Killed on Blueberry Hill

by Sharon Farrow

  “Did he admit Wyatt sold him the pills?”

  “I’m afraid not, Marlee. Lucas said he bought them from some guy in Grand Rapids. And that the money he gave Wyatt today was to pay him back for concert tickets.”

  Denise wore a frustrated expression. “What happens next?”

  “We charged Lucas with possession of a Schedule One drug. Maximum penalty is ten years in prison or fifteen thousand dollars in fines.”

  “Oh, no,” I said. “That’s too severe.”

  “Lucas is still a minor. He doesn’t turn eighteen until next month. A minor charged with possession on a first offense is likely to get no more than probation.”

  “What about Wyatt?” Denise asked. “Obviously, Lucas lied to protect him.”

  “We got a warrant to search the O’Neill premises. Turned up nothing,” Kit said. “Wyatt must have cleaned the place out. He knew we’d find the pills on Lucas and that his family house would be the next place to look. Unfortunately, neither of you was close enough to Wyatt and Lucas to actually see what Wyatt gave him.”

  “It had to have been the plastic bag of pills,” I said.

  “Not necessarily. Lucas also had an e-cigarette in his pockets and a bag of butterscotch hard candies. He claims Wyatt handed over the candy, not the pills.”

  “Of all the ridiculous things to say!” Denise grabbed her purse from the table. “As if a young man with a reputation for peddling drugs to teens is giving them candy instead. So Wyatt has evaded justice once again. This is disgraceful.”

  Kit had his mouth open to speak, but Denise had already stormed out. “Too bad she left,” he said. “I wasn’t done.”

  With a heavy heart, I cleared off the bistro table. “Denise has a strong sense of justice. I also suspect she knew someone with drug problems in the past. Probably a young person. I don’t blame her for being upset. Wyatt seems to be skating around every roadblock, whether it concerns his thefts or his drug dealing. It’s not right.”

  “The sheriff’s department has a strong sense of justice, too,” Kit said with a small smile. “And I think we’ll be able to get Lucas to change his story about Wyatt.”

  “How?”

  “I spoke with his dad at the hospital. His name is Frank Hendriksen; he owns a company that mows lawns and shovels snow. When he learned Lucas could have been seriously injured because he’d popped some pills, he got even angrier than Brody O’Neill. Blames all this on Wyatt. Says he’s been selling drugs to his kid since he was in tenth grade. The only way to prove it is for Lucas to change his story.” Holt followed me into the store kitchen where I put Denise’s glass in the dishwasher. “He gave me his assurance that once Lucas has completely recovered, he’d make certain his son told the truth to the authorities. I believe him.”

  “Then Wyatt may finally have to face the consequences.”

  “If he’s charged with possession and sale of a drug, they’ll be serious consequences. Michigan has tough drug laws.”

  “Kit, I know you’re not assigned to the Porter Gale case, but I’m sure Greg has spoken to you about it.”

  He stared back at me with a quizzical expression.

  “I don’t expect any inside information,” I continued, “but I already know Porter died under suspicious circumstances.”

  “An official statement will be released tomorrow. Everyone is about to know that his death is being treated as a homicide.”

  “Exactly. A homicide where potassium chloride may have been the weapon. Denise and I saw bags of potassium chloride by the sheds on the O’Neill farm today.”

  He remained impassive. “It wouldn’t surprise me if every fruit grower in the county kept the substance on their property.”

  “But not every fruit grower stands to benefit if Porter Gale dies. His will was read today. The Blueberry Hill fortune has been split evenly between Cara O’Neill and Sloane. Someone in those two families could be the killer. And Wyatt already has a criminal record.”

  “Marlee, please let the police handle the case. You’ve made an enemy of Wyatt, and I know the type. He thinks he’s smarter than he is, but he’s vindictive. Lucas seems frightened of him. Maybe with good reason. You’re already on Wyatt’s radar, which means he may want to strike back. Don’t get any more involved.”

  “I can’t help but feel involved. After all, Greg and Chief Hitchcock want to speak to Ryan as soon as he gets back from his fishing trip. And it isn’t to ask him about how much perch he caught. He’s a suspect.”

  “The Gale homicide is not my case. But I will say that if your fiancé doesn’t return to Oriole Point soon, a warrant may be issued for his arrest.”

  “Why? What have you learned?” I braced myself to hear the worst.

  “Too bad you didn’t hold off on taking that vacation to Illinois. I’d feel better if you were out of town right now. You’re too close to all the players in this case.” He leaned over the washboard near the sink. “How was the trip, by the way?”

  “Wonderful. I always enjoy visiting my parents in Chicago. And going to Champaign to meet Theo’s family was the right thing for both of us, especially after everything that happened last month. We needed to unwind.” I gave him an inquisitive look. “If you’re so interested in how my trip went, I’m surprised it’s taken two weeks to ask me about it.”

  “I knew you’d have a lot to catch up with after being gone. And I’m working on a tricky case.” He hesitated. “I also thought it best to stay away for a while.”

  “Your brother-in-law told me. I got the impression Greg advised you to keep your distance from me. Which I find a little hurtful. I thought we were friends, Kit.”

  “We are, and I value that friendship. But don’t be hard on Greg. In the ten years Greg’s been married to my sister, he’s become like a brother to me. I went through a bad breakup a couple years ago, and he doesn’t want to see me get hurt again. He can’t help himself. Being overprotective is in his DNA.”

  “I understand him watching out for you, but our relationship never turned romantic. Why all the concern?”

  Kit sighed. “Because he could see I’d grown fond of you, and not just as a friend. I have, Marlee. No point in denying it. I think I knew I was in trouble from the moment I first saw you at the picnic table on the Sanderling farm, petting that Great Dane lying all over your feet.”

  When Kit, representing the sheriff’s department, arrived that day, Piper’s giant puppy and I had just discovered a buried skeleton on the property. From the first I’d found Kit appealing. It appeared the feeling was mutual . . . but I had suspected as much.

  “I care for you, Marlee,” he went on in a low voice. “Far more than I should, given that you’re engaged to someone else. Greg was right to warn me off. The last thing I want is to get between you and Ryan.” He shrugged. “But maybe I’m misreading the signs, and I’m the only one of us that feels this way.”

  The darkening kitchen felt close and intimate, as if the rest of the world lay sleeping and only this curly-haired man and I were awake. A wave of emotion swept over me—equal parts guilt and happiness. I shouldn’t be having such strong feelings for Kit while engaged to Ryan. Yet learning the attraction between us was mutual gave me a rush of pleasure.

  “You’re not mistaken. I have romantic feelings toward you as well.” My heart quickened at the smile that sprang to his lips. “Only I don’t know what to do about it, especially at the moment. This week has left me reeling. I feel like I’m caught in something, Kit. Only I don’t know how to get out.”

  “I understand. You need time to think about what you really want for the future. That’s why I’ve kept my distance.”

  “It’s more than that. I’m afraid Ryan has been lying to me.”

  “About what?”

  “About everything.” I choked back a sob. “It makes me afraid for him. And me.”

  Kit came over and took me by the arms. “Are you afraid he’s done something wrong? Illegal? Are you afraid he might hurt you? Be honest
with me.”

  I would have loved nothing more than to lay my head against Kit’s chest, but I needed to keep focused. “Ryan could never hurt me, at least not physically. But he’s keeping things from me, and I’m worried it might get him into trouble.”

  “Something to do with Porter Gale’s murder?”

  “It can’t be. Ryan is not a killer.”

  “Please trust no one until the Porter Gale case has been solved. Except for me.” He brushed the hair back from my face. “I want you to trust me.”

  “I do.” I stared up at him. “I trust you, Kit.”

  I don’t know who made the first move, but it was as close to mutual as one could get. As we pressed against each other, I felt his own heart racing to match that of mine. Small wonder. Our kiss seemed endless, ardent, and intoxicating. My cell phone on the nearby counter began to wail its Mission Impossible ringtone, but neither of us cared. We let the kiss continue through all five rings, only breaking apart as a familiar chime signaled that someone had left a voice mail.

  When we stepped back from each other, his dazed expression mirrored my own.

  “Yes,” he said in a voice barely above a whisper. “More than friends.”

  “Definitely.” My feelings had seesawed all week. A passionate kiss from Kit Holt had intensified them. But I was no longer confused. If I had such strong feelings for another man, I couldn’t marry Ryan. Even if nothing came of my romance with Kit Holt, what just occurred proved I could not walk down the aisle with Ryan Zellar in January. Or ever.

  As if echoing my phone, Holt’s cell vibrated and he took it out of his shirt pocket.

  “Sheriff business?” I asked as he read the text message.

  “I’m officially off duty, but I asked one of my officers to text me if further information surfaced about a suspect. It has.” After replying with his own text, Holt stuffed the phone back in his pocket. “Sorry, Marlee. I have to go.”

  “Of course. But let me give you and your officers something to snack on.” Grabbing a white pastry box, I filled it with slices of blueberry coffee cake, then tied it up with string. “Theo used an old Betty Crocker recipe he had from his mother. It’s a classic. Delicious too.”

  He took the box from me with a grin. “You had me at coffee cake.”

  “Wait until the winter. Theo won an award at last year’s Winter Carnival for his cranberry nut coffee cake.”

  “Ah. Then you intend to provide me with coffee cake year-round?”

  I gave him a careless shrug. “If you like.”

  Holt leaned over for another kiss, this one gentle and sweet. “I do like.” His expression grew serious. “Be careful, Marlee. If you suspect Ryan is lying about something, I’d feel a lot happier if you kept your distance from him. At least until the Gale case is solved. Maybe you should keep your distance from me as well. You need time to think about everything without any distractions.”

  “I like distractions. They make life interesting.” I also liked the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, which he did right before hurrying out the door.

  “That was unexpected,” I said aloud to my empty shop. Unexpected, but welcome. I hadn’t felt this giddy and excited about someone of the opposite sex since my adolescent crush on David Boreanaz on the TV show Angel. I found Kit even more appealing. And he wasn’t a vampire, either. How in the world did I ever imagine I was ready to marry Ryan? Maybe my biological clock had kicked in early. Or I’d simply had too many unsatisfying relationships. Despite my bridal jitters, part of me wanted a lifelong commitment. But Ryan had been the wrong man. I wondered if Kit Holt could be the right one.

  I bit back a yawn as I shut off the lights and locked the front door. Walking through the kitchen to reach the rear parking lot, I spied my phone on the counter. Picking it up, I checked to see who had left a voice mail while I was kissing Kit. My buoyant mood burst like a punctured balloon when I saw Ryan had called.

  His voice mail announced he was on his way to my house.

  * * *

  I sped through the village streets to reach my home on Lakeshore Drive, breathing a sigh of relief when I saw Ryan’s truck was nowhere in sight. At least I had made it here before him. But I didn’t know what the advantage in that was, aside from giving me extra time to prepare myself. There was a lot we needed to discuss. I wasn’t looking forward to the conversation.

  As I took Minnie out of her cage, I reminded myself that we also had to discuss my feelings for Kit Holt. And what it meant for the future Ryan and I had planned. “What do you think, sweetie?” I asked Minnie as I stroked her head. “Is this the time to bring all of this up? Because if I do, I’m pretty sure that’s the last either of us will see of Ryan.”

  Minnie whistled and replied, “Hello. Who’s a pretty bird?”

  “You are,” I reassured her.

  I heard the front door swing open. “Hey, babe. It’s me.”

  At the sound of Ryan’s voice, Minnie cried, “Daddy’s home.”

  Placing Minnie on my shoulder, I went to greet Ryan. Slinging a duffel bag on the floor, he swept me up in his arms for a kiss, careful not to dislodge Minnie from her perch. I felt my cheeks burn red as I kissed him. Having recently done the same with Kit, this kiss seemed dishonest and wrong. I wasn’t cut out for anything but a ruthlessly honest life.

  “Are you hungry?” I quickly stepped out of his embrace. “I ate dinner in town, but I’ve got chicken salad in the fridge.”

  “Nah, I stopped for dinner on the way back.” He grabbed me by the arm to prevent me from walking away. “I’ve missed my girl.”

  “I’m surprised you were gone three days. With the Blueberry Blow Out still going on, I expected you back yesterday.”

  He shrugged. “The fishing was good.”

  I looked at the duffel bag near the door. “I don’t see a cooler with perch for me to clean.”

  “I let Josh keep all of them.”

  “You’re kidding. You love perch.”

  “I love you even more. And I didn’t want to be bothered with anything but you and me when I got back. I’ve made plans.” He wore a mischievous look.

  “Plans for what?”

  “Wait till you see.” He went over to the duffel bag and pulled out an envelope. “These are airline tickets, hon. In the morning we leave for Vegas.”

  I couldn’t have heard right. “Vegas? Why?”

  “Because I can’t wait until January.” His grin grew wider. “We’re getting married tomorrow!”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Minnie expressed my exact thoughts when she said, “Are you crazy, mate?”

  Ryan laughed at her response, but I was not amused. “You can’t be serious, Ryan. I’m not running off to Vegas to get married.”

  “Why not? It makes more sense than waiting until January. Even my dad advised me to elope. He’s been through this whole thing with all my brothers. The Zellars are wedding fatigued.”

  “How nice for the Zellars. But I’m a Jacob. And an only child. Do you really think I would hurt my parents by getting married without them by my side?”

  He rolled his eyes. “Okay, okay. I’ll go online and see if I can book them tickets, too.”

  “You’re not doing any such thing. Neither my parents nor I are going to Vegas tomorrow for some tacky last-minute wedding. I can’t believe you thought I’d be okay with this.”

  “Excuse me? Tacky?” He shook his head. “I’ve booked a suite at The Bellagio. And Josh told me about this great wedding chapel called Chapel of the Flowers. His cousin got married there last year. It’s first class all the way. Nothing tacky about it.”

  “Tacky, tacky, tacky,” Minnie repeated, no doubt thrilled to imitate a new word.

  “Cancel it.” I crossed my arms. “We’re not going to Vegas. I’ve had enough of you making decisions without a word to me first. It’s rude and selfish.”

  “You’re the selfish one.” Ryan stuffed the airline tickets back into his duffel bag. “How about asking what I wa
nt once in a while?”

  “I don’t have to. You tell me all the time. You don’t want a big wedding this winter. You don’t want to spend time around my friends, except for Tess. You don’t want to live in this house after we get married. In fact, you want me to sell my family home as soon as possible.”

  “Yeah. And have you done it? Of course not. That’s because you’re the selfish one. Too bad you didn’t have brothers and sisters. They might have taught you to compromise.”

  Minnie whistled. Since she sat on my shoulder, I winced at the piercing sound.

  “Are you kidding? You’ve gotten your way with every female you’ve ever met. Starting with your mother. And please tell me when you’ve made a single compromise since we became engaged? Really, give me an example. All I’ve heard you do is plan every step of our lives.”

  “I thought we wanted the same things.”

  “Which proves you don’t listen to me.”

  “Well, I’m listening now. And I don’t like what I’m hearing.” Ryan kicked his duffel bag. “Here I was all excited about you and me going to Vegas tomorrow so we can officially start our life together. I can’t believe I was so stupid.”

  “Not stupid, Ryan. Oblivious.” With a heavy sigh, I walked over to my tartan love seat and sat down. Minnie hopped off my shoulder to perch on the nearby upholstered arm. “And you have more important things to be concerned about than an impromptu trip to Vegas. The police want to speak with you as soon as possible.”

  “About what?”

  “Porter Gale’s death. It’s being treated as a homicide.”

  “Homicide? Are you kidding me?”

  I told him about the potassium chloride in Porter’s insulin shot and the deadly effect it had.

  His expression went from frustrated to amused. “Looks like I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t stand the bastard.”

  “Ryan, this isn’t funny. The police want to see you because you’re a suspect.”

  “That’s ridiculous.”