?” Dread filled me as I waited for her answer.

  “My dear, I’m afraid you are not able to give me back what it is I want.” She turned to Woodrow. “My pills, Woodrow.”

  He scurried to do her bidding. A glance over my shoulder showed me he still kept the gun trained on us despite it hampering his progress. When he returned to hand Sally the glass of amber liquid and red tablets, she turned her attention back to us. “A pity about Mrs. Hodge. But the woman really shouldn’t have tried getting involved. She’d already done so much. Summer, does the name Richard Bland mean anything to you?”