by Holly Quinn
Sammy rushed back to her office, and her eyes pinballed around the room, seeking her cell phone. Once she found it, deep in the pocket of her winter coat, she group-texted her sister and Heidi and asked that they meet back at her house at eleven thirty PM, immediately after Heidi’s shift, regarding Randy. It had already been a very long day, but they didn’t have a choice. The three S.H.E.s were going to have to break into the Wadsworths’ estate.
* * *
Sammy continued to pace the floor of her cozy Cape Cod until her sister arrived a few minutes past eleven o’clock. Bara was curled in front of the fireplace fast asleep, tuckered out from his earlier winter walk. She’d promised herself she wouldn’t neglect her dog’s exercise, and she hadn’t. Immediately after closing the shop for the night, she had bundled out into the cold. Even the sting of the biting wind hadn’t phased Sammy as she had replayed events in her conflicted mind while trudging Bara through the snow like a warrior preparing for battle. The preposterous idea that Nash was bringing Randy in for questioning the following day was almost too much to handle. How nervous Nellie Ellie would take that news, she had yet to discover.
“Ellie, I’m so glad you came.” Sammy held the door as her sister knocked the snow off her boots before entering the small foyer.
“This had better be good. I can’t imagine why you’d be dragging us three S.H.E.s out at this ungodly hour of the night. Care to explain?” Ellie eyed her with a frown as she slipped off her boots and closed the front door behind her.
“To be honest, I was glad you decided to come. I didn’t think I’d be able to convince you.” Sammy’s brows knit together. “Why did you come?”
“I have my reasons. Not to mention the cryptic text message about my husband. You mind telling me why I’m here, so I’m not left wondering? I’m sure I’m blowing this waaaay out of proportion in my mind. At least I hope so?”
Bara lifted his head from his comfortable position in front of the fire, recognized Ellie, and then rested his head back down on his paws and closed his eyes. “Even your dog is too tired to come and greet me.” She pointed to Bara before stepping inside the living room beside him. “It’s nice and cozy in here,” Ellie added as she stepped in front of the fire and rubbed her hands together to warm them. “Okay, you dragged me out into the cold, dark night. What gives?”
“Detective Nash came to see me at Community Craft.”
“Yeah, so?” Ellie interrupted. “I thought you said you wanted to talk to us S.H.E.s about Randy and it was super important we talked ‘in person.’” Ellie lifted her fingers in air quotes.
“I’m getting to that,” Sammy said, before Ellie interrupted her again.
“Please. Don’t tell me what you’re about to say. You guys already informed me Jackson insinuated my husband is involved in this, and now Nash pays you a private visit? Wait. I’m not sure I can handle this.”
“Maybe you should sit down.” Sammy led her sister to a seat on the plush love seat she had purchased as a Christmas gift to herself, replacing the old worn-out sofa she’d used in her twenties. She curled her legs beneath her and then reached for her sister’s hands to calm her. Despite Ellie’s recent visit to the fireplace, her hands were cold to the touch.
“Tell me right now why Nash came to see you. He talked to you about Randy, didn’t he?” Ellie’s eyes were searching.
Sammy took a breath and blew her mouth up like a blowfish before revealing, “Yep.”
“Why? I don’t get it. Just because he’s Wanda and Marty’s realtor? Now my husband is accused of something shady to do with all of this?” Ellie’s hands flew from her sister’s grasp, and she flung them in the air dramatically. “What the heck. My husband can’t catch a break. Ever since he started this stupid real-estate career, it’s been one problem after the other. I wish he’d listened to Dad and just stuck with working at the mortgage company. It was a lot less stress on our family, that’s for darn sure!”
Sammy let her sister unload. She knew Ellie had never been fully on board with Randy switching careers, when his past employment at the mortgage firm had been stable and he was their main source of income. Especially since Ellie didn’t have a career to speak of and merely worked at Community Craft part-time for minimum wage. Sammy couldn’t blame her for being upset about his career move.
Ellie rose from the love seat and headed toward the fireplace again, seeking comfort. Bara rose next to her, and she stroked him down his back. While Ellie faced the fireplace, her shoulders began to quake, and Sammy knew her sister was crying. She moved to wrap her arm around her, and Ellie rested her head on Sammy’s shoulder while she wiped away tears. “I don’t feel so good,” Ellie said, then quickly ran toward the staircase and up the stairs, seemingly to use the bathroom.
Sammy heard a soft knock at the front door and yelled, “Come in,” knowing her cousin would likely be on the other side.
“What’s going on? You’ve had me worried ever since I received your text message.” Heidi stepped inside and immediately removed her boots. “This is unlike you to ask me to come over after a long day and then a shift. It must be serious. But here I am,” she added with her famous jazz hands, albeit with far less than her usual enthusiasm.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t text it all, and I didn’t want to bother you at the hospital, but thanks for coming. It’s super important.” Sammy leaned in to share a hug.
“Where’s Ellie?” Heidi looked beyond her into the living room. “I saw her car out front. I know she beat me here.”
“She just ran upstairs for a moment.” Sammy closed the door behind her cousin, ushered her inside, and whispered, “I think I may have already upset her.” She cringed. “It’s about Randy. Nash is going to bring him in tomorrow for questioning, and the news really upset Ellie.” Sammy’s eyes traveled to the empty staircase. “You think I should go check on her?”
“Nah, give her a minute while you bring me up to speed. If she doesn’t come back soon, we’ll both go and check on her.”
Sammy shared the information she’d learned thus far and then asked timidly, “Tim didn’t share any of this with you? I’m kinda surprised, to be honest.” Her brow rose in question.
Heidi unzipped her long wool coat to display her scrubs. “I’ve been a little busy.”
“I know, I was just curious if maybe you’d already shared with Tim what happened over at Jackson’s farm. You didn’t, did you?”
Heidi removed her coat and tossed it on the nearby leather recliner. “Nope, I didn’t. For one thing, I seriously didn’t have time. I’m surprised Tim told Nash we hadn’t had lunch. I barely had a chance to catch up with Tim on my way in to the hospital, and he dropped off food for me to nibble between patients. I swear that was it. Tim literally handed a boxed lunch to me like a football pass.” She crossed her fingers and held them up for display. “I was busy workin’, girlfriend.”
“You and I both know how anxious Ellie can get in these types of situations.” Sammy wagged a finger between them. “I just hope she can help us figure out the combination to that lockbox. We have no other choice but to break into the Wadsworths’. If the money is in the gun safe, maybe we can help get Marty back and clear up this mess and Randy will be off the chopping block.”
“You know Tim is on patrol tonight and will be circling the Wadsworth property. The police are keeping a tight eye on the place, hoping either Marty will return or someone involved will show up there. I’m guessing you want me to distract him while you and Ellie sneak in?” Heidi asked conspiratorially.
“Exactly. I just hope my sister is up for the challenge. You know how nervous she gets.” Sammy was about to share the perplexing rhyme she’d found inside Wanda’s quilt with Heidi when Ellie descended the stairs. The two of them looked at her with compassion.
“Are you all right?” Heidi asked. “You look a bit pale.”
Ellie shook her head. “No, I’m not all right … I’m pregnant.”
“Whaaaat?” Sammy reached for
her sister.
“You heard me. I’m pregnant. You asked me what my reasons are for joining you two hooligans tonight. Meet exhibit A. I need my husband now more than ever!” Ellie said, raising her shirt to display her tummy.
Sammy instantly pulled her sister in for a hug. Heidi wrapped her arms around the two of them, and they covered Ellie in squeals and giggles. “Congratulations!”
When they finally released their three-way hug, Sammy said, “I’m going to be an aunt again! What is it—a boy or a girl?” She leaned back, placed her hand on her sister’s stomach, and held it there.
Ellie laughed. “It’s a baby, you goof. I just found out and we’re in the first trimester, so I have no idea what the sex is yet. I didn’t want to share my news before I took the pregnancy test. I took it this afternoon after we got back from Jackson’s because I was feeling so sick in the Jeep on the way home, and voilà!” Then Ellie’s smile faded. “I can’t have Randy mixed up in a murder investigation right now. We have enough instability in our lives with his new job, and now this?” Tears filled Ellie’s eyes, and she blinked them back. “You guys have to help me clear him of this. I need my husband!” Her tone was desperate and laced with fear.
“It’s going to be okay,” Sammy soothed. “We’re gonna figure this out. Don’t worry … I promise.” Her eyes met Heidi’s pleadingly and then landed back on Ellie. “Us three S.H.E.s will get to the bottom of this, and soon all this will become a distant memory. Don’t you worry about a thing.”
But by the look on her sister’s face, Sammy knew Ellie wasn’t buying it.
Chapter Fourteen
Sammy was relieved the town of Heartsford was going to be blanketed with a coat of fresh snow overnight. With each falling snowflake, crucial evidence of their visit would be buried deep beneath the snow and long forgotten. The few inches expected would more than cover any prints the Kane sisters were making as they made their way up the front walk to the Wadsworths’ Queen Anne Victorian. The grand wraparound porch was framed with decorated columns, and a snowcapped turret rose high above their heads. The freshly fallen flakes were sticking to Sammy’s eyelashes, and she brushed them out of her eyes with a gloved hand.
The two sisters had no other choice but to enter via the front entrance, where the lockbox was attached to the brightly painted door. Sammy peeked over both shoulders before taking the first step onto the wraparound porch. The street was devoid of cars, and the neighboring houses were eerily quiet. Perfect. The three S.H.E.s had planned their incursion to happen after two AM, when most people would hopefully be in bed. Sammy really hoped that would be the case and they wouldn’t get caught by a vigilant neighbor. “Do you think you know the combination to the lockbox?” Sammy whispered, even though there wasn’t anyone within earshot besides her sister.
“Yes, I know the combination. I helped Randy set up the lock when he first brought it home from the broker’s office. My goofy husband picked the letters F-U-N. He said this career would not be like his last—this one would be fun. Oh, it’s fun all right, so flipping fun,” she added with a huff. “Are we having fun yet? Just look where we are in the wee hours of the morning. Don’t you remember Mom always said nothing good happens after midnight?” Ellie fumbled with the lock.
“Yeah, how could I forget. She used to say that all the time, especially during our curfew years. Please tell me you haven’t called Mom and talked to her about all this. She’d be completely freaked if she heard how deep we’re involved. You know she highly disapproves of our sleuthing and anything, in her words, as ‘childish as S.H.E.,’” Sammy said.
Ellie didn’t answer, which was never a good sign. She must’ve already informed their mother back in Arizona. Instead she dug the key out of the lockbox and opened the door, and the two slipped inside the Queen Anne Victorian. Sammy immediately closed the door behind them, and they removed their snow-covered boots before they went any farther. “Tell me you brought flashlights,” Ellie said. “The last thing we want to do is turn the lights on and alert the entire neighborhood. I’m sure the neighbors are already all on high alert. Don’t you think?”
“Yeah, I brought two of those pen ones the credit union was giving away at the town barbecue last summer. Here.” Sammy left her gloves on but dug deep into her coat pocket, pulled out two pen flashlights, and handed one to her sister.
“Okay, what are we looking for exactly?” Ellie adjusted the hat on her head, which consequently dripped water in her eyes. Sammy reached into her sister’s pocket, dug for a balled-up Kleenex she knew Ellie would have stashed inside, and handed it to her sister, which made Ellie smile.
“Two things on our agenda.” Sammy held up two gloved fingers. “First, we want to check the gun safe to see how much money is in there and if there’s indeed enough for Jackson to pay the ransom. Second, we’re looking for some sort of important paperwork. Randy told me at Tyler’s birthday party that Marty had something in his hand that Wanda was adamant he put away before Randy had a chance to see what it was. We need to find out what was so important that it had to remain hidden from your husband. Hopefully that might give us a clue as to how this couple got in way over their heads.” Sammy adjusted her gloves tighter on her fingers. “Don’t leave prints behind either. Make sure and keep your gloves on.”
“Randy told you all that, huh? All this was happening right beneath my nose while I was slaving away in the kitchen making our son’s birthday dinner, I suppose?” Ellie rolled her eyes and then readjusted the winter hat on her head. “Gosh, it’s creepy being in a strange house, let alone in the dark. Have your eyes adjusted yet?” She grimaced, then flicked on the flashlight and sent a narrow beam along the floor. “Let’s hurry this up. I’m feeling really nauseous, and I don’t think it’s due to pregnancy. I think it may be more due to anxiety and uncertainty at this point.” She moved in the direction of her flashlight beam, but Sammy held her back by reaching for her shoulder.
“Speaking of your pregnancy, I was about to tell you something before you shared your big announcement. I’m so happy for you, by the way; I can’t believe Tyler is going to have a sibling!” Sammy smiled, then let it fade. “I found something interesting belonging to Wanda.” She removed her glove for a second to dig deep into her jeans pocket. She handed the rhyme to Ellie, who shone a light on the note and eagerly read it.
“What is this?”
“I haven’t the slightest, but it was sewn between the batting of Wanda’s quilt. What do you make of it?”
“Well, besides the fact it’s incredibly odd, I haven’t a clue. Maybe the quilting group can help you figure that out? Unless you don’t think it’s a good idea to share it with them?”
“Yeah, it seems rather personal to share. I’ll hold off on that but maybe share it with Heidi to see what she thinks. The quilting group meets tomorrow at Community Craft. Hopefully I’ll be awake enough to sit in on that meeting.” Sammy stifled a yawn.
“Come on,” Ellie said, beckoning her sister to follow the beam of light in front of her.
“I think we should split up to make this faster.” Sammy lifted her stream of light to an interior staircase leading to the second floor and then followed the beam along the wide pine baseboard to finally land on the narrow strip of pine flooring on her left. “I’ll go this way,” Sammy said as she turned in the direction of the front room. Despite their stocking feet, the wood floor creaked, sending eerie sounds echoing off the wallpapered walls.
“Do we have to split up?” Ellie whined, before complying with Sammy’s plan and following her own narrow beam away from her sister toward the back of the house.
The front room was dark, even with the low sash windows void of blinds and the curtains pulled aside. The full moon did little to illuminate the large, rounded space. Sammy was careful not to send her light out the window and instead followed the beam along the wide baseboard deeper into what appeared to be the parlor. The room was decorated in highly ornate damask furniture, fit for a tea party or to meet
the queen herself. Sammy didn’t think a gun cabinet would be found in this room, so she followed her flashlight along the narrow floorboards, over an intricately designed iron heating element flush with the floor, back to the narrow strip of pine boards, until she reached the next room. As Sammy’s flashlight bounced within the confines of each room, it illuminated several deep nooks and crannies crafted with original woodwork. She now understood why her brother-in-law was interested in turning this home into a historical landmark. The woodwork was old but remained in pristine condition.
She stumbled upon a rolltop desk, which she proceeded to try to open, but it was locked. Darn it! Her heart raced while she contemplated how she could explore the inside. She plucked a bobby pin from her hair that was holding back her overgrown auburn bangs beneath her winter hat, and bit off the rubber stoppers. She then used the pin to dig around inside the keyhole. It took several minutes, but she surprised herself by jimmying the inexpensive lock. She slowly rolled the desk open, releasing a groaning sound. She instinctively looked around to make sure no one was within earshot. She let out a nervous giggle, knowing full well she and Ellie were the only ones inside the grand Queen Anne Victorian.
She began rifling through the drawers with gloved fingers. The first drawer held a roll of stamps and bills that needed to be paid and junk mail stuffed away to be dealt with at a later time. The second drawer held nothing of importance either. Rubber bands, a stapler, an ungodly number of pens—seriously, who keeps this many pens? Scrap paper. Nothing. The third drawer held a stack of hanging file folders, which, if Sammy was being honest with herself, could take days to sift through. The labels seemed to indicate that most folders contained bill receipts and papers pertaining to home improvement.