I took a moment to gather my thoughts. I then looked at my husband with resolve in my eyes. “As a matter of fact, I have a plan.”
***
David listened to everything I had to say. While he wasn’t as convinced as I was that it would work, he was willing to give my idea a try.
Our first step was to head back to the police station. It was important for us to ditch the car we were currently driving. Once we arrived at police headquarters, David grabbed the keys for an unmarked sedan. After switching vehicles, my husband and I headed back to Vikki’s street. But we didn’t stop in front of her house. We made sure to park a number of houses down from Vikki’s place.
From there, David grabbed his police radio and called the deputy who was parked directly across the street from Vikki’s home.
“Rinaldi, this is Detective Carlson. I want you to vacate the area,” David said.
Deputy Rinaldi sounded thoroughly confused when he responded a few seconds later. “Detective, can you please repeat that? I don’t think I heard you correctly.”
“I want you to drive away from Ms. Delaney’s house.”
“Are you serious?”
“I am,” David said. “Not only that, but I want you to fire up your siren and peel away, making as much noise as possible in the process.”
“All right. If that’s what you want.”
The deputy did exactly what David asked him to do. I watched with great interest as Rinaldi’s squad car darted away from the scene.
Once Rinaldi’s vehicle was out of sight, David turned to me. “Do you really believe this plan of yours is going to work?”
I nodded. “I’m getting a really strong instinct about this.”
“Okay. Well, we shall see.”
“If I’m right, we’re going to get an answer soon rather than later.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Put yourself in Vikki’s shoes. With the deputy driving away in a hurry like that, she probably believes that she is no longer being watched. Which means, if she’s going to make some kind of a move, it will probably occur in the next few minutes.”
“I hope you’re right. I don’t want to be sitting out here all night,” David said.
Chapter Thirty-Three
My instincts proved to be spot-on. It only took ten minutes for Vikki to leave her house and jump into her car. The question became, where did she plan on going?
David followed Vikki’s car, determined to find out. Surprisingly, she did not head for the city limits. While she wasn’t making a play to leave town, I still believed that she was up to no good.
My gut feeling was confirmed when she drove over to Melinda’s street. Vikki turned off her headlights as she pulled up in front of Melinda’s house. To keep from being spotted, David also turned off his lights.
Melinda’s house was dark. Her porch light wasn’t on. Nor were any of the lights on inside her house. Clearly, she was still out on the town, eating dinner with her boyfriend.
I breathed a quick sigh of relief. After all, if Melinda was home, Vikki probably wouldn’t have parked her car on the street right then.
While Vikki got out of her vehicle with two items in her hand, I directed David to hang back for a moment so we could watch the action unfold in front of us.
Vikki made her way up the driveway and stopped in front of the garbage can that was beside Melinda’s house. She then opened the lid and dropped the two items in the can.
At that point, I turned to David and said, “It’s time to make our move.”
David turned his headlights back on, pulled into the driveway, put his car in park, and then got out of the vehicle. I opened the passenger-side door and also got out of the car.
The intensity of the headlights drew Vikki’s attention. She turned around, looking completely shocked.
As a precautionary measure, David grabbed his gun. He then barked an order at Vikki. “Step away from the garbage can and put your hands up.”
Vikki remained wide-eyed. “Wait a minute. Detective? Sabrina? What are you doing here?”
“I would ask you the same thing, but I already know the answer,” David said. “Now, put your hands up.”
Vikki complied with David’s request, but she remained horrified. “Why are you pointing a gun at me?”
“To start, you are trespassing on private property—”
Vikki cut David off. “Look. I just came over here to see if I could dig up any dirt on Melinda.”
David shot Vikki a glare. “Don’t lie to me.”
“I’m not—”
“Vikki, drop the act. It’s over. We know what you did,” David said.
Vikki stared blankly at David. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You came here to frame Melinda for the murder that you committed,” David said.
Vikki’s forehead wrinkled. “Where did you get that crazy idea?”
“Let me stop you right there. You’re the one who is crazy. And there’s an easy way to prove that.” David approached the garbage can and opened the lid.
“What’s in there?” I asked.
“A gas can and a bloodstained knife,” David said.
“Are you serious?” I asked.
David nodded. “Dead serious.” He then stared Vikki again. “It looks like I have all the proof I need to lock you up for a long time.”
Vikki stared down at the ground.
“Don’t you have anything to say for yourself?” David asked.
Vikki’s mouth remained closed.
While Vikki had nothing to say, there was plenty that I wanted to get off of my mind. “Fine. We’ll do the talking. You’re seriously twisted, you know that? It was bad enough that you killed Rick. But you weren’t done there. No. You decided to burn his house down in an attempt to cover your tracks. That didn’t work, though. The firefighters got to his place too quickly to incinerate all the evidence. And then David and I came around asking you a bunch of questions. That was when you realized that you needed to come up with a new plan. Am I right?”
Vikki continued to avoid eye contact.
“Deep down, you worried that we’d eventually figure out you were responsible for the murder. So, you desperately looked for someone to frame. Melinda must have seemed like the perfect choice. Not only did she have a killer motive, but you also hated her on a personal level. After all, she was the reason that Rick dumped you in the first place. By framing her, you could get revenge. And you have been craving revenge for a long time, haven’t you?” I asked.
Vikki remained silent.
I pressed on. “Haven’t you?”
Vikki mouth stayed shut.
“Oh, come on. After everything you did, you don’t have anything to say for yourself?” I asked.
Vikki couldn’t contain her emotions anymore. “This is all Rick’s fault. He shouldn’t have broken my heart. He shouldn’t have left me for someone like Melinda.” She gritted her teeth. “But he did. He threw our relationship away to be with someone who didn’t even appreciate him. So, as far as I’m concerned, he got exactly what he deserved.”
I shook my head in disgust. “You’re even sicker than I thought.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
A few days later
Thankfully, the case was finally behind us. But the emotional impact of Rick’s death stayed with David and I for a number of days. It always took a little bit of time for life to get back to normal once an investigation came to a close. That was to be expected.
When the weekend rolled around with David and I still in a funk, I felt like we needed to get a change of scenery. I knew a place that would instantly cheer me up. So, my husband and I hopped in the car and drove three hours north.
There was so much to do in San Francisco, but only one thing was on our itinerary that afternoon. We just wanted to visit our daughter.
Jessica was happy to have the company. Her eyes lit up when she opened her door and saw David and me standing in t
he hallway.
She wasn’t the only one with enthusiasm to spare.
I gave her a big smile, then leaned forward and wrapped my arms around her. “It’s so good to see you.”
“You too,” Jessica said.
A few seconds later, my daughter went to pull back from the hug. I wasn’t ready to let her go, though. Instead, I squeezed her tight.
“Mom, you act like you haven’t seen me in months,” Jessica said.
“What can I say? A lot has happened recently,” I said.
“I realize that. By the way, how are you two holding up?” Jessica asked.
“We’ve been better,” David said.
“I’m certainly feeling happier now that we’re here with you,” I said.
“Now that the case is closed, do you believe things will finally quiet down in Treasure Cove?” Jessica asked.
“We can hope,” David said.
“You’re not holding your breath, though, are you?” Jessica said.
David shook his head. “No.” He took a deep breath. “But enough about unpleasant topics. Let’s talk about something else.”
“Like what?” Jessica asked.
David reached into a plastic bag that he was holding and pulled out a square, white, cardboard box. “How about this?” He handed the box to Jessica.
My daughter’s eyes lit up. “Is this what I think it is?”
“Open it and find out,” I said.
Jessica lifted the lid of the box and gazed at the six chocolate cupcakes that were inside it. My daughter’s eyes lit up.
“I guess I don’t need to ask if you like your little treat,” I said.
“You sure don’t. There’s nothing quite like cupcakes from Mitchell’s Bakery,” Jessica said.
I gazed at the cake. “There really isn’t.”
David laughed and shook his head. “You two are really something, you know that?”
“No. What’s really something is this icing. Talk about delicious.” Jessica licked her lips. “I need a taste right now.”
David’s eyebrows knitted. “Really? You don’t want to wait until after lunch?”
Jessica shook her head. “Nope.”
“I’m with Jessica,” I said. “Let’s each have a cupcake right now.”
David broke into laughter.
Jessica’s nose wrinkled. “Why are you laughing? Do you not want one?”
“If that’s the case, I’ll take a second cupcake,” I said.
“Actually, I was just laughing because it’s amazing how much you two take after each other,” David remarked.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” I replied.
“Yeah. These are cupcakes we’re talking about here,” Jessica added.
“I just find the circumstances funny. I mean, San Francisco is known for its food. Yet you’re drooling over cupcakes from our little hometown,” David said.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. These aren’t just any cupcakes. They are from Mitchell’s Bakery,” I replied.
“I understand that. I just thought we’d try something new while we’re in the city,” David said.
“I’ll save you the effort. I’ve gone to a number of different bakeries since moving here. Trust me. Mitchell’s is better than all of them,” Jessica said.
“Now, can we get back to more pressing issues?” I asked. I stared into my husband’s eyes. “Namely, are you going to give me one of your cupcakes?”
“Nice try,” David replied.
“I had a feeling you were going to say that. I don’t know anyone who would be foolish enough to pass up a treat like this,” I remarked.
While David and I were talking, Jessica grabbed one of the cupcakes from the box and took a bite.
“Mmm. Just as good as I remember,” she said.
“It’s nice to know that some things never change,” I said.
Jessica nodded. “It sure is.”
“Speaking of changes, it’s not too late to reconsider your career choice,” I said.
“Mom, will you please stop saying that?” Jessica asked.
“I’m sorry. I just keep bringing it up because I know how dangerous police work is. That became especially evident as we investigated this latest case,” I said.
“Mom, I get that you’re worried about me. But I’m going to be a detective. And nothing you say is going to change that,” Jessica replied.
I took a deep breath before replying. “Has anyone ever told you how stubborn you are?”
David chuckled as he looked at me. “I wonder where she gets that from.”
I blushed. “Guilty as charged.”
“That’s some interesting phrasing,” David joked.
“I figured you’d get a kick out of it,” I said.
Jessica spoke up. “You know what I’d get a kick out of?”
“Being able to savor your cupcake in peace?” I asked.
Jessica nodded. “Exactly.”
I smiled. “What a delicious suggestion.”
The End.
Apple Crumble with a Side of Murder
Chapter One
Was Joe Carlisle's killer going to get away with murder?
That was the question I kept asking myself as I stood in the middle of the Treasure Cove Police Department. Unfortunately, the longer I spoke with Detective Max Campbell, the less confident I became that he would be able to crack this case.
At that moment, I really wished that my husband wasn't out of town. David had left Treasure Cove a few days ago and was in San Francisco catching up with some old friends.
Shortly after David arrived in the Bay area, the news of Joe Carlisle’s death broke. What a terrible time for a murder to take place. Of course, there was never a good time for a homicide to occur, but Joe’s slaying was especially bad timing.
When David first heard the news of the murder, he called up the police chief and asked his boss if he should cut his trip short and head back home. The chief assured him that the department's ambitious junior detective, Max, could handle this case. Apparently, the chief had far more confidence in Max than I did.
To be fair, I didn’t like doubting Max’s abilities. He was just inexperienced. And that lack of experience was really starting to show as the investigation stretched into a third day.
That particular morning, I had gone to the police department for two reasons. The first was to bring Max a hot coffee and a box of donuts. The second was to try and get as much information about the investigation as possible.
It turned out that Max was more than happy to accept the coffee and donuts. Unfortunately, the same could not be said about sharing details of the case.
“Let me handle this,” Max said.
“I have been. The problem is, a number of days have gone by—” I began to say.
“I have this under control.”
“Are you sure—?”
He held his hand up. “Sabrina, stay out of this.”
As I stared into Max’s eyes, I could tell that he wasn’t going to budge. It didn’t matter how much help I offered. He wasn’t going to accept any of it. So, instead of wasting another minute of my time, I decided to wrap up our conversation.
“All right. Enjoy your coffee,” I said.
I then left the police station and headed out to my car. Even though I knew that Max wanted me to just head home and stay away from this case, I wasn’t going to do that.
The look in his eyes was very telling. Whether he was willing to admit it or not, he was stumped. I certainly knew what that felt like. I had experienced that level of frustration many times before. I also realized that when a case was going nowhere fast, seeking help was essential.
I wasn’t about to tell Max that, though. Mostly because he had no interest in listening to me. What he failed to realize was that he was too stubborn for his own good. The man was in over his head. After all, he had never solved a murder before. Meanwhile, I had helped my husband put over a dozen killers behind bars.<
br />
That said, rather than spending more time focusing on Max, I decided to focus on the bigger issues that were at play. Namely, the fact that I couldn’t let this case go cold. Right then, I knew what I had to do. Joe Carlisle deserved justice. And he was going to get it. I would make sure of that. Even if I had to apprehend Joe’s killer myself.
Unfortunately, since I was going to be working alone, I didn’t have the extensive resources at my disposal that I usually did when I investigated a murder with my husband. At the same time, I wasn’t completely in the dark either.
Back in the police station, when I was speaking with Max, I happened to spot some interesting papers on his desk. They were all related to the Carlisle investigation in some way. For example, there was a crime scene photo of Joe’s body. In the photo, there was a bloody gash on Joe’s head. Beside the body was a bloodstained bronze sculpture of a lion.
In my mind, that was the murder weapon. In addition, it was clear that the forensics team hadn’t been able to pull any fingerprints from the sculpture. Otherwise, Max would have gotten a match by now and there would be a suspect in custody.
It didn’t really surprise me that the forensics team wasn’t able to pull any prints from the murder weapon. Most killers were smart enough to wear gloves or wipe the weapon down before they left the scene.
Speaking of the killer, in addition to the crime scene photo, I also spotted a list of names on Max’s desk. To start, there was Matt Carlisle. He was followed by Denise Carlisle. From there, Richard Pinkston was listed. Meanwhile, Richard’s name was followed by George Stratford. Also of note was the fact that Matt’s name had a line crossed through it. That wasn’t all, though. Beside Matt’s name was a scribbled comment that read “out of town.”
Finally, there was one last piece of information on the slip of paper. At the bottom of the page was a note that read “8 to 9 o’clock.” Whenever I saw a timeframe mentioned in relation to a murder investigation, my mind immediately jumped to the time of death.
Sabrina Carlson Cozy Mystery Anthology Page 9
