A few steps from the boat, Mike stopped and indicated that Chris and Doc were to stay there. He silently walked over to the boat and heard Kelly talking to Rebel. Instinctively, he jumped aboard. At the sound of Mike landing on his boat, Derek turned and fired a wild shot at him. Fortunately for Mike, the drugs Derek had used earlier affected his vision and the shot missed Mike by less than an inch.
“Attack, Rebel, attack,” Kelly screamed at Rebel. In one blindingly fast movement Rebel leaped onto Derek, snarling and growling, biting the arm that held his gun. Derek fell to the floor, writhing in pain, his gun sliding out of his hand and clattering across the deck of the boat. Rebel stood on top of him, growling, his teeth inches from Derek’s face. Doc and Chris jumped on board. Mike and Doc both pointed their guns at Derek.
“Kelly, get Rebel off of him.”
“Rebel, stand down. Stand down, boy,” she commanded. He walked over to her and lay down, panting. She rubbed his ears, “Good boy. You saved Mike’s life and mine too.”
“Get up,” Mike said to Derek. “You’ve got some serious explaining to do.”
“Mike, he killed Amber,” Kelly blurted out. “I recorded it all. I know you told me not to buy that little miniature recorder when we saw it for sale on the Internet. You told me it was just a come-on, but I did it anyway. I hope it worked.” She rewound the tape in the recorder and pressed the play button.
A second later, all of them heard, “You’re the one who killed Amber…” She turned it off and smiled at Mike. “His full confession is on this recorder. Amber visited him the morning of the murder and told him she was pregnant. He pretended they needed to make love to celebrate their upcoming marriage and he hit her on the head with one of his weights. From there everything that happened was just like we’ve suspected. We just had the wrong man.”
She turned to Chris. “I owe you a big apology. I was certain that you had killed Amber…”
Chris interrupted her. “Whatever made you think that? My sister was murdered and I still have nightmares about it. That’s why I don’t own a gun. I’m the type that takes spiders outside and lets them go rather than kill them. I’d be the last person to kill anything. I can’t believe you thought I was the killer. I felt like we were friends. I noticed you got kind of funny when you saw the free weights on my boat and I couldn’t figure out why.”
“Think about it, Chris,” Kelly said. “You’re a good looking man, a man a young woman might have fantasies about. You live on your boat. You row your boat every morning and you knew Amber. She was drowned in the bay. Only someone who had a boat or access to a boat could have taken her out into the bay and dumped her body overboard. There aren’t many people who live on their boats here at the marina, so you were a natural suspect. I pretty much eliminated the other suspects, but I couldn’t eliminate you.”
“Wait a minute, Kelly,” Mike said. “What do you mean ‘you eliminated them? I think once again you’ve forgotten that I’m the sheriff of this county and this case is not only in my jurisdiction, but officially it’s my case, not yours.”
“You’re absolutely right. I just know how busy you are and I wanted to help you.”
“You helped all right. You solved the case, but you almost got both you and Rebel killed in the process. Do me a favor and don’t try to help me with any more cases. Deal?”
“Deal,” she said, mentally crossing her fingers.
“I heard Kelly call you Derek. Derek, you’re under arrest for the murder of Amber Cook. I’m going to read you your Miranda rights and then we’re going to take a little trip to the county jail. You’ll be arraigned and then a trial date will be set. Don’t know if you have any money, but the judges in this county don’t look too kindly on letting accused murderers out on bail, so even if you do have some money, don’t think that will happen. Doc, keep him covered while I get the Miranda card out of my wallet.” He read Derek his rights and then called his deputy to come down to the marina. He told his deputy he didn’t have his car and he had a prisoner in custody that needed to be transported to the county jail.
“Kelly, I think it’s time for you and Rebel to go home. I’ll be along when I finish this up. Doc, thanks for following your gut instinct and calling me when Kelly promised you she wouldn’t visit Chris without me.” He looked over at Kelly who had a very contrite look on her face.
“Chris, you can go back to your boat and listen to the rest of the sonata. Sorry I had to bother you, but I’m sure after you’ve had a chance to think about it, you’ll realize you were a very viable suspect. I’m glad it wasn’t you.” Mike turned to Doc, “Derek’s going to walk up the gangway and into the parking lot where my deputy’s car should be waiting. I’ll be right behind him with my gun on him and I’d like you to follow us in case he has any last minute grandiose ideas like jumping into the ocean and swimming to safety. If he makes a move, shoot him.”
“It would be my pleasure,” Doc said.
The three of them made their way up the gangway where the red and blue lights on top of the deputy’s car were blinking in the parking lot.
Kelly turned to Rebel and said, “Well, Rebel, that was a little more exciting than I’d planned. Good boy. Think we need to get home and give you some treats, however, I’m not sure what the proper food is to give a dog that has just saved my life.”
He let out a woof, wagged his tail, and followed her up the gangway.
CHAPTER 24
The graduates filed into the school auditorium, black caps and gowns on, proud looks on both their faces and the faces of their family members. Mike squeezed Kelly’s hand knowing how hard it must be for her not to see her goddaughter graduate. Amber’s parents, Ginger and Bob, had chosen not to attend the graduation. Their loss was still too fresh for them to sit through the graduation ceremony. The town had been full of rumors the last two days, and as usual, some were right and some weren’t. All that was really known was that Dottie’s nephew had been arrested on her boat and charged with murdering Amber.
Dr. Ricketts, the school principal, walked up to the podium. The faculty members were seated behind him. He spoke for a few moments and then began calling out the names of the graduating seniors. After their name had been called, the students walked across the stage and Dr. Ricketts’ secretary handed them their rolled diploma tied with a blue ribbon. The high school in Cedar Bay wasn’t a large one and it didn’t take long to call the names of the one hundred twenty-six graduates. After the last diploma had been given out, Dr. Ricketts again stepped to the podium.
“Today it is my distinct pleasure to introduce Brandon Black who will deliver the valedictorian address. I’ve known Brandon since he came to Cedar Bay High School as a freshman. While his performance as a quarterback has already become legendary, I want everyone here to know that his academic accomplishments are equally legendary. It is rare to have a student graduate with a perfect 4.0 average, but Brandon was able to do that. He is a role model for every current student as well as future students, and although he will be missed, all of us will be following his next challenge, playing football for Oregon State on a full scholarship. What most people don’t know is that not only was he awarded a football scholarship, if he had chosen not to play for Oregon State, the university also offered him a full academic scholarship. To say this school is proud of his achievements would be the understatement of the year. Ladies and gentlemen, I can think of no one more deserving to deliver the valedictorian address than Brandon Black.”
The applause was thunderous as Brandon stepped onto the stage. He waited a moment for the crowd to become quiet and then began. A pin drop silence settled over the audience as everyone prepared to listen to what he was going to say. The rapt audience knew about the events of the last two weeks, or at least most of those events.
“Thank you ladies and gentlemen and fellow graduates. I would be remiss if I didn’t dedicate this address to a young woman we all loved and looked up to – Amber Cook. As I’m sure you know, she was very close t
o me and I will miss her every day for the rest of my life. I honestly believe she’s looking down on us at this moment, wanting us to remember her, but most of all, wanting us to move on with our lives.”
Kelly leaned over and whispered to Mike. “I am so glad that Brandon doesn’t know the truth about Amber.”
“Me too,” he said.
Sniffles were heard throughout the auditorium and many people in the audience reached into their pocket or purse to get a Kleenex or handkerchief. All of them knew how hard this must be for Brandon.
He continued, “What the events of the last two weeks have taught me is how precious every moment of our lives is. We never know when tragedy or unforeseen events will change our lives. The coming years will bring tremendous changes to each of the lives of the graduates who are here today. Some of us are going to college, some of us are starting careers, and some of us are getting married and beginning our families. Changes. Some will be good, some won’t. We must cherish the good moments and find something good in the bad moments. Only by doing that can we live our lives fully. Only by doing that, cherishing each moment, can we keep some type of control over our lives.
“I hope when we return for our ten year reunion, each one of you will come up to me and say, “Brandon, there were times I didn’t think I could go on, times when I hated my life, times when I was so down I didn’t think I could ever get up again, but I remembered the words you said at our graduation, ‘cherish the moment,’ and I knew I could get through it. My friends and fellow graduates, cherishing the moment and fully living it, is far more important than the score on a football scoreboard or the results of an exam. If you remember nothing from this graduation day, but ‘cherish the moment,’ all the pain I’ve been through these last few days will be worth it. So I say to you, believe in yourself and cherish the moment! Thank you.”
As he walked off the stage, the audience rose as one, clapping and yelling. In seconds the auditorium erupted into a chant, “Brandon, Brandon.” In that seminal moment, the little town of Cedar Bay healed as they cherished one of their own.
Dr. Ricketts stepped back to the podium and spent five minutes to no avail trying to quiet the crowd. When it became clear that the crowd was never going to become quiet, he yelled, “Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes our graduation ceremony. Graduates, you may toss your caps in the air and begin your new lives.”
Caps filled the air above the heads of the graduates. The seniors of Cedar Bay High School were now alumni, fully ready to face and take on the world.
*****
“Mike, wasn’t that about the best graduation ceremony you’ve ever attended? I feel cleansed, like this horrible thing is over and because of Brandon, I really had the sense that everyone else did too. You mentioned that you thought Derek’s attorney would cut a deal with the prosecutor and plead guilty to a lesser charge so there wouldn’t be a trial. I hope he does. I really don’t want anyone to know the truth about Amber, particularly Brandon, Ginger, and Bob.”
“I have a feeling he will. The evidence against him is pretty solid and there’s a good chance the jury would find him guilty and give him the death penalty. Not that it wouldn’t be fitting in his case. Anyway, Brandon’s an amazing young man. I don’t know many people who could do what he did this afternoon. I imagine we’ll hear a lot about him in the future, and given his speech today, I’m sure it will all be positive.”
“Mike, I want to apologize again about the Chris and Derek thing. I was wrong. I should have called you. I guess you didn’t even need to come here and stay at my house to protect me, although I’m glad you did. Obviously at that time Derek wasn’t a threat to me, nor was Chris.”
“Well, Kelly,” he said standing up and walking over to where she was seated on the deck, looking out at the bay. “It made something perfectly clear to me. I realized I couldn’t stand for anything to happen to you. I may not have shown it, but I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared in my life.” He got down on one knee. “I know it’s kind of hokey, but would you marry me?” He took a small box out of the pocket of his pants and held it up to her. She opened it. Inside was a beautiful emerald cut diamond. “Kelly, if you agree to marry me I don’t think Julia or Cash would object if I moved in permanently. I called both of them to ask their permission to marry you and they seemed absolutely fine with it. Matter of fact, they were kind of enthusiastic, so what do you say?”
“Oh Mike. It’s beautiful and the answer is, yes, yes, yes.” He slipped the ring on her finger and stood up, pulling her to him.
“I think I know an even better way to celebrate than kissing on the deck. Come on,” he said.
She smiled and followed Mike into the house. Rebel sensed that this would be a good time for him to stay on the deck. He knew Mike would protect her and he could rest for a little while.
Recipes !
JANE’S SAUSAGE CASSEROLE
12 slices of sourdough bread, cut into 2” cubes
1 ½ pounds Jimmy Dean mild sausage
1 7 ounce can of chopped green chilies
3 cups cheddar cheese, grated
2 ½ cups milk
4 eggs
1 can golden mushroom soup mixed with ¼ cup milk (to be prepared next day)
1 teaspoon dry mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
Grease a 9 x 13 Pyrex glass dish and place the bread cubes in the bottom. Brown and drain the sausage. Add chilies, cheese, and sausage to the bread. Stir lightly. Mix eggs, milk, mustard, salt, and pepper together and pour over the mixture in the glass dish. Cover with saran wrap and refrigerate overnight.
The next day, remove the dish from the refrigerator and preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Prepare the mushroom mixture and pour it over casserole.
Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, uncovered. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Don’t over bake! It will firm up during the 10 minute cooling time.
DECADENT BACON CHOCOLATE-CHIP COOKIES
2 ½ cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 ounces chocolate chips
12 ounces bacon
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Fry the bacon and drain it on a paper towel. When the bacon is cool, break it into small pieces or put the pieces in a large plastic bag and use a rolling pin to break them up.
Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Mix the butter, sugars, and vanilla until well combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Gradually beat in the flour mixture. When combined, stir in the chocolate chips and bacon pieces. Drop rounded teaspoons of the cookie dough onto parchment lined cookie sheets. Bake in the oven for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 2 minutes and remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
MAMA DEE’S BARBECUED BRISKET
5-6 pound brisket
3 ounces liquid smoke
5 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
Onion salt
Salt and pepper
Place the brisket in a glass baking dish. Add the liquid smoke, 3 tablespoons of worcestershire sauce, and seasonings. Cover with tin foil and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat the oven to 275 degrees. When ready to bake, drain off the seasonings. Sprinkle with the remaining Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Cover with foil and bake for 5 hours. Let cool. Can be made up to a day in advance. Sauce can be made in advance as well. (I often double the sauce recipe to keep a good barbecue sauce on hand.)
BARBECUE SAUCE
1 cup catsup
½ cup lemon juice
1 cup water
½ cup worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon each of chili powder, salt, and celery seed.
Bring all to a boil and simmer until thickened.<
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One hour before serving, slice the brisket against the grain and pour some of the sauce between and on top of the slices. Bake one more hour at 275 degrees. Serve with the balance of the sauce on the side.
Leftovers are great slightly warmed and in sandwiches.
START MY DAY APPLE STUFFED FRENCH TOAST
12 slices Italian bread
½ cup butter, cubed
1 cup packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 large tart apples, peeled and thinly sliced
1 cup chopped pecans
6 eggs
1 ½ cups milk
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
In a small saucepan combine the brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup. Cook over medium heat until thickened, stirring occasionally. Pour mixture into a greased 9 x 13 baking dish. Top with half of the pecans, a single layer of bread, and then the other half of the pecans. Arrange the apples and remaining bread over the top.
In a large bowl whisk the eggs, milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and vanilla together. Pour over the bread. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake uncovered for 35 – 40 minutes or until lightly browned. Let stand for five minutes and invert. While baking, make the sauce.
CARAMEL SAUCE
½ cup light brown sugar
¼ cup unsalted butter, cubed
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
Combine the sauce ingredients and stir over medium heat until thickened. Serve with the French toast.
Enjoy!
KELLY’S CHEESECAKE
CRUST
¼ cup sugar
6 tablespoons melted butter
1 ¼ cups chocolate wafers, crushed (a food processor works well for this)
Kelly's Koffee Shop (A Cedar Bay Cozy Mystey Book 1) Page 13
