Killer Comfort Food (A Farm-to-Fork Mystery Book 5)

by Lynn Cahoon

  * * * *

  By the time Ian, Angie, and Dom got back home, they’d made a plan on how they could get through service for the next week without Nancy. Estebe had set them up in a house in a gated community, so even if her ex could find them, he couldn’t get inside the community without an invitation.

  Ian shut off the engine and opened the door. “Let me get Dom out, and I’ll do a sweep of the house. Keep the car locked to humor me, okay?”

  “If I sit here long, I’m going to fall asleep. No one’s waiting inside to hurt me. One, they wouldn’t know that I took Dom with us, so they’d have to deal with him.”

  “Just humor me, okay?” He nodded to her purse. “And get your phone out just in case I’m not back in five minutes or someone besides me comes out of that kitchen door. Maybe we should move the car back a bit so he can’t see you.”

  “Again, there is no ‘him.’ No one’s in my house.” Angie got her phone out and held it up. “Okay?”

  “I’ll be right back, and you can tell me I told you so.” He leaned in and kissed her. Then he closed the driver’s-side door and opened Dom’s, grabbing the leash they’d put on him when they left the restaurant. “Come on, boy, let’s go save the day.”

  Angie laughed, but she locked the car doors when he pointed to the lock. “This is getting ridiculous. Nancy’s scared to death to let her kids outside at the new place. I’m stuck in the car until Ian clears the house of murdering strangers. What is going on with our world?”

  She saw a flash of light behind her, and she turned to find its source. A dark SUV drove slowly by, then turned into Mrs. Potter’s driveway. She texted Erica. Are you home?

  No, I’m in Boise. I’m spending the night with a friend. Why? The response came back quickly. Erica must have had her phone close by.

  I’m calling the police. Someone just pulled into your driveway. Angie dialed 911 on her phone, still watching the car. Two large people got out. She couldn’t tell if they were male or female from the distance.

  “Nine-one-one, may I help you?” a friendly, but serious voice asked.

  “This is Angie Turner. I live off of Southside near Celebration Park? My neighbor isn’t home, and a car just pulled into her driveway.”

  “Are you sure it’s not them?”

  Angie could hear the tapping of keys. “Positive. I just talked to Erica Potter, she’s Mrs. Potter’s granddaughter and is staying in the house and going to school at Boise State. She’s in Boise, not at home. Well, I didn’t speak with her, I texted her.”

  “I’ve got a car on its way. Stay inside your house and don’t go outside,” the dispatcher advised.

  “My boyfriend, Ian McNeal, he’s the sheriff’s nephew, he’s checking my house for strangers. I’m sitting out in the car.”

  Angie heard the sigh before the woman responded. Then the tapping resumed. “Is there a reason you think strangers may be in your house?”

  “It’s been a crazy couple of weeks. There’s this developer who wants to buy my farm, and I’m not wanting to sell.”

  “Wait, you’re part of the soybean plant development? You know that project will bring in a lot of new jobs, right?”

  “Again, I don’t want to sell my house. Would you sell your house?”

  The woman laughed. “You haven’t seen the shack I live in. I’d sell it in a heartbeat. But we’re getting off track here. Just go inside the house and stay there. I’ll make sure the officers come over as soon as they secure Mrs. Potter’s house.”

  Angie saw Ian waving at her. Apparently, the coast was clear. She slipped out of the car, quietly closing the door behind her, and ran for the kitchen door. She pushed past Ian and closed and locked the door. She pointed to the laundry room. “Make sure Dom’s inside and close his dog door.”

  “Who are you talking to?” Ian pointed to the phone.

  “The police dispatcher. She’s sending a car.” Angie shoved the phone into his hands. “Talk to her while I take care of Dom.”

  He stared at her but picked up the phone. “This is Ian McNeal, who am I talking to?”

  Angie found Dom coming inside just as she entered the laundry room. She moved his tail, then closed the dog door with a snap. Then she checked the lock on the back door. Still engaged. She sighed and then moved to the unused front door and repeated the process.

  By the time she got back to the kitchen, Ian was all caught up with the happenings over at the Potter house. He held up the phone. “Kylie’s staying on the line, just in case. The car should be here in just a few minutes.”

  “They haven’t left?” Angie’s stomach tightened. If they were still there, they might be breaking into the house. She tried to think positive. Breathe, just breathe. She closed her eyes. Ian’s jab with his elbow jolted her out of her meditation. “What?”

  “They’re here. The cops blocked the driveway so no one can take off.” Ian pointed toward the street. “Maybe I should go help.”

  The phone squeaked, and Kylie’s voice came out loud. “Don’t leave the house. I’ll let you know when the suspects are in custody. Ian, are you listening?”

  Angie tried to hide the grin, but Ian looked like a little kid who’d been told he couldn’t go play.

  He put the phone on speaker. “I heard you.”

  A few minutes passed, but finally Kylie came back on the line. “They have one of the two suspects. One escaped down the road. Please stay inside. I’ve dispatched another car to help with the search.”

  “If they come on my property, I’m going to freak out. Especially if they go in the barn. What about Precious and Mabel? We should have brought them inside so they’re safe.” Angie stared out the other window, hoping her motion-sensor light wouldn’t come on and tell her that the other guy was nearby.

  “Who are Precious and Mabel? Are they neighbors?” Kylie asked. “Maybe I should send another car if there are more potential hostages.”

  “Precious is a goat, and Mabel is a hen,” Ian explained calmly. “Angie’s just very attached to her zoo.”

  “I totally understand. I have an outdoor cat that I worry about every night when I feed him. Of course, he won’t come inside and just live with us. He’s got to be free.” Kylie paused. “Hold on a minute, I’m getting a report from the second car.”

  Chapter 17

  Once the dispatcher had reported that the second man was in custody, Angie grabbed her coat and flashlight and ran outside to the barn. The door was shut tight, which gave her some relief. She flipped on the overhead lights as she stepped in. Mabel was on her usual roosting place and opened one eye at the light.

  “Sorry to wake you,” Angie muttered to the hen. She heard Ian’s chuckle behind her, and she turned to glare at him. “What? It’s rude to wake her up just because I was worried.”

  “Yet we’re still here in the barn.” Ian was holding his phone in one hand, just in case. She couldn’t see if it was still connected to Kylie and River Vista Dispatch, but when he held it up, she knew they were. “Go check on Precious so we can get back in the house and let Kylie get back to saving River Vista from bad guys.”

  A snort came over the speaker. “You’re the most excitement I’ve had in weeks.”

  Angie smiled and turned toward Precious’s pen. The goat was awake and watching her. She reached down into the pen to rub behind Precious’s ears. The satisfied bleat told Angie that the goat was just fine. She was about to leave, when she saw something in the straw in front of Precious’s pen. She reached down to pick it up, then jerked her hand back like something had bit her.

  “Ian, you have your phone, right?” She turned toward him.

  He pointed to the phone in his hand. “Right here. We’re using it, remember?”

  “Then whose phone is this?” She pointed to the black case almost hidden in the straw. “My phone has that purple case you bought me a few mon
ths ago, and I’m pretty sure it’s still on the kitchen counter where I left it.”

  Ian walked over and took a picture of the phone. Then he glanced at the display. “Hey, Kylie, can you get a text on that line? I’ve got something you need to see.”

  Kylie rattled off a phone number to send the picture to, then she came back on the line. “One of the officers will be over there soon. Are you safe if you stay in the barn until they get there? Is there a second door? Are you sure you’re alone? Maybe you should wait in the house?”

  “Only one open door, unless you count the one in Precious’s pen. All the other pens have their outside doors locked up to keep at least some of the draft out. The big doors are closed tight, as well.” Angie shined the flashlight around the barn. “I never replaced the loft ladder, so unless this guy can jump twelve-plus feet straight up, I think he’s gone.”

  Angie heard the tire tracks on the dirt driveway.

  Ian turned toward the door and updated Kylie. “Help has arrived.”

  By the time the officer had questioned them again, and his partner searched the barn and the house, it was almost one in the morning. The cell phone was in an evidence bag in the police car. Ian was talking to his uncle as Angie drank another cup of herbal tea, hoping she’d be able to sleep. He hung up and went to check the lock on the door again. He nodded to the window.

  “They’re waiting for another car to show up to take over the watch. Uncle Allen apologized for not getting the car out here sooner. He believes that someone came on your property this afternoon and at least accessed the barn.”

  Angie snorted. “Do you think?”

  “Angie, don’t be like that. Allen is doing the best he can with limited resources. He had a car assigned here starting tomorrow as soon as Tony got back from his honeymoon. And he had cars doing drive-bys every two hours. These guys just got lucky.” He went to the stove and poured hot water over a tea bag in a cup. “The vandalism idea was only a theory until they actually showed up tonight.”

  “Maybe we should move Precious to the goat dairy for a few days. I hate to upset Mabel’s routine by moving her. I’m not sure she’d take the change well. And the dairy is way too busy for her.” Angie stared at the tea in her cup.

  “Someone will be here twenty-four-seven until this is over.” Ian covered her hand with his own. “They’ll be safer just where they are.”

  “I know they’re just animals, but I love them. And I’m their human. I’m supposed to feed and care for them and protect them.” Tears filled her eyes.

  “And you do.” He squeezed her hand. “You have the most spoiled zoo animals in the area.”

  “And yet some stranger was by Precious’s pen today.” She shook her head. “I feel so violated. And nothing has even really happened.”

  “Then use that feeling to fuel this investigation. We’re going to figure out what’s happening here. And I’m not letting you lose your home. I promise you.”

  She stood and dumped the tea out into the sink. “I love you, but you shouldn’t make promises that are out of your control. I’m going to bed. Tomorrow’s a busy day, and since Nancy’s not working, I’m going to have to be on the line and expediting.”

  “Everything’s going to be fine,” Ian repeated.

  The problem was, Angie wasn’t sure even he believed his words.

  * * * *

  Thursday morning, a layer of snow had fallen during the night. Not much but just enough to make the world look bright and shiny under the sun that now sparkled the white ground and warmed the earth. When Angie woke, Dom wasn’t in her room and she smelled coffee downstairs. Coffee and something baking. She got up and hurried to get ready for the day. If she was right, Felicia and possibly Estebe were downstairs making breakfast.

  She smiled at the thought. The world could be coming to an end, but at least they’d have one last good meal because she was surrounded by people who cooked when they were nervous and who also knew that food made everything just a little more bearable. Even if someone was sneaking around your property when you weren’t there.

  When she finally reached the kitchen after a hot shower, she found out her count had been off by one person. Sheriff Brown also sat at the table drinking coffee. Everyone looked up when Dom went running to her side to say good morning.

  “Let me grab you a cup of coffee. Go ahead and sit down. Allen will catch you up.” Ian stood and kissed her on the cheek before leading her to the table.

  “Good morning, Angie.” Sheriff Brown—no, Allen—nodded to her. “Sorry about yesterday. I guess our theory of the houses being targets was on point after all.”

  “At least nothing was damaged, and you have two suspects in custody.” Felicia nodded. “Have you made them talk yet?”

  “Felicia, it doesn’t work quite like that. All they’ve said so far was their lawyer’s name and phone number. Funny, it’s the same firm that Jon Ansley worked for, but in the criminal division.” Allen sipped his coffee. “But their rap sheets tell us a lot about them. Local thugs who are hired out to harass people. They’ve been in trouble all their lives. Mostly petty stuff. They’re known for arson. This is the first possible case we can pin on them.”

  “What about the phone? Did it belong to them?” Angie sipped her coffee. Knowing that the men were in jail was making her feel a little better about the safety of her house and of Precious and Mabel. She was keeping Dom with her as much as possible until this was settled.

  “That we don’t know. It’s a burner phone. The good thing is, it has a few numbers we’ve been able to connect to the law office. I’m heading over there to talk to one of the partners this morning. They’ve got a little bit of explaining to do on all of these connections.” Allen frowned. “There’s one other number that the owner called twice a day. The first time is at eight a.m. They talk for thirty minutes, then he calls back at six p.m. We found out that’s a burner phone too. We think it’s attached to one of these guys, or maybe their boss.”

  “Sounds like it’s during business hours. Maybe they’re calling a local business?” Estebe said.

  “It’s too routine. And it happens on weekends, as well. And what kind of business uses burner phones?” Allen took the last bite of waffle and dragged it through the pile of maple syrup on his plate. “It’s got me stumped. And now, the phone won’t answer. I better get back to the office. My deputy is calling exactly at eight to see if he can get someone to pick up. Maybe they don’t know their friends are in custody.”

  Angie waited for Allen to leave, then she looked around the table. “Are you all here to talk about the investigation, or did you think I needed some hand holding? If it’s the latter, you all can leave.”

  “Don’t be snippy.” Felicia put a plate with a waffle in front of Angie. She put whipped cream on top and sprinkled mini chocolate chips over the top of that. “The syrup is warm.”

  Angie’s stomach growled as she took a breath and took in the sweet maple smell of her breakfast. “Sorry, I get grumpy when someone is threatening the homestead.”

  “You get grumpy when you’re hungry and under a lot of stress,” Felicia countered. “I can fix one of those things, but not the other. Estebe and I wanted to talk about service tonight. Should we hire a temp to cover Nancy’s station?”

  Angie thought about the question as she took her first bite of the waffle. It was so, so good. She shook her head. “Nope. We’ve been overstaffed since Hope graduated. Move Matt up a spot into Nancy’s space, and let Hope cook on the line instead of just doing prep and grunt work. It’s time for her to try her wings.”

  “Are you sure? I was under my mentor for years before he allowed me on the line.” Estebe put a plate of bacon with a single fried egg in front of her. Then he sat down with the notebook where he wrote down all the staffing for every service since they’d opened. “We could add a temp to the line without much trouble.”
<
br />   “We need to show Hope we trust her. This is her trial. Besides, I know she feels bad about Nancy’s situation, let her contribute. However, with Felicia, me, and now Nancy, you are going to need a temp on Saturday when we go to the cotillion. Maybe I should stay back.”

  “If I have to go, you do too. Besides, it’s a great place to mingle with the River Vista rich and famous.” Felicia smiled, reminding Angie of the Cheshire cat. “I redid your business cards so you can hand them out during the event. I have to handle the door for the event, so it’s up to you to do the networking stuff.”

  “Great, my favorite activity. Maybe I should stay back and let Estebe go instead,” Angie grumbled as she finished enough of her waffle to be able to put the bacon and eggs on the waffle plate. Ian took the empty plate from her and put it in the sink.

  “No way. I like Estebe fine as a friend, but I’m not dancing with the dude. The only reason I’m going is to spend at least a bit of time dancing with my favorite girl.” Ian kissed her head as he moved to the door. “Don’t start talking the case yet. I’ve got to feed the zoo.”

  “She won’t listen until she’s done eating anyway, you might as well go now.” Felicia jumped up as the oven bell went off. “There’s my banana bread. I hope you all saved room for a slice.”

  Groans from the guys told Angie that they’d been eating for a while. No one passed up Felicia’s award-winning banana bread. She grinned up at her friend. “Well, that’s more for me and you.”

  It took about twenty more minutes for the table to be cleared and Ian to return from the barn. He opened his photo file and showed Angie the pictures he’d taken in the barn. “There’s your girl, and the other one. One day I’m going to get them both in one picture.”

  They waited for Ian to wash his hands and then sit down at the table before pulling out the investigation notebooks. Ian did a summary of what they knew so far.

  Estebe leaned back in his chair when Ian finished. “I think we have more questions than answers. And too many unconnected things. Except…does everyone think it’s strange that Jon Ansley’s law office is involved in all of these situations? I wonder if they handled Nancy’s divorce too?”