Wicked Fog (An Ivy Morgan Mystery Book 6)

by Lily Harper Hart

  “I think everyone is having trouble wrapping their heads around it,” Brian acknowledged. “Jeff was a good guy and this was … an unpleasant way to go.”

  “Someone said he was stabbed in the chest,” Brad prodded. “Is that true?”

  “We really can’t go into those details while the investigation is active,” Brian said.

  “I understand,” Brad said. “It’s just … so surreal.”

  “Yeah, well, we’ll catch whoever did this and hopefully things will be surreal for him when he’s behind bars, too,” Brian said. “What we’re trying to do right now is get a feeling for Jeff’s movement over the course of the forty-eight hours before his death.”

  “Okay,” Brad said. “How can I help?”

  “When we made notification with Karen yesterday, she said Jeff was staying at the firehouse for several nights because he was trying to get ahead before the baby was born,” Brian replied. “I’m guessing since you guys are a volunteer department, that means you trade off shifts.”

  “Pretty much,” Brad confirmed. “We honestly don’t have a lot of fires, as you know. We get some during dry conditions in the summer – and the Fourth of July is always a busy time thanks to that boneheaded fireworks law – but other than that we only go out on runs every few weeks. You guys take the other calls.”

  “Still, you staff the firehouse twenty-four hours a day, right?” Jack asked.

  Brad nodded. “We do,” he said. “We maintain due diligence on that. We have enough volunteers so no one has to do more than a night a week, though, and it’s more often like a night every two weeks because I take half the nights.”

  “How come?” Jack was legitimately curious.

  “Because I’m the only one who gets paid and that seems unfair to the other guys,” Brad replied. “I make sure to check in at least once a day. This is only a part-time job for me, but I take it seriously.”

  “No one is accusing you of anything, Brad,” Brian chided. “What can you tell me about Jeff’s recent shifts, though?”

  “Um … well … that’s just it.” Brad shifted from one foot to the other and averted his eyes from Brian’s steady gaze. “You said that Jeff died twenty-four hours before his body was found and he was supposed to be at the station, right?”

  “Probably,” Brian replied. “We’re still pinning down an exact time of death, but that’s what the coroner gave us to work with.”

  “Well, if that’s the case, then … .” Brad rolled his neck until it cracked, discomfort practically wafting off of him.

  “Just tell us, Brad,” Brian urged. “We’re going to find out eventually.”

  “Jeff wasn’t here that night,” Brad said. “I was monitoring the station that night and I never saw him.”

  “But Karen said that he was at the station banking time,” Jack said. “Why would she think that?”

  “Um … I don’t want to speak ill of the dead.”

  “We need all of the information,” Brian said. “Tell us.”

  “I’m not big on idle gossip, but if you listen to some of the talk and believe it, Jeff was seeing someone on the side,” Brad said, holding up his hands as if to ward off an unpleasant argument. “I’ve never seen it myself, but that was the rumor.”

  “His wife is very pregnant,” Jack said, disgust rolling through his stomach. “You heard he was seeing someone else when she’s about to give birth?”

  “I’m just telling you what I heard,” Brad said. “I don’t have proof and I never cared enough about the situation to get proof. I didn’t think it mattered … until now.”

  “Yeah, well it definitely matters now,” Brian intoned, exchanging a wary look with Jack. “I don’t suppose you know who this supposed side action was with, do you?”

  Brad shook his head. “I have no idea … and I’m horrified to even say anything given the ordeal Karen is going through. If this gets out … .”

  “We’ll do what we can,” Brian said, clapping Brad’s shoulder. “I can’t make any promises in case the death is somehow related to the affair, but if it’s not, we’ll do our best to keep it quiet.”

  “That’s all I ask,” Brad said. “Is there anything else?”

  “I guess not,” Brian replied, scratching his cheek. “Can you think of anyone who would know who this woman is?”

  “I would just ask some of the other volunteers,” Brad answered. “I honestly have no idea.”

  “Thanks for your time.”

  Seven

  “I think this will look nice for the lotions and stuff,” Ivy said, her hands on her hips as she stared at her freshly-decorated table. “What do you think?”

  “That you’re a pain when it comes to Halloween,” Max replied, not missing a beat.

  When Ivy slid her gaze in his direction, she found him staring at a well-endowed blonde standing close to one of the game stations. He wasn’t even paying attention to her table. “You are a pig.” Ivy flicked Max’s ear, causing him to yelp. “Leave that poor girl alone. She’s like half your age.”

  “She is not fifteen,” Max replied dryly, rubbing his injured ear. “That was mean, by the way. I’ve been helping you for an hour straight and what’s my payment? You’re a terrible sister.”

  Ivy made a disgusted face. “I am the best sister in the world and you’re lucky to have me,” she shot back. “You should be thankful to have a sister like me … and that girl is barely legal, so you need to stop looking at her.”

  “Yes, but she’s legal,” Max said, his grin wolfish. “Come on. Don’t you think we would make a striking couple?”

  “You just like her boobs,” Ivy replied, tamping down her irritation. In truth, she knew Max would never touch the girl and he was only flirting because he enjoyed the endeavor. In actuality, he often treated it like a sport. “I’ve got twenty bucks that says that’s all padding.”

  “I might take you up on that bet just so I can find out,” Max teased, poking her side. He studied her for a moment, his expression shifting from mirthful to sober. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m fine, Max,” Ivy said, her voice tinged with agitation. “I wish everyone would stop hovering.”

  “We hover because we love you.”

  “That doesn’t make it easier to swallow.”

  “You’ll live,” Max said. “Speaking of living, though, how is Jack?”

  “Jack is fine,” Ivy replied. “How does Jack’s well-being have anything to do with living, though?”

  “Because he was not amused when you announced you were dying yesterday,” Max said. “For the record, I wasn’t amused either. That was pretty scary.”

  “I didn’t mean to upset everyone,” Ivy said, adjusting her attitude. Life would be worse if no one cared about her, she reminded herself. Her close circle of friends and family was small, but she wouldn’t trade them for anything. “I’m still not sure what happened. I think I just got overexcited.”

  “I don’t believe that for a second, but if you want to keep telling that story, you’re going to need to muster some more conviction,” Max said. “No one is going to believe your version of events if you put so little effort into it.”

  Ivy chewed on her lip, momentarily debating whether she could impart the truth on her brother without freaking him out. She was almost relieved when two figures closed in on them and took the decision out of her hands.

  “Ivy!”

  Ivy’s eyes widened when she caught sight of a familiar teenager, giggling when the rambunctious girl threw her arms around Ivy’s neck and pulled her in for a tight hug.

  “Hello, Jessica. How are you?”

  “I’m good.” The girl’s eyes sparkled as she looked Ivy over. It had been weeks since they’d seen each other. Jessica was still fragile after being held captive for several years and slipping into her old life wasn’t seamless. That didn’t mean she wasn’t giving it her best effort. “I haven’t seen you in forever.”

  “That’s because you’ve been busy,” Ivy
said, smiling kindly at the small boy hiding behind Jessica’s legs. Noah looked happy and healthy despite being ripped from the only home he ever knew. Jessica gave birth to him during her captivity and thought he was dead. Instead, her kidnapper’s wife raised the boy as her own. Now Jessica and her parents were making a life with Noah … and it was a work in progress. “How are you, Noah?”

  The boy didn’t answer, instead sticking his thumb in his mouth and shaking his head. He was unbelievably shy, but Ivy was hopeful he would overcome that when he felt more settled. She took a calm approach when dealing with him. Max was another story.

  “How are you doing, sport?” Max grabbed Noah around the waist and swung him off the ground, smiling when the boy wildly giggled. “Oh, what’s that noise? Did I hear a laugh?”

  Noah giggled again, causing Ivy’s heart to warm. She wasn’t sure Jessica or Noah would be able to overcome the difficulties life threw at them. She was happy to be mistaken, because they were both thriving.

  “What are you doing here?” Ivy asked, turning her attention to Jessica. She lived one town over and only visited on rare occasions – usually opting to head straight for Ivy’s house rather than risk people in town trying to talk to her – so her appearance in the busy town square was surprising.

  “I heard that Shadow Lake does Halloween right,” Jessica replied. “I’m not sure I can come over here and be around a bunch of people after dark … I’m not ready for that yet … but I thought Noah might want to see all of the decorations. He had an appointment with Dr. Nesbitt today so it wasn’t out of our way or anything.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  “He’s fine,” Jessica answered, smiling at the small boy as Max put him on his shoulders and made monkey noises as he hopped around. “I just wanted to make sure.”

  “That’s a relief,” Ivy said. “How are things going with your parents?”

  “Good. It’s all … really good. They adore Noah and they make sure to help so I’m not overwhelmed. I don’t know what I would do without them.”

  “Well, you don’t have to contemplate that for a long time,” Ivy said. “You might not have picked the right time to visit Shadow Lake, though. You heard we found a body in the corn maze, right?”

  “I did hear that on the radio,” Jessica confirmed. “I can guarantee we won’t be going to the corn maze. Right now we’re just watching everyone set up and having a few treats.”

  “Treats?” Max made an exaggerated face. “I love treats!”

  “Candy!” Noah excitedly waved his arms.

  “We have candy at the nursery if you want to head out there,” Ivy offered. “We’re about done here and I have to start on the greenhouse next.”

  “What’s wrong with the greenhouse?”

  “Oh, nothing. I just decorate it and set it up as a haunted attraction every year. That’s my next task.”

  “Oh, that sounds fun,” Jessica said. “Do you mind if we stop out there? I mean, we don’t want to get in your way or anything.”

  “You’re never in the way,” Ivy said. “My dad is out there and Max is coming to help. It will be fun.”

  Max groaned. “I didn’t say I would help. You’re just trying to lure me away from the honeys.”

  “I’m trying to save you from yourself,” Ivy corrected.

  “Fine.” Max wrinkled his nose as he glanced at Noah. “Do you want me to fill you full of sugar?”

  Noah smiled brightly. “Candy?”

  “Candy.”

  “Candy!”

  The little boy’s enthusiasm was so infectious Ivy couldn’t help but giggle. “Candy it is.”

  “HELLO! It’s my favorite child.”

  Michael swooped in twenty minutes later and removed Noah from Max’s arms before his son could put up a fight, ignoring the customers milling around Ivy’s nursery as he focused on something more important – and ten times more adorable.

  “Thanks, Dad,” Max said dryly, shaking his head. “It’s good to feel loved.”

  “And here I thought he was talking about me,” Ivy teased, grinning.

  “You’re my favorite child some of the time,” Michael said, making a face to entertain Noah. “You don’t let me carry you around anymore, though.”

  “No, that’s Jack’s job,” Max said, winking.

  “How is Jack?” Jessica smiled at the mention of the police officer. In the days following her escape, she was terrified of Jack because of his size. Now she knew him well enough to realize he was nothing more than an overgrown teddy bear. “I haven’t seen him the last few times I’ve stopped over.”

  “He’s good,” Ivy replied. “He’s working on the Jeff Johnson case. He was the dead man in the corn maze.”

  “Did you know him?”

  “We all knew him,” Max said. “He was a good guy … although … .”

  Ivy ran her tongue over her teeth and narrowed her eyes. “Although what?”

  “It’s nothing,” Max said hurriedly. “I just heard a few whispers about Jeff over the past week or so. It’s weird because I didn’t remember the gossip until right now. I didn’t even think about it when the body was found yesterday. Of course, I didn’t see it and had no idea who it belonged to when Jack started yelling about getting you to the hospital.”

  “Hospital?” Jessica was beyond confused. “Why did you go to the hospital, Ivy?”

  “It’s nothing,” Ivy said, waving off Jessica’s concern as she scorched Max with a death glare. “Max is … overreacting.”

  “Yes, Max is a regular soap opera siren when he feels like being dramatic,” Michael said, tipping Noah upside down and pretending to munch on the boy’s feet as the toddler giggled hysterically. “He’s not being dramatic this time, though. Ivy passed out at the corn maze after discovering the body … and then got violently ill. She had to be checked out at the hospital, and I’m pretty sure she’s supposed to be resting instead of running around.”

  “Oh, now you’re happy to be my dad,” Ivy deadpanned, rolling her eyes. “When it comes time to boss me around, then I’m your favorite child.”

  “Nope. Noah is still my favorite child today. Isn’t that right, Noah?”

  “Candy!”

  “Candy? I think I can hook you up,” Michael said, flipping Noah around and placing him on the ground. “Ivy happens to have an entire box full of candy in the greenhouse. I’m sure I can get you into a sugar coma before your mom takes you home.”

  Noah glanced at Jessica, unsure. He was still getting used to a new “mom.”

  “It’s okay,” Jessica said, smiling. “I’ll be right here when you get back.”

  “Don’t give him so much candy he throws up,” Ivy called to her father’s back. “If you do that, you’ll be the one picking it up.”

  “Since you threw up on Maisie’s boots yesterday, that’s not much of a threat,” Max pointed out. “You didn’t have to clean up your mess.”

  “Shut up, Max.” Ivy cuffed her brother as Jessica snickered. “It really wasn’t anything serious. I got lightheaded and passed out. I’m perfectly fine today.”

  “You got lightheaded?” Jessica tugged on a strand of her hair and glanced around to make sure no one was eavesdropping before lowering her voice. “You’re not pregnant, are you?”

  Ivy was mortified. “No!”

  “I thought the same thing,” Max said. “I was looking forward to a niece or nephew. Alas, the doctor says that’s not the case. I think Dad was upset at the possibility at first, but seeing him with Noah makes me realize he’ll warm to the reality when it happens.”

  Ivy slapped her hand over her eyes. “I cannot believe you just brought that up again. It’s so … ridiculous. Jack and I are nowhere near ready to have kids.”

  “I think Jack will make a wonderful father,” Jessica enthused.

  Ivy thought the same thing. That didn’t mean she was ready to test the theory. “Well, when that day comes, I’ll make sure the two of you are the first to know,” Ivy said
, desperately searching her mind for something to distract the giggling twosome. Then she remembered Max’s words from earlier. “What did you mean when you said you heard gossip about Jeff?”

  “Oh, that,” Max said, rolling his neck. “I should’ve known you wouldn’t forget that.”

  “No, I have no intention of forgetting that,” Ivy said. “Talk.”

  “It’s just … you know I hang out with some of the volunteer firefighters down at the bar, right?”

  Ivy nodded. She’d often thought Max would be a good fit for the department … if he ever wanted to cut down on his social schedule, that is. “Yeah.”

  “Well, they let slip the other night – I guess it would’ve been Tuesday – that there’s a rumor making the rounds about Jeff cheating on Karen.”

  Ivy was appalled. “She’s like ten months pregnant!”

  “I know,” Max said, bobbing his head. “That’s why the gossip is so good.”

  “It’s not good,” Ivy countered, her voice going shrill. “That’s terrible. Karen is carrying Jeff’s child. You’re basically saying that now she has to get over his death and put up with the fact that he was cheating on her, all the while she’s getting ready to push a human being out of her loins. Is that what you’re saying?”

  “I would never use the word loins,” Max said dryly. “The rest sounds about right, though.”

  “That is horrible,” Ivy said, rubbing her cheek as Jessica made sympathetic clucking noises. “I mean … who would sleep with a man knowing that his wife is going to give birth to his child any moment? That would have to be a special kind of … .”

  “Slut?” Max supplied.

  “I was going to say terrible person, but slut works, too,” Ivy said. “Do you know who he was supposedly running around with?”

  “I do,” Max confirmed, pressing his lips together.

  “Do you want to tell me?”

  “No.”

  “Max!”

  “Fine.” Max made an exaggerated face as he squared his shoulders. “It was Maisie Washington.”

  Ivy’s heart sank at the news, disgust filling her stomach and turning it into a pit of hard bile. “Maisie? You’ve got to be kidding me. She was the one who started screaming by the body.”