“No,” I said, letting my voice crack.
“Get out of my way,” she said as she shoved me aside.
As Sandi reached into the jar, her eyes were off me for just a second. It was all that I needed.
I raced for the dart gun, pulled it out of the bag, and then turned to face her with it. She was faster than I had expected. Sandi was just a few steps behind me when I got to it.
“Drop the baseball bat,” I ordered.
Instead of doing what I’d commanded, Sandi slowly stared at me. The frown on her face was quickly replaced with a smile when she looked closer at the gun in my hand.
“Eleanor, that’s just a toy,” she said. “But that was a nice try.”
“It shoots, trust me,” I said. Maddy had been playing with it earlier. Was it even loaded? I’d been counting on using it to bluff her, but now it appeared that option wasn’t going to work.
“I don’t believe you,” she said.
As Sandi moved toward me, I pulled the trigger, not sure what would happen. A dart fired from the gun, and struck her arm. I’d been aiming for her heart, but it was close enough.
Or so I’d hoped.
She howled for a second as she reached down and plucked the dart out, threw it on the floor, and then hissed at me, “You’ll pay for that.”
Sandi suddenly lunged at me with the bat.
As she did, I threw the gun at her head. It didn’t hit her straight on, but the force of the strike was enough to stun her.
I should have grabbed the bat, but I turned toward the front door, instead, and started fighting the dead bolt as she screamed in frustration and anger behind me.
It was no use. I wasn’t going to be able to open the door. I heard her take a deep breath and felt her presence too close to me. At the last possible moment, I jumped to one side, afraid that my reactions were a little too late.
I made it, though, just barely. The baseball bat crashed against the front door on the exact spot where my head had been a second before.
As I glanced into Sandi’s eyes for a split second as I whirled around, I saw madness there.
The time for talking was over.
I raced into the kitchen, tearing open the drawer where I kept my knives. I might go down, but it wasn’t going to be without a fight. I was spinning around when I saw her. She swung the bat down toward my arm, and if she’d made contact, I was sure she would have shattered the bones in it.
I pulled out of her way, but I didn’t get off completely. The bat struck the knife in my hand, sending it sliding across the kitchen floor.
Before she could react, I took my precious Garfield cookie jar and threw it at her. It shattered as it hit her forehead, and for a second, I thought I’d succeeded in knocking her out.
All it managed to do was make her even angrier than she’d been before. There was real blood dripping down her forehead now, and she swiped it away with the back of her forearm. If I could manage to interfere with her vision, I might just make it out of this alive.
The blood flow seemed to energize her, instead of weakening her. Sandi took a full swing at me, and I tried to get out of its path again, but this time it caught me in the ribs. It was a glancing blow, but it still nearly put me on the floor. I’d deflected most of it, but I still might have broken some ribs from the attack.
She pulled the bat back over her head one more time, and then snarled at me.
“Get ready to die.”
I might be murdered in the next five seconds, but I wasn’t going to go down without one last fight.
I lunged toward her and somehow managed to get my hands on the bat before she could bring it down on my head for the killing blow. Sandi fought me, but all those hours kneading pizza dough by hand paid off. As we struggled for control, we lost our balance and fell onto the kitchen floor.
I’d like to think that I was winning when we both heard a tapping on the back window of the kitchen, where Greg had come and gone a few days before.
Instead of Greg, though, Kevin Hurley was standing there, his gun leveled straight at Sandi’s heart, and she seemed to lose the last bit of fight in her.
After Sandi Meadows was handcuffed and led away by another police officer, Kevin asked me, “Are you okay?”
“I’m still a little shaky,” I admitted, “and my ribs are killing me, but besides that, I’m fine. I’ve got to admit, though, I’m glad you showed up when you did.”
“Josh called me. He started worrying about leaving you alone tonight, so I promised him I’d check in on you. It looked like you had things under control, though.” He frowned slightly, and then added, “I had Sandi on my list of suspects, but between the two of us, she wasn’t that high up.”
“Don’t beat yourself up about it,” I said. “She had everybody fooled.” I’d explained her raving rationales to him, and he shook his head at the grand scale of her delusions.
Josh and Greg came bursting into my house a few seconds later.
“What happened? Did Katy try to hurt you?” Greg asked.
“No, it was Sandi all along,” I said. “How did you two hear about it?”
Josh looked sheepish as he admitted to his father, “We were listening to your scanner in the basement, Dad.”
Kevin nodded. “I’d say it’s too little, too late, wouldn’t you? You boys should never have left her alone tonight.”
“Don’t be too hard on them,” I said. “I made them go.”
“Dad’s right,” Josh said. “We shouldn’t have listened to you.”
Kevin actually smiled at that. “If either one of you could do that, you’d be a better man than I am.”
Maddy and Bob Lemon were next as Kevin and I finished our interview. The adrenaline had worn off, leaving behind a throbbing in my ribs and my head that I couldn’t stop.
My sister tried to hug me as soon as she walked in, but I pulled away. “Sorry. She whacked me pretty hard in the ribs with my baseball bat.”
“Eleanor, I’m so sorry I wasn’t here for you when you needed me.”
“Hey, Maddy, none of this was your fault. Sandi just snapped. She was pretty smart, though. Somehow she’d managed to give motives to everybody but herself. That girl was playing us all along. When we came to Greg’s defense, she started laying the groundwork for accusing everyone else who’d made it to our suspect list.”
Bob said, “I should have realized it was about the money. It usually is.”
Kevin nodded in assent, but I disagreed, “Don’t kid yourself. It wasn’t just about the money. Wade put things in motion himself when he set up that kiss with Katy so Greg could see it. He wanted to hurt you after you pushed him into signing off on the agreement. Sandi witnessed it, and she told me that she was just waiting to file the papers until after the murder investigation died down.”
“But why bring Katy into it in the first place?”
“I don’t know, but if I had to guess, I’d say that it was his way of getting back at you for not giving in to him, and it ended up killing him.”
“What a mess,” Greg said. “At least Mom will be happy. Her favorite son’s killer will be going to jail, and my mother is getting Wade’s money, too.”
Bob shook his head. “That’s not true. She won’t see a dime of it.”
“Why not?” Greg asked. “He signed the papers, and then he had it witnessed, even if it was Sandi. The money’s not rightfully mine.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I thought you knew. You and your brother had to each live thirty days after the agreement was filed for it to go into effect. It was a clause that might have saved your brother’s life, if he’d only told Sandi about it.”
I shook my head. “It didn’t change anything, not really. She would have waited. I never could have imagined what a cold-blooded killer she’d turn out to be.”
Josh asked, “So, who gets the money now?”
“That’s not a question you have any right asking,” Kevin told his son.
“It’s all
right,” Greg said. “It doesn’t really matter, does it?”
Bob put a hand on his shoulder. “Actually, it does. The papers weren’t filed yet, so as things stand, you inherit everything.”
“That somehow doesn’t seem fair, does it?” Greg asked.
“Would you rather that your mother get half of it? If you want her to have your brother’s share, you’re perfectly within your rights to give it to her.”
“I wouldn’t make any hasty decisions just yet,” Maddy said.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to.” To Greg’s credit, he seemed more interested in why his brother had died than who had inherited his money, something I wasn’t sure I’d be able to say about his mother.
Maddy looked at Kevin and asked, “Chief, is this a crime scene, or can we put on a pot of coffee?”
Kevin frowned. “Sorry. There’s evidence of an assault here, so I’m going to need my crew to get photos and video of the scene. You’re going to have to stay somewhere else tonight, Eleanor.”
“She can stay with me,” Maddy said. “Why don’t you all come back with us to my place? We can put on some coffee and make a party of it.”
“I’ve got a better idea,” I said. “I’ve got some leftover dough back at the pizzeria. Does anyone want a pizza?”
Kevin said, “Eleanor, have you lost your mind? You almost died tonight, and you’re talking about making pizza? You should go to the hospital for X-rays.”
“I might a little later, but right now, I feel like having pizza.”
He shook his head. “I don’t understand you, woman.”
“It’s a good thing that’s not your job, then, isn’t it? You’re more than welcome to join us.”
“Thanks, but I’ve got to start processing the scene after I lock Sandi up. You all go ahead, though.”
After Kevin drove off with his prisoner, the rest of us headed back to the Slice.
As soon as we walked in the door, Josh said, “I’ll turn on the music.”
“I’ll get the tables ready,” Greg chimed in.
Bob, Maddy, and I moved into the kitchen. As I got out some chilled dough left over from the day’s pizza making, I winced from the pain in my ribs.
Maddy took the dough from me and said, “Sis, your job is to sit on that bar stool and watch me work. If you give me any lip, you’re going to the hospital for those X-rays, and you’re going to miss your own party.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not in any position to fight you on it.”
As Maddy worked the dough into pans, Bob said, “I’m glad you’re okay, Eleanor.”
“Me too,” I said. “I’m just sorry I ruined your date.”
“Don’t worry,” Bob said. “There will be other opportunities for us.”
Maddy looked at him and said, “You sound awfully sure of yourself.”
“That’s because I am,” he said. Before Maddy knew what he was doing, Bob took her into his arms and kissed her soundly.
He was smiling as they broke it up. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m afraid I need to head home. I’ve got a big day in court tomorrow. Good night, ladies.”
After he left, Maddy was still smiling.
“What was that all about?” I asked.
“I’m not sure, but I think I like it.”
She looked at the dough she’d formed into the pan, then said, “Now, what should we put on these? I think tonight calls for a kitchen-sink pizza, what do you say?”
“Agreed. Everything we can find goes on it,” I said as I leaned over and turned on the conveyor oven.
“I can’t believe I wasn’t there for you,” Maddy said softly as we waited for it to warm up.
“You’re with me now. That’s all that counts.”
She was in one of her rare serious moods, something I could understand, given what had happened tonight. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Eleanor.”
“Let’s just hope and pray you don’t have to find out anytime soon,” I said.
“I’m being serious,” Maddy insisted.
“So am I.”
The kitchen door opened, and Greg asked, “When’s the pizza going to be ready? We’re starving.”
“It won’t be long,” I said.
“Excellent. While we’re waiting, Josh and I will be out front playing cards.”
“We’ll bring it out as soon as it’s ready,” I promised.
With nothing to do but wait, I had a little time to think. That’s when I started to realize just how close I’d come to dying tonight. No doubt, most folks would think I was crazy for coming back to the pizzeria after what had happened.
But for me, I needed this more than anything, good memories to wipe out the bad ones. The people and things I loved in the world were gathered in that kitchen, and a part of me wanted the night to last forever. I knew I’d have to have those X-rays sooner rather than later, but right here and right now, there was nowhere else I’d rather be.
While we waited for the pizza, Maddy asked, “Is there any chance David would come by to join us?”
I suddenly realized that I hadn’t told her about my earlier conversation with David. “Trust me, that’s not going to happen.”
“What did you say to him, Eleanor?”
It was time to come clean with her. “We had a long talk. He’s taking the job in Raleigh.”
I wasn’t sure what I expected from Maddy, but I was still surprised when she just nodded.
“No lectures on my behavior?” I asked.
“Not tonight. I know I was pushing him on you. I just want you to be happy.”
I hugged her, despite the pain in my head, my ribs, and my hand. “Having you here is all I need.”
After a moment, she pulled away, and a sudden smile sprang to her lips. “I don’t know about that. I can think of something else that might bring you a little joy.”
“No more fix-ups,” I said.
“This is something completely different.”
“Then I’m listening.”
“We still need to even the score with Clara Hatcher, and I’ve got a few great ideas. Are you game?”
I loved seeing the laughter in my sister’s eyes. “That depends. Are they like some of the childish pranks you come up with now and then?”
“Oh, yes.”
I didn’t even hesitate as I replied, “Then count me in.”
MY THIN-CRUST PIZZA CRUST RECIPE
When my family is in the mood for something different, I like to make mini-pizzas with thin crusts. You can make regular-sized pizzas with this recipe, but sometimes it’s fun to shake things up. I’ve used my pizza stone in the oven to make these at times, but with thin crusts, I believe you can honestly taste a difference between pizzas made in your conventional oven, and ones made in my small portable brick pizza oven. It was an investment buying one—and I made quite a few pizzas before I bought mine—but I figure I’ve saved its cost many times over making my own pizzas at home. I do feel that a pizza stone is needed at the very least, and these produce very good crusts, both thick and thin.
This pizza has a light and flaky crust, that my family thinks beats all of the chains.
This recipe yields four 4" mini-pizzas, two 7-inch small pizzas, or one 14-inch pizza. Keep toppings to a minimum, or the crust won’t get as crispy as you might like it to be.
1 cup warm water
½ packet active dry yeast (around 1/8 ounce)
1 ½ teaspoons white sugar
½ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 cups bread flour (for its high gluten content)
Preparation
In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water, yeast, sugar, olive oil, and salt all at once, mixing until the yeast dissolves. Start adding the flour to the wet mixture in the bowl, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring as you go. I personally like to use a wooden spoon for this process. After the dough is thoroughly mixed, knead it on a floured counter for another few minutes, or until the dough is e
lastic to the touch. If you’re making mini-pizzas, divide the dough into four equal parts and roll them into balls. Let everything sit ten minutes, and while you’re waiting, turn your oven (brick or conventional) on to preheat, with the stone in place so it will be nice and hot when you bake your pizza.
While you’re waiting, it’s a good time to make your sauce. For a good and quick recipe, try my basic thin sauce that follows. Since it doesn’t have to heat on the stovetop, you have plenty of time.
After the dough has rested for ten minutes, it’s ready to use immediately. Shape each ball with a floured rolling pin, until you have a round piece of dough approximately the size you need. I like mine to be thin, around 1/8 inch thick. Add your sauce, any toppings you’d like (though I do it sparingly), and a blend of cheese. My favorite mix is 3 parts mozzarella to one part provolone. I like to cover the dough thoroughly, but it’s really just a matter of taste.
Bake the pizzas at 425°F for 11–17 minutes, or until the crust is starting to turn a dark gold on the edges and the cheese is bronzed on the top. It’s probably not necessary, but I like to turn the pizza a time or two as it bakes, starting about 8 minutes into the process.
When it’s ready to come out, the crust will be darkened somewhat on the bottom, and still be flexible enough to check it by lifting one edge up with a peel or spatula rated for high temperatures. Enjoy!
MY BASIC THIN PIZZA SAUCE
This sauce is quick and easy, but it doesn’t lose anything in taste. I like to use it with my thin-crust pizza, but you can use it just as easily on a thick crust. A little goes a long way, so you’ll probably have some left over. I keep it refrigerated for a few days, but it never has time to go bad, since crusts are so easy to make.
15 ounces tomato sauce (I like Contadina brand with Italian herbs, but any sauce will do)
Pepperoni Pizza Can Be Murder Page 28