Hyacinth picked up a chick. Her eyes drank in the chick's light lavender color.
Jason thought he would burst with his own guilt. He sat down on the stool nearby. “Hyacinth, I broke into your barn. I know about all the stuff you stole.”
Hyacinth's face went slack. She placed the chick in his hands, then she bent down and brushed her lips across his before planting a kiss on his cheek. Her eyes deepened into a violet hue. “Jase, those things in my barn and in my sheds are donations for the May Day celebrations. We're having a big swap meet at my farm. I'm showing off my sustainable projects, but as an added incentive to get people to come, I'm holding a swap meet. The proceeds are going to the Chamber of Commerce, to help Moonstone with whatever needs doing for the people in the community.”
Just like that, she'd pricked him like a needle in a balloon. “A swap meet?”
“Yeah. Tildy and Toad have been all over town gathering items.”
“They're not stealing?”
She shook her head. The color in her eyes had dimmed. He'd hurt her with his distrust.
Jason said, “That still leaves the puzzle of the burglaries and the attempt on Tootsie's life.” He placed the chick back among its siblings on the floor, then stood. “I'm just doing my job, Hy.” He reached for Hyacinth's hand, but she moved away.
She said, “Let's go back to the lodge and say good night. You can drive me home.”
Her words were like an icy wind whipping through him.
When they returned to the log house, the late news was on the television and Crystal was shutting down her computer. That's when a realization came to Jason. He whispered to Hyacinth, “I might know a way to find the guilty party. But I need your help. I think you know things but don't know you know them.”
“You're not making sense.”
“Actually, things are starting to make sense to me for the first time. Because of you. You just told me the facts about the swap meet. Your swap meet is at the center of the thefts and the attempted murder of Tootsie.” He kissed Hy on the cheek, appreciating the shock on her face. He took her hand and hurried to the door. “Come on, before we're too late and somebody gets murdered tonight.”
~—~—~—~ ~
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* * *
Chapter 7
With the heat on full blast in the Jeep Cherokee, Jason rushed with Hyacinth back to her farm through the foggy night. “I have to talk to Tildy and Toad. You think they're still there?”
“You think they're murderers?”
“No, but they may be in grave danger because they helped the would-be murderer unwittingly.”
“How? Slow down. You might hit a deer.”
“Thanks.” He slowed the truck. The fog had thickened to white soup. “I might have a way to figure out who's behind the burglaries, or at least who wanted to do in Tootsie.”
“What's going on, Jason? You sound like some detective.”
His heartbeat raced beyond what a man could take. He reduced his speed to a crawl and said, “I am a detective of sorts.”
“I see. So you've been lying to me.”
Hyacinth's huff in the dark cab of the truck was expected, but it still hurt.
“I'm helping my sister.” Jason couldn't breathe. He desperately wanted to unclog his life and breathe again. “I'm not a pest control officer. I'm sorry I lied.”
Jason confessed everything, how he'd been in Moonstone years ago, how the bad trip had been a graduation gift from his sister, Lily. He even told her about a long-time girlfriend, Rayanne, whom he finally concluded was using him to help her come clean long enough now and then to keep her acting career—before she succumbed to her cocaine habit once more.
“You called me a superhero, Hy, but I tried being one and it didn't work. I'm not hero material, Hy. I just do my job. It's a dangerous job. Not the kind you have if you want a wife and family.”
Hyacinth went quiet in a way that troubled him. But then, he wasn't looking for a wife, was he? He wasn't like Boze and Kade. They'd succumbed to the Moonstone marriage magic, but he wasn't about to. The DEA had plenty of adventures ahead for him to occupy his time.
Tildy and Toad were unloading more boxes of goods when Jason pulled the Jeep Cherokee to a stop in the fog right behind them. Jason left the truck lights on and got out. “Who brought you Tootsie's computer?”
Toad said, “Nobody. I got an email at the hardware store to come pick it up.”
“Who signed the email?”
“Nobody. But the message came in on Tootsie Winters’ email address.”
Hyacinth looked at Jason. “You think Bob...?”
Jason didn't want to give too much away in front of Tildy and Toad. He asked them, “Who bought the computer from you?”
Tildy said, “Ruth Mueller. We'd heard she needed one. Sorry, Hyacinth.”
“That's okay,” Hyacinth assured them. She pulled her blue sweater more tightly around her.
Jason told her, “Go in your house and get warmed up.”
“I'm coming with you, Jason. Ruthie is my friend.” Hyacinth's eyes were bright blue moons in the truck lights. “And I think you could use my help.”
To hide the thrill bolting through him at her offer, Jason whipped off his red nylon jacket and wrapped her in it. “But you do as I say for once. We're dealing with somebody who wanted Tootsie dead. And if Ruth's got her computer, the killer may figure that out soon and be laying for Ruthie.”
“Why?”
“Ruthie's computer may have a picture of our criminal.”
“Huh?”
“I'll explain on the way.”
With fog thick as foam, it was going on eleven before they got to Ruth's door in Moonstone. Jason punched the button several times.
Hyacinth stayed his hand from ringing it yet again. “She uses a walker. Be patient.”
After fifteen minutes, Jason was about to break down the door but the outside light came on. He and Hyacinth exchanged a glance of relief; Ruthie was alive. In a flowery robe, with her white hair sticking out in tufts, Ruth stared at them through her glass storm door. “What's going on?”
Jason said, “Ruthie, my dear, you're about to become famous for solving a crime.”
“What?” she croaked, opening the door. “What crime?”
“Show me your computer.”
“Shhh.” Ruth had a finger to her lips.
Evidently the man from Kalamazoo was in the house. Ruthie led them to her kitchen.
Jason sat at the table in front of the Apple computer. Ruth showed him the button to turn it on. She told him her password, “HotMama10.”
Jason said, “Show me where you download photos.”
“My men? This fuss is all about my men?”
“I'm not sure, Ruthie. I need to take a look at your photo archives and last emails.”
“Here, let me do it,” she said. “I don't like people messing with my men.”
Ruthie found what Jason was looking for—archived video that her machine had recorded during conversations. The video was grainy, obviously recorded in the dark, but the actions were clear enough. Ruthie patted her white hair. “Oh goodness. Somebody's hitting somebody. Is that Tootsie Winters? Why is she in my machine?”
Jason said, “Because Tootsie was videoconferencing with somebody when she got conked on the head. Then the person emailed Toad Vinje to come take this machine, which he did and then sold to you. Your computer has a built-in camera, Ruthie.”
He showed her the tiny dot at the top of her screen that was actually a camera.
“Oh jeepers,” she said, hugging her robe. “I'll have to be careful what I wear. Or not.” A big smile spread onto her wrinkled face.
Hyacinth said, “I called Tootsie early that morning. An hour before I found her. She was upset about Bob not coming home that previous night. She thinks he might have a gambling addiction.”
Jason found the timing astounding. “So somebody clocks Tootsie, emails Toad to come pic
k up the computer, which was probably sitting outside and Toad picked it up, not bothering to knock on the door.”
“You mean I almost walked in on the killer?”
“Yes.”
Ruthie said, “You mean our Hyacinth is lucky to be alive?”
Jason cringed. The thought of never seeing Hyacinth's eyes again...
They looked at the grainy video once more, but whoever had hit Tootsie was in the background shadow. It looked like a man dressed in a barn coat, but Jason couldn't be certain. It could be a tall woman. Willa Hamm was tall, as was Hyacinth. But everybody around Moonstone wore barn coats or bulky outdoor wear.
“Ruthie, I need to take your computer so an expert can take a closer look.”
“Of course! And get Tootsie out of there. That woman likes to take over everything. I don't need her ghost in my computer. Do you think she'll be all right?”
Hyacinth hugged Ruthie. “We hope so.”
Jason hoped Bob Winters wasn't who they were looking for.
Hyacinth helped Jason unhook the computer. “Where are we taking this?”
“Your place. Toad and Tildy are probably more computer savvy than I am. There's likely some way to enhance the picture. If that doesn't work I'll have to go into Superior with it tomorrow.”
Once they were outdoors in the dark of night, Ruthie snapped off the outside light a little too fast. Jason suspected she was eager to get back to Mr. Kalamazoo. Jason and Hyacinth inched their way back to the truck, making sure they didn't fall over the curb with the computer in the black night and fog.
Hyacinth said, “Do you think Bob Winters did it?”
“How big was their computer desk?”
“One of those cheapo things. Bob could've moved it. Toad probably picked it up, too.”
Jason handed the computer to Hyacinth to hold so that he could get out his keys. As he bent down to find the keyhole in the murky night, a powerful pain lashed through his head.
He fell face first against the cold truck window.
* * * *
Jason woke disoriented, a bass drum booming inside his head. Damp cold had seeped through his shirt and jeans, numbing his back and legs. He struggled to sit up. How long had he lain on the pavement next to his truck? His Stetson was gone, knocked off by whoever thought he needed a nap. He clawed his way upright against his truck.
“Hyacinth?” The drumming in Jason's head turned to a fire that seared the back of his neck and into his shoulders. “Hyacinth? Where are you?”
Angry with himself, he went in search of his keys in the street. He finally stepped on them. The truck headlights blinked and the door unlocked. After retrieving a flashlight, he found Hyacinth splayed out face down on Ruth's lawn.
“Hy!” Jason slammed to his knees next to her. He turned Hyacinth over, then pulled her onto his lap and into his arms. “Hy?” Blood trickled from her nose. He didn't have a tissue on him so he pulled out his shirttail to staunch the flow.
When she sputtered for a big breath, opening her eyes, relief splashed him. “Take it easy, Hy. Somebody rolled us for the computer.”
“Bob followed us?”
“Somebody did.”
His watch said it was past midnight. Hoping that Hyacinth wasn't suffering from hypothermia, Jason helped her into the truck, then started it to get heat going. He stepped back outside to look for his Stetson. He found it in the street, but couldn't bear to wear it because of the pain in his head. “Do you have any enemies, Hyacinth?”
“None that I know about. You're dismissing Bob Winters?”
“A man with a bad heart and using an inhaler doesn't strike me as the kind to do this. But your students knew we'd be here.”
“I trust them, Jason.”
“What if they mentioned something to a neighbor? Or other students? Maybe their parents? Maybe Tildy called Willa after we left your place? Do you think Asher Hamm could be behind this?”
“I don't want to think it, but I don't know how he manages to feed and clothe nine kids with no steady job.”
The hot air whooshing out of the vents revived Jason. He reached out for Hyacinth's hand. It was icy cold, not the normal warmth he was used to. He rubbed her hands and blew on them as he'd done with the tiny chicks. “How do you feel? Hospital or home?”
“Home. I had the wind knocked out of me mostly.”
“How's the nose?”
“Feels like somebody walloped me with a frying pan.”
“Or with the computer itself as he or she ripped it from you. That would take a fairly tall, strong person. Somebody used to wrestling with such things. Kirk Kaminski fixes copiers and printers.”
“He'd know how to unhook electricity.”
“My exact thought.” Jason blew on Hyacinth's hands some more.
“But why would he want to silence Tootsie? Kirk's laid off, but he and Jeri are doing okay. They're okay people.”
“Is Tootsie having an affair? The bartender here told me he spotted Tootsie riding around at night with a good-looking guy.”
“That was probably Toad. They were collecting items for the swap meet.”
Jason was still suspicious of Kirk. He'd know exactly how to get in and out of a house quickly with a computer. But was he capable of murder?
Minutes later, Jason helped Hyacinth into her kitchen. Mice peeked around the doorjamb to the living room when he switched on the kitchen lights. He didn't mention them to Hyacinth, who was washing her face and bloody nose over the sink. He told Hyacinth about the clothes in Tootsie's washer. “Who would put bloody clothes in the washer before leaving the scene?”
Hyacinth dabbed at her face with a kitchen towel, careful around her nose. She still wore his red jacket over her blue dress. Both were ripped and splashed with plenty of spring slush. She said, “It had to be somebody who had a change of clothes along with them.”
“Like somebody who stayed overnight somewhere. That's Tom, Bob, Greg, maybe Asher because he's a trucker. They could be in on it together.”
“That's preposterous.”
“I hate to tell you this, but the men are a bit jealous and upset with the Moonstone Mavens. This could be tit for tat.”
“Why?”
“You're smart and you don't need the men. The word they used was ‘emasculated.'”
Hyacinth stopped daubing at her nose. “I guess we women do spend a lot of time together, especially lately.”
“For a good cause. May Day in Moonstone.”
“But you're right. I didn't see what all that time spent together meant for their husbands or families. Thank you. I had no idea. You're brilliant, you know.” Her eyes sparkled like swirling carousels in the night.
“Not so fast with the compliments. I'm going to take a ride into Moonstone, see if I might spot the guys coming back to the scene of the crime.” Jason realized they were both lucky to be alive. From his experience with thugs, he knew they grew increasingly desperate and would often backtrack to try and intimidate or snuff out witnesses.
Hyacinth touched her nose. She winced. “It's the dead of night, or morning. Even burglars go to bed.”
“It actually takes a truck or car quite a while to cool down. If I find a warm vehicle at this hour or a house light still on, I might have our guilty party.”
“Brilliant again.”
“I'm starting to like that word.” Jason got up too fast. He had to catch himself by grabbing the table.
“Let me drive. You might have a concussion.”
“No. I can get myself into Moonstone. I'll ask my sister to come with me.”
“Nothing doing.” Hyacinth gave him back his jacket then tossed on her red plaid insulated shirt over her dress. “You shouldn't wake up your sister in her condition.”
“It's just a bout with the flu. Upset stomach is all.” He eased on his Stetson with care.
Hyacinth buttoned her heavy shirt, shaking her head at him. “Upset stomach? Jason, your sister is broody. All the Mavens have guessed it.”
“Broody? As in—” His sister having a kid? His sister, all grown up? How could this be? “I'll be an uncle?”
“In fewer than nine months, I'm sure.” Hyacinth took him by the elbow to escort him. “Come on, cowboy. Let's ride into Moonstone.”
The truck's clock registered two forty-five a.m. when they rolled to a stop near a large ranch house about two blocks from the bank. The lights were on inside, and a car sat in the driveway.
Jason whispered, “We have to be careful. He's got weapons.”
“Maybe it was all a misunderstanding. I just can't believe it'd be—”
“Your broken nose and black eyes are more than a misunderstanding. And all the clues add up. He's the neat-nik of the bunch, and the detail man. He's also the one who used a strong word—emasculated.”
Jason had doused his headlights a block back, edging through the fog with Hyacinth's help. “You stay here,” he said. “Here's my phone. Hit 911 if you hear anything.”
“Jason, don't go in there.”
“Shh.” Jason slunk from the truck, closing the door with a quick punch to douse the light.
He hurried to the car. The hood was still lukewarm. The metal ticked as it cooled.
Hyacinth came up behind him and touched it, too. “He's been a devoted husband, a good guy.”
“Has he? Then why is his wife always winking at me?”
“All the women winked at you, even me. Let me knock on the door first. He won't shoot me or do whatever it is you think he'll do.”
“I can't take that chance. I have a job to do, Hy. Stand back.”
He nudged her out of harm's way, then kicked out the window glass in the storm door and shoved in the inside door. In a blink, Jason stood in front of a surprised Tom Bauer in his living room. Tom sat in front of a computer that perched on his coffee table.
Tom stood up. “Hey, man, I'm calling the cops.”
“I am the cops,” Jason said.
Lily Bauer stumbled bleary-eyed from a hallway, tying a red satin robe around her. “What's going on?”
Hyacinth rushed over. “Lily, I'm sorry. Tom's in all kinds of trouble. He hurt Tootsie while burglarizing her place, then robbed us of that same computer. That's her computer sitting in your living room.”
Men Of Moonstone Series Page 20