The roadblock was no accident. Someone had tried to kill them.
Chapter Eight
Marissa stared at the faint footprints directly in front of her face, barely registering the snow melting against her clothes. She didn’t want to believe it. She didn’t want to believe someone had deliberately caused the rockslide to block their path. She could have been killed. One murder that day was more than enough for her.
“Did the killer know we are looking for him, or was this trap set for someone else?” Tandy asked.
Marissa couldn’t imagine either scenario.
Sirens sounded in the distance. She had to get up or Lukey would find her on the ground next to a burning flare, and he didn’t need any more examples of her klutziness to make him suspect her. Nor reminders of the fire she’d once started in his home. She pushed to her knees. “If Randon is the killer, he wouldn’t have known we were looking for him.”
Tandy’s eyes roamed the crime scene. “Could Cross have warned him? He heard us say Randon’s name.”
Marissa sat back on her heels and brushed at the flakes covering her belly. “Maybe Randon wasn’t trying to kill us. Maybe he was only setting up a roadblock to give himself enough time to get out of town.”
Tandy grunted. “Then he wouldn’t have put it around a bend in the road so that we wouldn’t have time to stop.”
Marissa bit her lip. She had a point.
Tandy continued her thought. “I liked Cross, but there’s the possibility he’s in on it. He did leave the cafeteria before we did.”
Mr. Cross and Randon? Together? If Mr. Cross had the time to warn Randon then he possibly would have had the time to cause the rockslide himself. Didn’t he say he’d been snowshoe golfing? What if the activities director had dropped him off for what she’d expected to be an innocent hike and he’d caused the rockslide then disappeared into the woods? He was pretty fit for an old guy. “It could also be only Mr. Cross. He told us to check the dates for the sale of his company. What if he wanted to stop us before we could do that?”
Tandy’s eyes narrowed. “You want it to be Cross, don’t you?”
Marissa gave her best nonchalant shrug though she’d never done nonchalant very well. She pushed to her feet and brushed the snow from her knees. “We know he’s a liar and cheater.” Speaking of his lies, she needed to get Grandmother’s journal out of the glove compartment before the car was hauled away. And she needed to do that before Lukey—
A door slammed. Lukey strode around the corner. His eyes took in everything from the flare to the wet spots on her clothing to the footprints in the snow. At least now he would know they weren’t the murderers. Someone else was out to kill them.
“Glad nobody had to die for you to call me this time, Marissa.”
She frowned. Had he attempted a joke? If so, it was in very poor taste. Plus, she and Tandy could have both died here. Then who would have called?
He crossed his arms and stared at the hill. “Those kids have gone too far this time.”
Tandy glanced at Marissa, eyebrows lifting.
“What kids?” Marissa spoke for both of them.
Lukey turned toward her. “We’ve had a few reports lately of hooligans on this hill. They’ve been building snowmen in streets and throwing snowballs at cars. I’m really hoping this rockslide was an accident. Of course, they could still end up in juvenile hall for not reporting such a road hazard.”
The weight of his words sunk in like an anchor in a storm. Nobody had been trying to kill her. It was an unfortunate mishap. Insurance would cover Tandy’s claim under the header Act of God clause. Though maybe the fact that they were still alive was the real act of God.
More doors slammed, and men dressed in blue rounded the corner carrying EMT equipment. “Who was driving?” asked the tall Mexican with a deep voice.
Tandy raised a hand, and they surrounded her.
Lukey pulled out his phone and stylus. “What are you two doing together anyway? Aren’t you competitors?”
Marissa groaned. How was it that she’d called him for help, and he was interrogating her again? Not fair. Especially while Tandy got doted on by a bunch of big hunks.
Did she tell Lukey what they were really doing together? If someone had been out to kill one of them, then she definitely would have. But since it was only a bunch of kids playing pranks, she had nothing to worry about. They had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
As for Virginia’s killer, if the shop owner was murdered, it may or may not have anything to do with Grandmother’s secret. And if it didn’t, then there was no reason for Marissa to reveal the skeletons in her closet. The townsfolk would be shocked enough over a murder. To have the pillars of their community come crashing down would cause even more chaos. She was only thinking of them. She wanted to protect her town.
“Tandy went with me to deliver some apple cake to Joseph Cross,” she said.
Tandy caught her eye as another muscular man dabbed at her cheek with gauze. She didn’t seem to approve of Marissa’s secrecy, but the guy with the gauze spoke, pulling her attention back toward him.
Marissa let out a sigh of relief.
“Joseph…Cross…” Lukey pronounced the name slowly as he scribbled it on his screen. He stopped writing and looked up. “Why?”
“Uh…Billie asked us to.” That was true, wasn’t it? Or was she being as dishonest as Mr. Cross? Fine. She’d tell the police what was going on. Just not Lukey. He wasn’t a real detective, let alone an actual officer. She used to have to help him when he played Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego. She’d wait for the sheriff to finish his investigation of the jewel heist. In fact, she’d make an appointment with him the following day if she could. There, take that, overactive conscience.
“Billie Wu?” Lukey made another note.
Marissa scrunched her nose, hoping Lukey wouldn’t try to follow up with her and find out about the diary. “Yes.”
“After Virginia died, you both headed over to Grandma’s Attic where she gave you the cake.” He peered up at her. “Is she selling her shop too?”
He said it like he thought one of them might kill Billie next.
She narrowed her eyes. “No.”
An engine revved on the other side of the bend. There hadn’t been any traffic on this side, but maybe there was a line of cars around the curve, waiting to pass through.
“Should I help with Tandy’s car so you can get a crew to start removing the rocks?” she asked.
Lukey scrolled through his notes like he thought there might be something he missed. “Don’t worry. I’ve got a tow truck already taking care of it.”
She blinked. A tow truck? Right then? Taking off with Tandy’s slug bug and Grandmother’s diary? “I’ve got to get my stuff out of it.”
Lukey pointed to the purse hanging bandolier style across her torso. “That stuff?”
“Uh…” Okay, yeah. “I mean Tandy’s stuff.”
Lukey leaned backwards to see Tandy around an EMT’s large frame. “Tandy, I called a tow truck for you. Is there anything important you need to get out of your car?”
Tandy lifted her puppy. “Got him,” she called. He licked her cheek, and she let out a laugh, which turned into a moan as if her laughter caused pain.
Marissa was going to hurt her a lot more for not remembering to retrieve the diary. “Are you sure?” she asked between gritted teeth.
Tandy had her eyes closed. Was she really in that much agony?
The EMT unzipped Tandy’s jacket and ran his hands along her ribs. “I think you need to get x-rays. If you have any broken ribs, then you might also have a punctured lung.”
The rumble of the tow truck cut off her response, but it looked like Tandy would be leaving in the ambulance. Marissa needed to act quickly. “I’ll ride to town with the tow truck, and make sure your car is taken care of,” she offered.
Tandy backed away from the EMT. “They don’t want to take Cocoa in the ambulance with me, s
o I’ll go with you. Hopefully the tow truck driver will drop me off at the ER.”
Even better. “Okay.”
“You don’t have to do that.” Lukey stepped forward. “I’ll give you ladies both a ride to town.”
Marissa cringed. How was she going to get the diary back now?
Tandy gingerly lowered herself into the molded plastic seat in the back of the cop car to avoid igniting the burning sensation along her side. The ambulance would have been more comfortable, but she couldn’t leave Cocoa behind. Not after he’d freaked out when Marissa tried to hold him earlier.
Now the locals were going to see her riding around in the back of a police cruiser before they even met her. There went her last chance of being welcomed into the small town. Might as well get used to being the outcast.
She twisted sideways in her seat to keep the seatbelt from rubbing against the epicenter of pain above her waist. Cocoa stood on her lap, lifting his front paws to the windowsill to watch the commotion outside.
Marissa opened her door and brought the commotion in with her. She dropped to the seat, brooding like Scrooge. What was she upset about? She wasn’t the one whose face looked like it had been used in place of a punching bag. It wasn’t her car that had lost the game of Chicken to a pile of rocks.
Dare Tandy ask? “What?”
Marissa’s long locks flew as she spun about, getting buckled in. Only Marissa could make putting on a seatbelt so dramatic. “Your glove compartment is locked, isn’t it?”
Her glove compartment? Oh…the diary. Marissa was upset because she didn’t want anybody to find out she came from a family of frauds. Tandy leaned back in her seat and tried to hide a smile. She may have problems, but at least she wasn’t pretending to be someone she wasn’t.
“Stop smiling and answer the question.”
Shoot. Marissa had seen her smile. No reason to hide it now. “Yes.”
Marissa tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Yes you’ll stop smiling, or yes it’s locked?”
The driver’s side door snapped open.
For some reason this made Tandy smile a little bigger. Maybe because Marissa wouldn’t get away with being so moody around the cop. “Yes, it’s locked,” she said.
Marissa pressed her lips together and faced forward in silence.
Griffin strapped himself in before starting the engine. “What’s locked?” he questioned while doing a three-point-turn to head back toward town.
From Marissa’s behavior, it was obvious she hadn’t told Griffin about the journal. Should Tandy spill the coffee beans now or let Marissa keep her secret?
Marissa leaned forward to answer for Tandy. “She locked her seatbelt in even though it hurts her ribs.”
Really? After what they’d just been through, Marissa was still trying to keep the journal a secret? This girl was willing to get her killed to save face. Did she honestly think the footprints in the snow were caused by children? Children didn’t normally wear snow shoes, did they?
“I’ll try to drive smoothly.” Deputy Griffin studied her from the rear-view mirror as if to assess her pain for himself. He wasn’t as bad as Marissa made him out to be.
“Thank you,” Tandy said. He wouldn’t really put her in jail, would he?
Marissa rummaged through her purse, pulling out her phone. “Let me get your phone number, Tandy. Then we can stay in touch after Lukey drops you off at the hospital.”
Tandy wasn’t sure she wanted to stay in touch. Marissa only wanted her phone number in case she had trouble getting into Tandy’s glove box. But maybe if she did this favor for Marissa, Marissa could help her out in the future. The woman had a lot of connections, and Tandy needed a job.
She rattled off her digits then settled against her seat, longing for a mug of cappuccino and the peace of her apartment. Her phone buzzed in her pocket.
Dad? Maybe he’d be able to visit for the holidays after all.
She retrieved the device to find a text message from an unknown number. She tapped on her phone to read it.
Please don’t tell Lukey about the diary.
Marissa. Tandy closed her eyes, the puffy one stinging a bit. Could she pretend to go to sleep to avoid this conversation? Her phone buzzed again. She relented and peeked at the screen.
I’m going to tell Officer Woodward everything tomorrow. He’ll be able to help and understand the importance of not spreading gossip about Grandmother.
Finally. Tandy nodded in approval. Virginia’s blood results would probably be in by then anyway, which meant the police would know the woman had been murdered. If Marissa didn’t tell them the whole story by that time, Tandy would when they hauled her in for questioning. Wouldn’t the fact that someone intentionally caused the rockslide be evidence enough of her innocence?
The phone vibrated on her lap. She’d need another pain killer to battle this headache Marissa was giving her.
I messaged Randon, and he agreed to take me to the tree lighting, so you can join us after your x-ray.
Oh, no. Marissa truly thought the rockslide was a fluke, and she was going ahead with their private investigation.
Tandy grimaced and texted back. I don’t think that’s such a good idea anymore. The guy could be after us.
Marissa read her message, shrugged, and shook her head.
“Marissa,” Deputy Griffin broke into their conversation without knowing it. “Where are you parked? I’ll take you to your car after we drop Tandy off.”
“Uh…” Marissa tapped her phone furiously. “I’m on Main by the town square.”
Tandy’s phone buzzed. Bring that cute EMT with you for protection if you want.
Tandy scrunched her nose at Marissa before silently responding via text. He’s married. Invite Connor.
Talking about Marissa’s former fiancé had silenced her last time.
Marissa bugged her eyes then typed a message. Get your own date.
Tandy should have expected as much. Though by not setting her up with Connor, was Marissa setting her up with trouble?
Randon could be the killer. And Cross could have warned him they were onto him. What if he pretended to flirt at the tree lighting and Marissa fell for it? Then he could get her alone to finish what he’d attempted with the rockslide.
Tandy focused on her phone to write her response. What’s Connor’s phone number? I’ll invite him.
“Bah!” Marissa couldn’t keep quiet after that one.
Deputy Griffin glanced at them in his rear-view mirror. “You okay, Marissa?”
Tandy grinned at the other woman’s reaction. She didn’t really want to date Connor. He was Hollywood handsome, but he was obviously still smitten with his former fiancée. And though Marissa tried to pretend otherwise, she was rather territorial about him, as well. Tandy only wanted him there as a bodyguard.
Marissa cleared her throat. “Yes. I’m good. Fine. Great. No problems back here.”
“Good.” Deputy Griffin pulled in front of a one-story building Tandy would have normally considered too small for a hospital. At least the newer construction had a glass lobby that revealed a Christmas tree and zero patients, so there shouldn’t be much of a wait for her x-rays. “I’ll have to let you out, Tandy. Hold on.” The deputy hopped from the vehicle to circle around and open her door.
Tandy unsnapped her seatbelt and hugged her dog close. “Since you say you’re good, Marissa, I’ll plan to see you and Connor at the tree lighting then.”
Marissa’s mouth opened to argue, but Griffin cut her off by swinging Tandy’s door open.
Tandy winked before standing. It had been a while since she’d gone on a date. Even if her date was still in love with his ex, he would be fun to hang out with. But better yet, he’d figure out what was going on and never leave Randon alone with Marissa.
Tandy’s phone pinged once more as Griffin chauffeured the beauty queen away.
Over my dead body.
That’s what Tandy was afraid of.
Chapter Nine
Marissa continued to stew after Lukey dropped her off at her Jeep. Was Tandy really attracted to Connor? Was he attracted to Tandy? And, if so, why did he have to fall for someone else now? She needed to be focused on finding Virginia’s murderer.
That’s what she was trying to do when heading to the auto body shop to retrieve Grandmother’s diary. Okay, that wasn’t the only reason she was retrieving the journal. But it very well could play a part in it.
She drove through the dusk to the garage with the big red letters across the front spelling out BODYSHOP. Surely Jumpsuit George would let her look in Tandy’s car. He knew her, and he’d know she’d been involved in the accident.
She reapplied her lip gloss before entering, just in case she needed to use her feminine wiles.
George stood behind the counter, wearing his standard navy-blue coveralls of course. She’d never seen him in anything else. Even at church. Hence the nickname.
“Hey, Jumpsuit George.” She tossed her hair and leaned against the counter.
“Hey.” George glanced at her once before doing a double take. He lowered the volume on the football game he was watching and rested his hands on his protruding belly. “Glad to see you’re okay, Marissa. The crash looked pretty bad. Was it only the other girl who got hurt?”
The other girl. Tandy. He didn’t even know his customer’s name? Tandy might have been right about being considered an outsider. “Tandy is at the hospital right now, but I think she’ll be okay. I just want to retrieve a couple things she forgot to take with her.”
“Oh.” George frowned. “I wish I could help, but the police had me haul the car to their impound lot.”
Marissa’s heartrate tripped. Her stomach churned. Grandmother’s diary was in police possession. Surely, Lukey wouldn’t use it to smear her family’s name, but if he used it in his investigation at all, the Alexander name would be smeared in the process. It could affect both her parents’ careers. It could affect her success at starting a teahouse. It could affect her scores when she was moved up into the Ms. Ohio category next year for women over the age of twenty-eight.
A Caffeine Conundrum Page 8
