“Who do you think is the boss of all that? Not Denton Clarke, that’s for sure. He doesn’t have the brains for it, just enough greed to do as he’s told.”
If anyone had sworn on a stack of Bibles that Alvin was all the things he’d have me believe, I’d have called them an outright liar. Unfortunately, the man made sense, and it scared the bejeepers out of me. Gone was the man who played a convincing role as one of the shakers and doers in the community. I wondered how many others were tangled up in this scheme. “Before you kill me, I have to ask: What was the meaning behind the eggs surrounding Della and why leave lilies of the valley on her chest?”
He smirked. “I’m surprised you didn’t figure it out. Della was mean and ugly. Those disgusting eggs were befitting. As for the flowers, I had been poisoning her for days when I added water that I soaked the flowers in. The poison leaks from the stems into the water. I mixed it with that stupid energy drink she always carried with her.”
“I see.”
“Walk down those stairs, and don’t think you can run away, Juliette. I promise to shoot you if you make one wrong move.”
I turned and slowly took one step at a time until I reached the ground. I’d raised my hands, praying Adam or Jack would come to see what was going on. With a last-ditch ending to the prayer, I begged for somebody, anybody, to rescue me.
I’d reached the path and was shoved toward the dock. Trees and foliage bordered the path as it widened. I continued my journey and dragged my feet in hope of coming up with a plan.
“I’m right behind Alvin. My superpowers are ready when you are. Give me a sign so we can take this guy down.”
Bun would do his best, but it might get me killed. I’d gone past a huge, overgrown rhododendron bush and caught sight of movement. Unwilling to turn my head, I stumbled and slid my eyes as far to the side as possible and breathed in relief.
I’d taken a few steps past the bush and then turned to yell, “Now, Bun.”
Bun flew from the ground, onto Alvin’s back, his teeth snagging Alvin’s shirt collar. Alvin’s arm flew up in the air and the gun went off. Thankful the bullet didn’t hit anyone, the next thing I knew, Alvin was face down in the dirt and was read his Miranda rights.
I gawked at the man who handcuffed my would-be killer. Rob Brayton dragged Alvin upright, shook him once or twice, and asked, “Do you understand your rights?”
Alvin’s voice angry, he also seemed disheartened when he said, “I do.”
Rob looked at me, then at Bun, who had leaped into my arms. “Are you all right?”
I nodded. “Are you?”
He nodded and pushed Alvin up the path toward the gate, where his car sat alongside Adam’s police cruiser.
Adam strode toward us, purpose in every step. “You aren’t hurt, are you, Juliette?”
“No, but I was worried there for a while. How did you guys know what was going on?”
“Rob learned Alvin was here from his secretary at the council office. I called the farm and got no answer so I came to the lake. The lake is your favorite spot, isn’t it?”
I agreed, hugged Bun tightly to me, and then tucked him into his basket.
“Do you want a ride home? You’ll need to come to the station to give a statement,” Adam remarked.
“I’d rather ride the bicycle if you don’t mind. I’ll give my statement after I make sure Bun is okay.”
He agreed and opened the rear cruiser door for Alvin. Once Alvin was seated, Adam took off for headquarters.
“Are you sure you want to ride that bike back to your farm? You’ve had quite a scare, you know, and what’s with the rabbit? He acted upon your command.”
“He’s a smart rabbit. We’re best buds, huh, Bun?”
“And I’m brilliant, too.”
I ruffled his fur and laughed out loud. Only I could hear him, and as secrets go, it was mine. “Truly, I’d rather ride the bike home. Before I go, tell me who you are?”
“I’m an FBI agent. I’ve followed the drugs and money for quite a while. I’m certainly not as young as people think, but young enough to pass myself off as a postgraduate student. Too bad about Frank and Della Meeny. For a while, I thought Della might be involved, but the woman was honest—mean, but honest.”
“Do you know why Felicia went to the house and why Alvin attacked her?”
“She said it was to pick up photos of the family that her mother wanted. Felicia was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Alvin must have thought he’d killed her. She was fortunate.”
“Indeed. I’ll see you at the station later on. Does Jack Carver know about you?”
“He didn’t know, but I’m sure he will before long. Adam knows.”
I walked the bike onto the road and pedaled home, all the while praising Bun for saving me from certain death.
He seemed to hear me, but didn’t say a word. Until we got home.
“We make a great duo, don’t we? I mean, we’ve got crime-fighting down to a science. Maybe we should open a detective agency. What do you say?”
“Not in a million years, Bun. And, I know that I won’t live that long.”
“If you change your mind, I’m on board with the idea. Just think of a sign that says ‘The Bun and Jules Detective Agency.’”
That was absolutely out of the question. I’d come closer to death during this investigation than any of the others we’d been involved in before. The farm was my safe haven. Never would I consider such an agency, and I said so.
Bun sighed, then said he’d visit with his rabbit friends and went into the barn while I drove to the police station. Directed to Jack’s office by the officer at the front desk, I saw Adam and Rob discussing something that upset Jack. I figured his attitude was due to the discovery of Rob, the FBI agent.
I tapped the door window. All talk halted when Jack beckoned me in.
“Hey, Jack.”
“You knew all along, didn’t you?” Jack accused.
Indignant, I answered him. “I did not. It wasn’t until the event at the farm that I realized Rob was more than he seemed. I confronted him, but he denied it, quite convincingly, too.”
Rob smirked and interrupted me. “Not as convincingly as I thought. You knew, somehow.”
Jack remarked, “This woman has a sixth sense. I’m telling you, she can figure things out faster than anyone I know. I’ve mentioned that she should be a detective, but I’m glad she continues to reject the idea.”
“All that said, I’m here to give my statement.” Kudos were nice, but enough was enough. The idea was ludicrous, to me, at least. I had a farm to run, needed to help Jessica move into her new home, had Bun to keep up with, and a shop to enlarge.
The men stared through the windows of Jack’s office as Denton Clarke, the Eriksons, the college dean, and a few unfamiliar people were taken to the cells in handcuffs.
“What do you think of that?” Jack asked.
“Well, I don’t think Denton’s sister will want me to bring my rabbits to her daughter’s birthday party.”
We all laughed, and then sobered before getting down to the business of giving statements. Jack had more proof than he thought possible, which would lead to prison terms for many, especially Alvin.
Done with the investigation and relieved to have survived once again, I turned my thoughts toward home, Bun, and all the rabbits. My life was just the way I liked it.
Don’t ever let it be said the universe isn’t listening, because it is. Whether it be God, or the universe itself, something out there hears our requests and complies.
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Hop 'Til You Drop Page 23