Deadly Vows

by Jody Holford

  By the time they were back in his truck, where he’d insisted on buckling her in himself, Molly was more concerned about him than her arm. As he started the vehicle, she reached out with her good arm and put a hand on his leg. His fingers clenched on the steering wheel and his head turned in her direction. Anxiety roiled in her stomach like a ship in a storm.

  “Are you…are you okay?”

  He shook his head, looked out the window and then back at her again. Her heart dropped into her stomach at his expression.

  “It was terrifying. Knowing you were in that car. Following you with absolutely no control over what would happen. Thinking, when I finally got to the car that you wouldn’t be okay.”

  Molly bit her lip. She hadn’t purposely walked into the situation, but she couldn’t deny that this wasn’t the first time she’d caused him concern. Sam unbuckled and turned in his seat, staring at her with an unreadable expression.

  “I didn’t know. When I got in, I didn’t know it was her,” she whispered.

  Sam closed his eyes as if he were the one in pain. When he opened them, the intensity of his gaze trapping the air in her lungs, creating pressure.

  “I shouldn’t have let you go. You’re so independent and I’ve never been an alpha sort of guy, you know? I think you’re amazing. You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met and that’s saying something because you’ve seen how strong my mother is. I’ve never had this…this…overwhelming desire to protect someone. Someone who doesn’t want to be protected and that makes me feel helpless.”

  Tears pricked Molly’s eyes and she stuck her tongue to the roof of her mouth in an effort to keep them at bay. It was not the first time she’d been told she was a lot to handle by a man. She was independent and adventurous and she liked to keep busy. She wasn’t afraid to explore or walk into the unknown. She never intended to be reckless and she could happily do without the near-death situation she’d found herself in twice now, but that didn’t mean she could change who she was.

  You just survived a car wreck with an off-her-rocker crazy woman. You can handle this. Cry later.

  “I understand if…” she stopped. No, she didn’t. She didn’t understand.

  “If what?” His brows furrowed.

  Taking a deep breath, ignoring the pain in her ribs and in so many other places on her body, she looked out the window.

  “If this is too much for you. My life has hardly been quiet or serene in the last few months. Though I hardly think it’s my fault.” She couldn’t keep the bitterness from her voice.

  There was a pull-down arm rest between them. She didn’t look when he pushed it up and slid across the seat. She didn’t think she could handle looking into his eyes as he confirmed her thoughts.

  With a gentleness that washed over her like the warmth of the sun, Sam touched his fingers to her chin and turned her face to his. Molly swallowed the lump in her throat only to have another take its place.

  “You think you’re too much for me? You think I want to break up with you?” His words were a harsh whisper. His eyes were like fire pressing into her skin.

  “Don’t you?”

  “No.” He shook his head as if he couldn’t believe what she’d said. His hand cupped her cheek and he pressed his forehead to hers, like he was trying to become a part of her. “I don’t want to break up with you. I want to wrap you in my arms and keep you so close to me that you can’t breathe without me feeling it. I want to protect you and keep you safe and I just let you go. I just let you go with her and it could have cost you your life. As soon as you walked out the door, I felt like something was wrong and by the time I came out of the bakery, you were gone. And all I could do was watch you go. I don’t know how to take care of you and worse, I don’t think you want me to. But watching you go, watching the car swerving, knowing you were in it, I realized that I’d never be able to forgive myself if I lost you.”

  Her breath came out closer to a sob. She covered his hand with hers. “It’s not your fault. It’s no one’s fault. And I’m right here. I’m okay.”

  His eyes closed again as he whispered, “I’m not sure if I am yet.”

  He pulled back and pressed his mouth to hers. “I can’t believe you thought I was breaking up with you.”

  One side of her lips quirked up. “I feel like I’m a little high maintenance lately.”

  Sam’s laughter filled the cab. “Good thing maintenance is my specialty.”

  He pulled her close without jarring her arm and as his lips touched the outer edge of her ear, he whispered, “I’m not going anywhere.”

  Some of the tears escaped and she gripped his shirt in her fist. “Me neither.”

  There were a lot of things Molly wasn’t sure about: the why and how of Skyler’s death, if everyone else was okay, what would happen to Kyle. But this, she thought as she breathed him in, of this, I’m sure.

  * * * *

  What looked like a thousand mini mason jars lit with votive candles lined the stairs Molly used every day to get to the beach. They flickered in the soft breeze coming off of the water, but held their glow thanks to the higher edges of the jar. Instrumental music played softly from a Bluetooth speaker. Molly and Sam walked hand in hand. He kept sneaking glances at her to make sure she was okay. Smiling at him, she squeezed his fingers. She was bruised and stiff and it would be worse tomorrow, but she wasn’t missing this. The sand was soft under their feet as they made their way toward the very small crowd that included Patricia, Katherine, Sheriff Saron, and a few people Molly didn’t recognize. Ahead of them, at the base of the stairs, a man who Molly assumed was the minister stood in a dark gray suit. He smiled at them a moment before Molly caught movement coming down the stairs.

  Her eyes locked on Chantel’s and she held her breath as the woman looked at the scene before her. She and Blake stopped about a quarter way from the bottom, their hands clasped.

  “What is all this?” Blake asked, staring at Patricia.

  Chantel pressed a hand to her mouth and shook her head slowly. “It’s our wedding.”

  Patricia stepped forward and the minister stepped to the side. Standing in a semi-circle near the stairs, it was difficult not to overhear them.

  “I want you to be happy. I may have gone about it the wrong way, but it’s all that really matters. I’m so sorry about everything that’s happened.” Patricia gestured to the small gathering, giving a tight smile to Katherine and Molly in particular.

  “These people helped us arrange this and if you’re okay with it, I’d truly love to watch my little girl get married.”

  Chantel released Blake’s hand and came down the last few steps to embrace her mom. She spoke into Patricia’s hair, the sound muffled, but Molly was pretty sure she’d seen the shine of tears. A moment later she stepped back, nodded, and blasted Molly with a smile she’d yet to show until now. Patricia held out a hand to Blake and he came closer, kissed her cheek. Then the two of them stood on the third stair as the minister married them. The sun ducked down behind the far-off mountains, leaving traces of red and orange and pink. Sam squeezed Molly’s hand and with exquisite care, slipped his arm around her waist and tucked her close to his side.

  Sheriff Saron’s fingers linked with Katherine’s, as Patricia sniffled into a handkerchief, a quiet contentment shining in her smile. It absolutely wasn’t perfect. How could it have been with the events of the past few days? But at that moment, none of that touched the happy couple. They vowed to honor and love each other, to stand by one another’s side through all of life’s trials and tribulations. Blake gazed adoringly down at Chantel as they held each other’s hands, repeating the minister’s words softly, never once losing their smiles. Bad things would still happen and hard times would add pressure to the life they built together, but through it all, they promised to hang on tight and weather the storm together. It was all anyone could hope for.

&nbs
p; Molly looked up at Sam and he turned his gaze on hers. No one knew what the next day might bring, but knowing there was someone who wanted to be yours, who wanted you to be theirs regardless of what unfolded, was a precious gift that Molly silently vowed to never take for granted.

  When the minister announced that the groom could kiss his bride, he did so happily and they all clapped. They didn’t stick around, but Molly felt like one day, they might be back. She hoped that Britton Bay didn’t hold only bad memories for them. Working together, the guests cleaned up the small spot on the beach and within minutes, it was like the wedding had never happened. But the happy glow of the ceremony and the happily ever after Blake and Chantel secured for themselves, gave Molly unexpected closure. There were still questions, but she only needed one answered tonight.

  Catching Katherine’s eye as they strolled back to their vehicles, Molly peered around Sam. “Is there still cake at the house?”

  Sam, Katherine, and Sheriff Saron laughed, the sound rolling over the water and lifting into the air.

  “Yes. There’s lots of cake. And I say, we eat it all,” Katherine said.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Molly wasn’t sure why she was nervous. The police station was becoming a second home to her and now, she was sure, the real killer was in custody. Still, as she and Sam walked through the lobby, their footsteps echoing on the linoleum, she shivered. Sam looked her way.

  “You all right?”

  “Yeah. I just wish I’d pieced it together earlier,” she replied.

  “I don’t know how you pieced any of it together. I’ve gotta say, I would be totally on board if you wanted to take up a new hobby. Maybe surfing or motor cross. Something safer than figuring out murders.”

  Molly released his hand to poke him in the side. “Very funny. I don’t seek out the drama.”

  He smiled at her. “I know. It finds you.”

  “Hey, guys. How are you doing, Molly?” Priscilla asked as she approached the counter with a stack of files in her hands. She set them down and leaned on the countertop.

  “I’m good. It’s just bruised,” Molly said, referring to her arm, which was still in a sling for a few more days until the swelling went down.

  “I heard the bride and groom got hitched after all,” Priscilla said.

  “They did. I’m glad they were able to,” Molly answered, feeling unusually antsy.

  “Because of you,” Sam said quietly beside her.

  “Molly. Sam,” Chris said, coming out of one of the offices.

  Priscilla pressed the buzzer so they could come through the gate.

  “Hey,” Sam greeted with ease.

  Molly gave a small wave. She’d come to give her statement, but hoped she wasn’t getting a lecture.

  “Come on back. How are you, Molly? Doc said the elbow isn’t broken,” Chris said, leading them into one of the interrogation rooms. She wondered if Kyle and Shannon had both been questioned in this very space.

  “It’s not. Just sore. I’m fine.” She looked around the nondescript room that held a table, four chairs, and a mirror that she suspected was also a window from the other side.

  Sam held her chair out for her and she slipped into it, grateful when he scooted a chair closer and took it, putting a comforting hand on her knee.

  Chris sighed heavily as he sank into a chair across from them. “This one threw more curveballs than a game going into double overtime.”

  “She was so angry,” Molly said quietly. She hadn’t allowed herself to think much about it over the last day and a half.

  Sam’s fingers tightened on her leg. Chris’s mouth tightened into a firm line.

  “I’m sorry we let it get that far and very grateful you’re okay,” he said.

  “You and me both,” Sam said.

  The two men held each other’s gaze and Molly put her hand over Sam’s. “It’s no one’s fault.”

  “That’s not entirely true,” Chris said, a hard edge to his voice.

  Shannon’s words came back to her. “She said Skyler stole her recipe. The one that cinched the contest for her. She took the winnings and the credit.”

  “How long were you in the car before you realized?” Chris asked. He didn’t pick up the pen to scrawl anything on the paper. He just stared at her intently, a touch of the guilt she’d seen in Sam’s eyes shadowing his.

  “When I saw her tattoo again. I’d seen it once before, when you arrested Kyle. It didn’t click then, but Corky must have seen Shannon leaving Skyler’s room because when I saw him on the morning of her death, he kept talking about the dark stars. I shouldn’t have just walked away when he was so upset.” She looked at Sam and gestured to her shoulder. “Shannon has a line of small, black stars tattooed on her shoulder.”

  He just shook his head, renewed anger furrowing his brow. She wanted to smooth it with her fingers.

  “We didn’t pay much attention to Corky either. He hasn’t been the same since. He’s actually staying at the shelter just outside of town, which is a big step forward.”

  “He must have been so scared,” Molly said, thinking of the way he’d wrung his hands together. “How did you know it wasn’t Kyle? Because of the coffee? Skyler’s DNA wasn’t on the lid, was it?”

  Chris’s eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

  Sam straightened, but didn’t say anything.

  Molly took a deep breath and shared what she had manage to put together. “I knew Skyler had been poisoned, but she never drank or ate anything that she hadn’t prepared herself. It was a self-preservation rule because she had so many allergies.”

  “How is it you know about her allergies?” Chris crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his seat.

  “Uh, I was told? By more than one…source. Anyway, I knew she wouldn’t drink anything that she didn’t make so there was no way, even if Bella had brought her a latte, it was her. Which meant it must have been Kyle and since he wasn’t dead, that couldn’t have been the source of the poison. It had to be something that she trusted. Something Shannon could access without making her suspicious.” There was something she was missing. What else had she learned that morning?

  Something Skyler would have trusted without hesitation. Not a drink. Not food. Just brushing her teeth and then she fell. Molly gasped and both men went on alert.

  “What’s wrong? Are you okay? Are you in pain?” Sam put a hand to her arm.

  “What is it?” Chris leaned forward.

  “Corky said Skyler was brushing her teeth.”

  Chris closed his eyes and exhaled heavily. When he opened them, the frustration in his gaze turned her stomach. “We found traces of sesame oil on her toothbrush. It was one of a long list of ingredients that could put her into anaphylactic shock.”

  Molly’s stomach cramped. “She said it was only supposed to make her sick. Not kill her. She must have visited her after Kyle left. They broke up that night. Maybe Shannon visited under the guise of consoling her. Even though I don’t think there was any real friendship between them, ever.”

  “Whatever the reason, Skyler let her in and it wouldn’t have taken much to gain access to the bathroom. She put it directly on the toothbrush. The tube of toothpaste was untouched, but we found Shannon’s prints on the toothbrush.”

  “It’s so sad,” Molly said. “All of this for what? Some prize money and recognition?”

  “Unfortunately, people kill for less. I’m just very glad that the collateral damage on this one didn’t go any further than it did.”

  “It very nearly did.” Sam’s tone betrayed his simmering anger.

  “But everything is okay. Mostly. I mean, someone still died.” There was no getting around that and definitely no getting used to it. Molly could happily live the rest of her life without being anywhere near another death.

  “I think it’s important that
you realize how close you came to getting hurt,” Chris said.

  And here comes the lecture. She gestured to her arm. “Pretty clear on it.”

  “Maybe you should have taken some of her concerns more seriously,” Sam said.

  Chris stiffened. “Now hang on.”

  “Boys, don’t.” She looked at Sam.

  The fierce affection in his gaze warmed her, made her wish they were curled up on one of their couches rather than in this sterile room.

  “I don’t want you getting involved in this kind of stuff either, but the bottom line is, yeah, it’s not ideal to have citizens involved in any way, but this town is too small for the people who live here not to see and hear things that can be helpful to you guys.”

  “We take all information and tips seriously, Sam. And I value the information you’ve given us, Molly, but you have to understand that we’re here to protect the citizens and that’s harder to do when they’re dead set on solving mysteries just because they seem appealing.”

  “Hey!” Now Molly stiffened.

  “I can’t help it if I stumbled onto information. I did not actively pursue anything other than an interview.” Maybe that wasn’t all the way true, but she really hadn’t gone looking for trouble.

  “I know that things don’t move as fast as anyone would like. We’re a small department doing the best we can. On a personal level, I care about what happens to you, Molly. Because you’re clearly important to one of my best friends. I don’t want to be the guy in charge if something happens to you. That’s all. I’m not trying to lay blame or anything.”

  “He just knows that if he is the guy in charge one day, and something happens under his watch, I’ll beat him up.”

  Molly laughed, happy the tension receded that easily.

  “You wish,” Chris said, smirking.

  “You know what we need?” Molly said, looking at Sam.

  “I know what I’d like,” he said, his eyes heating in a way that made her heart tremble. “But if I’m inside your adorable brain…I’m guessing you’re thinking about food.”