by Amber Crewes
Brody laughed. “It will take forever for the cops to get here. Good luck, girlie.”
Meghan reached behind her for anything to use as a weapon. She felt the sharp edge of a knife, and she grabbed the handle, holding the knife in front of her.
“I said, stay away!” she yelled, pointing the knife at Brody’s face. His eyes widened, but he kept moving toward Meghan.
“You’re gonna be sorry for lying to me,” he said. “And you’re gonna be even sorrier for waving that knife in my face. Give it to me.”
“No!” she yelled as Brody lunged at her.
“Ohhhhhh!” Brody cried out, flying sideways.
Meghan looked up. Mrs. Sally Sheridan, one of the oldest women in town, stood above Brody, who was now lying on the wooden floor. Her cane was raised above her head, and she brought it down over Brody’s head.
“Mrs. Sheridan!” Meghan gasped. “You saved us.”
“I came to ask for a refund on these nasty little cookies,” Mrs. Sheridan said, setting a bag of cookies on the counter. “I heard this man threatening you.” Mrs. Sheridan stepped back to survey her handiwork. Brody was holding his head and groaning.
“That’s not how you speak to a lady.” Mrs. Sheridan said, glancing from Brody to Meghan. “I’ll be expecting a refund next time I come in, Miss Truman. There’s too much commotion going on here for me today. I’ll be leaving now. You two girls best contact the authorities before he comes to his senses.”
Meghan and Lori stared in awe as Mrs. Sheridan hobbled out of the bakery. “I didn’t even hear her come in.” Lori whispered. “She saved us.”
“Yes, she did,” Meghan replied. “Come on, Lori. Let’s get out of here and call the police. I’m told that this man is dangerous, and he’s certainly proved that today.”
Later that evening, as Meghan was settling into bed after the hectic day, she received a frantic call from Karen.
“Have you heard what happened?” Karen cried.
“What’s going on?”
“The police let Brody go shortly after they collected him from the bakery. They said there wasn’t enough evidence. He stormed around town until he found Sofía.”
Meghan gasped. “Is she alright? Did he hurt her?”
“She’s fine, but she’s upset. She had gone to Winston’s for a drink before we were to leave on our trip, and Brody found her there.”
“What happened?” Meghan asked.
“They had a huge fight. Sofía told me that Brody has a nasty temper, and he proved that tonight. He smashed the windows at Winston’s bar, and he broke all of the wine glasses in Winston’s nice case. He and Sofía were screaming at each other, and Winston himself finally had to get involved.”
“That’s horrible,” Meghan said. “I can’t believe he found her.”
“That’s not all,” Karen said, her voice shaking. “Winston told Brody to leave town, or otherwise, he would be sorry. Sofía told me that they started to fight, and she jumped in the middle. I guess it got ugly, and then, Brody finally stomped out. Winston drove Sofía home, and she is so upset.”
“Oh Karen,” she murmured. “What are you going to do?”
“Meghan, I am a mother,” she said firmly. “I have let my daughter down before, but this time, I am going to do right by her. I am a mother, and mothers would do anything to protect their daughters. Anything.”
Meghan and Karen said their goodbyes, and as Meghan climbed into bed, she felt shaken. Brody’s intrusion had been terrifying, and if Mrs. Sheridan hadn’t intervened, Meghan could have been hurt. Brody had nearly hurt Winston and Sofía, and Meghan felt anxious as she drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Meghan awoke to her phone ringing. She rolled over in bed, ignoring the noise, but call after call came in. Finally, she answered the phone.
“Meghan!” Sofía cried. “He’s dead! He’s dead. He was at the bar last night, and now, he’s dead.”
“Who is dead?” Meghan asked, rubbing her eyes. “Winston?”
“Brody! Brody is dead!”
5
“He’s what?” Meghan asked in disbelief.
“He’s dead. Brody is dead!” Sofia screamed. “I wanted him to leave me alone. I didn’t want him dead.”
“Sofia…what happened?” she asked, holding a hand to her heart as Sofia cried.
“I don’t know. Mamá isn’t home, and I went to grab a coffee in town. I heard screaming and saw police cars as I got closer to town, and then, I saw his body in an alley. The police were covering it with a sheet. He’s dead, Meghan.”
Meghan was in shock. “Where is your mother?”
“I don’t know. Mamá gave me some sleeping pills last night to calm me down, and when I woke up, she was gone. She left a note saying that she was going to the gym, but she still isn’t home.”
“That’s pretty normal,” she said slowly, recalling her conversation with Karen the night before. “She works out for hours each day. I’m sure she’ll be back soon.”
“It’s just crazy, Meghan. He’s dead, and a police officer called the house, looking for me. I have to go down to the station later and talk to them. I can’t get ahold of my mom, and I don’t know what I’m gonna say. I just hate cops, you know?”
Meghan thought of Jack dressed in his police uniform and shook her head. “The police in Sandy Bay are good people. Just be honest and relax. This will all be figured out, I promise. Look, since Karen isn’t back yet, I’ll come pick you up from the station later, okay?”
Sofia hiccuped. “Okay, Meghan. That would be nice. Gracias, chica.”
Meghan arrived at the police station that evening with a concerned look on her face. She had been accused of three murders since moving to Sandy Bay, and as she climbed the steps of the Sandy Bay Police Station, she fretted that her name would somehow come up in the investigation of Brody’s death. He had been at her bakery the day he died, and Meghan’s stomach churned as she remembered how it was to have almost everyone in the town turn against her.
“Meghan!” Jack Irvin exclaimed as she walked into the station. “So good to see you. What are you doing here?”
Meghan sighed. “I’m here to pick up Sofia,” she explained as Jack’s face grew stormy.
“I interviewed her myself,” he said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “Meghan, you’ve been at the center of two Sandy Bay scandals already. I have some....concerns about Sofia and this boyfriend situation. I think you should really let Karen take care of her daughter right now….”
Meghan shook her head. “She can’t get ahold of Karen,” she said. “She is my friend, Jack. I met her terrible boyfriend. Brody was so scary, Jack. He threatened me, and the police just let him go.”
Jack’s jaw dropped. “What? I didn’t know about that. Why didn’t you call me? I would have made Chief Nunan lock up that monster forever if I had known he had threatened you.”
Meghan lowered her eyes. “I’m sorry, I should have called,” she said. “I was shaken up, and Karen was upset too.”
Jack raised an eyebrow. “Speaking of Karen, where is she? Sofia said Karen was at the gym, but I can’t get ahold of her. I’d really like to speak with her. I’m also trying to get ahold of Winston. Do you know anything about his whereabouts? I know Sofia was at his bar last night, and she seems to open up to you….”
Meghan frowned. “Jack, I don’t know anything. Sofia called earlier to tell me Brody is dead. I don’t know anything about what happened, but I heard how upset she was. I think she is innocent.”
Jack sighed. “We’ll see,” he said. “I’m just glad you are safe. That Brody character sounds like a bad dude. Whoever wanted him dead really wanted him gone. He had quite a few bullets in his side, Meghan. The murder weapon is missing, and it just all seems a little odd that someone like Sofia shows up, and then, someone dies. That’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen here in sleepy old Sandy Bay, and from what Sofia said, it sounds like she had good reason to say sayonara to Brody.”
&n
bsp; Meghan placed her hands on her hips. “I just know that Sofia didn’t do it,” she said. “Let me help you investigate. Karen did say that Brody and Winston fought last night. Brody even vandalized Winston’s bar. Let me help you look into that. I want to do everything I can to help Karen and Sofia. Karen has done so much for me, and this is the least I can do for them.”
Jack groaned. “Meghan, are you sure you want to get wrapped up in this mess?”
Meghan nodded as Sofia appeared through a door at the end of the hallway. “Sofia!” Meghan waved. “Hey!”
Sofia looked down at the ground. “Meghan. Officer Irvin.”
Jack frowned and turned to walk away. “Meghan, do what you want. Just know that I have to take this seriously.”
As Jack walked away, Sofia stuck her tongue out at his back. “I hate cops,” she hissed. “They’re the worst. That one was so rude to me. He thinks I did it. I can tell.”
Meghan shook her head. “He’s a good guy, Sofia. I know him. Just take it easy. Let’s get out of here.”
The two women walked outside. Karen’s orange jeep was parked on the curb.
“Did you find my mother?” Sofia asked. Meghan shook her head.
“No, I just borrowed her car to come get you.”
“I can’t believe he thinks I did it,” Sofia lamented as they drove toward Karen’s house. “I mean, we weren’t together, and I hated who he became, but I loved Brody.”
Meghan nodded her head as Sofia began to cry. “I know,” she said softly. “It must be so hard.”
Meghan deposited Sofia at Karen’s house and drove the orange jeep back to the bakery. As she parked, she noticed Sofia had left her red leather purse in the passenger side of the door.
“I’ll get that back to her,” Meghan thought as she reached for her cell phone. As she walked to her front door, she dialed Jack’s number and began to chastise him.
“Jack, she didn’t do it. She said that you were rude to her, and you need to chill out. I know she didn’t do it. Have you spoken to Winston yet?”
Before Jack could answer, Meghan tripped, dropping her cell phone and Sofia’s purse on the ground. “Uh oh.” Meghan said to herself as the contents of the purse fell onto the sidewalk. Meghan bent down to collect Sofia’s things. She picked up a tube of red lipstick, fifteen pennies, a wallet, and an expired credit card.
“Shoot!” she said, stuffing the items into the purse. As she reached her hand inside of the bag, she touched a cold, hard object.
“What?” Meghan murmured as she pulled the item out of the bag.
Meghan lifted the cold, hard object out of her bag and gasped. In her hands, she held a gold, antique gun.
6
“You told me that you had nothing to do with it, Sofia, and then I find this?” Meghan yelled as she pounded on the door of Karen’s house. Sofia appeared, and when she saw the gun sparkling in the sunshine, her face grew pale.
“Wait. Meghan, it’s not what it looks like.”
“Not what it looks like? Your ex-boyfriend was murdered, the murder weapon is missing, and you just happen to have a gun in your bag? Where is Karen? I need to talk to her now.”
“Meghan?” Karen appeared in the doorway beside her daughter. “What’s the matter?”
“Karen!” Meghan exclaimed. “Where have you been? Do you know what happened?”
Karen nodded. “I heard,” she said quietly, her face grim. “I was out for a long run and didn’t see my missed calls until I got home. It’s terrible, Meghan.”
Meghan glared at Sofia. “I think she knows more than what she told Jack,” she said, pointing at Sofia. “Look what I found.” Meghan dangled the small, golden gun in front of Karen and Sofia.
“Sofia!” Karen screeched. “You have a gun?”
“Not just any gun,” Meghan added. “I think it’s the murder weapon.”
Sofia reached out her perfectly-manicured hand and snatched the gun from Meghan’s grip.
“Stop it,” she said coldly. “That was a gift from Brody. It’s worth a lot of money, Meghan, and if you break it, you’ll owe me.”
Karen spun to face her daughter. “Explain to me why Brody would give you a gun,” she said. “Tell us right now, Sofia.”
Sofia leaned onto one hip and turned her thick lips into a pout. “He always said that I was his pistol,” she explained. “He bought me this from an antique gun shop in Honduras last summer. It’s not the murder weapon, Meghan. Just look at it.”
Meghan squinted at the gun. It was in perfect condition; there was not a scratch or blemish on it, and Meghan searched for a trace of evidence.
“That’s enough,” Sofia said, tucking the gun into the back pocket of her tight black leather pants. “I’ve had enough of this. That cop already interrogated me, and I don’t need you in my face, Meghan. You’re supposed to be my friend. I came to Sandy Bay to get away from Brody, not to kill him. This is all too messed up.”
Sofia marched into the house, and Meghan could hear the slam of a door. “This isn’t good,” she said to Karen. “Jack and I spoke earlier, and he has concerns about Sofia. Now, honestly, so do I…”
“I know,” Karen whispered, her eyes red. “I had a bad feeling when she showed up at my birthday party. That girl has always managed to find trouble. I’m so upset, Meghan. First Sofia shows up here, then her ex-boyfriend appears and threatens you AND fights at Winston’s, and now, he’s dead? It’s terrible.”
Meghan nodded. “Karen, what happened last night? Was Sofia here?”
Karen shrugged. “I think so? She came home from Winston’s and was so upset about Brody showing up and fighting. I gave her some sleeping medication to help calm her down. The last I saw of her was at about nine. I checked on her before my nighttime yoga class. I didn’t look in when I got home, so I assumed all was well….”
“I want to believe her,” Meghan said. She’s your daughter, Karen. I want to believe her and for her to be innocent. I just don’t know.”
“Neither do I,” Karen admitted. “Neither do I….”
The next day, Meghan’s heart fluttered as Jack walked into the bakery. “Jack!” she cried, happy to see him. “I’m so glad to see you. I’m sorry our call dropped yesterday. There were some...interesting things going on.”
Jack furrowed his brow. “Oh? Anything I should know about?”
Meghan nodded. “Yes, but you look like you have something to talk about. What’s up?”
Jack sighed. “I’ve been interrogating Winston, and I’m concerned that he may have played a part in the murder, Meghan.”
Meghan’s dark eyes widened. “No! No way, Jack.”
Jack nodded. “Brody tore up his bar, and I have several witnesses on record saying that Winston was threatening Brody as he kicked Brody out of the bar.”
Meghan rolled her eyes. “Officer Irvin,” she said playfully. “Threatening someone doesn’t mean that he killed him. Come on!”
Jack stared into Meghan’s eyes. “We found some things, Meghan.”
“What?” Meghan asked.
“We searched Winston’s bar and found some guns. A few of them had recently been used. We can’t be too sure, but we think we may have found our murderer.”
Meghan’s heart pounded. “There’s just no way,” she said. “Winston isn’t a killer.”
Jack shrugged. “Our lab isn’t sophisticated enough to do accurate testing,” he explained. “We’re sending the guns off to a bigger lab in Portland. Until we can get more information, we’re going to keep Winston in jail.”
Meghan crossed her arms in front of her chest. “I’m just not sure you’re onto the right gun owner,” she said. “I found a gun, Jack. I found a gun in Sofia’s purse.”
Jack’s blue eyes grew large. “You found a gun?” he whispered.
Meghan nodded. “I think Sofia might not be innocent after all,” she admitted sheepishly. “I think you should keep an eye on her.”
Jack took a long breath and paced around the dining
area. As he walked near the window, he cocked his head to the side. “Hey,” he said. “Speaking of Sofia, isn’t that her out there?” Jack pointed out the window, and Meghan saw Karen’s orange jeep. Sofia was behind the wheel, and she was racing through the streets of Sandy Bay.
“Uh oh,” Meghan muttered. “She must be going a hundred miles an hour.”
“She’s about to hit that sign!” Jack exclaimed as Sofia narrowly avoided hitting a stop sign.
“What is she doing?” she asked.
Jack turned to Meghan. “I don’t know,” he said. “But you and I are going to go find out.”