“You don’t want to know,” I responded.
The inside of the inn was just as busy, with all sorts of people making the final touches on the walls, ceilings, and floors. The place looked amazing. Only my mother would have the resources and reinforcements to complete the job in record time. Winterfest started in a couple days, and by then she would be fully prepared to open her doors.
“I have to admit, you did it, Mom. The place looks incredible.”
Granny and Fiona bustled around the room, offering cookies and drinks to the workers, totally in their element. And it didn’t look like any of the workers minded, based on their grateful smiles. Just then Great-Grandma Tootsie walked out of the kitchen with a huge tray of finger sandwiches, as a bearded giant held the door for her.
“What the hell is he doing here,” Mitch grumbled, clenching his teeth as he made a beeline for the newcomer.
I hurried beside him.
“Why, Detective Stone, it’s so good to see you again. Though your face looks a little sour. Here, have a sandwich.”
“Sorry, Grandma Tootsie, I’ve lost my appetite.”
“Well, that’s too bad. Take a couple antacids. They’ll fix you up right as rain. Hey, did you meet my new friend?”
“Oh, we’ve met.” Mitch glared at Ralph Peters, better known as Tow Truck Guy, aka the man who left us stranded in a ditch.
“Bless my stars. Isn’t he a peach?”
“He’s something, all right.” I took Mitch’s hand and gave it a squeeze.
“I met him in Gretta’s Mini Mart when I couldn’t reach the top shelf, darn this old, crooked back of mine. He was so kind. He followed me through the whole store, helping me reach all the items on my list, bless his soul. Well, I best be on my way. Those poor youngins must be half starved to death by now.”
“That’s a good idea, Toots. We’ll just borrow your friend here for a moment,” I said.
“Oh, I’m sure he won’t mind one bit. He’s so helpful.” She went on her way, humming The Lawrence Welk show theme song with every step.
“You heard, Toots. Maybe it’s time you start being helpful, Ralph. And you can begin by telling me what you’re doing in Divinity?”
“I don’t have to tell you anything.” Ralph straightened to his full, frightening height.
I stepped between my steaming detective and the smirking giant. “Actually, Mr. Peters, you kind of do, since this is a murder investigation, and you’re a suspect.”
His bushy eyebrows drew together in a deep V, his smirk all but gone as he rubbed the top of his bald head. “How do you figure?”
“Well, your wife was having an affair with the victim. You found out and retaliated by killing him. And now you’re back to kill your wife.”
The first flash of genuine pain crossed the giant’s features. “I would never harm Kristen. I always knew she was too good for me, but I never thought she’d actually cheat.” His jaw hardened. “And now I think she’s cheating again with Ray Simone. I followed them here, but that’s all. When Grandma Tootsie needed help, I couldn’t say no.” His face softened. “She reminds me of my own grandmother, God rest her soul.”
“I don’t suppose you know anything about the recent break-ins of some local stores?” Mitch stared him down.
“Despite how I look, I’m a lover, not a fighter, Detective.”
“And not a very good tow truck driver.” Mitch huffed. “You left us stranded.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Ralph inspected his nails.
“Likely story,” Mitch growled. “Stay put until I check out your story, and stay away from your wife and Simone or you’ll find yourself stranded in my jail cell. Are we clear?”
“As the ice in your heart.”
“Good.” Mitch headed for the front door.
“Detective?” Ralph said almost reluctantly.
“Yeah?” Mitch turned back to Ralph.
“The only place I haven’t searched is the campgrounds,” he admitted. “Is that helpful enough for you?”
Mitch nodded once, then turned around and opened the door.
“Where are you going?” I asked, hot on his heels.
“To see a man about a tent.”
12
“Captain’s not gonna like this, Tink. We’re supposed to be dividing and conquering. You could have stayed at the inn to keep an eye on Ralph.” Mitch pulled into the parking lot of the campgrounds just outside of Mini Central Park.
“I have a feeling he’s all bark and no bite. He’s just an upset husband. Besides, Great-Grandma Tootsie will keep him plenty busy. He won’t have time to get into trouble.” I reached over and held Mitch’s hand. “Besides, we’ve barely seen each other lately. I miss you.”
He lifted my hand to his mouth and kissed the backs of my fingers. “Me too, babe.” His gaze met mine and held. “We’ll talk soon. I promise.”
“I know.” I leaned over and kissed him. “Let’s go see that man about a tent.” We climbed out of his truck and headed to the campground office. “Although, who tents in the middle of winter?”
“I didn’t mean an actual tent. It was just a figure of speech. The campgrounds are closed during winter, but I wouldn’t put it past Ray to sneak into a cabin.”
“Okay, then.” I rubbed my palms together. “You take the east end and I’ll take the west, then we’ll meet in the middle.”
The detective was already shaking his head. “Hell, no. We’re not splitting up, Tink.”
“Divide and conquer, remember?” I poked him in the chest.
He caught my hand. “Not happening.”
“Listen, Mitch, I’ll be fine.” I huffed out a breath, the steam streaming in a smokey cloud between us. “It’s broad daylight, and you won’t be far. If we don’t split up, we’ll never get through searching all the cabins before dark. We both have our phones, and you’re my number one speed dial.”
“I’d better be,” he grumbled.
“I’ll call you if I get into trouble.”
He grunted. “When don’t you get into trouble?”
“Funny.” I smirked. “Besides, Morty always shows up when I need help. You know that. In fact, I sense his presence right now.” I didn’t, but I knew that was the only way Grumpy Pants would let me help.
He hesitated, not looking happy in the least, but then he blew out a heavy breath and pointed his finger at me. “Keep that phone in your hand at all times.”
“Done.” I tightened my coat and headed west, not daring to look back for fear Mitch would change his mind.
An hour later, after searching cabin after cabin with no luck, I began to lose hope of finding anything. I couldn’t get discouraged or give up. Cole needed us to find a clue that might take the suspicion off of him before the mayor made us close the case. So I kept trudging through the snow, one boot in front of the other.
The snow crunched beneath my feet, the wind whistling through the trees overhead. The swan pond was in the middle of the park. There wasn’t anything out here except woods. The type of people who rented these remote cabins preferred isolation…
Or had something to hide.
I had to be nearing the center, but I didn’t hear Mitch coming. I stopped before yet another cabin and tried the door. It was unlocked. I peeked through the dirty window but didn’t see any movement, so I walked inside carefully, and Bingo! Clothes were strewn around the room, the bed was unmade, and the wood stove was still warm. I was guessing the belongings were Ray and Kristen’s. It looked as though whoever had stayed here left in a hurry. Maybe someone had tipped them off that Mitch and I were snooping around.
Taking another step toward a chair, I picked up a woman’s sweater. My body jerked and my vision narrowed into tunnel vision like it always did when I had a vision. I felt myself fade into a trancelike state. A man and a woman stood in this very room, but I couldn’t see their faces clearly. My breathing picked up and I felt like I was on the verge of hyperventilating. Paralyzing fea
r gripped me.
“He’s going to find out. I just know he is,” a female voice said.
“Stop stressing, woman,” the male voice growled. “You’re giving me a headache.”
“I can’t help it. We’re in danger if he finds out. You know that, right?”
“You let me worry about him. But you need to stop acting suspicious.”
“Easier said than done. What if he finds us?”
“I’m through with this cat-and-mouse crap. Maybe it’s time we find him.”
“Wait, now?”
“Yes, now. And I think I know where to look. It’s—”
“Sunny. Sunny, wake up!” Hands gripped my shoulders and shook.
I blinked several times until my eyes adjusted. Mitch stood before me, looking worried. Well, shoot. I had been so close. Just one more minute. I sighed and my shoulders slumped, releasing the tension from bunching them up.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to seeing you come out of one of your visions.” He shuddered. “Scares the hell out of me every time.”
“Why?” I asked absently, picking up another article of clothing. Nothing. Not even a flicker of a reading.
“I’m afraid one of these days you’re not going to return to me.” His tone filled with genuine worry.
My eyes met his. I wanted to say “I’ll always return to you,” but what if it wasn’t true? What if we couldn’t get past this issue between us? “It’s okay. I know what I’m doing,” I finally responded.
He narrowed his eyes. “If you’re okay, then why did Morty show up?”
I scanned the cabin with a smile. “He did?”
Mitch scrubbed a hand over his head. “I couldn’t find you anywhere and I kept calling your name, but you didn’t answer. Don’t you ever scare me like that again, by the way.” A muscle in his jaw bulged, straining the scar beneath his whiskers.
“I will do my best not to, but I can’t make any promises.” I lifted my hands, palms up. “Where’s Morty now?”
“When you didn’t answer, he appeared by my side and led the way to the cabin. I found you standing there in a trance, then Morty left.”
“Aha. That should tell you right there.” I patted Mitch’s chest. “He knew I was fine. If he thought I was in any real danger, he would have stayed.”
“Or maybe,” my detective patted the top of my head, “he’s—”
“Hey, stop that. I’m not a dog.”
“—beginning to trust that I love you as much as he does.” He tweaked my nose.
Everything in me softened. “I really am okay, Mitch. I know I feel everything the person goes through when I have a vision, but I’ve come to accept that’s empathy. These things didn’t actually happen to me. It’s how I cope.”
“Tell me everything,” he said as we headed back to his truck.
“There was a man and a woman who stayed in that cabin recently. I couldn’t see the faces of either clearly. I can’t tell if it’s Ray and Kristen or not. If it is, then it looks like Ralph might be right. They might be having an affair.”
“It sure seems that way.” Mitch kicked ice balls of snow out of the way and lifted tree branches aside as we walked.
“Well, I felt real fear from the woman, but not toward the man. She kept referring to another man she was afraid would find out what they were doing. That makes me think they were talking about Ralph.” I chewed the inside of my cheek for a minute as I thought about it. “Yet the man with her kept getting annoyed at her, which didn’t seem like a man who was smitten.”
“Maybe it’s not about love.” Mitch spoke with a funny tone, and I glanced at him. His cheeks flushed ever so slightly. “They could still be having an affair. Maybe, uh, maybe they’re simply meeting each other’s needs.” He shrugged but didn’t make eye contact.
“Maybe.” I bit back a chuckle, then sobered as I contemplated the vision. “She said the other man was looking for them, which Ralph is, but could someone else be looking for them, too? And if they’re not talking about an affair or Ralph, then who are they talking about and what don’t they want him to discover?”
“Only one way to find out.” He opened the truck door for me as I nodded in agreement.
“Find Ralph and Kristen A.S.A.P.”
Mitch and I parked along Main Street at the end, so we could walk the entire street and talk to the vendors. They were our best bet for finding out if Ray and Kristen were in town. The streets were already full of outsiders and it was only day one of Winterfest. The parade that kicked off the festival had finished hours ago, and the sun was already sinking. Upstate NY in the wintertime got dark around five p.m., so we didn’t have much time left.
“Ah, I see Detective Fuller down by Smokey Jo’s. I’m going to catch up with him to see if he has any leads on Officer Adam Burrows, and I’ll meet you inside when you’re done.” Mitch kissed my cheek then took off down the street at a jog.
I stopped and talked to Pricilla at Pricilla’s Paintings stand to show a picture of Kristen Peters and Ray Simone, but she hadn’t seen them around. Pricilla was a regular every year with the most spectacular paintings of nature. The next booth belonged to a man named Quincy. He was also a regular who came every year to display his unique pieces of blown glass in his Glassworks stand. When I questioned him, he hadn’t seen them or the Rebel Riders. Either Ray and Kristen were doing a good job of laying low, or they really weren’t in town. But if they weren’t in town, then who was doing all the break-ins? And if nothing was being stolen, then what was the point, other than to send a message: Pay up for protection or things might get ugly?
Crossing the street, I saw Eileen Bucktown at her Lake & Pebble Art stand. Her stand was situated on the curb in front of Warm Beginnings and Cozy Endings. She stood outside talking to Natalie Kirsch, the café owner. I waited for a pause in their conversation before interrupting.
“Hi, ladies. How’s the first day of Winterfest treating you?” I studied a pair of pebble earrings, impressed with the quality of the craftsmanship.
“Surprisingly well, all things considered,” Eileen responded. “I was a little worried sales would be down because of the festival attendance being down due to the ongoing murder investigation, but I’ve had a steady flow of customers all day.”
“That’s great. Mayor Cromwell isn’t happy that Detective Stone hasn’t wrapped up the case yet. This festival brings in a lot of money, and he doesn’t want anything interfering with that.”
“Anyone who knows Cole West very well at all would know he’s not a murderer,” Natalie chimed in. “Poor Jo must be a total mess, what with her babies due any time now and the possibility of their daddy going to jail.”
“Mitch won’t let that happen,” I said as much to reassure myself as I did them. “That’s why he’s being so thorough. He won’t close this case until he discovers the truth. Speaking of trauma, how are you holding up after the break-in to your café?” I glanced beyond her and noticed the window had been repaired.
“I’m doing okay. I’m more frustrated than anything. The vandals didn’t steal a thing. They just cost me a lot of money in damages. Everybody thinks it’s the Rebel Riders, after what they did to Gary’s Hardware Store. But Smokey Jo’s and Sam’s Bakery and my café were hit after Gunther Corp’s murder. The Rebel Riders haven’t been seen since that day.”
“I’ve been thinking the same thing. If it wasn’t them, then who was it? And why? Did the crime scene investigators discover anything?”
“Just a few strands of blond hair. They sent the hair off to be tested for DNA. Hopefully we’ll have some answers soon.”
I patted her shoulder. “I hope so. And, hey, can you let me know if anything else turns up?”
“Sure thing.”
“Oh, and have either of you seen these two around town in the past few days?” I showed Ray and Kristen’s pictures.
Natalie shook her head no, but Eileen’s eyebrows crept up. “Actually, a woman who looked a lot like that picture st
opped into my booth just a little while ago and bought a pair of earrings. She paid cash. The man wasn’t with her.”
“Thank you.” I handed them both my card. “Please call me immediately if you see either of them again.” Well, at least I’d confirmed that Kristen was most definitely in Divinity, but what was she doing alone? Where was Ray?
They both nodded in agreement as they took my card, and I headed over to Smokey Jo’s. The sun had almost completely set now and most festival attendees had gone home. The air had a bite to it that had me tightening my coat with every step. My footsteps faltered, and I searched the area, having a tingling feeling that I was being watched. I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, but my gut was never wrong when it came to my heightened senses. I picked up the pace.
Mitch stood outside of Smokey Jo’s in front of Wayne’s Woodworks booth, talking to Detective Fuller and Wayne Emerson. Wayne held a rag under his bloody nose, and several pieces of wooden items were broken and scattered on the ground. I studied the items closely, being a big lover of crafts. They weren’t very good, but who was I to judge? I didn’t have a crafty bone in my body.
“Are you sure you didn’t recognize the man who did this to you?” Fuller questioned Wayne as he flipped through the details in his notebook.
“No, I told you I’ve never seen him before. Then again, I’m new to Winterfest, so it could be someone local for all I know. He wanted a piece of my art. We haggled over the price, and when I wouldn’t budge any lower, he smashed several pieces. I tried to stop him and he punched me in the face, then left in a hurry. That’s when Mrs. West called you,” Wayne said to Fuller.
Mitch frowned, probably wondering the same thing I did. Why didn’t Jo call Mitch? I was hoping she wasn’t losing faith in him as a detective and just didn’t want to distract him from the murder investigation that would hopefully clear her husband’s name.
“Since I’m late to the party, I missed all the details,” Mitch said. “Did you get a description of the man?”
“He was alone at first. Short, stocky, tough-looking. Then after the incident, a woman showed up beside him wearing a leather jacket with an RR on it, and they took off.”
Hazard in the Horoscope Page 11
