by C A Phipps
“I’ve closed up, so I’ll bring them over now.”
Angel gave her a thumbs up. Maddie went inside the bakery, collected the doughnuts and closing the door behind her, paused before locking it. It didn’t feel right to do so, but as long as Caleb was at large it was a necessity when usually, doors and windows stayed open as long as they could except in winter, and many of Maple Falls residents still didn’t bother locking anything.
Angel still had on her uniform and waited in a patch of late afternoon sunshine which glinted off her blonde hair. She looked decidedly less stressed today.
Just as she had that thought, Beth screamed from inside the salon. Running inside, Angel hot on her heels, they found Beth standing in the reception area, hands to her face, wide eyes peering over the top of the small desk. Coming closer, they followed her gaze. A bloodied knife lay on the reception desk.
Maddie looked around the empty salon and back. “How did that get there?”
Beth didn’t blink an eye at the obvious question. “I heard the bell go and came through from the back where I was emptying the dryer. The salon was empty, and the knife was just there. Whoever left it was darn quick because I didn’t see them and I came straight out.”
Beth’s voice shook a little with the rush of explaining, but she looked angry. Whoever was trying to scare them was doing a good job, and if it was Angels’ ex-brother-in-law, then it was past time that man was found.
Maddie had her phone in her hand ready to dial Ethan when Detective Steve Jones burst through the door. Nearly as big as Ethan but fair instead of dark, he took up so much space that the Girlz moved back as one.
“I heard a scream from half-way down the street,” he began, then saw the knife. He looked at all three of them in turn and demanded, “Who left that?”
Maddie had the wild thought that, clearly, obvious questions were the norm in situations like this.
Angel held a hand to her throat. The other still held the doughnuts in their takeout container. “We don’t know. All the clients had gone, and Beth was doing the last of the cleaning before we closed.”
“Someone snuck in, perhaps knowing that Beth wasn’t in the salon itself. They placed the knife on the counter, then disappeared,” Maddie intervened, while Angel pulled herself together.
“I was too scared to go outside the shop and look.” Beth chewed a nail, upset with herself.
“Don’t even think you had a responsibility to do anything like that. I’m glad you didn’t,” Angel said firmly.
The detective nodded. “Ms. Broome is right. It’s far wiser not to follow someone who handles weapons like this.”
Maddie wasn’t sure if the comment was for her benefit, as Detective Jones had been somewhat critical of her involvement in a previous crime she’d gotten involved in.
Choosing to stay silent on the matter, she watched with interest as he took out a plastic bag, turned it inside out, then one-handedly allowed the knife to slide inside without touching it directly. She admired the skill of doing this without cutting himself, then shuddered at the realization he had done this many times before. It was his job after all, but he was so calm about it.
“I’ll take a look around, but it sounds like there was little time for the perpetrator to have done anything more,” he said. “Then I’ll speak to the shop owners on either side.”
They kept still as he walked around the salon and took a look through the kitchen and lunchroom area. Maddie wondered if he had been watching out for Angel while on duty or if he was doing so in his free time.
When he came back to them, his face was a mask.
“I can’t see anything of interest, and according to you, the perpetrator wasn’t here long. Who was your last client?”
“Mrs. Anderson. She wouldn’t hurt a fly, and I bet she couldn’t even manage to lift a weapon like that,” Beth stated.
Detective Jones raised his eyebrows. “Well, someone definitely left it, maybe to frighten you, maybe as a warning. Is there any information you ladies would care to share? Any ideas who it may have been?”
“No,” Angel said.
“Yes,” Beth blurted.
He frowned at Angel, who looked down at her hands, then turned to the intern. “Beth, is it?”
She nodded.
“Tell me who you think it was?”
The teenager looked from Angel to Maddie, suddenly looking vulnerable. “It’s only because I know what’s been happening with Angel and her ex-husband that I wondered if it was him or his brother. But I guess it could have been anyone.”
She was backtracking as fast as she could, and Maddie felt sorry for the girl, who’s worry for her boss’s safety clearly warred with her loyalty to Angel.
Angel hugged the girl. “It’s okay, sugar. You tell Detective Jones whatever you want. It’s what everyone thinks, anyway.”
“It’s one theory we have. The knife was bloodied. I’ll get it checked and see if we can link it to a person, or at least eliminate some.”
“So, you have other suspects?”
Angel looked relieved while the detective’s eyes narrowed.
“Potentially, Ms. Broome. I’ve heard Mr. Marsters side of things, but I feel duty bound to say that nothing so far leads me to believe he isn’t at the very least an accomplice.”
Angel gave him an odd look and went to a small cupboard out in the back room. Through the open door, they saw her open a handbag and withdraw two pieces of paper from inside it. She came slowly back to stand in front of him and reluctantly handed them over.
Jones read them a couple of times before he gave all of them a measured look. “Ethan doesn’t know about this?”
Angel looked guiltily at Maddie. “No one knows. He asked me not to say anything about them.”
Maddie couldn’t help herself. “What are they?”
“It’s the deed for the farm and his house,” Angel answered before the Detective could stop her.
“But why aren’t they with the rest of the papers?” Maddie asked.
Angel shrugged. “He wanted me to feel as though I could trust him. He’s signed them over to me in case something happens to him.”
“So you would help him?” Maddie pressed.
“Clearly, the answer is yes,” Jones said.
Angel sniffed. “We were married, Detective.”
He stiffened and his voice had an edge to it. “But you divorced him for a reason. Anyway, I want to impress on all of you that you are to stay away from this case. There is no need to involve yourselves further.”
Maddie’s folded her arms. “By threatening one of us, we are involved.”
“Ms. Flynn, you know what I mean. In the past, you’ve flouted our authority often at the risk of your lives. I don’t want that to be another factor for the Sheriff and me to worry about.”
She hung her head. Detective Jones had a powerful voice and a severe manner, but she had seen the other side of him, and she knew that his bark was far worse than his bite. The problem as she saw it was that the way the Sheriff’s Department, and even the Detective tackled clues, and yes, they might be the right way, meant they could lose valuable time. She would hate for the killer to get away if there was something she could do to prevent it.
Were they in any danger? With a knife left as a threat, human blood or not, the warning was too obvious to ignore. So the answer was, yes, because Angel was not going to let this alone either. She’d seen her look of intent and knew it well. It had got her through a messy divorce, through her training, as well as through the stress of working two jobs to make enough for a deposit on her salon.
The Detective frowned, perhaps sensing a small defeat, and Maddie lifted her chin.
“I intend to keep an eye on Angel, and I’ll try not to interfere.”
Detective Jones sighed heavily. “I guess that’s the best I’m going to get. But be warned, I will take action if you affect this case negatively.”
Maddie had no idea what that meant, but she nodded a
greement.
“Make sure you contact either myself or Sheriff Tanner as soon as you hear anything. Or another warning arrives. And for goodness sake make sure you lock your doors.” The detective looked pointedly at the knife in its plastic bag. Then his demeanor changed. “I wonder if we could have a private chat, Ms. Broome?”
Angel raised an eyebrow. “You need me to make another statement?”
“Not at all. I just have a few questions that only you can answer,” Detective Jones said, smoothly.
“Can Maddie stay?”
He frowned. “I’d prefer to talk just the two of us.”
“I guess that’s okay. Why don’t you come upstairs so Beth can close up?”
Maddie noticed the tips of his ears went a little pink. “If that would be acceptable?”
“You might intimidate young girls, detective, but I don’t scare so easily. Besides, I think you’re actually a big softie, hiding behind that badge. Come on, then. I’ll see you later Maddie.”
She sashayed out of the salon and up the stairs while the detective fought to close his gaping mouth and Maddie stifled a laugh. The knife business was certainly not a laughing matter, but the big strong, silent detective had met his match and she, for one, was delighted.
Chapter Eighteen
Maddie locked the front door, intending to go out the back. “Will you be okay, Beth?”
“Sure. Knowing that the detective is here makes me feel a whole lot better. Do you think he really is quizzing Angel about the knife, or do you think he’s going to ask her out?”
She whispered the last part, watching the stairs that the couple had disappeared up.
Maddie tilted her head. “I’d like it if he did. What about you?”
“Angel deserves a nice man in her life, especially after what she went through with that useless husband, but I’m not sure the detective will be good enough for her. He’s a bit . . . ?”
Maddie smiled at Beth’s inability to think of a word that wouldn’t be too rude. She might have tattoos and pink hair, but she’d been brought up with manners.
“You know she’s right about him, don’t you?”
“Right about what?” Beth frowned.
“When she told him that he’s not as stern as he chooses to portray himself?”
Beth chewed a fingernail. “If I’m honest, he does scare me a little.”
“But Ethan doesn’t?” Maddie teased.
“Hah! Now, he is a big pussy cat. No matter how hard he tries to look staunch from time to time.”
Maddie laughed. “You’re clever to see through his façade.”
Beth shrugged. “It’s not exactly hard.”
“Whatever you do don’t tell him that. I’d hate to disillusion him any further. It’s already a bone of contention that I don’t listen to him. Imagine if the whole town did that?”
Beth grinned. “It can be our secret.”
“Another secret? Sounds like you fit in perfectly around here.” Maddie teased her.
Beth’s face lit up like a child’s at Christmas. “Do I? I hope so. I love working for Angel, and she has cool friends. Even Ms. Barnes.”
Maddie had to laugh at that. Being the principal of Maple Falls Elementary for many years, Suzy would have been a teacher when Beth was at school. She had always run a tight ship with her students and parents alike. The children in the area were either terrified of or adored her. It looked like Beth might have been in the first group.
Making sure Beth locked the back door when she left, Maddie went back to the bakery, doubly thankful she had taken the time to lock up. Even so, she checked the store and apartment before relaxing. It was a little silly to think she was a target when she hardly remembered Caleb and was pretty sure she hadn’t annoyed anyone recently.
Making a salad in the bakery kitchen, she ate at the counter she used for rolling out the pastry and where her baking lessons were held. She’d just forked up the last mouthful when there was a knock at the back door. Peering through the window, she saw it was Angel, and let her in.
Seeing the white lines around her mouth, Maddie decided to give her friend a few minutes of reflection time before asking her any questions. It would all come out eventually, but it was a worry that she had left the apartment when it was dark. She wondered if Laura or Beth knew about it.
Angel sat at the counter while Maddie put the kettle on, took down two tea sets from the dresser inside the shop, and made them both a strong brew. She waited until Angel took a sip.
“How did it go?”
“With the Detective?” Angel shrugged. “I don’t know. I think he was a little put out by what I said about him being a softie. He was rather cool and quite blunt about Brad’s poor choices.”
“You did call him out on his behavior.” Maddie pointed out as she poured the tea. And he likes you, she thought.
“No more than I would any of our friends,” Angel said with that don’t mess with me tilt to her chin.
“So, he’s a friend now?”
Angel’s cheeks reddened. “He spends enough time in Maple Falls to be considered one of us, don’t you think?”
“A Mapletonian? Potentially. I know Ethan and he are relatively friendly, but they don’t seem to be buddies or anything.”
Angel twisted her hands together, meaning a change of heart was on its way. “The thing is he wanted to know personal stuff and that kind of made me mad. Once he left, I felt so silly. He’s the Detective, and he’s only ever been professional, but somehow I forget that when he’s actually in the room. When I was interviewed at the station, I focused on Ethan, even when he was the one asking questions. I feel so out of control right now, and especially around him.”
Maddie drank her tea thoughtfully, while Angel waited for an answer. Maddie understood that finding the knife was a horrific moment and should be their focus, but anyone could see that the Detective was under Angel’s skin, well and truly, whether her friend wanted him to be or not.
“I think that he’s not comfortable letting his guard down, and and you have disrupted his equilibrium. Thrown his usual MO right out the window.You’re always saying that you don’t want another relationship any time soon, but maybe you’ve gone past that? Maybe it’s time. Either way, you need to give him a break and remember he’s just a man who makes mistakes, the biggest being, he may have underestimated you.”
“I don’t follow you. I don’t want a relationship with Detective Jones. I just want to understand why he irks me so much.”
Maddie sighed. “Think about it for a minute. How did you feel when you first met Brad back in high school?”
Flustered, Angel drank more tea, then put the cup back in the saucer with a rattle. “My heart beat faster, and I got a little giddy.”
“Because you thought he was all that?” Maddie suggested.
Angel frowned. “I guess.”
“Now, how do you feel when you see Steve?” She deliberately used his first name to make Angel see him as a man rather than just as a detective. It seemed to work. Angel’s mouth was a perfect ‘o’.
“I can’t be interested in a man right now. My business is my life, and my life isn’t going so well.”
“A business isn’t enough,” Maddie said, sagely.
“You used to think it was,” Angel scoffed.
“Until I fell for Ethan all over again. Now I can see that there was a space in my life that needed filling, and he does that. He doesn’t replace Gran, my friends, or make me less of a businesswoman, but he adds to the flavor of each day.”
Angel used a hand to fan her face. “My, that’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard you say.”
“There you are, then.” Maddie winked at her.
“I’ll give it some thought,” Angel said, relenting a little. “But I really wanted to talk about Caleb.”
“Have you thought of something you didn’t remember before?”
“It was as I was talking to Steve, I mean Detective Jones. Brad’s family had
a cabin in the woods. About eight years ago there was a fire and the place burned down. We had used it a couple of times, but it was so run-down that I wasn’t upset to not be able to stay there again.”
“Did you tell the Detective?”
“I did. I also reminded him that Brad told us about them running a still. They had one at the farm, why not in the woods? Could it be that the fire at the cabin was due to a still exploding?”
Maddie’s fingers bounced down her leg. “Interesting conclusion. And a big possibility.”
“The detective seemed glad I’d remembered it. I hope they catch Caleb soon. I want to put all this business with Brad behind me once and for all. Annoyingly, I really thought I had.”
Maddie felt a slight lump in her throat, but Angel squared her shoulders, not wanting sympathy right now.
“He’s taken the knife to get tested. Hopefully, they’ll find the killer through that evidence.”
Angel yawned. “It’s been a long afternoon. I think I’ll head home and get an early night. If I can sleep.”
“It’s dark outside, I’ll wait on the doorstep until you get inside. Is Laura home?”
“She was making dinner when I left.”
“Good. I’m glad you’re not alone.”
They hugged, and Maddie watched her until she was safely inside. As she turned to go, she noticed car lights down the street a little way. No doubt it was a deputy patrolling the area and keeping Angel safe.
Chapter Nineteen
On Saturday, Brad disappeared.
Without knowing this, Maddie had invited the Girlz and Gran over to talk about how they would deal with Caleb possibly turning up, and making sure Angel wasn’t left alone in case he did.
A very apologetic Deputy Jacobs, with several burns to his face and arms, stood in Maddie’s kitchen where she and her friends were gathered, while he told them how Brad had escaped custody at the station. He hadn’t even made it to the safe house. Now it seemed, they had two men to worry about.