I glanced to the side of our bed, but Mitch was still gone. I frowned. He hadn’t been kidding when he said he might be gone all night. I trusted him completely. I just hoped he was safe. Morty usually only acted this way when he was trying to tell me something.
I flipped back the covers and climbed out of bed. That’s when I noticed he was standing on a piece of paper. I lifted him off the paper and picked it up. The flyer for Divine Inspiration. That was weird.
I headed downstairs to the kitchen to make some cocoa. Maybe that would help me sleep. When I got to the kitchen, Morty was standing on the counter. It still amazed me that I never saw him eat or sleep, and he moved at lightning speed, too fast for the human eye to see. One minute he was upstairs, the next he beat me to the kitchen.
I tried to walk past him, but he scratched at the paper beneath his paws. I looked at what he stood on. The flyer for Divine Inspiration again. What was going on at the hotel that needed my attention in the middle of the night?
He stared at me.
“Okay, buddy, you’ve got my attention. You feel it too, don’t you?”
He meowed.
I stood there for a minute, thinking.
He meowed louder.
“Okay, okay.” I headed back upstairs to get dressed. My mother was going to kill me if I woke her up for nothing.
Fifteen minutes later, I pulled into the parking lot of Divine Inspiration and cut the engine to my Bug. I searched the area, but didn’t see anything amiss. The inn was packed with cars and all the rooms were full. I got out and headed inside. Harry was manning the front desk.
“Sunny? What on earth are you doing here? It’s four in the morning.”
“I know. I couldn’t sleep.” I tightened my coat around me. “Bad dreams.”
“Do you want me to get Vivian?”
“No, no. Please don’t.” I glanced around the quiet inn. “You haven’t seen anything weird tonight, have you?”
“Have you seen the crew we live with?” He chuckled. “Define weird.”
“True.” I laughed. “Okay, suspicious, then.”
He pushed his glasses up his nose. “No, can’t say that I have.”
“I’m beginning to think my cat is crazy.”
“Your cat?”
“Don’t ask.” I massaged my temples because my head still felt fuzzy. I turned around to leave, and there stood Morty.
“Now that’s weird,” Harry said. “But I’ve stopped questioning the comings and goings of that one.” He pointed at my cat with his pen.
“Same.”
Morty ran past me and headed up the stairs. Something told me to follow. I kept my distance and stayed in the shadows. At the top of the stairs, I followed Morty down a hallway to an open door. Peeking into the room, I saw a giant shadow lying on the bed. I was so embarrassed. This was Ralph Peters’ room. There was no mistaking that shadow. I was about to leave, but I heard a moan. For some reason, my senses came alert. That moan didn’t sound normal.
Taking a chance that I was right, I entered the room and walked over to the side of the bed. Ralph lay there in an unconscious heap. I shook his shoulder, but he didn’t stir. I felt his head, but he didn’t have a fever. I shook his arm harder, but nothing. Turning on the light, I lifted his eyelids and studied his pupils. Just as I thought. He’d been drugged. That’s why my head felt fuzzy. I’d somehow picked up a reading. I tapped both sides of his face.
“Mr. Peters, wake up.”
Nothing.
I tapped harder. “Ralph. Can you hear me?”
Nothing.
That’s when I noticed the other side of the bed was empty.
I ran to the window, which I now saw was open, and looked down below. I didn’t see anything. I searched harder, and finally saw, by the edge of the river out back, there was a flash of a white. It was different than Morty. It almost looked like a nightgown.
Kristen!
I couldn’t wait for backup. The first day or two were crucial in a kidnapping. Everyone knew that, right? Or had I been watching too many crime shows? Either way, I wasn’t taking any chances. I opened the window wider and climbed out onto the ledge. My parents hadn’t put the screens in yet. That would happen in the spring. The cold temperatures had turned everything to ice. My feet kept slipping with every step I took. Oh, Lord, if I came out of this in one piece, I would never do anything impulsive again.
With the next step I took, my feet slipped off the ledge completely. I dangled by my fingertips for a few moments, but I knew it wouldn’t last. I swallowed my scream when they gave way. My arms flailed in every direction until somehow, someway, I came into contact with a branch and latched on instinctively.
My body jerked to a stop. I dangled there, trying to catch my breath, but it didn’t last long. The brittle branch broke in half and down I went. Thank goodness it was winter. I landed in a heaping pile of snow. I squirmed about until I finally found my footing, and then I climbed out of the snowbank that had saved my life. As fast as my boots could carry me, I headed to the river. I was worried I was too late, but when I reached the edge of the river, my father was there. He stood guard over a knocked-out Kristen, with his fishing pole at the ready like a sword.
“Dad, what are you doing out here?”
“I was getting ready for the ice fishing competition today when I saw a dark form carrying a woman dressed in a white nightgown. I didn’t know who it was, but I knew something was wrong. Who would carry a woman dressed only in a nightgown over their shoulder? So, I grabbed one of my poles and chased after them, shouting for the person to stop. The figure seemed surprised to see anyone out here that time of night, so they dropped the woman and took off into the woods. By the time I got here, I was surprised to see Mrs. Peters. Your mother will say ‘I told you so’ over this one. She was worried that letting her stay at the inn would cause drama.”
“That’s an understatement.”
“Why are you here, is the question I want to know?”
“Well, it started with a nightmare. Then Morty jumped on my chest. Then there was the flyer for the inn. Then I found Ralph Peters drugged in his bed. And Kristen was missing. Then there’s the matter that I almost died. Thank goodness for the snowbank that broke my fall out of the second story window.”
My dad rubbed his forehead. “I’m almost sorry I asked.”
A moan came from on the ground, so my father and I knelt down beside Kristen.
“Mrs. Peters?” I asked.
Nothing.
“Kristen? Can you hear me?”
A slight mumbled, “Yes,” came out of her lips.
I breathed a sigh of relief. “This is Sunny. You’ve had a little mishap. We’re going to bring you back to the inn now.”
“She’ll be okay. The first thing I did was check her vitals.”
My father might be retired, but the doctor in him would always emerge when needed. And while he might be getting on in years, but he was still plenty strong enough. He picked Kristen up and carried her as we made our way back to the inn. By now, everyone was up. There would be questions. And hopefully, we would finally get some answers.
17
“I just knew she would be trouble.” My mother fussed about the inn hours later as she got ready for the ice fishing competition reception.
My father and Harry were running the fishing part with the maintenance man’s guidance, while my mother readied the inn with her housekeeper’s help. Meanwhile, Great-Grandma Tootsie, Granny Gert, and Fiona prepared the food for the celebration after the competition was over. Everyone had worked so hard to pull off opening the inn early. It amazed me how quickly it had all come together, but I shouldn’t be surprised really. My parents were both hard working individuals, used to being successful at whatever they wanted to do.
“Well, you don’t have much choice in letting her stay here, Mother,” I responded. “She is Ralph Peters’ wife, after all.”
Kristen had been drugged, same as Ralph. She didn’t remem
ber a thing, let alone who had taken her. Ralph came out from under the influence of the drugs, and the teddy bear turned into a grizzly once he heard about what had happened. He was positive it was Ray who had taken Kristen. While she went back to bed to sleep off the drugs and the trauma of nearly being kidnapped, Ralph had taken off for parts unknown. Now it was hours later, half the town had arrived for the competition, and I had yet to hear from my favorite detective.
“Hopefully, she’ll sleep all afternoon and stay out of the way.” My mother rearranged a centerpiece on the dining room table three times.
“Have some pity, Mother. That was quite a trauma she went through. At least it happened in the middle of the night before everyone got here.”
“If you ask me, she brought it on herself, trolloping about with another man in the middle of the night while still married.”
“That’s not for us to judge. Either way, it had to be scary. Thank goodness Dad was there to save the day.”
“Ah, yes, your father. Mr. Fantastic and his fishing pole, off to save the day one cast at a time. I’ll never hear the end of it.” She moved on to straightening the throw pillows on the couch. “Donald doesn’t have a clue what he’s doing out there in that shanty, any more than Harry the Hero sidekick does. The Wonder Twins are going to be the death of me yet. Mark my words.” A crash came from the kitchen followed by arguing. “That is if The Tasty Trio doesn’t do me in first.”
I silently giggled over the nicknames I’d given them. Somehow the Wonder Twins and The Tasty Trio had stuck. “It’ll be okay, Mom. You’ll see. Everything will be perfect, I’m sure. I mean, what else can possibly go wrong?”
She just stared at me.
“Alrighty then, I think I’ll go check out the ice fishing competition. Holler if you need me.” I hurried outside and made my way through the crowd to the river. I had to admit I was impressed. My father, Harry, and Frank had rigged up several shanties all over the frozen river. Perfectly cut holes with ice augers were in the center of each one, with chairs and fishing poles surrounding them, and buckets waiting for fish. The men had organized teams for each shanty. The sun was shining, and it didn’t feel too cold out this morning.
A perfect day.
“Hey, guys, any bites?” I asked Jo, Cole, Sean, and Zoe as I popped my head into one shanty.
“I haven’t caught anything yet.” Zoe lifted her pole to check that her bait was still attached to the hook on her line.
“Don’t worry, darlin’, you will.” Sean slung his arm around her shoulders.
“Yeah, well, the bait must not be very good.” Cole added more to his pole and dropped it back into the hole.
“The bait is just fine. Look at the size of the fish I caught.” A beaming smile spread across Jo’s face.
I looked in her bucket and pressed my lips together to stop from laughing. Her fish were twice the size of Cole’s. “You can’t have the biggest of everything, Sasquatch.” I blew him a kiss.
He grunted.
I left and scanned the area but still didn’t see Mitch. Making my way back to the shore by my father and Harry, I pulled up a chair around the fire they had proudly started—with Frank’s help, of course.
“Nicely done, you two.” I put my toes closer to the heat of the fire. I’d been in such a hurry to follow Morty’s lead, I’d neglected to put on my wool socks.
My father puffed up his chest. “Thank you, Sunny. I was a bit worried after this morning’s rough start, but I think we pulled off a pretty good competition.” He glanced around at the fairly large crowd in attendance.
“I would have to agree,” Harry seconded. “I guess word of the kidnapping attempt hasn’t gotten around yet. Must be Detective Stone is on the job and keeping it quiet.
“Even if it had,” Dad chimed in, adding, “I would imagine people would show up out of sheer curiosity.”
“Most people do love a good drama,” Harry concluded with a firm nod.
“That’s very true.” I had perked up at the mention of my fiancé, and searched the area again, hoping to see him all safe and sound. “I for one could do without any more drama. I’m just glad you guys had time to finish the setup for the competition.”
“It might have taken us all night, but who needs sleep? Right, Donald? We’ll be doing plenty of that when we’re six feet under.”
“Amen to that, Harry. Amen to that. In the meantime, we still have a lot to finish on our bucket list.”
“Yes, we do, my boy. Yes, we do.” Harry elbowed my father and snickered. “Just don’t tell our wives.”
I rolled my eyes and warmed my hands by the fire. “Have either of you seen Detective Stone yet today?”
They shook their heads ‘no.’
“Well, I’m sure he’ll be along soon,” I said, more for my own benefit, and pulled my beanie farther down over my ears. My detective could handle himself, of that I was sure. “In the meantime, it looks like you’ve got quite the competition going. Jo’s killing it. I saw some really big fish out there.”
“That’s true.” Frank pulled up a chair to join us. “It won’t be long before someone has the catch of the day.”
“I got a bite,” a woman screamed from inside one of the shanties. “Oh, wow, I think it’s a big one.”
Several people left their shanties and came running. We followed suit until we made it to the shanty closest to the shore. People were eager to see. I managed to get close enough to peek inside.
Cathy was beaming. “It feels like a huge fish.” The line grew slack on her fishing pole. “Oh, no, I think it’s getting away.”
Zack dropped his pole and jumped up to stand behind her and help hold the rod with his good hand. “Keep reeling it in. I think this could be the winner.”
“Pull hard on the line.” Miles joined them on Cathy’s other side to help. “Don’t let it get away. Wait, you’ve got it. I think I see it. It’s… it’s...”
Cathy screamed and fainted dead away.
Zack dropped the pole and took several staggering steps backward, gagging.
Miles held steadfast as a grim expression crossed his face.
“Well?” my father asked. “Is it the winner or not? Pull it up through the hole, young man. What kind of fish is it?”
“It’s the winner, all right.” Miles looked up at us. “But it’s not a fish. It’s not a what, it’s a who.”
“E-Excuse me?” I stuttered.
Miles took a deep breath and clarified, “It’s a dead body.”
Mitch looked out the windows of the sunroom overlooking the grounds with his back to everyone that afternoon. We’d had to clear the people from their shanties and end the competition early. The police were called in and the crime scene investigators worked furiously to secure the scene and cut a bigger hole in the ice to extract the body.
What else could possibly happen? I had asked earlier.
Apparently, plenty could still happen. I’d just never expected for someone else to wind up dead, and at the inn, no less. My mother was having the vapors, the Tasty Trio were twittering about in a frenzy of chaos, and the Wonder Twins were at a loss as to how to fix everything. I, for one, was glad to have my Grumpy Pants back.
“Ray Simone isn’t just dead. The coroner said he died from strangulation, not drowning.” My fiancé turned around to face the room, Detective Stone firmly in place. “Looks like we have another murder on our hands.”
“It wasn’t me; I swear it.” Ralph waved his hands in front of him and backed up a step or two, looking around as if for the nearest exit.
Mitch eyed him as he unbuttoned his jacket, revealing his side arm. “Where were you after the attempted kidnapping of your wife until you returned just now?”
“I needed to clear my head. I know how it looks. I’ll admit I tried to find Ray to talk to him, but he wasn’t anywhere.”
“Did you stop for breakfast or go to a store? Anything where someone can corroborate your whereabouts?” I asked.
Ralph s
hook his head, his long beard swinging. “I knew I wouldn’t be good company for anyone until I cooled off, but I promise you I would never kill anyone.”
“That’s true.” Kristen moved closer to him. “He really is all bark and no bite. He wouldn’t harm anyone.”
“That’s not what you said when you went into hiding with Ray not that long ago,” I added. “You said you were afraid of him.”
“I was afraid because I had never seen him so angry, but deep down I knew he wouldn’t hurt me.”
“I heard you say ‘I’ll kill him’ after your wife returned bruised and drugged,” Sally Clark pointed out.
“Yeah, I told you trying to find Mr. Simone was a bad idea,” Frank added with a grim expression on his face, “but you wouldn’t listen.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m a killer.” Ralph looked around the room so helplessly, I was inclined to believe him.
“Boys oh day, we believe you’re innocent, Ralph.” Great-Grandma Tootsie patted his shoulder.
“Oh, fiddlesticks, everyone here knows you’re just a big ole teddy bear.” Granny Gert stood on his other side.
Fiona came up behind him and looked over his head at everyone in the room. “This poor man has been through enough.” Her gaze landed on his wife briefly before settling on the detective. “He has been nothing but helpful around here, and more forgiving than he should be, if you ask me. I believe he’s innocent.”
My mother harrumphed but didn’t say a word after my father shot her a warning look.
Harry, the former judge, seconded his wife. “I might be old, but I’m a good judge of character, and I say innocent until proven guilty. Hear, hear.”
“Good luck with that,” Jo said, adjusting her enormous belly. Cole put his arm around her but didn’t offer any words of encouragement, because she was right. Someone was desperately trying to frame him for a murder he didn’t commit, and his own good character hadn’t seemed to matter much. We were running out of time to prove otherwise.
“None of you know what it was like, reeling in a dead body. I can still see his bloated face staring up at me through the ice hole. I just know I’m going to have nightmares for years.” Cathy shuddered. “I don’t think I’ll ever be the same.”
Hazard in the Horoscope Page 15
