Welcome to Sweetwater (Annie Parker Mystery Shorts Box Set)

by A. J. Bromley

  Leaving Annie’s house Sam called his deputy on duty tonight. “Bill, call the guys in. We have a big problem.” Bill called the three deputies.

  Sam was worried about Annie. Would this man kidnap her or even kill her?

  Back at the police station, Sam put out an APB on Nick’s truck. Mrs. Wilson didn’t know what kind it was, “it was just a big black truck all shiny and new looking. Nick had to help me in and out whenever he took me places.”

  It took about 30 minutes before all the deputies arrived. Sam updated them on Nick being a person of interest. “He’s wanted for questioning.” Now here’s an even bigger problem. There’s a chance that he may have kidnapped Annie Parker. No one has heard from her since 4 PM today. She was supposedly on her way home then. I’ve driven by the café and it’s all closed up. I’ve got assignments for each of you and also thanks for responding so quickly.

  “Check all service stations in case he stopped to fill up.”

  Sam went out to his vehicle deep in thought. Maybe another check of the café. Sam couldn’t see any activity. The whole town was quiet, going on six o’clock. Just Jerry’s Pizzeria was open.

  Going to the front door, Sam tried opening it. Of course it was locked. Sam got the crowbar from his trunk. He was able to open the door with only minor damage. Annie had never felt the need for an alarm system. Thank goodness. No frantic calls to deal with.

  Switching on the lights, Sam looked all around the dining room. No signs of a disturbance here. Then walking towards the kitchen he found a roll of duct tape on the floor. On closer inspection, he could see where something had scraped across the floor leaving black marks and some gouged out spots. Nick Wilson had certainly been here. Where is he now and where is my Annie?

  Sam slowly made his way to the back. When Sam reached the back there was what looked like storage rooms. Opening one he found extra canned goods and baking supplies. The second door was locked. Sam was starting to get worried about what he would find behind that door.

  He pried open the door using the crowbar. Sam switched on the light. There on the floor was his Annie, not moving. She was strapped in a chair and had a gag in her mouth. There was a gash across her forehead, with blood oozing onto the floor.

  Gently Sam started removing the tape holding the gag in her mouth. He was leaving burn marks but it couldn’t be avoided. Untaping her hands and feet he tried to rub some circulation into each area as he went. She was going to be one sore cookie when this was over.

  Annie was starting to wake up; she was moaning and trying to rub her forehead. Sam lifted her out of the chair and held her close so she wouldn’t fall and do more damage.

  “Time to call your family; I know they are worried sick.”

  Annie didn’t understand what Sam was saying; Taylor was the only family here. I must have misunderstood him. Then she overheard Sam talking to Taylor and telling her to meet them at the ER.

  Then as gently as possible he got Annie into his vehicle and drove to the ER.

  After seeing that Annie was in good hands in the ER he called Bill with the good news. He asked him to call the other deputies with the update.

  Deputy James called back to report a black Dodge Ram had filled up with gas at the station out on the highway headed north-east. This was about 5 PM. Guy was in a hurry; didn’t even wait for his free coupons for an oil change. He may be headed to I-25.

  With this new report, Sam called the state Highway Patrol with details on Nick’s truck and direction he was headed. Then he thanked his men and sent them home, except for Bill who was on duty till morning.

  Chapter 14

  Sam had called the ER about his emergency. The staff was ready and waiting when Sam reached the entrance. Annie was lifted onto the gurney and taken inside. Then several vehicles started arriving at the hospital; all of Annie’s family, Kate and the Peterson twins.

  Everyone was talking at once so Sam took charge of the group by getting them settled in the waiting room. He gave them all an update and progress report; then tried to console Taylor and her mom.

  Soon Dr. Lyons came into the room and told them that Annie was doing fine. She did need some stitches on her forehead but the only problem now would be a headache. “I want to keep her overnight to make sure we haven’t missed anything.”

  Once everyone had all the details, they relaxed and chatted with some of the ER staff.

  Sue insisted on seeing her sister before going back to her house. Taylor was going to spend the night at her aunt’s bedside.

  Annie was so surprised to see her sister. “How did you get here so fast?”

  “Actually we wanted to surprise you with a short visit and then take Taylor back with us. Saving you that trip again so soon.”

  Annie was so happy that everything was going to be all right. Saying “Good Night” to her sister Annie settled back and let the staff take care of her.

  By morning, Taylor as worn out but happy to have her aunt alive and well. Chief Sparks made Taylor promise to call him when Annie was awake in the morning. He needed to get some answers.

  After breakfast, family and friends started to wander in. When Sue and Dave came in Annie could see that her sister was upset.

  “If we had known what all was happening here we would have come sooner. I’m not too happy with you for putting my baby in such danger.”

  Taylor, hoping that this wasn’t really happening replied, “Mom, I have been perfectly safe. I spent the time serving tea and cleaning up. I never even saw the killer.” With a roll of her eyes, Taylor sat on the bed next to her aunt.

  “I’m hoping to get released later this morning and we can sit down and have a long chat. I know you’ll want to head back home soon.”

  After Annie’s family left, she was able to get a short nap. Other than a slight headache and some sore muscles Annie was doing okay.

  The Peterson twins and Kate popped in at 10 AM, deep concern and worry showed on their faces. They all felt that they should have all shared in the aches and pains that Annie was suffering.

  When Sam arrived, the posse took off promising to stop by her house tomorrow.

  Sam just stood there gazing at Annie with a tender look; thank God that she was safe. With a choked up feeling, Sam greeted Annie.

  “You saved my life, Sam and I thank you.” Tears started to fall down her cheeks, but she was smiling.

  Sam pulled up a chair and sat by her bed. “I called Owen Compton with the news. He was anxious to know who killed his wife. I gave him a few details and he seemed satisfied. Now, maybe life can get back to normal in this town. Promise me that you won’t get tangled up in anything like this again.”

  Sam was waiting for her reply, when he looked over at her, he found her sound asleep. At least I did get the last word this time.

  Candy Cane Sugar Cookies

  Ingredients

  2/3 cup butter

  3/4 cup sugar

  1 teaspoon vanilla

  1 egg

  4 teaspoons milk

  2 cups flour

  1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

  1/4 teaspoon salt

  5 candy canes – crushed

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together butter and sugar. Mix in egg and vanilla. Beat until fluffy. Mix in milk and dry ingredients. Stir in candy canes. Shape in to walnut size balls. Place on parchment paper lined cookie sheets. Bake 8 – 10 minutes; until golden around the edges.

  Spring Fling

  An Annie Parker Mystery Short

  A.J. Bromley

  Prologue

  “911 What is your emergency?”

  “He’s gone.” Darla could barely get the words out.

  “Can you speak up? Did you say someone is gone?”

  Clearing her throat, Darla spoke louder, “My husband is missing.”

  “Give me your name and address. I’ll send someone out there. Are you alone?”

  “Yes, I’m all alone. I came home and my husband wasn’t here.”

 
; The operator could hear the panic in the woman’s voice.

  “I need your name and address. Someone will be there soon. Do you want me to stay on the line?”

  “I’m Darla Franconi at 801Brewster Street.” Tearfully she thanked the 911 operator and said that she would be okay.

  She sighed with relief. Help was on the way.

  It looked like a mini tornado had come through the living room. Broken knickknacks littered the coffee table. Darla picked up her favorite piece, an angel, and noticed that it was missing a wing. Wiping away her tears, she looked in the rubble and found the missing wing. She carefully put these in her purse. Stuffing from the pillows was everywhere. A large brown spot was on the green shag rug. Was it Victor’s blood?

  She was more anxious with each glance around the trailer. The place was usually a mess after Victor’s poker games. Every Friday night three of his friends came to play cards. Afterwards there were overflowing ashtrays, empty beer cans, and chips carelessly dropped on the linoleum and rug.

  The Franconis had lived here for the past year. The shabbiness never bothered Victor. Darla tried to add a personal touch by her collection of Hummel’s, brightly colored pillows that she had made to help hide the threadbare sofa and new white curtains on the windows.

  Sam Sparks, Sweetwater, Colorado’s Chief of Police, was driving into the yard when Darla came out the door. The singlewide trailer had a gray tinge to the once white exterior with rusted areas along the base. Sam shuddered as he got out of his vehicle. Glancing around the weed-covered yard, he made his way to the steps where a petite woman waited.

  “Mrs. Franconi, I’m Chief Sparks. You called 911?”

  “Yes I did Chief Sparks.” Darla looked up at him anxiously.

  “Tell me about your husband and why you think he is missing.”

  Darla pulled her jacket closer to her body. The night was chilly and she was shaking nervously.

  “Why don’t we go inside?” Sam opened the door and followed her into the living room.

  A card table set between the living room and kitchenette. Darla sat down in one of the chairs. Sam looked around at all the destruction, and then he sat down.

  “Mrs. Franconi, what happened tonight?”

  Darla’s throat was dry as she started to relate the evening’s events. She told about Victor’s Friday night poker games. “This had been a regular get together for the past six months. Before that, he would go out to the casino. That’s where he met two of the poker players. Then six months ago, he started having Friday night games here.”

  “Can you give me the names of the three players?” Sam was trying to speed things along.

  “There’s Chris and Dan who work at the Mountainview Casino. Lee works at the local gas station. I don’t know their last names.”

  “Where were you tonight?”

  “I went to a film festival in Boulder. I love the old movies and this was a special showing.

  “It was after midnight when I got home. The place was trashed and Victor was gone.”

  “Mrs. Franconi, I can’t start an investigation of a missing person for 48 hours.” Sam noticed how upset she was. He asked, “Would you be more comfortable staying with someone?”

  Embarrassed, Darla replied, “I don’t have any close friends.”

  “Let me give Annie Parker a call. You know her?”

  “Oh, I always enjoy chatting with Annie whenever I stop in for coffee. She helped get me started doing alterations. I am fixing her dress for the dance.”

  After Sam reached Annie, he waited for Darla to pack her old Toyota with a few things.

  …

  Annie was asleep when Sam called. He explained about Victor Franconi missing when Mrs. Franconi got home. She had been in Boulder at a film festival. After learning of Darla’s problems, Annie said she would gladly let Darla stay with her. Annie put on her warm fleece bathrobe and went to the kitchen. She put water on to heat for tea.

  Arriving at Annie’s at 1:30 in the morning, Annie showed Darla to the guest bedroom.

  “What a comfortable home you have, Annie. It feels very warm and inviting.”

  Annie nodded and smiled.

  Annie decided to make them each a hot cup of chamomile tea. Darla’s nerves were on edge after tonight.

  Darla joined Annie in the cozy kitchen. She welcomed the hot tea.

  After a short time, they were both starting to droop.

  Looking at the kitchen clock, Annie gave a sigh. “I have to be at the café in a few hours. Why don’t you get some rest? Maybe we can sort things out when I get home. There will be a meeting here to finalize plans for the Spring Fling that is next Friday. Help yourself to breakfast when you get up. There’s bread for toast, eggs and cereal. Look in the pantry for some canned soup for lunch.”

  “I want to thank you Annie for helping me out. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you coming to my rescue.”

  Chapter 1

  Leaving a note for Darla, Annie took off walking to the café. She had overslept and arrived an hour late. Roy greeted her as she entered the front door. “You are late and you look like hell.”

  “Thanks Roy, that is what I wanted to hear this morning.”

  Annie noticed that the café was doing a lively business. The customers were talking about the upcoming annual event. Spring Fling occurred between the winter and summer tourist seasons. The theme was Rock and Roll this year with many dressing in 50’s style clothes.

  “Okay, Roy I didn’t get to bed until 2:00AM. So give me a break.”

  “Oh, that’s right. Since it was Friday night, Sam brought takeout and you two spent a pleasant evening together. That explains everything.” Roy couldn’t hold back the laughter.

  Some of the customers were stopping their conversations and were listening to Annie and Roy.

  “Let’s go to the kitchen Roy, and I’ll explain everything.” Annie was literally pushing Roy into the back. She trusted him to keep quiet about Darla and her missing husband.

  “For starters, last night was Sam’s turn for the night shift. He assigns himself that once a month so he left my house at 10:00PM.”

  “What kept you up until 2:00AM?”

  Annie went on to tell Roy about the Franconis. “Darla came home and found her husband, Victor, missing. She is staying with me for now. She doesn’t have any family or close friends in the area so I’m trying to help.

  “I’m going to get some baking done this morning and head home right after lunch. I know you and Caitlyn can handle it. I don’t want Darla to think that everyone has deserted her.”

  “I know it will be quiet this afternoon so leave as soon as you finish up your baking.” Roy felt that he needed to watch over his boss. She was always there for him.

  Chapter 2

  Arriving home in the afternoon, Annie found Darla on the sofa. Soggy tissues covered the floor. Her eyes were red from crying.

  “Are you ready for tea, Darla? Then we can relax and have a chat. Maybe we can find a clue to your husband’s disappearance.”

  Darla quickly gathered the tissues and started to the kitchen. Annie went to change out of her work clothes.

  The small kitchen table was set with two cups of hot tea. Thanking Darla, Annie sat down.

  Darla went on to tell about their lives in Henderson before moving to Sweetwater. “Victor was treasurer for the city. He was so proud of himself when he landed this job and times were good for us. I was working as a seamstress for the showgirls. This was a fun job. I was very intimidated at first but the girls were regular people. They would tell me about their kids and their family lives.

  “Of course, I worked late at night so this gave Victor a lot of free time. With a steady job, he had money to go out gambling. It wasn’t long before he was asking me for money. Once I suggested Gamblers Anonymous. That went over like a ton of bricks.

  “One night I was getting ready for work when Victor came home. He picked me up and danced me around the room. What a change
in his usual nervous behavior. He told me we were going on a trip. Right then I should have been suspicious but I was too excited to question Victor. He didn’t even give me time to call into work.

  “We packed quickly and loaded my car since Victor said that he had loaned his to a friend.”

  After confessing all of this, Darla was feeling rather naïve and dumb about what had happened. Being a country girl from Iowa, she was too trusting.

  “Has Victor ever left before?”

  “Good heavens, no. I don’t know what happened last night. When I left, Victor was looking forward to his poker night.”

  Annie started to get food out of the refrigerator. “It’s time for dinner. Then we’re going to watch an old movie on TV.”

  She went on to explain that for the past few months Sam spent Friday evenings with her. “He always brings takeout so you and I are going to enjoy some Chinese tonight, okay?” Taking eggrolls, lemon chicken and Mongolian beef out of the refrigerator, she heated their meal.

  “That’s great. I slept late this morning and didn’t eat. You even left me a list of breakfast goodies. I never have had a big appetite, but Victor can really eat.”