by Cindy Stark
“Yeah, but no-go. Harold volunteered to be fingerprinted, and no matches were found at Dotty’s house.”
She dropped her gaze, focusing on a dried leaf left from the previous autumn. “I hate to think it, but I’m starting to believe it might be Basil. He had access. Motive if you consider poverty a motive.”
“We found Basil.”
She shifted on the bench to face him better. “You did? Where?”
“Working for a factory outside Boston. We questioned him, but the guy seems clean. I doubt someone who’d just made off with a fortune would be living in the hovel he was. But he has plans for school, and I think he’ll be all right.”
“If he didn’t do it, then why did he leave? He and Sophie were in love. She told me yesterday she thinks she’s pregnant.”
He rubbed his knuckles across his chin. “If that’s the case, that’s not good, because he tells a different story. Sophie’s in love with him, but he’s not so much with her. At first, he was flattered that a pretty, rich girl liked him. He didn’t mention that they’d slept together, but he said she’d started talking about marriage and running away within a month of their first kiss. He wasn’t ready for anything that serious. Heck, they’re both still kids.”
Hazel let that information seep into her brain. “I remember coming upon them outside, and him telling her no, too, though I didn’t know the context. But she did mention to me that she wanted to run away with him. She said she’d told him that she had enough in her trust fund to support them while he went to school and then found a good job.”
He leaned back and furrowed his brows. “Sophie doesn’t have a trust fund, Hazel. We investigated the whole family thoroughly, looking for motives, etc.”
Hazel blinked. “Then where would she get the…money?” The last word fell quietly from her tongue. “The necklace. She stole her own necklace.”
“It wasn’t hers, yet,” Peter said pointedly. “But let’s go with that theory. If she took them, how would she sell them? She doesn’t have access to buyers. She’s a kid.”
She snorted. “Kids can be very resourceful.”
She paused as another memory clicked in her brain. “Now that you say that, I remember she was there the day that stranger approached her mother wanting to purchase them for an anonymous client. He left his card. She could have taken it.”
Hazel drew a strand of hair across her lips as she tried to recall more details. “Did you ever discover who he was and contact him?”
“Yeah, it didn’t pan out. He left town before the storm hit, and he had gas receipts to prove he was back in Boston an hour after he left Stonebridge. We placed him on the bottom of the suspect list.”
Hazel lifted her brows in excitement. “But now…”
“Now, we’ll be taking a second look to see if that’s how Sophie offloaded them.” He grinned, and a spark of desire shot through her “Excellent detective work, bella Hazel,” he teased, using Luca’s pet name for her.
She narrowed her gaze in warning. “Don’t be too smug. We haven’t broken the case yet.”
“Soon.” He stood and held out a hand to help her up. “I should probably get right on that tip, Miss Hardy.”
“Of course, Chief,” she tossed back.
“Can I hold your hand again?” He lifted hopeful brows.
“I’m not sure I’ve forgiven you, yet.” She had, but he could wonder for a while. Still, she didn’t pull her hand from his.
He tugged her closer. “Pretty please?”
She groaned as a traitorous smile curved her lips. “Fine. You may.”
They strolled back through the bright afternoon sun and discussed the evidence again to make sure everything added up. When they reached the edge of the grove, he released her hand, and she assumed he was trying to honor her request that they not be seen together in public.
His efforts warmed her heart.
She turned to him. “Thanks for a fun afternoon.”
He chuckled. “Solving crimes?”
“You know I love it.”
“Me, too.” He flicked his gaze between her eyes as chemistry sizzled between them.
She should turn and run while she could. But she wasn’t that smart, especially not now that she had the concealing spell to help hide her heritage.
Instead, she stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his.
It took him a moment before he wrapped his arms around her, and she liked to think that was because she’d stunned him.
His lips were warm on hers and sent everything inside her tingling in the most wonderful way.
When she pulled away, the bewilderment on his face was priceless. “I thought we were in hiding.”
She gave him a casual shrug. “Cora says everyone already knows anyway.”
He snorted in disbelief. “Are you kidding me? That’s what I’ve been telling you.”
“Well,” she said matter-of-factly. “I didn’t believe you. Now, I do.”
He pulled her in for another kiss that left her breathless. “There. Now everyone really will talk.”
She laughed, knowing there was no one around to see except maybe Clarabelle and Mr. Kitty. “Let’s not go overboard.”
“All right,” he said, happiness radiating in his expression. Then he frowned. “Is that your cat?”
Hazel widened her eyes in horror and slowly turned. “Uh…yes, it is. He likes to come to the woods, too.” She groaned internally at her lame response.
“You bring him with you?” Incredulity coated his words.
“He likes to ride in my basket.” She steadied her gaze on Mr. Kitty and strode forward with purpose. He watched, his green eyes intense, but he didn’t move. When she reached him, she bent and wrapped her arms around his soft, furry body and held him close to her heart.
She couldn’t believe he didn’t fight her or at least hiss considering all their previous interactions. But he held still as though he was as content as could be.
Invisible threads wove between them, surprising her and connecting her to him in a way she hadn’t experienced before.
She turned to Peter with a smile, praying Mr. Kitty wouldn’t suddenly decide to scratch her eyes out. “See?” She moved to her bike, put him in the basket where he settled, and she climbed on.
“That is one strange cat.” He chuckled. “Take care of your crazy feline, and I’ll call you later when I know more.”
“You’d better. As soon as you find out anything.”
With that, she climbed on her bike and started pedaling. She flicked her gaze between her cat and the road. “Thank you for that,” she whispered.
He blinked and nodded his head as though he understood every word.
Eighteen
The call from Peter came several hours later, interrupting Hazel’s early evening, lazy-day meditation. She grinned and answered the phone. “That was fast.”
Peter chuckled. “Surprisingly so, for once.”
The happiness in his voice set off her sensors. “Does that mean you have information?”
“Yes, ma’am. I do, but I need your input. Feel like going for a drive?”
She glanced at the clock. The hands were bumping up against seven, but she had nothing else scheduled for the evening. “Sure.”
“I’ll pick you up in ten.”
She laughed at his confidence. “It sounds like you’re holding your information for ransom, and the price is a romantic drive.”
“Whatever it takes, Miss Hardy.”
The sexy way he said her name tempted her heart. “Moonlight and intrigue. How can I refuse?”
Peter arrived two minutes early, but she was ready. He’d said he had important information, and she was dying to know what it was. She opened the door but stepped outside instead of inviting him in.
“Hi.” Her voice echoed with breathless excitement, but she couldn’t help it.
He was still in uniform, looking as fit and handsome as ever. A sexy smile warmed his features. “Well, hell
o.”
She took his hand and started walking toward his police cruiser. “Tell me what you learned.”
He tugged her to a stop and twisted her until she was in his arms. “Anxious, are you?” A teasing smile played on his lips.
She squeezed his arm. “I wouldn’t be if you’d just tell me.”
He watched her with a narrowed gaze, but she sensed his teasing manner. “I’m starting to wonder if you like me only as an informant.”
She snorted. “Of course not. I only like you because you carry a big gun.”
His eyes grew wide, and he laughed. “You know what that sounds like, right?”
She turned a sassy smile on him. “Nope. No idea.”
“We’ll talk on the way.” He opened the passenger door for her, but she stalled.
“Give me a hint first.”
He lifted his brows in victory. “We located the broker and received confirmation of what we expected. Now, get in.”
Her pulse spiked with excitement. “Really?” She wasted no time climbing onto the passenger seat.
Peter entered on his side, started the car, and put it in drive. He glanced over at her as he drove. “I shouldn’t act so happy about this, but I’m relieved to have proof.”
Fresh air blew in from the open windows and caressed her skin, igniting her senses. “It is Sophie, right?”
The mood in the car dropped, then, and he sighed. “Yeah, it’s her. She contacted the broker just as he was leaving Stonebridge before the big storm. I’m guessing you were right thinking she’d snatched it.”
That made sense. “Then the pearls had actually been missing for a couple of days before Dotty noticed.”
He tipped his head in agreement.
Hazel’s disappointment in the girl spread like tea overflowing a mug. “What a shame. Poor Dotty. She’s such a nice lady and deserves better treatment from her daughter.”
“Yeah.” Peter drove on back streets as the sun faded in the sky. He turned onto a side street that curved deeper into the trees, leaving the sights and sounds of the town behind. With the sunlight blocked, dark shadows surrounded them, giving the illusion of a secluded sanctuary.
Not too far in, he pulled to the side of the road and killed the engine. “Care to get some fresh air? I’ve been cooped up in an office far too much lately and need to stretch my legs. There’s a decent walking trail here.”
A stroll in the fresh evening air? Like she’d ever say no to that. “I’d love to.” Connecting with the elements grounded her like nothing else.
Hazel smiled when he took her hand and they set off. “Did you know walking is good for thinking? It helps access both sides of the brain, letting you process things better.”
He squeezed her hand. “Is that right?”
“Yep.” She accidentally kicked a small rock and sent it skittering ahead on the trail. Wandering off into thick trees, like they were, at the edge of dusk might not be the best idea, but she had her protector with her and that made all the difference.
He slowed their pace when they reached a spot where the banks of the nearby stream bumped close to the trail. Water trickled and sang with the creatures of the evening, lulling her into a relaxed state. Scents of wild honeysuckle drifted through the air, igniting her senses to a higher vibration.
Nights like this pulsated with pure magic and set her soul dancing.
He tugged her toward an old log near the bank, and they sat. “Next step is to focus on getting her necklace back.” Weariness echoed in his voice, making her yearn to help him.
“It sounds like Sophie still has the money because she was planning on using it to run away with Basil. I don’t think she realizes when he left, he was running from her.”
Peter twined his fingers with hers and traced the underside of her forearm with his free hand. “I would agree with that.”
Delightful shivers raced over her skin, and she fought to concentrate on the case. “So, if you can recover the money from Sophie, you can give it back to whoever bought the jewels—”
“June.”
“You’re kidding?” She shifted until she faced him directly. “June is the mysterious buyer?”
“Yep, and the second she learned she’d purchased stolen property and said nothing, she became an accessory.”
Hazel’s shoulders sank and she blew out a defeated breath. “Oh, wow. This will kill Dotty.”
“It’s going to be tough on her, which leads me to my next conundrum. The broker is currently out of the country, and while he did give us the information we wanted over the phone, he was clear he’d be reluctant to testify at trial. I threatened to subpoena him, but he said he’d be a hostile witness, and that was if we could find him to deliver the subpoena.” He snorted. “Apparently, revealing discreet details about his clients would kill his business.”
Hazel placed her hand over his to still his movements and give her a chance to think. “He’s lucky he’s not going to jail, too.”
Peter continued to trace small circles with his thumb. “Exactly. For Dotty’s sake, I’d like to keep this quiet.”
“Then, it sounds like the best possible outcome would be to have them both confess.”
“That’s what I was thinking, too. Any ideas on how to achieve that, Sherlock?”
She squeezed his forearm in protest to his teasing. Though really, she thought she’d make a fine detective if she ever decided to switch professions. “You want me to figure out all the hard parts, huh?”
He shrugged nonchalantly, but she sensed the teasing inside him. “Why do you think I let you hang around me?”
She gasped and gave him a token elbow in the ribs.
He grunted though she knew she hadn’t tagged him that hard. “Really, though. What do you think? Any ideas?”
She turned toward the stream so she didn’t have his handsome face distracting her and tried to focus. “Hmm…. What about a cozy family meeting with all the players there? Give them a couple of details and let them squirm before you sock it to them.”
“Sock it to them?” He chuckled. “You’re starting to sound like a true Stonebridge citizen.”
His comment made her smile. “Whatever.”
“Yeah, whatever,” he teased. “I like the idea, though. I’ll call Dotty and set it up.”
She ached to watch the whole thing go down. “Can I come, too?”
“You’d be so disappointed if I said no, wouldn’t you?”
She did her best impression of sad puppy dog eyes and made him laugh. “You know I would.”
“Fine. On one condition.”
Her excitement spiked. “What?”
He drew his thumb down her cheek, generating myriad shivers. “You’ll let me steal another kiss.”
“Isn’t extortion illegal?” she teased.
He shrugged, his gaze laser focused on her eyes. “I don’t care.”
Instead of answering, she placed her palm on his cheek and stretched until her lips kissed his. He might have thought she was sacrificing for what she wanted, but she didn’t see how she could lose in this situation.
Hot guy. Sweet kiss. And all the intrigue.
Nineteen
Late the next evening, Hazel knocked on Dotty’s door, her nerves a tangle of anticipation and excitement. When Dotty answered though, her eagerness dropped to apprehension. “Hi, Chief Parrish told you I was coming, too, right?”
“He did.” Dotty stepped back to welcome her in. “He said he has news for us.”
Hazel was happy to see that Dotty had dressed and done her hair that day, and that she seemed in a much better place than the last time Hazel had visited. She worried that Dotty’s next rebound would take much longer after the reveal that night.
She followed Dotty into the sitting room where she found Sophie, Scott and June already seated on the couch and flanking chairs.
Sophie’s gaze connected to hers, and she drew her brows together in question. Hazel offered a kind smile in return. Poor girl, even tho
ugh she was guilty. She’d thought Basil loved her, and she’d likely gone so far as to commit a crime to ensure she’d have a future with him.
Love was nothing to trifle with. It could lead a person down a dangerous road just as easily as it could make her happier than she’d ever believed possible. That was always the risk where love was concerned.
“Why are you here?” Scott asked. The deep frown on his face proved the emotions she’d previously picked up were correct. He was in a dark mood, and though he might be innocent of theft, he had other sins to atone for.
Hazel shrugged. “Chief asked me to come.”
The doorbell halted any further questioning. Dotty left the room. When she returned, Chief Parrish followed her. He looked so handsome in his uniform, sure and confident. She should add sexy. So sexy.
The familiar pang of longing rolled through her when her and Peter’s gazes briefly connected. He didn’t smile like he usually did but acknowledged the rest of the people in the room instead. “Good. Everyone is here.”
Dotty perched on the edge of the couch, expectation vibrating from her. “You said you have news on the robbery. That you believe you’ve found the thief.”
Peter nodded. “Yes, I believe so.”
Hazel slid her gaze to Sophie who watched Peter without flinching. Her gaze was steady enough that Hazel began to second-guess their conclusions. She could detect no guilt, or really, any emotion.
She flicked a worried gaze toward Peter, but he was focused on Dotty.
He claimed a chair across from Hazel and pulled out his notebook. “Let’s start with Basil.”
June snorted in disgust. “I knew it.”
Peter lifted his gaze. “Knew what, June?”
“That he’s guilty,” she spat. “Worthless, no good—”
“Stop!” Sophie cried. “It wasn’t him.”
Peter nodded. “Sophie is correct. It wasn’t Basil. It also wasn’t the infamous Luca Pellegrini, known thief and all around bad guy.” He slid his gaze toward Hazel.
She gave him a smug smile that he ignored.
“In fact,” Peter continued. “The thief actually sits among us.”
His declaration sent emotions in the room skyrocketing.
