8 Scones, Skulls & Scams

by Leighann Dobbs

  “I can hear it!” Lexy said.

  “If this is main street, the manhole should be dead ahead.” Nans took off at a sprint.

  Lexy tugged on the cart. It was getting heavier. The steadily rising water was almost up to the level of the cart’s platform, any higher and they’d have to do something to keep Caraleigh from drowning. Lexy’s arm burned, her breath came out in shallow puffs. She didn’t know how much longer she could pull the cart.

  “I see it!” Nans’ excited shout echoed down the tunnel giving Lexy a burst of energy. Nans stood about fifty feet away looking up. Lexy could see shafts of light filtering down from the holes in the manhole cover above.

  Ruth, Ida and Helen caught up to Nans and the four of them jumped up and down, waving their arms and yelling.

  “Hello!”

  “Down here!”

  “Yoo-hoo!”

  Lexy doubted anyone above would be able to hear them over the din of the parade. She pulled the cart up to the group of women and pushed them aside.

  “Hold on, I’ll try and push the cover off,” she yelled.

  The roof of the tunnel was about seven feet tall. Metal rungs leading up to the manhole cover were embedded in the side of the tunnel. Lexy reached out and grabbed one, the cold, clammy metal chilling her hands. She hoisted herself up, putting her feet on the lower rung and climbing the other two, her wet feet slipping as she went. She only needed to climb up a few feet before she was high enough. She put both her palms on the cover. She pushed with all her might.

  It didn’t budge.

  She tried again.

  Nothing.

  “Help!” she yelled up through the holes, but she knew it was no use. No one would hear her, the parade was too loud. She crawled back down the metal rungs.

  “It’s no use,” she said as she splashed off the last rung into the water, her heart sinking. “The parade is too loud.”

  “Oh dear.” Helen wrung her hands. “What are we going to do?”

  “I have an idea!” Nans snapped open her purse and, much to Lexy’s amazement, pulled out a dental mirror.

  Lexy’s chest tightened as she watched Nans scramble up the metal rungs. “Be careful Nans,” she said. “Why don’t you let me do that?”

  Nans waved her off with one hand while she thrust the dental mirror up with the other. Moving the mirror, she angled her head this way and that.

  “Are you signaling an S.O.S.?” Ida asked.

  “Nope.” Nans wiggled the dental tool some more, then squinted up into the opening, so she could see what was happening up above in the reflection of the mirror. “Oh, there it is!”

  “What?” Lexy squinted up at Nans.

  “The guide dog float is coming up next!” Nans said.

  “So?”

  “Do you guys still have those scones in your purses?” Nans asked Ruth, Ida and Helen.

  The three looked thoughtful and then opened their purses.

  “I don’t rightly remember,” Ida said as she dug in the purse. “Oh, I do!”

  She pulled out the napkin wrapped scone and held it up to Nans.

  “Me too!” Ruth said.

  “Here’s mine.” Helen held up hers.

  “Give me yours, Ida.” Nans reached down and took the package from Ida, opening it up and pinching off a piece of scone, which she pushed up through the small hole in the cover.

  “What in the world are you doing?” Ida asked.

  “Creating a ruckus so we’ll get noticed.” Nans pushed more bits of scone through the cover then gestured to Helen to hand up her scone, which Nans broke into bits and pushed up.

  Suddenly the parade noises were drowned out by the sounds of sniffing, then a few short yips and a couple of growls. Nans shoved one more piece of scone up through the cover and the air erupted in a frenzy of barking.

  “Hey, Hey. What is going on?” A voice carried down to them. Lexy noticed the parade noises had stopped, presumably due to the ruckus caused by the dogs fighting over the pieces of scone.

  “Hey!” Nans yelled up at the cover.

  “Is that someone down there?” She heard a voice.

  “Yes, we’re stuck down here … can you get the cover off so we can get out?”

  “Hold on, let me get the cop on detail,” The voice said.

  Lexy heard feet shuffling above and then a familiar voice. “Are you trying to tell me someone is down there, in the sewer?”

  “Yes, we’re down here and we’ve caught a criminal,” Nans yelled up. “I do wish you would hurry and remove the manhole cover to let us out, though. The water in the sewer is rising. I fear I’ve already ruined my new orthopedic shoes.”

  “Wait a minute … Mona is that you?” Lexy’s heart lurched when she realized to whom the voice belonged.

  “Why, yes it is … Jack?” Nans looked at Lexy and shrugged.

  “Yeah, it’s me. Let me guess, you guys went down in there to investigate the murder even though I said not to, right?”

  “Yes,” Nans said sheepishly.

  “And I’m sure Lexy is down there, too,” Jack said.

  Lexy grimaced, remembering Jack had told her he’d pulled a detail for the bicentennial celebration—it was just her luck he’d be the one to be stationed near the manhole.

  “But we found out who the killer is and figured out who broke into Lexy’s bakery and recovered the money from the 1948 bank robbery,” Ida said proudly.

  “Well, almost recovered the money,” Helen added.

  “What are you guys talking about?” Jack asked.

  “Never mind now,” Nans yelled. “Just get us out of here.”

  “I’ll have to get the sewer guys here to lift the plate,” Jack said.

  Lexy heard police radio noises and then Jack saying, “Hey, you won’t believe who’s down here.”

  “Now who’s he talking to?” Ruth asked.

  “Baker? Are you down there?” The unmistakable voice of Watson Davies drifted down through the manhole cover and Lexy rolled her eyes.

  “Yes, and you won’t believe it, but we captured Caraleigh in the act.”

  “The baker from The Brew and Bake?” Davies asked.

  “Yep, she really was up to no good.” Lexy cast a glance at Caraleigh who lay unconscious on the cart, the water now perilously close to her face.

  “So, she was the one that broke into your bakery?”

  “Well, not the first time,” Lexy said.

  “First time? What is going on down there?”

  Nans cut in. “We’ll tell you when we get out. Now for Pete’s sake, will you open the darn manhole cover? The water is rising and we have another criminal to catch before it’s too late!”

  Chapter Twenty

  Lexy heard the scraping of metal on the manhole cover and the round circle slid back, revealing the glorious blue sky. Nans burst out of the hole before the cover made it all the way off.

  “Are you all okay?” Lexy could hear Jack’s concerned voice as she watched Ruth, Ida, and Helen line up at the metal rungs to make their escape.

  “Never mind about us,” Nans snapped. “We need a police car, pronto. The perp could be getting away!”

  Davies face squinted at Lexy from the manhole opening. “Are you coming out, Baker?”

  “Yeah, but we have to get Caraleigh out first.” Lexy pointed to the cart and Davies aimed her police issue flashlight in that direction.

  “Is she alive?” Davies asked.

  “Yes, of course.” Lexy rolled her eyes.

  “Okay, I’ll get the EMT’s to climb down and get her, you come on up.”

  Lexy cast one last glance at Caraleigh before she started up the ladder. The water lapped at the top of the cart. But, what did she care? Caraleigh would have left Lexy to drown. Besides, they’d be down to get her out before the water covered her.

  Lexy took a deep breath as she emerged from the hole, filling her lungs with glorious fresh air. She squinted, her eyes adjusting to the light—even though it was almo
st dusk, it was still so much brighter than inside the tunnel and it made her eyes hurt. She was tired and cold, but couldn’t help but feel incredibly grateful they’d gotten out unscathed.

  She didn’t have much time to enjoy the feeling though, because a black and white police car skidded to a stop and Nans sprang into action.

  “Here’s the car,” Nans yelled as she hustled toward it. “Come on girls!”

  Nans opened the back door and hopped in. Somehow, Ruth, Ida and Helen managed to squeeze themselves in the back with her.

  “Lexy get in front,” Nans ordered out the window, her hand waving wildly at the front of the car. “Hurry up!”

  Lexy cast an uncertain glance at Jack who shrugged, and then gestured to the car as if to say, “go ahead”.

  She ran for the car, hopped in the front and pulled the door to close it. She’d only succeeded in closing it halfway when it was ripped open and Watson Davies swung inside, shoving Lexy over on the bench seat.

  “To Lexy’s bakery! Punch it!” Nans yelled.

  The car lurched forward in a blaze of red and blue lights, the sirens blaring. As they sped off, Lexy peeked out the side window at Jack who stared back at her, his lips curled in a smile.

  Was he shaking his head?

  She gave him a tentative finger wave, hoping he wouldn’t be mad at her for this latest escapade. He answered by blowing her a kiss and Lexy’s heart soared. Surely, that was a sign he wasn’t mad at her.

  They squealed around the corner and Nans tapped the driver on the shoulder.

  “Turn off the lights and siren,” she yelled in his ear. “We don’t want to warn him off if he’s in there.”

  Davies half turned in the seat to face Nans. “Who are you taking about?”

  “Victor. The man who owns the antique shop. It seems he was in on the 1948 bank robbery. He found us down in the sewer, stole the money, and left us to die.”

  “So that money really was still down there after all these years?” Davies asked.

  “Yep, and we discovered the identity of the skull and who killed him,” Nans said smugly.

  “And another skeleton to boot,” Ida added.

  Davies lifted a brow and Nans told her how Caraleigh had found the confession in her grandmother’s diary and her plan to run Lexy out of business.

  “I knew she was up to something,” Davies said.

  “Okay, slow down here and park before you get to the antique store,” Nans said. “We don’t want to spook him.”

  The police car pulled to the curb and they spilled out. Nans crept up to the antique store and peeked in the window.

  “I don’t see anyone in there,” she said.

  “He’s probably long gone by now,” Helen answered.

  “If he’s smart,” Ruth added.

  “But we still need to go see what he did to Caraleigh’s brother. He said he took care of him in Lexy’s basement … whatever that means.” Nans started toward the back of the building.

  Lexy glanced into Victor’s antique store as she followed the group to the back.

  Did she see a beam of light filtering in from an open door?

  It would make sense if Victor left in a hurry. He probably left his back door open.

  They came around the corner and Lexy’s breath caught in her throat when she saw the back door to her shop practically hanging off the hinges.

  “What the heck?” Lexy remembered the noise she’d heard when they were in the tunnel and realized it must have been Caraleigh and her brother breaking down the door.

  “Looks like someone mutilated it with a sledge hammer.” Davies turned to Lexy. “You know, you really should get better security back here with the way you keep getting broken into.”

  Lexy rushed inside. Had anything been stolen? She glanced into the kitchen on her way to the front room. Everything seemed to still be in its place. Luckily, no one had noticed the back door hanging open in the empty bakery and come in to help themselves.

  She made her way to the back of the bakery, meeting Davies and the other police officer who were on their way to the basement.

  “You stay up here until we secure the area,” Davies said to her.

  Lexy started outside to inspect the door. Nans, Ruth, Ida and Helen were standing just inside the back door, craning their necks toward the basement.

  “Did she say to stay up here?” Ruth asked.

  “I think so,” Ida said. “But I want to see what’s down there.”

  “Me too.” Helen took a step toward the basement door. “We’re old ladies and we don’t hear so good, maybe we thought she said to come right down …”

  Ruth, Nans and Ida tittered as they inched their way toward the basement door.

  Lexy couldn’t help but laugh at the adventurous older ladies as she made her way outside to inspect the damage to the door.

  The doorknob had been busted clean off, the steel door pocked with dents. I’ll have to buy a new one, she thought ruefully as she stood staring at it with her arms crossed on her chest.

  “Meow.”

  Lexy turned to see Icharus, Victor’s orange tiger cat, rubbing his chin against the dumpster. Her heart pinched. Apparently, Victor had taken off and left the cat. Who would care for it now? Lexy squatted down to scratch the cat’s head, wondering if Sprinkles might like a furry friend.

  “Lexy—you coming?” Nans poked her head out the back door.

  “In a sec.” Lexy listened to the cat purr. “You poor thing, don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get taken care—”

  Lexy’s words cut off in mid-sentence, her heart jerking in her chest as a hand shot out from behind the dumpster and clamped over her wrist.

  She tried to pull away, but was dragged to the other side of the dumpster instead.

  “Victor!”

  Jeez, the old guy is strong, Lexy thought as she tried to jerk her wrist free.

  “That’s right,” he said and Lexy’s stomach sank as she felt cold metal against the side of her head—Victor’s gun. “You’re gonna be my ticket out of here.”

  Victor shoved her toward his car, which had been hidden behind the dumpster the whole time.

  “Hold it right there, Victor.”

  Lexy looked up to see Nans standing about twenty feet away, her hand inside her purse and her purse held out in front of her, pointed at Victor.

  Victor pulled Lexy in front of him like a shield, the gun still hard against the side of her head.

  “I have a gun in here and I’m not afraid to use it.” Nans gestured with her purse. “I’ll shoot a hole right through my purse without even thinking twice.”

  When did Nans start carrying a gun?

  “Put it down or I’ll shoot Lexy,” Victor hissed.

  “Let Lexy go, or I’ll shoot you.” Nans stood her ground.

  “Ha! Looks like we’re at a stalemate then.” Victor cackled as he shuffled backwards toward the car, pulling Lexy with him and whispering to her. “I’m gonna slide into the car nice and slow and you’re comin’ in after me. You’ll have no choice since I’ll still have the gun to your head.”

  Lexy saw Nans’ eyes widen a fraction of an inch, and then heard a muffled noise behind her. Victor must have heard the noise too, because he turned his head slightly to look over his shoulder in that direction.

  Too bad he kept shuffling backward because, by the time he realized the noise was Helen, who had snuck up and crouched behind them on all fours, his legs had hit her and he was falling backwards.

  Victor let go of Lexy, his arms flailing in the air as he fell.

  The gun flew out of his hand and clattered on the pavement.

  Lexy jumped on the gun, while Nans and Helen jumped on Victor, straddling his torso to keep him from getting away.

  “What the hell is going on here?” Davies came around the dumpster, her gun drawn.

  “Looks like we captured the bad guy for you,” Helen said proudly.

  Davies’ brows shot up as she studied the scene in front o
f her. Victor lay on his back on the ground with Nans sitting on his chest and Helen on his knees. His face turned deeper shades of red as he banged his fists on the ground and mumbled expletives. The orange cat sat two feet away, licking his paws and flicking his tail.

  “I guess Victor hadn’t finished loading his car yet.” Lexy pointed to the late model Dodge behind Victor with its trunk and backseat filled with stacks of money and bars of gold. “He grabbed me from behind the dumpster. He had a gun and planned to use me as a hostage to get away.”

  Lexy held the gun out to Davies, who produced a plastic bag from her pocket, holding it open for Lexy to put the gun inside.

  “We heard something going on out here and came to Lexy’s rescue,” Nans said. “I distracted Victor while Helen went around from the back and tripped him up.”

  Helen and Nans giggled at Nans’ literal explanation.

  “Thanks for coming to my rescue,” Lexy said to the two older women, then frowned at Nans. “Since when did you start carrying a gun?”

  “I didn’t” Nans looked at her purse. “That whole gun in the purse thing was just a bluff.”

  Chapter Twenty One

  “See, I knew you’d win first prize.” Jack pecked a kiss on Lexy’s nose as she fingered the silky blue ribbon she held in her hand, her chest swelling with pride.

  They walked, hand in hand, through the crowd at the Brook Ridge Falls bicentennial celebration. The smell of cotton candy and popcorn spiced the crisp fall air. Lexy pinned the ribbon to her lapel, then pulled her jean jacket tight to ward off the chill.

  “Luckily, that bad review from Edgar Royce in the Sentinel didn’t put any of the judges off,” Lexy said.

  “That pompous ass? No one pays attention to his reviews anyway.” Jack scoffed. “It probably helped you win.”

  “Do you see Nans and the girls?” Lexy squinted into the crowd. “She said they’d meet us here.”

  “Yoo-hoo! Lexy!”

  Lexy turned to see Nans, Ruth, Helen, Ida and Ida’s fiancé, Norm, waving to them at the edge of the crowd. The four women looked like quadruplets with their matching tan trench coats, giant patent leather purses and sensible shoes. She tugged Jack toward them.