“Oh, good, the show is starting,” one of the women said.
“There’s no show at breakfast,” Mom said firmly. “We’re just … having a discussion. Which reminds me, we haven’t finished the discussion from last night. You didn’t think I forgot that little tidbit about you trying to stop a bank robbery, did you?”
I shot Landon a hopeful look. “Mom … .”
“We’ve already talked about it,” Landon said. “She knows she made a mistake. I don’t think there’s any reason to harp on it.”
He really was in a good mood this morning.
Mom eyed him for a few seconds. “You two look all … sparkly … this morning. Why is that?”
“Why do you think?” Aunt Tillie asked, breezing into the room.
I fought the urge to laugh when I realized she’d added the combat helmet to her ensemble.
“Why are you wearing that?” Mom asked, her eyes widening. “Why in the world are you wearing that?”
“Oh, is war coming?” One of the men farther down the table was smiling at Aunt Tillie.
“You have no idea,” Aunt Tillie said. “The good news for everyone is that my list has been wiped clean for the week – except for one name.”
“I’m almost afraid to ask,” Mom sighed. “Who are you focusing your considerable efforts on?”
“It had better be Lila Stevens,” Thistle said, pushing through the kitchen door and joining the breakfast crowd. Clove was close behind.
“I didn’t think you were coming down for breakfast,” I said.
“I could smell the French toast from the guesthouse,” Thistle said. “Plus, I want to spend a little time with Aunt Tillie before I have to go into the store today.”
“Why?” Twila asked, suspicious.
“Can’t I just want to spend time with my aunt?” Thistle asked.
“Not unless you’ve had a lobotomy,” Mom said. “You two fight like … well, I can’t think of a good analogy because it’s just that bad … so I don’t believe you’re going to join forces for anything good.”
“We’ve joined forces before,” Thistle protested.
“And when has that ever worked out?”
“Each and every time,” Aunt Tillie said. “You leave that girl alone. Don’t pick on her.”
Mom’s mouth dropped open. “What?”
“Just let it go,” Landon said. “You’re ruining my happy morning.”
“Stop smiling like that,” Mom instructed. “I know you’re thinking something dirty.”
“Oh, you have no idea,” Landon said. “Someone pass the French toast.”
“That smells amazing,” Nick said, walking into the room and smiling at everyone in turn. “Ladies, I can’t tell you what a great night of sleep I had. It was the best night of sleep I’ve had in years. You’re all miracle workers.”
“Well, thank you for the nice compliment,” Marnie said, pleased. “Are you ready for some breakfast?”
Nick had always been charming, but a decade of life experience had allowed him to up his game. It was pretty impressive. Still, there was something about his little act that bothered me.
“I’d love some breakfast,” Nick said. Instead of moving to the end of the table and sitting where he had the night before he pulled out the open chair next to me and settled between me and another guest. “Good morning, Bay.”
“Good morning,” I murmured, risking a look at Landon out of the corner of my eye. His face was unreadable, and he seemed fixated on his huge pile of French toast.
“I see you’re here again,” Nick said, smiling at Landon. “Do you live here with Bay?”
“Sometimes,” Landon said, his answer taking me by surprise. “I work out of Traverse City, but I’m here as often as I can be.”
“Oh, so do you have to drive back over to Traverse today?” Nick asked. I couldn’t decide whether he was genuinely interested or was trying to get on Landon’s good side.
“I’m in town for the week,” Landon said.
I turned my attention back to him, surprised. “You are? You didn’t tell me that. I thought you came to town because of the bank robbery yesterday.”
“I finished up my case in the afternoon, so I was coming here anyway,” Landon said. “I volunteered for the bank robbery case so I’d have a reason to stay here with you all week.”
Oh, that was kind of sweet.
“Case? Are you a police officer?” Nick asked.
“I’m with the FBI.”
“Oh.” Nick straightened in his chair. “That’s … wow. That sounds like a neat job.”
“Yeah, Landon, you’re neat,” Thistle said, forking a huge chunk of French toast into her mouth, a thin thread of syrup clinging to her chin.
“I think you’re neat,” I said, patting his knee.
Landon smirked. “That’s what’s written on my business cards.”
“You have business cards?”
Landon arched an eyebrow. “How do you think people call me with tips?”
“I want one.”
“I’ll give you a stack of them later,” he said. “You can write dirty suggestions on them and then give them to me when you want me to make them happen.”
My mother, who had been checking to make sure everyone at the table was set before sitting down, cuffed him on the back of the head. “That will be just about enough of that.”
“Sorry,” Landon mumbled around a mouthful of food.
“Nice,” Aunt Tillie said. “Classy.”
Landon swallowed. “You’re wearing a combat helmet.”
“I’m ready for combat.”
Landon rolled his eyes and then shifted his attention to me. “Are you going to be at the newspaper office all day?”
“Probably not,” I said. “I have to check in on a few of the events downtown.”
“Events?”
“There’s a pie-baking contest,” I explained.
“Well, that sounds … fun,” Landon said, smirking. “Do you want to meet up for lunch?”
“I thought you had to work on the bank robbery?”
“I do. That doesn’t mean I don’t have time for lunch – especially if I get to spend some quality time with you.”
“I’m sure I can make time for lunch,” I said.
“Good. I’ll pick up food and bring it to you. I’ll text you when I’m coming.”
“Okay.”
“Oh, you’re so domestic,” Thistle said, purposely needling me. “It’s like watching a 1950s sitcom.”
“Leave them alone,” Aunt Tillie instructed. “I think they’re cute.”
“Since when?” Mom asked.
“Since I found out Lila was back in town and her mission was to make Bay’s life miserable,” Aunt Tillie said.
Next to me, Nick stiffened. “Lila is back in town? How does she look?”
“She is back in town,” I said. “She looks hideous.”
“Well, that’s disappointing. I heard she held up pretty well.”
“I think the whole town thinks that’s disappointing,” Aunt Tillie said. “I wouldn’t worry about her. I’ll take care of Lila.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Mom asked.
“Don’t worry about it,” Aunt Tillie said. “Focus on your breakfast and … I don’t know … do some dishes or something.”
Mom’s eyes flashed. “Excuse me?”
“She wants you to mind your own business,” Thistle said.
“I’m liking you today,” Aunt Tillie said, smiling at Thistle. When Thistle returned the smile, my heart dropped. It was as if the Joker and Penguin were joining up to destroy Gotham. This couldn’t be good. I didn’t get a chance to comment on the new development, though, because the sound of someone clearing his throat at the dining room door caught everyone’s attention.
Chief Terry stood there, his eyes serious as he studied the room.
“Oh, Terry, you’re here,” Mom said, getting to her feet. “I wasn’t sure you were coming. Do you want breakfast? You
can sit next to me.”
“There’s no room next to you,” Marnie said. “He can sit next to me.”
My mother and aunts have been vying to be the center of Chief Terry’s world for as long as I can remember. He seems to like the attention, and goes out of his way not to show one of them more favor than the other. I had no idea what would happen if he ever gave in and actually tried to date one of them. I think a black hole would open up in our kitchen and swallow us whole.
“I would love breakfast,” Chief Terry said. “I don’t have time, though. Actually, I came here to see if Landon would make a trip out to the Dandridge with me.”
“Sure,” Landon said, getting to his feet. “Why are we going out to the Dandridge?”
Chief Terry was pale, and his eyes were dark. “We got an anonymous call this morning,” he said. “Someone gave us a lead on the robber from yesterday.”
“And you think he’s out at the Dandridge?” Clove asked, alarmed. “Does that mean Sam is in danger?”
“No, Clove,” Chief Terry said carefully. “That means Sam is the suspect.”
Nine
“What?” Clove’s dark eyes were wide as she shakily got to her feet. “Are you joking? You think Sam is a bank robber?”
“Clove, we don’t know anything yet,” Chief Terry said. “Don’t fly off the handle. I just want Landon to go question him with me.”
Clove threw her napkin down on the table. “You’re going after Sam because you’ve always hated him,” she said. “Admit it!”
“Clove, you know that’s not true,” Chief Terry said.
“Of course it’s true,” Clove said. “Sam wasn’t even in town yesterday.”
I stirred. “Yes, he was.”
Clove furrowed her brow. “No, he wasn’t. He said he was hanging out at the Dandridge all day.”
I glanced at Landon, unsure.
“What do you know?” Landon asked gently.
“He stopped in the newspaper office right before lunch,” I said. “He wanted to talk about writing an article on the Dandridge next week.”
“How long was he in the office?” Chief Terry asked.
“Not long,” I replied. “Ten minutes tops.”
“Where did he go afterward?”
“I’m not sure,” I said. “I was under the impression he was going back home. He didn’t say either way, though.”
“What did you do?” Chief Terry asked.
“I walked down to Hypnotic.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you saw him?” Clove challenged. “Why are you bringing this up only now?”
Was she accusing me of making this up? “I honestly forgot,” I said. “I got distracted by Lila and all the revenge talk. I didn’t think it was a big deal.”
“So, that was before the bank robbery,” Landon said, rubbing his chin. “How long were you in Hypnotic?”
“About forty-five minutes.”
“That gives him the opportunity,” Chief Terry said.
“There were a lot of people downtown yesterday,” Clove protested.
“Clove, I’m not saying he’s guilty,” Chief Terry said. “I just want to talk to him.”
Clove was so angry her hands shook as she gripped them in front of her. “You’ve been looking for a reason to turn on him,” she said, her eyes filling with tears. “You’ve finally got it.”
She stormed toward the kitchen door.
“I hope you’re happy.”
“YOU didn’t have to come with us,” Landon said, shifting his head so he could study me in the back seat of Chief Terry’s Land Rover. “I’m sure Clove will have calmed down by the time we get out there.”
“I’m not sure that’s true,” I said. “Did you see her face?”
“She was upset,” Landon said. “I don’t see how she can blame you.”
“Well, she does,” I said, staring out the window and focusing on the winding country road that led to the Dandridge. “You heard her. She thinks I made up seeing Sam at the newspaper office yesterday.”
“I don’t think she was saying that, Bay,” Chief Terry said. “I think she was just hoping there was a misunderstanding. She can’t possibly think you would make up a story because you dislike Sam.”
“I don’t dislike Sam,” I said. “I … .” Was that the truth? Did I like Sam? Did I hate him? I wanted to like him because Clove liked him. Still, Sam’s arrival in our lives had been mired in subterfuge and lies. I couldn’t help but be leery.
“What are you thinking?” Landon asked.
“I’m trying to decide whether I dislike Sam.”
“I know the feeling,” Landon said. “I want to dislike the guy, but I can’t help but feel he really cares about Clove. I hope he hasn’t snowed us, because if he’s guilty I think Clove is going to be in for a world of hurt.”
“Whether he’s guilty or not, just the suspicion is hurting Clove,” I said.
When Chief Terry pulled into the gravel parking lot adjacent to the Dandridge, I wasn’t surprised to see Clove’s car already there. It was parked at an angle, as though she couldn’t bother to spare the time to pull in completely.
“You don’t think they ran, do you?” Chief Terry asked, worried.
“No matter how upset she is, Clove wouldn’t just pick up and leave,” I said.
“And if Sam is innocent, he has no reason to run,” Landon said. He hopped out of the Land Rover and opened my door. We stood next to each other as he grabbed my hand and leaned in. “It’s going to be okay. Clove is just upset,” he said softly.
“I hope so,” I said. “I can’t … she’s always going through crap with men. It’s as if she has abysmal taste, and yet she was the one who was always desperate to find someone.”
Landon ran his hand down the back of my hair, smoothing it. “Clove is tougher than she looks.”
“Is she?”
Landon shrugged helplessly. “In your family, she has to be. Come on. Let’s get this over with.”
Sam opened the door before Chief Terry could knock, and his face was a mask of anger and concern when he met my gaze. “I suppose you’re here to ask whether I’m a bank robber.”
“We need to ask a few questions,” Chief Terry said. “Can we come in?”
Sam’s eyes were still on me. “Are you here in an official capacity?”
“I’m here because of Clove,” I said.
“Do you think I’m a bank robber and Chief Terry and your boyfriend are going to drag me away in cuffs?”
I honestly had no idea. “I think Clove is upset, and I’m here to help her.”
Sam pushed the door open and ushered us inside. “Well, come on in.”
The Dandridge looked drastically different than it had weeks before. The walls were painted, and the furniture was new, and the stained-glass windows leading up the spire to the lighthouse were truly breathtaking. I could see why Clove was spending so much time here.
“He’s innocent,” Clove screeched when she caught sight of us.
“Sit down, Clove,” Landon instructed. “You’re going to pass out if your face gets any redder. We’re not here to arrest Sam. We only want to ask him some questions.”
“It’s all right, Clove,” Sam said, sending her a reassuring smile. “Sit down. I’m not a bank robber, so everything is going to be fine.”
“Of course you’re not a bank robber,” Clove said, throwing herself on Sam’s couch dramatically. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
Sam shot Landon and Chief Terry an apologetic look. “She’s been a little worked up since she got here.”
“And how long ago was that?” Landon asked.
“About ten minutes.”
That was plenty of time to run, I told myself. If he was guilty, he would have run.
“How many speeding laws did you break to get here that quickly, Clove?” Landon asked.
“Oh, arrest me,” Clove said, holding her wrists out. “I’m obviously a threat to the community.”
Landon rubbed
the heel of his hand against his forehead. “Why don’t we start with some simple questions, okay?”
Sam nodded as he sat down next to Clove. He drew her hand into his and waited. I realized he was trying to reassure her even though he was the one being questioned.
“Were you in town yesterday?” Chief Terry asked.
“I think you already know the answer to that,” Sam said, jutting his chin in my direction. “Hasn’t Bay already told you that I was in the newspaper office?”
“She has,” Chief Terry conceded. “I need to hear it from you, though.”
“I was in town for about forty-five minutes,” Sam said. “I left here a little before noon and went straight to the newspaper office. I figured Bay would be having lunch with Clove and Thistle at Hypnotic, and I didn’t want to miss her.”
“What did you do after that?”
“I went to the hardware store because I needed some brackets to put up a shelf.”
“Do you have a receipt?”
Sam paused. “I should have,” he said. “There’s a bag on the kitchen counter. It should be in there. I haven’t taken anything out of it yet.”
Landon started moving through the room. “This way?”
Sam nodded.
“I’ll be back in a second.”
Chief Terry kept his eyes trained on Sam. “Did you do anything else in town?”
“Like rob a bank?” Clove spat.
My heart rolled painfully. She was hanging on by a thread.
“No,” Sam said. “I got the brackets and came back here. I did some gardening after that, and no I don’t have a witness. Then I had a quick dinner here and spent the night at the guesthouse with all of them. I came back here first thing this morning.”
Chief Terry glanced at me for confirmation, and I nodded.
“Why do you believe her?” Clove asked. “Why not ask me?”
“Because he’s afraid you’re going to fly off the handle and scratch his eyes out,” Sam said. “It’s okay. Just … breathe.”
Landon returned from the kitchen with a slip of paper in his hand.
“Does it have a timestamp?” Chief Terry asked.
“Yeah,” Landon said. “It says 12:25 p.m.”
“That doesn’t exactly clear him,” Chief Terry said. “The robbery happened right before one.”
Witch Me Luck (Wicked Witches of the Midwest Book 6) Page 7