Her jaw dropped and she sputtered a bit trying to find the words. She dropped the coffee cup she was holding in her hands. It fell onto the carpet and splattered.
“That’s not...” she began, searching for the thing to say.
“I know what happened, Maribelle. I put the pieces together. I saw the cuff-link It matched the one I found on my cart! It was Derrick’s, and now it’s your trophy.”
I said that all louder than I intended. My chest heaved with the effort as I finished. We stared at each other. I realized how much I had moved forward in my seat, so I slid back.
I kept my eye on Maribelle. It was hard to read her expression. She got a napkin and began to wipe up the mess on the floor. I tried not to think about how it reminded me of the blood splatter from the murder.
“Colleen, you have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said. “I didn’t kill Derrick.” She got a little choked up as she said his name.
“I saw you with the cuff-link,” I said. “And you took so long to get back out to us after the fire alarm.” I was laying my whole accusation out for her.
She put the napkin on the table and sat back up. She ran her hands over the tops of her legs and primly smoothed out her clothes.
“Everyone in Jordan’s friendship group has those cuff-links, Coco. They aren’t as unique as you think.”
I felt myself deflate a little. I was so sure those were the smoking gun. But I still had more evidence.
“And your absence when the fire alarm was pulled?”
“Yes, I did take a while to come out after the fire alarm, but it wasn’t because I killed Derrick. I would never do that.”
“Then what were you doing?”
She sighed and covered her face with her hands.
“Oh lord. I don’t think I can say it!” she said. She sighed again and put her hands back in her lap. “But what choice do I have?”
“I didn’t kill Derrick,” she continued. “I was with Oliver when the alarm was pulled. That’s what took so long.”
“Oliver?” I asked.
She looks ashamed. “He knew I was meeting Derrick in the middle of the night at the hotel. I couldn’t have him say something and ruin the wedding!”
“Oliver,” I repeated again. Oliver, Rose's smug poodle guy? I made a mental note to check her alibi after this.
I knew she had charisma from being a pageant queen, but I didn’t think she was this good of an actress.
“I couldn’t have killed Derrick,” she said with tears forming in her eyes. “I loved him!”
She started to cry as soon as she said that. I knew deep down in my gut that she didn’t do it. No one could put on a performance like that.
Still, I knew I had to check her alibi. I needed to talk to Oliver. I didn’t know what would happen once my main suspect’s alibi was confirmed, but I knew I had to bring the truth to light.
Chapter 25
I left Maribelle’s with a mission. I needed to get to the liquor store to confirm her alibi. Oliver was the one person standing between Maribelle and a murder accusation.
I walked in to the liquor store and saw Oliver standing behind the counter. The store was empty other than me, so I went up to talk to him.
“Hi, Oliver,” I said. I wasn’t sure how to start something like this. There was no rule book I could think of for how to casually check someone’s alibi.
“Coco,” he said. “Were you here to buy something?”
“Not quite,” I said. “I wanted to ask you a few questions about the night Derrick was murdered.”
“What, are you a detective now? I thought you were a baker.”
“I am, but I was wondering something, and I think you could help me out with it.”
“I’m not about to incriminate myself in something I didn’t do.”
It was a smart move on his part. Rumor had it that he was glad Derrick was dead. I wouldn’t want to say any more than I had to either if I was in his position.
“I’m not accusing you of anything,” I said.
“Good. I didn’t do anything.”
“I just had some questions about Maribelle and Derrick.”
He shook his head. “Nope. Not answering any questions about anybody. Goodbye, Coco.”
I tried to think fast. This wasn’t going as well as I planned.
“What if I did buy something?” I asked. “Would that jog your memory?”
I was desperate to try anything.
“What are you planning to buy?” He asked. “A piddly six pack isn’t going to fund your detective work.”
I looked around the store. I saw the wine section.
“I’ll be right back,” I said. I looked around until I saw an expensive bottle of wine. The price was going to hurt my wallet, but it wouldn’t hurt as bad as losing the Everett wedding contract.
I brought the wine up to the counter.
“I want this,” I said.
He raised an eyebrow, but he rung up my purchase.
“What do you want to know?” he asked.
“Maribelle said she was with you. That’s why she was late getting out after the fire alarm went off. You’re her alibi for where she was during the murder.”
He thought for a moment, choosing his words carefully.
“Maribelle and I were talking about some... sensitive information, which I’m sure you already know. She isn’t perfect, but she didn’t kill anybody.”
“Okay. Thank you. That’s all I needed.” I said.
He put my wine in a bag and handed it to me.
“Unless you want to buy another, that’s all you get anyway.”
I took my purchase and went home.
When I got there, I set my wine down and went to engage the triple lock system that the police had installed. It did make me feel a little bit more safe, but just barely.
I turned on the oven to heat up some flour. I wanted nothing more than to eat cookie dough and watch a silly reality TV show.
I whipped up the cookie dough after the flour was done being heat treated. I made sure to be careful about it. With my luck, I would get food poisoning from the raw dough if I didn’t do it carefully enough.
My apartment was still a mess, but I didn’t care. All I wanted to do was relax.
After I got my ingredients mixed together, I went into the bedroom and changed into my pajamas. Then, I curled up in bed with my dough and turned on a season of a reality show to binge.
I wanted so badly to turn my mind off, but I just couldn’t. I was thinking about Maribelle and how sure I was that she was the murderer. I thought I had the case solved.
Just a few hours ago, I was confident I could secure my business’s future, but now I didn’t think I could. The wedding would be canceled and a murderer would walk free.
It was too depressing to even think about, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. There had to be something I missed. Or, if the murderer is really that good at not leaving any clues, we have a bigger problem on our hands.
It didn’t feel like that long ago that things were normal. Why did everything have to change all of a sudden.
It wasn’t perfect. Nothing ever was. But at least I was happy.
Now it felt so hopeless. Even if I had decided to never get involved with the investigation, it wouldn’t have changed the outcome. Things would be no different than if I hadn't have tried at all.
My phone rang. It was Masie.
I considered not answering and continuing to wallow, but something compelled me to pick up.
“Hello?” I said.
“Hey, Coco,” Masie said on the other end. “Have you heard from Scooter?” There was a hint of anxiety in her voice.
“No,” I said. “Shouldn’t he be there with you? He’s scheduled to work.”
“I know. I thought maybe he called you to tell you he wasn’t coming in.”
I paused. This was totally unlike Scooter.
“Let me call his mom,” I said. “Thanks, Masie.”
“No problem, Coco.”
I immediately dialed Scooter’s home phone number. Scooter messed up plenty of things, but he took his work seriously. He was never, ever late to work.
After a few rings, his mother answered.
“Hello?”
“Hi, is Scooter there? It’s Coco. He hasn’t shown up for his shift yet,” I said.
“He hasn’t shown up for his shift?” She said, confused. “He never came back! I assumed he was still there!”
I felt a chill go up my spine. I knew then that something bad had happened.
Not only was there a murderer on the loose, but now Scooter was missing too. I jumped out of bed.
I knew that Scooter going missing had something to do with Scooter. It was now more important than ever to find out who it was.
Chapter 26
I paced around my room for a while and kept picking my cell phone up and putting it down again. I was scared for Scooter, but I had no idea what I was supposed to do next. This whole affair seemed to get more and more dangerous every day.
I was worried sick but I knew I had to call Logan and let him know no one could find Scooter.
The phone rang for an eternity and I picked at my fingernails nervously. I was on edge and kept jumping at the shadows on the walls.
“Hello?” Logan’s voice finally trickled down the phone line into my ear and I sighed in relief. Just hearing his voice made me remember that I wasn’t alone in this.
“Something’s happened,” I whispered, my voice failing to come out any louder despite my efforts.
“Say that again? Coco?”
I cleared my throat a couple of times and tried again. “Yes, yes, Logan it’s me. I think something’s happened, something bad.”
“At your apartment? I’ll be right over.” I could hear Logan moving around and the jangle of keys.
“No, not at my apartment. And I’m fine Logan, it’s Scooter I’m worried about. I think he’s in trouble!”
“What do you mean? Is he okay?”
“I don’t know, that’s the problem. He didn’t show up for work and his mom said he’s not at home. He’s missing and nobody knows where he is.”
I took a deep breath and tried to control myself. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes and I felt the panic rising in my chest. I could never forgive myself if anything happened to Scooter because of me and my stupid investigating.
“Alright. I’m sure everything’s fine and he’s just got held up somewhere. Coco, are you still there?”
Logan’s voice washed down the phone line and it felt like one of his warm hugs. I closed my eyes and let it soothe me.
“Coco?” He insisted.
“I’m still here. Logan, I’m scared.”
“I’ll be right there. I promise.” With that, he hung up the phone and I slid down the bedroom wall to sit on the floor.
I sat there for a while, eyes still closed and my head swimming. I checked the clock obsessively, but time seemed to be crawling along. I was still alone, and Scooter still hadn’t checked in.
When I started to get a cramp in my leg I got up and began to pace. I tried to understand what was happening, who could do a thing like this.
“Come on Coco, think about it!” I said out loud to myself, angrily. The room seemed too small and I couldn’t help but feel like I’ve been missing something.
I stopped and stared at my reflection in the glass of the window. Outside I saw birds nesting in the trees, but the street was empty of people and cars. It looked like a ghost town.
I leaned my head against the cool glass and stared straight ahead. I was missing something, I knew it. Something had been percolating in my head for days, a little thought had been running around in my brain, nagging at me.
I turned to continue pacing and tripped over a discarded sweater, falling to the floor. I hit the ground with a thump and groaned. Typical me, too clumsy for my own good.
When I managed to drag myself up again, the small birds in the tree had been chased away by magpies, holding something small and shiny. I blinked a few times, trying to get my head back to where it had been only a few minutes ago.
I tapped on the window and one of the magpies turned its head towards me. We made eye contact and it regarded me, unimpressed, with its treasure held firmly in its beak.
I clicked my tongue and turned around again. I started walking back to my bed but stopped suddenly, ice shooting up my spine. My brain whirred and for a second I forgot how to breathe.
It came to me in a flash, all the pieces of the puzzle slotting neatly into place. I couldn’t believe it.
I knew who the killer was.
I grabbed my phone and dialed Logan’s number again, my hands shaking. But for a moment I hesitated before pressing the call button. We’ve already been on a bit of a wild goose chase and Logan had made no secret of his annoyance at my investigations.
I shook myself out of my doubts and hit the dial button. This time, Logan’s voice hit me almost immediately.
“Coco. You okay? I’ll be there soon.”
“No, there’s no time. I know where Scooter is, and I know what’s happened.”
“I don’t understand. Coco, what are you talking about?”
“I’m going to give you an address Logan and I need you to meet me there, right now. Please, you have to trust me. We have to get to Scooter, now.”
Logan was reluctant but eventually agreed. I hung up on him and brushed the hair out of my face. I noticed my hands were still shaking.
I left the house so quickly that I was already at my car before I realized I hadn’t picked my keys up on my way out. As I raced back through the door, heart pounding, my sudden movements disturbed the magpies and they took flight. I watched them leave as I hurried back down the path and unlocked my car.
“Two for joy. I hope,” I murmured to myself as I got in.
I fired up the engine and winced as my tires screeched and crunched on the gravel. I barely stopped at the stop sign at the end of the street and I gunned it around the corner and headed for the killer’s place.
I didn’t have time to slow down, but luckily the streets were still empty. I drove with my heart in my throat, fighting the urge to cry. I needed to keep my cool.
I just hoped we weren’t going to be too late.
Chapter 27
I sat shivering my car on the quiet street. My hand kept straying to the door handle, but I stopped myself. I promised Logan that I would wait.
A tap on the window made me scream. I grabbed the rolling pin off the passenger seat and threw myself away from the door. When I looked up, Logan’s sparkling eyes stared at me guiltily.
I put my hand to my chest and forced myself to calm down as I opened the door.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” Logan insisted as he pulled me into a tight hug. I breathed in the smell of coffee and cologne, so happy to see him.
Logan broke the hug off and held me at arm’s length. He shook me slightly, and his guilty expression morphed into an angry concern.
“Why didn’t you wait at your place? We could’ve come here together.”
“Because that would have wasted time, Logan! Scooter is in trouble and we need to help him.”
I tried to make towards the door, but Logan held me firmly. “No. I will be deciding what we do here, Coco.”
I tried to protest but he sighed and closed his eyes, shaking his head. “Coco, I was so worried about you. You could’ve gotten hurt so many times and now you want to run into this situation with no training and no plan. I don’t want anything to happen to you!”
I moved close and hugged him again. “I’m sorry, Logan. I’m just so worried about Scooter. I don’t want us to be too late.”
I felt him nod against my head. “I know. Listen, you stay here and I’ll go in there and look around, okay?”
I tried to protest but he looked at me firmly. “You are a civilian, not a cop, Coco. For one thing you could get hurt but for anothe
r I can’t take a civilian to go search a suspect’s property, especially without a warrant. You could cost me my job.”
I swallowed hard and finally agreed. As much as I didn’t want to hang around outside waiting for him, I would have hated if my involvement in all this had bad repercussions for Logan. He was so sweet and he didn’t deserve that.
Logan entered the building, his gun drawn. I walked up and down the sidewalk trying to keep warm and stay focused on the task at hand. I’d been so anxious all day but as I waited for Logan my nerves were through the roof.
I checked my watch. Ten minutes, and no sign of Logan or Scooter. I paced some more, then sat on the hood of my car. But staying still made me feel worse so I jumped up and started pacing again.
I felt like I’d been waiting forever, but when I checked my watch again only a few more minutes had passed. He hadn’t been gone for that long, but I couldn’t stand it any longer.
I was terrified that I would wait for too long without doing anything, and Logan or Scooter would get hurt. Or killed.
With those terrible thoughts swirling in my head I unlocked my car again and grabbed my trusty traveling rolling pin. I always kept it in the car for trying times and it would come in handy for this.
I sucked in a huge breath and crept in through the same door Logan had ventured through. I slunk through the front of the shop, wielding the rolling pin in front of me for protection.
Something grazed my shoulder and I jumped a foot into the air, only barely managing to keep myself from screaming. I thrashed the rolling pin around wildly, only calming down when I realized that my assailant was a pretty orchid. Or at least, it was probably pretty before it got beaten down to the ground by a wooden utensil. Who says rolling pins aren't lethal weapons?
I hastily stuffed the orchid back into the pot and tried to arrange it so it was less obvious that it had been attacked. It still drooped sadly so I hid the entire pot behind a rose bush and moved swiftly on through the rest of the flowers until I reached the back of the florists.
I knocked into a display of ceramic plant pots, causing them to teeter dangerously. In my haste to catch them all I dropped the rolling pin, and it made a dull thudding noise on the floor. I froze, holding my breath and trying desperately to listen for footsteps.
Crepes and Crimes Page 9
