A quote from Shakespeare’s As You Like It then popped into Ashley’s mind. “Your if is the only peacemaker. Much virtue in if.”
“Whatever you quote doesn’t change the facts,” Thompson said. “We still need hard evidence.”
“Yes, sir. I know,” she said.
***
They rode down the mountain in silence. Thompson’s radio kept crackling, but nothing about any more info on their case. Ashley’s headache came raging back.
No food, she thought. That’s why I have this headache.
“Can we stop and get something to eat?” she asked.
“Sorry, but I have to get back to the station and file this report before I go home. Then I have to talk to the guys who dug out that hole, then review the info on the white sedan. I’ll drop you off at the bakery to ride with Sean. Have some pastries to hold you over,” Thompson said.
“The bakery should be closed Nate,” she said. “Let me text Sean and see if he’s still there.”
“Sure. And I’ll get a car back on you before the night is out.”
As soon as they pulled up to the bakery, Ashley noticed there were lights on inside. Usually when Sean shut the place, he only left the outside security light on. Either he was there, or he had an employee working later. He had mentioned that he had a lot of catering orders to fill lately.
“Looks like your hubby is still working away,” Thompson said.
“I’ll call him and find out before I go in,” she said. She dialed Sean’s number, but it went straight to voicemail.
“Not answering?” Thompson asked. “I’ll go take a look around.”
“I’ll go with you,” Ashley said.
“No you won’t. Sit here.” He got out of the car and walked to the front door of the bakery. The last thing he wanted was Ashley with him should he find Sean in a bad way inside.
The front door was locked. He peered in and all the chairs had been stacked on the tables and with the exception of the lights on, it looked closed for business. He went around to the back door of the bakery and it was locked too. There was no way to see inside that way so he walked around to the front again.
He called Ashley in the car. “Do you have a key to the place?”
“I do, but not on me today,” she answered.
“Well, sorry then, but I’ve got to bust in the door.”
He kicked it hard, and it flew open. He walked in with his gun drawn and carefully looked around. The counter and little sit down area in front was empty. He walked carefully toward the back room where the kitchen and ovens were. It was very warm inside, and the faucet was running.
“Hello?” He walked over to the sink to turn off the faucet with a towel.
There was someone on the floor.
Thompson’s heart sank. He slowly turned over the body and heard a low moan. Thankfully, it wasn’t Sean.
“Who are you?” Thompson asked.
The person kept moaning. Perhaps it was one of Sean’s workers.
Ashley then burst in through the kitchen door. “Is that Sean?” she yelled.
“I thought I told you to stay—” Thompson started to say.
“Did you really expect me to stay in the car when there was a chance that Sean might be in trouble?” Ashley fell on the floor beside the outstretched figure.
“It’s not Sean,” Thompson said. “Do you know who this is?”
“Yes! It’s Pete, one of his afternoon shift helpers!”
“I’ll call 9-1-1 and get him to the hospital.”
“And turn off the oven, it’s roasting in here,” Ashley said.
Pete opened his eyes and looked at Ashley. “Hey, Ashley.”
“Hey, Pete,” she said. “What happened?”
“Don’t know. I was just baking some pie crusts to fill tomorrow and next thing I remember is my head hurting. Guess I passed out.”
“Looks like someone hit you over the head.”
He moaned. “That explains this headache.”
“You didn’t see or hear anyone?” she asked.
“Nope. Had my headphones on and was here at the sink washing some fruit for the pies.”
She smiled feebly at him. “Well, sorry, but you’re going to have a nice big knob on your head for a while.”
“That’s okay. My noggin is thick like a brick.”
“We’re calling 9-1-1. Just going to have you checked up in the emergency room, then you can go home,” Ashley said. “Just relax.”
***
After Pete was taken to the emergency room, Ashley called Sean again. Her heart was racing. He still didn’t pick up. Where was he? She then texted him about what happened at the bakery. Then she stared at Thompson. He was walking around, taking a look at everything and making a report of what happened while simultaneously ordering a number of police to get over to the bakery. He looked exhausted.
“Crazy day. And we still haven’t eaten,” Ashley said.
“Yeah, sorry about that. I’m going to grab take-out to bring back to the station. You?” Nate asked.
Ashley’s text box pinged.
It was Sean: Wow! I was in the shower, that’s why my phone was off, and I forgot to turn it back on. Can’t believe that happened! Are you still there?
Yes, she answered. Will talk when I get home. Going to pick up take-out. Do you want anything?
No, ate already, thanks. Be careful coming home. Love you.
Love you too, she wrote.
She turned to Thompson. “Let’s go get some food.”
***
They drove to Ashley’s favorite drive-thru spot and each got burgers, fries, and a soda. She ate her take-out meal with gusto as Thompson drove her home. She thought for a moment how her craving for fast food had gone up lately.
Stress, she thought. And stakeouts. No time to sit and eat proper meals. And it tastes so good!
She didn’t feel guilty at all scarfing down the fast food meal. She ate really well most of the time, and having a drive-thru meal like this was a treat.
Everything in moderation, she thought to herself as she ate the last French fry.
Thompson waited until she got inside safely, then drove off. Ashley waved from the window and noticed a cop car pulling up in front of their place just as Thompson headed down the street.
She felt her whole body relax and let out a sigh as she headed for the living room couch. The cats jumped up next to her purring as Sean came around the corner. They gave each other a big hug. She buried her face in his neck.
“So glad you’re safe,” she said.
“Sorry about the day you had,” he said. “Tell me everything about what you saw at the bakery.”
She explained everything from going to Arabella’s house, to seeing all the lights on at the bakery, and then discovering his afternoon employee knocked out on the floor.
Sean listened with a stoic look on his face. “Someone was trying to hurt me. To get to you,” he said quietly.
“Yep. That would be true. Now we have to figure out who. But we’re obviously getting closer, as the threats are ramping up.”
“And getting more dangerous. So again, can you step out of the way now and let Thompson and the police take over from here on?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said immediately.
He stared at her. “Just like that?”
“Yep, just like that. No need to explain. You already said it yourself. Too dangerous now.”
“Wow, great, I mean I know how committed you were to helping out Thompson, but I’m glad to hear it. I just didn’t think you’d agree so fast.”
“We’ve gotten a ton of information and leads, and he’s got a witness in the hospital that can help out as soon as she recovers. As well as plenty of suspects still lurking around town. I’ve done what I can to help with all that. Now I’ve got to get back and take care of my catering. Plus I’m so tired. More tired than I’ve ever been.”
“Let me help you to bed,” he said.
He led her
down the hallway to their room and sat her down on the bed. “I’ll go make some chamomile tea.”
She sighed and looked around the room for her pajamas.
I feel too tired to change for bed, she thought. I should, but…
Charlie jumped up on the bed and climbed on her lap. It was useless to try and move now. He sat there and gazed at her, purring. And he was so warm. She felt her eyelids start to droop.
As soon as she started to nod off, Charlie leaned up and gently batted her face. She petted him, then turned her head to the side and closed her eyes. Charlie batted her face again.
“What’s up Charlie? I love you too.”
She petted him again. His purr was louder than ever. He stared into her eyes and batted her chest. She sighed.
“Do you want to play? Sorry buddy, too tired to play.” She stroked his fur trying to get him to quiet down, when all of a sudden, he playfully jumped upright and batted at her chest again, hitting the earring she had in her shirt pocket. She reached for it and pulled it out.
Charlie swatted at it.
“Oh wow, you smelled this. And I totally forgot it was in there.”
In the excitement of the day, she had forgotten all about the earring, and was glad her cat had wanted to play with it, otherwise she might have taken off her shirt and put it in the hamper with the earring still inside the pocket when she washed it.
Then Arabella would have been upset when she got out of the hospital and couldn’t find it, she thought. I’ll make sure to take it back to her house tomorrow.
When Sean walked back in the room with her tea, she handed him the earring.
“Can you please put this up on my bureau? Have to keep it safe from this rascally cat.”
“Sure thing. Now drink your tea. I’ve got to shut down my computer and go to the bathroom and I’ll be right back,” he said.
“Aye, aye,” she said. She took a sip of tea and lay her head back on the pillow.
Charlie sat on her lap again, gazing at her and purring away. That was the last thing she remembered.
***
The moon shone brightly up on the mountain. Even with most of the lights off in the distant houses on the lonely stretch of road, the landscape was illuminated. There was no wind, not even a slight breeze, just cold stillness, and that silver radiating moon. At Arabella’s house, the old tree off to the side stood like a black outline in the moon’s light, its one large and heavy fallen branch still sticking out from the roof. In the dim glow of the porch light, the two small windows on the top floor looked like eyes peering down below, and the old front door to the entrance looked like a mouth in an exclamation point. Barely visible in the top right window was a cat. It sat there, not moving, just looking down below. Its tail switched from side to side below the window line, and every so often it let out a low growl. Off on the side of the road slightly below the house, there was a parked car with its lights out. The occupant sat quietly, smoking a cigarette, the window slightly cracked. A cell phone rang.
“Time to go in?” one person asked.
“Yes. Make sure you find that earring and the journal. And then get out quickly,” a second person replied.
Chapter Thirteen
Ashley woke up in the morning with a headache again. She rubbed her temples and squinted around the room. Sean was already gone, of course, and Charlie was off her lap but still on the bed with Susie Q. They both looked at her expectantly the moment she raised herself up from the sleep position.
“Time to eat!” they seemed to say as they jumped off the bed and ran yowling to the kitchen.
Ashley groaned and rubbed her temples again. As she got out of bed, she noticed she was still in her clothes from yesterday.
Good one, Ash, she told herself.
“Coming!” she yelled to her charges.
Like all pet owners, she knew the only way they would settle down would be after their stomachs were full. Then Charlie would have to have his walk. She sighed and padded into the kitchen. Susie Q was on the ground twirling for her food, but Charlie had jumped up on the counter and was pounding on the cabinet with his paw.
Still stretched up, he turned and gave her a look as if to say, “Hurry up or we’ll pass out from hunger!”
“Nice move, Charlie,” she said. “What else have you got in your bag of circus tricks?”
As if on cue, he leaped down from the counter and walked over to his empty food bowl and whacked it. There was a loud clang as it rattled across the floor, banging up against the wall.
Ashley’s mouth dropped open.
“I wish I had that all on video. No one would believe how demanding you are. And the lengths you go to get what you want!” She was laughing now, and he shot her another piercing look.
Susie’s yowls were also getting louder.
“Okay, okay, here you are, you two privileged creatures.” She filled up their bowls especially full this morning. Anything to keep them quiet.
I’m too easy, she thought.
The cats finished eating and pranced into the living room to groom themselves. Charlie glanced back as if to say, “Don’t forget my walk is coming up soon.”
Ashley put on the coffee, then walked back to the bedroom to get dressed, talking out loud.
A quote from Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors came to Ashley’s mind. “For servants must their masters’ minds fulfill.”
***
As soon as Ashley was dressed, she headed out with her little guy. She noticed the cop car parked in front, but it was a different policeman. Thank goodness the other guy had gone home to sleep after sitting out there all night. She waved at the cop, and he waved and nodded back. He raised his hand in a thumbs up gesture when he saw the cat on the leash.
Charlie turned and looked at him as if to say, “What’s the big deal?” then trotted down the street.
It was really cold out, but her cat didn’t seem to mind. He did his usual stopping and sniffing, then after each pause, picked up the speed and motored on. She was happy he was going so fast in the chill and wrapped her scarf tighter around her neck. The street was nearly empty of dog walkers this morning. After three blocks, she steered Charlie around. He balked.
“Come on, Sir Charles. It’s cold and I have work to get to.”
Charlie set out across the street.
“Okay, we can walk on the other side, but it still has to be towards home,” Ashley said.
Charlie trotted on again at a good pace for half a block. All of a sudden he stopped and went to a bush to sniff. He put his paw in the bush and meowed, then tried to walk in.
“Hey, hey, no. You’ll get all scratched up. Come on, I’m sure whatever bird left their scent in there is long gone.”
She pulled gently on the leash, but he wouldn’t budge. His paw went in again, and he pulled out what looked like a soiled handkerchief. It was rumpled and clung to one of his claws.
“Ooooo Charlie, gross! Leave it alone!”
She bent down to pick him up, but the handkerchief clung hanging from his claw.
“Don’t move, I’ll get it off,” she said. She reluctantly reached for the dirty rag, when she noticed small initials on it. “J.C.”
Who carries initialed handkerchiefs these days? It must be really old, she thought. Her eyes then widened. Wait, Jon Carlson? But how could that be? He’s dead. Before his body was found up on that ridge, had he been down here first? Or maybe it was from years ago.
Ashley looked around her. The cop car was sitting quietly in front of their apartment. The street was quiet. But she felt like someone was watching her. She scanned the windows of the houses on the streets. No one looking out that she could see. But she still felt eyes on her. She reached inside her pocket and found some tissue. Then she wrapped it around her fingers and reached for the handkerchief hanging from Charlie’s paw and placed it in her pocket. Her cat started to squirm.
“Ok, down you go. Thanks for finding that, buddy.”
Charlie walked ho
me quickly and Ashley kept turning her head and looking up and down the street. She still couldn’t see anyone. Once inside, she unhooked her cat’s halter and went to wash her hands.
J.C. could stand for anyone, she thought. Lots of people with those initials.
She picked up the phone and called Thompson. He answered quickly.
“Nate, I’ve got…” she started to say.
“Can you come in?” he asked.
She remembered what she had told Sean the night before. She knew she had to honor it.
“I can’t help anymore with the case, Nate. I told Sean I wouldn’t. I’m sure you understand after last night. That could’ve been him.”
“I just want to—” Thompson started to say.
“But, I have two things I have to give to you that may or not be clues. Found one of Arabella’s earrings at her house. It’s probably nothing; I forgot to mention it to you that night, too much going on. I was going to take it back when I fed her cat. And my cat found another possible clue in a bush near my place.”
Thompson cleared his throat. “Good. Bring them in. And I was going to say that I understand why you can’t be on the case anymore, and just to review all of the things we’ve discovered in the last two days. Can you just come by and take a look at everything? That’s all, I promise.”
“Okay, I can do that,” she said. “And can you call about my car? I hate taking taxis.”
“Yep. I’ll have the cop there drive you in this time. See you soon.”
She hung up her cell, then looked around the room. Charlie was cuddled up with Susie Q. They were grooming each other and no doubt he was telling her about the handkerchief he found on his walk. Ashley walked into her bedroom and grabbed her purse and remembered the earring. She saw it on her bureau where Sean had put it, and gently took it off and walked into the kitchen to get a plastic bag for it. As she was bagging each item, she noticed a little clasp on the back of the drop part of the earring. She reached to open it and stopped.
Ashley Crane Cozy Mystery Boxed Set Page 82