Inside Out: A Heather's Forge Cozy Mystery, Book 5

by N. L. Cameron

  Sheriff Leonard led Lincoln through the office and stuck him in the paddy wagon. He reentered the office, but he didn’t return to the cells. He stopped next to Levi and watched Laura on the screen. Deputy Leonard brought another woman out, and when he disposed of his prisoner, he didn’t go past the office, either.

  All four of us watched Laura. She rattled her bars with all her might. The siren swallowed her mute screams in a deluge of noise. She couldn’t get out. She was trapped in a burning building, and she never got her cell door open.

  Sheriff Mills turned away, flipped a switch, and the alarm shut off. “I think we’ve seen enough.”

  We definitely had. The four of us trooped down the hall and stopped in front of Laura’s cell. She gave her bars one last mighty shake. “Let me out of here! You can’t leave me here! Open this door! You have to get me out of here!”

  “Take it easy, Laura,” Sheriff Mills replied. “The danger’s over.”

  He unlocked her cell and stepped back.

  She stood still and stared at him. “What’s this all about?”

  “There was no fire,” he replied. “We staged it to see if you could get out of your cell without a key. That’s how we decided you couldn’t have killed Freddy. You’re free to go.”

  She narrowed her eyes, first at him, then at the rest of us. “You… you tricked me?”

  “Yes, I tricked you,” Sheriff Mills replied. “I couldn’t tell if you were pulling my leg about being able to get out of the cell without the key. I couldn’t believe a word you said after you lied to me so many times. I had to test you, and I did. You passed the test. You didn’t kill Freddy, so you can go home.”

  She glared at him one terrible moment longer. Then she rocketed out of the cell at Sheriff Mills and attacked him with all her might. She pounded his head, shoulders, and chest with her fists. “You bastard! How could you do that to me? I thought I was going to burn to death in this stinkin’ jail. You son of a worm! I’ll kill you for this. I’ll make you pay for this. You piece of crap! I hate you!”

  Deputy Leonard and Levi worked together to haul the hysterical woman off Sheriff Mills. Sheriff Mills didn’t try to fight back. He only straightened his clothes and hitched his gun belt around his waist. “I’m sorry it had to come to this, Laura. If anybody in this town could believe a word you say, it might be different. Go on now. Go home.”

  She struggled out of Deputy Leonard’s arms. “You low-down pathetic excuse for a sheriff! How dare you do something like that to me? You scared me half to death.”

  “I’m sorry,” he repeated.

  Laura cast one last withering glance over the rest of us. Thank heaven the sheriff took the fall on that one and Laura never found out it was all my idea to trick her like that. Then she probably really would have a motive for murder.

  She drew herself up to her full height, patted her hair, and flounced out of the station with a humph over her shoulder at the rest of us. She walked out, a free woman.

  Sheriff Mills slumped against the wall. “Phew! That’s over with. I don’t think I could stand police work if it’s like that. My nerves are shot.”

  “It isn’t,” Levi told him. “You would never get away with a stunt like that in a town bigger than Heather’s Forge. You’re lucky she doesn’t know anything about the law, or she could spit-roast you over hot coals.”

  Sheriff Mills dragged himself up. “Well, she doesn’t. Come on, Rufus. We’ve got to get all those prisoners back into their cells and lock ‘em down good this time. I’m not taking any chances.”

  Chapter 17

  Levi and I stepped out of the station into the morning sunshine. He glanced up and down the street. “I guess we better get back to our knitting.”

  I bumped his arm. “How about a cup of coffee to celebrate our victory?”

  “You call that a victory?”

  “You know what I mean,” I replied. “You told me the important thing is to eliminate suspects, and now we’ve eliminated one of them.”

  “Laura was never a suspect, and that’s not the way to go about eliminating them. I think you’re taking your role as a consultant to the Sheriff’s Office a little too seriously.”

  “Well, what were we supposed to do?” I asked. “We had no way to test Laura’s story.”

  “Just don’t go calling it a victory. It was anything but.”

  I choked back laughter. “Did you see the way Sheriff Mills and Rufus ran around the cells? That would have convinced anybody there was a fire.”

  He bit back a smile. “They certainly looked panicked. I’ll give ‘em that.”

  “That alarm would have made anybody panic,” I replied. “I wanted to make a break for it, too. If I had a way to get that cell door open, I would have done it.”

  “I’m glad I’ll never be locked up in the Heather’s Forge jail. I wouldn’t want to be caught in there during a fire.”

  I gave him another nudge. “Come on. Have a cup of coffee with me.”

  He hesitated. “Oh, all right. You’re buying, though. I’m just a poor handyman.”

  I took his arm. “I would buy you a lot more than coffee, darling.”

  We headed for Cooker’s Shack. Carrie Cooker had a big, brand new sign out front proclaiming the name to the world. “I sure wish she’d change the name,” I muttered.

  “Looks like we’re stuck with it,” Levi remarked. “Too bad she’s such a great cook and an even better businesswoman. People come from all over to eat here.”

  “Just as long as she doesn’t start hosting parties, I don’t mind,” I replied. “She would be a tough act to follow.”

  “The whole town is waiting to hear when and what your next event will be. When are you going to break the news to your adoring fans?”

  Before I could answer, Eliza came out of the supermarket carrying a plastic bag of something I couldn’t make out. She brightened up when she spotted Levi and me. “What are you guys up to?”

  “Keeping the world safe for democracy,” Levi replied. “We’re fighting crime and/or evil.”

  Eliza laughed. “Don’t listen to him,” I told her. “We’re on our way to get a cup of coffee. You should join us.”

  “Okay,” she replied. “You talked me into it.”

  “That’s what I love about you,” I told her. “You’re easy.”

  “You bet,” Eliza replied. “If there’s coffee involved, I’m there.”

  We went inside the Shack and sat down. Carrie served our coffee, and Levi ordered a piece of blueberry pie. “As long as you’re paying, I might as well go the whole hog.”

  I turned to Eliza. “How’s Smitty doing? Is he back home?”

  “He’s home,” Eliza replied, “and he’s insufferable. He won’t stop wailing about someone coming after him. I’ve had about enough of it.”

  “Who exactly does he think is coming after him?” Levi asked. “He was never in any danger.”

  “For some reason,” Eliza replied, “he’s convinced whoever killed Freddy will come after him next.”

  “That’s ridiculous.”

  “I know it is,” Eliza told him. “The most ridiculous part is that Mom and Dad are convinced, too. They keep saying Sheriff Mills should put Smitty into witness protection. They think bad guys are sneaking around, just waiting to bump Smitty off if he sets foot outside the house.”

  “Maybe someone should explain to them Smitty isn’t really in danger.”

  “Sheriff Mills already tried,” Eliza replied. “None of them will listen. Mom’s worried sick about Smitty.”

  Just then, the door opened, and the whole family of Potters came in, headed by Tom and Sheila. A few of the younger Potters accompanied them, but not Smitty.

  “How are you, Allie?” Sheila asked me.

  “I’m fine. Thanks, Sheila. I hear Smitty’s back home.”

  Sheila turned to Tom. “I just don’t know what we’re going to do. This can’t go on. He’ll worry himself to death if the killer doesn’t get to him
first.”

  “Isn’t there anywhere outside Heather’s Forge he can go?” I asked.

  “Not really,” Sheila replied. “Everything he’s got is here. It always has been.”

  “What about our cousin Frances Beauregard?” Eliza suggested. “She lives in New York. She’s always trying to get us to come visit her. Smitty could go stay with her for a while.”

  Sheila jumped. “You’re right, Eliza! I never thought of Frances.”

  “Has Smitty been to New York before?” I asked.

  “No, he’s never been out of the county,” Eliza replied.

  “That would be good for him,” I offered. “He would be safe there, and he wouldn’t be bored, either. He wouldn’t be tempted to steal things to keep himself occupied.”

  “You’re right,” Sheila repeated. “That’s what we’ll do. We’ll pack him off to the city. It’s the perfect solution.”

  All the Potters visibly relaxed, now that they settled the question of Smitty’s safety. Sheila started to turn toward their table when Kim and Roger Powers entered. They stopped on their way through the Shack to greet the Potters.

  Sheila hugged Kim. “You must be so happy and relieved to get your little girl back. Phew! What a load off all our minds.”

  “We have Allie to thank for finding her,” Kim replied.

  “We were at our wits’ end,” Roger added. “Every time the searchers and divers would come into town in the evenings…”

  “We thought we’d die all over again,” Kim concluded. “Every day was a….”

  “A living hell,” Roger added. “You have no idea….”

  “How relieved we are,” Kim chimed in.

  “We’re all so pleased for you,” Sheila replied.

  I had to speak up. “I didn’t really find her. She was standing right out there on the green in plain view. I just happened to be the first person to see her and call the sheriff. I was as worried about anybody. By the way, Kim, I don’t know if Maisy told you, but my cat Pixie helped her find her way back to town. She’s the real hero here.”

  “She told me all about it,” Kim replied. “I only wish…”

  “We only wish there was some way we could thank the cat,” Roger added. “I know it sounds strange….”

  “It sounds strange, but we’re really grateful for the cat’s help,” Kim continued. “If only there was a way….”

  “If only there was a way, we would do it in a heartbeat,” Roger concluded.

  “I promised Maisy she could come and see Pixie any time she wanted,” I told them. “She can come out to the inn any time. She’d be more than welcome. You all would be.”

  “Thank you so much,” Kim replied. “We all feel…”

  “So grateful and relieved,” Roger added. “So many people…”

  “So many people helped and gave their best efforts,” Kim went on. “It’s really….”

  “Really humbling and heartwarming,” Roger interrupted.

  “I’m happy for you,” I added. “I’ll keep an eye out for you all out at the inn.”

  Everybody dispersed to their separate tables with more hugs and well-wishes. I wasn’t sorry to see them go, either. All this talk about me being the one to find Maisy made me nervous. I just happened to stumble on her.

  After the commotion died down, Eliza turned to me. “Kim and Roger are as bad as ever. They sure look happy, though.”

  “So do your parents,” I replied. “That was a stroke of genius suggesting Smitty go to visit your cousin.”

  “It will get him out of the house, and that’s all I really want. I can’t stand seeing a grown man act like a helpless baby.”

  “Do you know much about your cousin?” I asked. “Is she gonna be a good influence on Smitty?”

  “Oh, she’ll be a fantastic influence on Smitty,” Eliza replied. “You don’t have to worry about her. She’s independently wealthy, and she knows every social hub in town. She’ll spend all her time occupying him so he doesn’t get into trouble. She volunteers for several charities and serves on the boards of a couple community organizations. She’ll never give him five minutes to himself.”

  I chuckled. “Poor Smitty.”

  “It’s gonna be great for him,” Eliza exclaimed. “He’ll see shows and concerts. He’ll hear lectures and broaden his horizons. He might just take in an art gallery or two. He’ll come back a changed man, if he comes back at all.”

  “If he was bored in Heather’s Forge,” I remarked, “he might start to like it over there. He might get hooked on the nightlife and the excitement.”

  “We can only hope,” Eliza replied. “Leave it to Frances. She’ll give him a spit shine inside and out. He needs a little culture, and he needs to see the bigger world outside this silly little town. That will straighten him up if nothing else will.”

  I turned to Levi. “I didn’t realize how much I missed all that city life until you invited me to travel back there. I can’t wait to see it again.”

  “Just so long as you don’t get stuck there, I don’t mind,” he replied. “Just promise me we’ll come back here after we soak up all that culture.”

  “Oh, I promise. That’s easy. I don’t want to get stuck there. This is my home. It always will be, and I’ll always want to come back here.”

  He beamed at me over his pie. “Good. That’s all I need to hear.”

  “I never thought I could belong anywhere the way I belong here, but I do. It would be nice to look in on the city every once in a while, but there could never be anywhere like home.”

  His hand slid across the table to lace into mine.

  Eliza cleared her throat. “Okay, folks. I better get back to work. Don’t stay out too long.”

  She slid out of her chair and headed for the door. Levi sipped his coffee and waited for her to leave. Once he knew we were alone and no one sat close enough at other tables to hear us, he leaned over to murmur, “Listen, Allie. I want you to do something for me.”

  “Just don’t ask me to promise I’ll stay out of the tunnels.”

  “It’s not that. I want you to show me what you found at the old house site. I want you to show me the entrance you found.”

  “Okay,” I replied. “I can do that.”

  We finished our coffee and he finished his pie. We paid the bill and headed back to the inn.

  Chapter 18

  Levi and I hiked around the lake. I stopped to look back across the water to check my bearings. “The inn looks different from over here, doesn’t it?”

  “It’s smaller,” he replied.

  “That’s not what I mean. It looks like it has a different atmosphere. It looks peaceful and serene. It doesn’t look complicated or surrounded by mystery the way it does up close.”

  “You assign those qualities to it because that’s what you think about the inn,” he told me. “It doesn’t have them built into its structure. If you wanted to think of it as peaceful and serene, it would be.”

  I shook my head. “I could never think of the inn as peaceful and serene, because it isn’t. No place with those tunnels underneath it could be peaceful and serene. Besides, the inn has had four murders and a major museum robbery connected to it. That doesn’t strike me as peaceful and serene.”

  “I think the inn’s peaceful and serene, even when I see it up close and work there every day.”

  I spun around to confront him. “You do?”

  “I think it’s the most peaceful, serene place I’ve ever been. Four murders and a major robbery can never change that.”

  We walked on in silence. How could Levi think that way about the inn when I didn’t? Why did I have to think the worst of the place, just because certain people chose to misbehave? Those crimes didn’t take anything away from the inn. Only one of those murders took place on the inn grounds, and I wouldn’t have inherited it if it hadn’t.

  We trekked the rest of the way to the ruin site without talking. I paused at the old stone foundation. Levi took a good look around and in
spected everything with his unfailing eye. “So, this is it.”

  “Mr. Jenkins says Ashfield Calliwell used to live here,” I remarked. “He says Ashfield lived here before he became rich and built a mansion.”

  Levi nodded. “I knew about that, but I had never been out here myself. I didn’t see the point, but if you found an entrance to the tunnels here, that makes it a lot more important, doesn’t it?”

  “The entrance is over there.” I pointed to the shed.

  “Let’s take a look.” Levi started toward the tiny building when we heard something moving around inside it.

  Quick as a flash, Levi charged up to me and pushed me behind the shed just as the door slipped open. We held our breath and peeked around the corner to see Artie Gordon walk away from the entrance.

  What was that guy doing in there? Did he just come out of the tunnels?

  Levi pushed me farther back. “Be careful!” he whispered. “Don’t let him see you.”

  “Where’s he going?” I asked.

  “He’s heading toward the inn.”

  “We should follow him,” I told Levi.

  “What for? A man’s free to walk the streets.”

  “You don’t understand,” I hissed back. “He was out here the last time I came. He disappeared after walking through the ruins. He must have disappeared down the tunnels. If he knows about the tunnels, then everything makes sense.”

  “What makes sense?” Levi asked. “I’m not seeing it.”

  “Don’t you get it?” I exclaimed. “He was looking for the Anubis statue in the trashcan outside the sheriff’s station. That means he’s connected to the robbery. He could have been the one who hired Freddy. He’s been in the jail, so he could have known about the doors not being secure, and he had a motive to kill Freddy. He had the ways, the means, and the opportunity.”

  Levi chopped his hand through the air. “You’re not going after him.”