Skinny Dipping with Murder

by Auralee Wallace

“Yeah … why?” I asked, furrowing my brow.

  He tossed his hands in the air. “Now’s not exactly a good time.”

  Wait. What? My eyes bugged. That wasn’t the way this was supposed to go. “I’m sorry?”

  “Well, I’m kind of on the job here.”

  I planted my hands on my hips. “And since when are you the big professional?”

  “I was always the big professional! I—” He snapped his mouth shut and growled slightly. “Listen. Whether you or your mother or any of those ladies up there in the retreat believe it or not, I’m on your side. Things are getting a little out of control. I shouldn’t have come here last night. That probably wasn’t professional. But … listen. I didn’t want your mother to hear this. I know she can be … dramatic, and that might not help this situation, but the boats blowing up—”

  “What about the boats blowing up?” I asked, a cold flash running over my arms.

  “That explosion might not have been an accident.”

  The words not an accident tumbled around my brain.

  “I don’t have the report yet, but it looks like an explosive device might have—”

  “What! No. The engine’s old. I—”

  “Actually the fact that the engine wasn’t working properly may have saved your life. I’ll know more when I get the report.”

  I ran a hand over my face. “I don’t believe this.” Suddenly my eyes jerked over to my mother. “Grady, don’t tell my mom this until you’re sure, okay?”

  He sighed.

  “You know how she is. All her cluelessness aside, if she thinks I’m in some sort of mortal danger, there’s no telling what she’ll do.”

  He nodded. “But you have to do something for me.”

  I raised my brow in question.

  “No more detective games.”

  My lips moved to say something, but my brain couldn’t figure out what it was. I didn’t want to lie to Grady, but I didn’t think he’d like the truth.

  “Whoever is behind all this isn’t stable. First, Laurie Day goes missing and now—”

  “Yeah, I’m not entirely sure she’s missing,” I said over the thumbnail I was chewing. “I might have stopped by her trailer the other day, and I may have seen a half-packed bag.”

  Grady rolled his jaw. “Don’t suppose you’d know where Tommy is?””

  I dropped my hand. “Wait, you can’t find him?” I asked.

  Grady shook his head no.

  “You don’t think he and Laurie … maybe they’re together? I may have seen a bag packed for Tommy too.” I paused, trying to think it all through. “Oh my God, you don’t think something’s happened to Tommy?”

  “Honestly, I’m not sure what to think, but we are working on some theories. We, as in the police, are working on some theories,” he said, patting his chest before pointing back to Rhonda.

  “Wait. Are you okay?” I reached out to touch his arm. “After Dickie, then Harry, your family must be going crazy! What about your aunt? She must be worried sick. I—”

  “We’re not going there yet. Tommy could be anywhere.” He said the words without emotion, but his face tensed. “I’m going to get a forensics team over to his place tonight. Are we going to find evidence of you being there?”

  I pinched my lips together. Just my fingerprints, probably some hair, and … oh God, when was the last time I had seen the screwdriver? “Maybe.”

  “You need to get this. I believe somebody was trying to frame you with that skewer. Now they might be trying to kill you. I’m waiting on forensics on the boat to be sure, but my guess is that this person is in panic mode, and if you push them at the wrong time…”

  I nodded.

  Grady took a few backward steps toward the police boat. “I mean it, Erica. I’ll throw you in jail for obstructing justice if I have to.” He then stepped into the boat to join Rhonda. “I don’t care who your uncle is.”

  I walked in a daze to meet my mother waiting for me at the foot of the stairs.

  A horrible grinding sound echoed over the lake as Grady and Rhonda left.

  My mother linked her arm with mine. “They should really get him a better boat.”

  I elbowed her lightly in the ribs.

  “Oh! Right. Maybe after you leave town.”

  * * *

  I spent the night tossing and turning.

  Instead of the princess and the pea, I was the princess with the six-inch carving knife under her mattress.

  I wasn’t surprised that I was so scared. But I was kind of surprised that my feelings were so hurt.

  Somebody wanted me dead … like actually dead.

  * * *

  The faces of Tommy, Laurie, and Candace drifted around the ceiling of my darkened room. I couldn’t rule out any of them, missing or not. But to be honest, I couldn’t imagine any of them killing me either. It seemed almost … unneighborly? I was used to seeing criminals in court, but they all wore nice identifiable orange jumpsuits. It was easy to picture them doing bad things. I guess that’s the whole thing about criminals; if you could tell they were criminals just by looking at them, you could simply lock them up before they did anything.

  And then there was the whole Grady situation.

  I didn’t like thinking about Grady, but I couldn’t seem to stop thinking about him either.

  And that whole situation just left me feeling …

  Vulnerable.

  Vulnerable … like a girl standing half naked in front of her entire town.

  Grady.

  I could feel the memory pressing against my thoughts. I didn’t try stop it from coming this time.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Where are you going?

  I watched Grady plant his hands on the dock and push himself out of the water.

  It’s a surprise, he said, quickly yanking on his jeans and scooping up all the clothes, mine included.

  Why are you taking my clothes?

  So that I know you’ll still be here when I get back!

  Grady!

  He ran toward the end of the dock.

  I’ll be right back!

  Grady!

  I did trust him.

  For about twenty minutes, I really, really trusted him.

  I gripped the dock with my hands and treaded water. All the while, trusting him.

  Then I got cold. Really cold.

  It’s hard to trust someone when your teeth are chattering.

  So even though I really didn’t want to, I got out of the water and sat at the edge of the dock. I hugged my knees to my chest and stared pure death at the break in the trees where I thought Grady would come out … at any moment. I truly believed at any moment Grady would come out.

  I would have sat there all night, but then I heard the music echoing over the lake.

  The band stopped, and a voice rang out over a loudspeaker. Welcome, everyone. I hope you are enjoying the social so far!

  Cheers sounded in the distance.

  Well, the fun’s not over. We have a special performance for you tonight from Earth, Moon, and Stars.

  I remember thinking, Great, I’m not going to miss my mother’s performance after all. I would get to hear everyone’s reaction. Even Tommy, Dickie, and Harry’s. Grady had mentioned to me that even his cousin and his friends were making a point of going. It hadn’t meant anything to me at the time, but …

  Tommy, Dickie, and Harry.

  Why would they make a point of going to my mother’s performance?

  And that’s when I knew. I knew it in the core of my being.

  They were planning something.

  I jumped up and scurried down that dock, trying to cover myself.

  I needed clothes. My eyes darted to the McAdams’s home. I scooted up the stairs and yanked on the door to the cottage. Thankfully the mudroom wasn’t locked. I looked frantically around in the gloom. A pair of men’s rubber fishing overalls hung on a hook. They were way too big, but they’d have to do. I yanked them on and had just hiked th
e straps over my shoulders when a light flicked on.

  I cringed, then turned slowly to the door that went into the cottage.

  Mrs. McAdams stood on the other side, staring at me with very round eyes.

  We both screamed, and I bolted, grabbing what I thought was a sweater off a hook on the way out.

  I stumbled down the stairs.

  The thing in my hand wasn’t a sweater. It was a winter hat. I shoved it on my head anyway.

  My eyes darted around.

  I could hear the music for my mother’s performance start up.

  I needed to go!

  I couldn’t feel any pain in my feet anymore. I was running as fast as any person could in rubber pants.

  Luckily I didn’t have to go into the crowd. The back of the stage faced the water. And yup, sure enough, I could just barely make out three hazy figures skulking up the back stairs, shielded from the audience by a curtain.

  Hey! I shouted.

  The figures froze.

  I ran-waddled toward them.

  Erica? Harry called out.

  I skidded to a stop a few feet away from them, hands holding the overall bib in place.

  Dickie’s eyes bugged. What are you doing?

  What I am doing? I shouted. What are you doing?

  All three stared back at me. No one answered.

  Watching the three guys mount the stairs to the back of the stage, I realized Tommy was carrying something. Is that Betsy? I shouted. Why do you have Betsy? And what is she wearing? Is that a leotard … and a tutu?

  Betsy. Beloved town mascot. Ancient at twenty-five years old. Toothless.

  Beaver.

  Somebody had rescued her after a run-in with a boat motor, and taken her to the wildlife sanctuary. After that the whole town seemed to just fall in love with her.

  A smile slid over Tommy’s face. We thought your mother might be lonely up there dancing all by herself.

  Before my brain could even process the words my head was shaking no. Tommy, I’m warning you—

  What are you going to do, Erica? Give me another love bite? He turned his shoulder in my direction.

  I took a few steps toward them. Guys. Look. I know my mother is a little out there. But she’s really proud of this dance, and the town already thinks she’s a bit of a joke, and … I didn’t know what else to say. I looked at each of their faces. Dickie and Harry started to show a little uncertainty, but not Tommy. In fact, he stepped closer to the spot where the two sides of the curtain overlapped.

  Tommy, I warned.

  He chuckled. Look out, boys! She’s going to blow!

  I don’t remember how I got up onto the back of the stage, but suddenly I was there wrestling for Betsy with Tommy.

  Give me the beaver, Tommy, I growled through my teeth.

  Not going to happen.

  I wedged my arm in between Tommy’s chest and Betsy’s body and gave her a good yank. Poor Betsy groaned.

  Tommy! You’re going to hurt her!

  You’re going to hurt her!

  Suddenly, without thinking, I raised my foot and stomped it down on Tommy’s.

  Ow! He let go of his grip, and began hopping backward on one foot, the other cradled in his hands. I hugged Betsy to my chest.

  Ha! I shouted. When are you going to get it, Tommy? These stupid pranks just never work out the w—

  Then the horror of what was about to happen stole the words right from my mouth. Tommy was still hopping. Hopping backward and reaching for the curtain for balance.

  I reached toward him with one hand, but it was too late.

  Tommy grasped at the curtain. The thick fabric fell to the ground with a heavy thump.

  I felt the heat of the spotlight on my bare shoulders as the sound of the crowd’s collective gasp ran over me.

  I stood frozen to the spot. Betsy still clasped to my chest.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I could see my mother. She was frozen too, mid-dance.

  Silence filled the stage, the town, the entire lake for what seemed like an eternity before someone shouted, What is she doing?

  Then, It must be some weird Wiccan thing.

  She’s half naked! And in a knit hat!

  Is that … is that Betsy?

  The crowd’s tone turned from confused to horrified.

  She’s got Betsy!

  Not Betsy!

  New exclamations of horror ran through the crowd.

  Don’t hurt her!

  My head was already shaking no.

  Look, there’s raspberry tart crumbs on her pelt!

  You can’t feed her! She’s on a special diet!

  Suddenly I saw Grady pushing his way past people to the front of the stage.

  Thoughts ran wild through my head. Had he been in on it? Is that why he took my clothes? He knew what the guys were planning and he was the distraction? I glanced at his face. He looked genuinely shocked. But then again I was still supposed to be back in the water.

  He stepped toward me with his palms in the air.

  Erica, you had better drop the beaver.

  Either way, he was right. I needed to drop the beaver. The crowd was turning ugly.

  I nodded at Grady, then began to lower the ancient animal gently down my body … and with her went the bib of my overalls.

  My eyes flashed up to Grady’s already wide ones.

  I didn’t look down. Maybe what I thought had happened hadn’t happened. Maybe—

  I watched Grady gulp, right before he said, Heavens to Betsy.

  * * *

  I managed to get a few hours’ sleep after my trip down memory lane, but I woke up with a brutal headache and an uneasy feeling in my gut.

  Two days.

  Two days left until the social.

  Coffee. I needed coffee.

  I swung my legs out of bed, knocking my feet against something furry.

  Caesar scuttled away hissing. He then turned to give me a filthy look.

  “You’ll be happy to know that someone is trying to kill me,” I said.

  He considered me for a moment before rolling back on his butt to give his crotch a lick.

  “Nice.”

  Gray light filled the common area and kitchen, perfectly suiting my mood.

  I filled my mother’s old kettle and lit the gas burner on the stove. Then I grabbed the jar of instant coffee I had stolen from Freddie’s.

  Someone was trying to kill me.

  There it was again.

  Seriously, how was I supposed to have a normal morning with someone trying to kill me?

  At least I knew one thing for sure; I was shutting down all of my ongoing investigations.

  This had all gone too far.

  A few days ago, I was worried about when I was going to get out of Otter Lake. Now that question started with an if.

  I screwed off the lid to the coffee right as a hand appeared on the other side of the kitchen window, rapping on the glass.

  “Wah!”

  Coffee grounds sprayed everywhere.

  Candace’s face appeared, evil dimples twisting.

  “Oh, sugar! I’m so sorry,” she said, voice muffled by the glass. “I brought you coffee.” She lifted a to-go cup from the Dawg into view. She then pointed to the front door and disappeared.

  Oh, crap! What had happened last night? Oh, God, had I agreed to be Candace’s new partner? Had I befriended a murderer after all?

  I looked frantically around the kitchen clutching my scalp.

  It was too late to hide.

  I could jump out the window like I had that day with Grady … but then she might kill my mother in her bed.

  Could I ignore her?

  No, that might make her mad … homicidally mad.

  I heard the front doorknob rattle.

  A weapon!

  I needed a weapon.

  I grabbed a knife from the counter and tried to shove it in the waistband of my shorts. After I poked myself in the butt, I realized that wouldn’t work. Too obvious. I d
idn’t want Candace to know I suspected her of murder. It might be the push over the edge Grady was talking about.

  The kettle on the stove began to whistle.

  That was it! The scalding water.

  I grabbed the hot handle of the kettle and instantly dropped it. Too hot. Okay, not scalding water.

  I would have to go in unarmed.

  I rolled my shoulders. She was a little bit of a thing. As long as she was unarmed, I was pretty sure I could take her in a fight.

  I walked over to the door, took an empty gulp, and swung it open.

  “Hi!” Candace said with a brightness that matched her yellow rain slicker. “Did you get lost on your way to the door?”

  I tried to laugh, but the sound came out stumbling and tripping.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Uh-huh,” I said. “Come in.”

  As I pulled the door back, I wrapped my hand around something leaning against the wall.

  Candace took a quick step toward me, only to stop with a jerk when she realized she had the tip of an umbrella stuck in her belly.

  She looked up at me, confused expression on her face.

  “Um, poke, poke,” I said in a cutesy voice. “Is it raining?”

  God, when had I become Mr. Bean?

  “Drizzling,” she replied, cautiously reaching out toward me with the coffee in her hand.

  I put the umbrella down and leaned on it, trying to look casual.

  I needed to get a hold of myself.

  Freddie was right. Other than the timing, I had no good reason to believe Candace was the killer. Laurie or Tommy could have done it. Or somebody else entirely. I had zero concrete evidence to link anyone to any crime. This all needed to stop, or I really was going to land myself in jail.

  I gave Candace my best attempt at a smile. “I’m really sorry, Candace. I didn’t get much sleep.”

  “No, it’s my fault,” she replied, holding up a hand. “You said you’d call in the morning, and here I am showing up on your doorstep. I have been told that at times I can be a little too eager.” She pulled her face down into an uh-oh expression and rocked her body back and forth.

  I took a breath. I really did want to be a good person.

  “That’s okay,” I said, trying to take pointers from her effortless ability to be so … nice. “But listen, Grady came by last night and warned me to stay away from doing any kind of investigating.”

  “I know,” she said, before taking a sip of coffee. “He told me.”