Apple Pie and Arsenic

by C A Phipps

  The sound of a car coming closer made her stop. She knew that sound. Her Jeep came through the doors and her teeth clenched as whoever it was behind the wheel pulled Honey up beside her and slammed the car into park with no care whatsoever. The driver climbed out, slammed the door shut, and came close. So close that she could see his coal-colored eyes as he studied her. The man at the funeral, Maddie realized. Virginia had called him Ralph. If it was the same man, was he Ralph Willis—Mickey Findlay’s nephew?

  “Good, you’re awake. How’s the head?”

  The questions were asked in the same nasal voice she recognized from earlier, so she now knew his name. His question held no real concern, but it was probably prudent to play along.

  “Now you mention it, not too good. Was that chloroform?”

  “You know your drugs. Or was it a lucky guess?” he sneered. “Shame you aren’t so good at other guesses.”

  He was about as pleasant as a rattlesnake, and his breath could turn milk sour.

  “Do you mean about knowing you’re a murderer, or Virginia being your accomplice?”

  He grinned, his glee far worse than the sneer. Added to that, his creased clothing, grubby nails and black eyes made him look positively feral.

  “I didn’t say I murdered anyone, did I? I was referring to your sleuthing abilities. Or lack of them. Following Virginia wasn’t your best idea, was it?”

  Things were falling into place, and Maddie had to admit she was a prize fool. “I guess Virginia led me here on purpose. That was all part of your plan.”

  “You figured it out at last. You’re not bad-looking, you know? It’s a shame you’re a little slow.”

  Maddie held back her temper. She had the feeling it would only make this man happier to see her lose control, so she ignored the bait. “Was she even tied up?”

  “Of course she was.” He laughed, a creepy sound. “For some reason, she didn’t like that part of it, but I like to keep some things real.” He ran a dirty fingernail down Maddie’s cheek.

  She shuddered, despite trying not to. “You have a strange idea of what’s real and how to set your priorities.”

  “Being a local star, you would think so. But your scholarship didn’t work out like you expected, did it?”

  She looked away, but he dragged her chin back so she was facing him.

  “I know what I want, and I find a way to get it. Most people are like that. Even you. Taking money from an old lady to get your shop makes us more alike than you’d think.” He shrugged as he walked around her, and Maddie wanted to slap that sickly grin off his face.

  “I beg to differ. Most people won’t kill to get what they want.”

  “Ha! Maybe not in dear sweet Maple Falls, but I figure it’s different in New York City, isn’t it? I can’t imagine why you’d come back to this one-horse town after you escaped its clutches.”

  “Because it’s a great place to live if people like you would let us be.”

  “You have a lot to say for somebody who’s in your position. I think you’ve done as much as any one person could to ensure you’re the next on my list. Ironic since I was never on one of yours, isn’t it?”

  With a conviction she didn’t feel in the slightest, Maddie stuck out her chin as she continued to fumble with the rope behind her. “I figure you’ve already made up your mind to kill me. I know too much.”

  “Wow. You’re determined not to make it out of here alive, aren’t you? Keep talking, lady, and we can start the countdown right away, if that suits you better.”

  She froze for a minute, then decided that at least if he was talking, he wasn’t killing her. “You wanted Denise to sell you back the land your father donated. Is that right?”

  He gave her an appraising glance, then shrugged. “Maybe you’re not quite as stupid as you seem.”

  She should be concentrating on not aggravating him, and on the frayed end of rope she’d found, but his manner was so darn infuriating, and he was just plain rude. “If I’m stupid, it’s because I’ve been chasing stupid people doing stupid things. Like the notes you had Virginia send.”

  He slapped her. Her head whipped back so hard, she thought it might leave her neck. She touched the corner of her mouth with her tongue, tasting the metallic tang of blood.

  Apparently, no one liked to be called stupid. Note to self: try to keep mouth shut in front of killer when he’s angry.

  “Guess again,” he smirked.

  Her brain offered her several solutions. None of them made much sense, but she had to say something.

  “Virginia sent the notes to make sure I’d stay out of it and wouldn’t involve the police.”

  “Sure, she wants to get her percentage for selling the land, but you’re missing the most obvious reason.”

  He pulled on her braid, and her head snapped back again. Ralph had better kill her, because if he didn’t, she’d make him pay for every ounce of pain he was inflicting. He was enjoying playing with her emotions, so she put more effort into keeping her face blank.

  “She was annoyed at Denise for winning the election?”

  “That too. And?”

  “I give up.”

  He sighed and leaned over her to say what he’d obviously been dying to. “She’s love-struck, and you’re in the way, just like Denise was.”

  As much as she didn’t want to show him how much that affected her, she could feel her eyes widening, and her head throbbed even more than it had been. To make matters worse, with his face in hers, this horrible man’s breath was gag-worthy.

  Were Virginia’s feelings for Ethan so strong she would help kill for them? How was it possible that Ethan had all these adoring women fighting over him? Maybe that was why she was so reluctant to encourage him. Fighting for a man simply wasn’t in her nature. Dying for one, even less so. The whole business was all too much.

  “You’re not going to sleep, are you?”

  She hadn’t realized her eyes had closed. “I might. Now I know what this is all about, there doesn’t seem much point to the conversation. You can set Virginia’s mind at ease when you explain that she’s totally mistaken about us being rivals.”

  “I’d rather not listen to your ramblings, either, and I’ll let you give her that news. Let’s see if you can convince her better than you did me. Tell you what, I’ll wake you before lover boy gets here.”

  “Ethan?” Her eyes shot open.

  “Who else? One of Virginia’s notes went under his door an hour ago. I expect him to be here very soon.”

  Dawn was inching up the smeared windows. Her head was still throbbing, making thinking an issue, but she needed a plan. If Ethan was coming here, Ralph and Virginia hoped to kill two birds with one shot. Or something like that.

  “What if he brings his deputies?” she blurted, semi-hopeful, but not meaning to give this creep any help.

  He just laughed. “Ha! He’s as dumb as you are. He’ll come alone.”

  “Not unarmed,” she taunted.

  “What do you care, if he’s not your lover? Anyway, it won’t make a difference, since his car is missing brakes,” he said, then began to chew on a hangnail as calmly as if he’d said Ethan would be taking a Sunday drive.

  “You sabotaged his brakes?” She could barely spit out the words.

  He shrugged. “It’s a backup, in case he tries to get away. It might not come to that, but don’t hold your breath.”

  “I hope he does get away,” she muttered, not sure what Ethan was getting away from.

  “I’m sure you do, but as you’re not interested in him, what do you care?” He taunted.

  “Because he’s a person, and a friend.”

  She must have been asleep—make that unconscious—for several hours if Ralph had time to tamper with Ethan’s brakes and get back here. Unless Virginia managed to do so before or after she’d delivered the note? Knowing how particular Virginia was about keeping her fake nails in perfect order, Maddie doubted it. And if she was in love with Ethan, she couldn’t
do that to him. Could she?

  “Does Virginia know about the brakes?”

  “Are you stupid? Oh, no need for you to answer. That skinny shrew would probably kill me instead if she had any idea.”

  He actually laughed in a gleeful way, as if he’d relish the challenge.

  It was total daylight now, and the shadows were receding inside the building. Maddie felt sick. How could she possibly stop this from playing out the way Ralph intended?

  “Please, let Ethan figure this out,” she whispered to herself.

  If only she’d told Ethan about the other note. The two of them might have stood a chance together.

  The nerve of this horrible man to go to the funeral, bump into her and casually place a note in her bag. It showed what kind of man he was. And what he was capable of—Denise’s death and the fire. The only thing Maddie was glad of was that she hadn’t involved her friends in last night’s plans.

  The bigger picture here was how far Ralph would go to get the land, and what more would Virginia do to get Ethan. Which begged the question—how deeply was Virginia into this? Was she actually a co-murderer? If she was, surely she wouldn’t want Ethan to come here?

  Mean and spiteful were words that sprang to mind, but murder seemed a step too far. Before today, at least.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Maddie continued to struggle with the end of the rope, but it wasn’t budging. She had to come up with another plan. Think, Maddie. Seconds later it hit her.

  “Excuse me,” she called out to the creepmeister, who was sitting in Honey playing with the radio channels, getting his dirty mitts all over the place.

  “Shut up. I’m busy,” he growled over the static.

  The news seemed to be what he was most interested in. No doubt he was looking for anything that revolved around his accomplice or victims. He had turned the volume down, so she had no idea if he was succeeding or not, and she didn’t give a flying fig at this moment.

  “I need the bathroom. Right now.”

  “Hold it,” he growled again.

  She groaned for effect. “I’m afraid that’s not possible.”

  He glared at her over the top of the steering wheel, and she grimaced. He slapped his hands on the wheel, then got out to huff and stomp his way across to her, shoving her keys into his pants pocket. After pulling her roughly from the chair, he frog-marched her to the restrooms in the corner.

  Her legs protested from sitting so long, and the pins and needles actually brought tears to her eyes.

  “You’ve got two minutes, so make it fast.” He yanked open the door, then none-too-gently shoved her through and into a cubicle. “The time starts now.” He glared menacingly at her.

  Her mouth dropped open, and she blinked a couple of times. “Are you kidding me?”

  Grinning, he folded his arms. “I won’t look. Promise.”

  “Even if I believed that, how the heck can I manage if my hands are tied?” Maddie scoffed.

  She thought he would refuse, or worse, offer to help, but he shrugged as he undid her hands. “Happy now?”

  “I will be if you turn your back.”

  “You try anything and you’ll be sorry.” The glint in his eyes dared her to do exactly that. When she waited docilely, he turned reluctantly around and proceeded to check his phone.

  Faster than she’d ever moved in her life, Maddie pulled the Taser from her bra thankful he hadn’t searched for more than her keys, and sent him sprawling in a heap between the sink and the door. He twitched and made an odd sound in his throat. Hopefully, she hadn’t done him any permanent damage.

  Pushing the odd thought to the back of her mind so she could concentrate on the possibility of Virginia getting back anytime, she tied his hands with the rope he’d used on her.

  She heard a faint noise, and her skin prickled. Standing on the toilet to peer through the bars on the windows she could see a large turning area, but no cars and no people. What, or whoever, was out there might be headed this way. Should she stay quiet or make a run for it?

  She had to at least try to escape. Grabbing the bars she pulled as hard as she could. They were solid, and there wasn’t a hope in making them budge even an inch. Jumping down she put her hands under Ralph’s arms, straining to pull him away from the door. For a small man he was darn heavy.

  Then the door handle eased downwards, making her gasp. To her relief, the body still half in front of it made an effective doorstop. Which was both good and bad, since the only way out was through that door.

  She gave Ralph a nudge with her shoe to make sure he would pose no threat. He groaned, which encouraged more purposeful grunts from the other side of the door, which, to her horror, had opened fractionally. Fingers gripped the edge as they pushed again. It moved a little more. There was no choice. Maddie braced herself to use the Taser on another person—until she heard his voice.

  “Maddie? Is that you?”

  “Ethan? Thank Goodness! Hang on a second.”

  She grabbed the twitching body under the arms and moved it an inch at a time until Ethan could squeeze through.

  “Are you okay?” he looked her up and down as if he needed to make sure she was.

  She waved away his concern. “He did it, Ethan. He’s the murderer,” she said, pointing at the man. “I believe it’s Ralph Willis. Virginia is in on it too. I followed her here.”

  He nodded as bent over the prone body and took the man’s pulse. “I know. We’ve been following Ralph for days.”

  She gaped at him. “What? Why didn’t you tell me?”

  He frowned. “Hmm. I don’t know. Why didn’t you tell me about the other letters?”

  She flinched at his quiet anger but was confused. “Who told you about them?”

  Finally, he looked up at her. “That’s not really the point, is it?”

  Uncomfortable with his censoring look, she focused on Ralph. “Is the point that we have the killer?” she asked hopefully.

  Ethan let out an exasperated sigh. “Let’s leave it at that for now, but you and I will be having a serious talk about lying to me and using a Taser. Amongst other things.”

  She nodded, feeling like a small child about to be grounded. She could hear the wail of sirens in the distance. It looked like her sleuthing days were done.

  Ethan manhandled the small man out of the bathroom and into the factory, where he swapped the rope for handcuffs. By that time, Ralph was awake and glaring at them.

  “You have no idea what you’re doing, or who you’re messing with.”

  Ethan pushed him down into the chair both Maddie and Virginia had vacated. Then he used his best sheriff’s voice, which seemed more than enough to bring a person into line.

  “I know your name is Ralph Willis, and I know you had no idea what you were doing when you came back to our town. A man like you sticks out like a sore thumb. A man like you is neither wanted nor needed. I think you’ll find your next stop much more welcoming.”

  Ralph spat on the floor. “This town is full of ignorant, small-minded people. You can keep it. I’ll be glad to be out of here. Anywhere is preferable to this.”

  “Then it looks like everyone’s a winner. So glad we could help you out.”

  Maddie needed some air. Ethan followed her to the doorway as two patrol cars pulled up in a screech of brakes, dirt and stones flying from underneath their tires. Officers jumped out, guns at the ready, leaning over hoods and car doors just like they did in the movies. Maddie’s legs stopped moving, but her head swiveled back and forth like a clown head at a fair–the kind you put balls in the open mouth.

  Ethan walked out into the sunshine with his palms out. “You can stand down. It’s all under control, boys. The mayor’s alleged murderer is inside.”

  When he made to walk back into the barn, Maddie touched his arm. “I guess I should say thanks.”

  “You guess?” Exasperation was written all over his face.

  “I’m still annoyed you were following him without tell
ing me. He said he cut your brakes. You might have gotten hurt.”

  He ran his hands through his hair, making it stand up in random spots. “Oh, Maddie. What am I going to do with you? I’m the sheriff. It’s my job to deal with dangerous situations.”

  She frowned. “Maybe you should look into being a carpenter. You’re very good at it.”

  His mouth twitched. “Thanks, but I could say the same for you with baking.”

  “I can assure you I’ll be happy to get back to my baking.”

  “What about being a super-sleuth?”

  She shrugged. “Oh, no. This was a one-time thing. It’s too much work, and to be honest I don’t like the dark that much.”

  His eyes twinkled. “Do you promise?”

  She was about to do just that when she thought of all the information she and her friends had gathered over the course of the investigation. Ethan saw her hesitation and slapped his thigh with his hand.

  “I knew it!”

  “No, it’s not what you think. This isn’t finished yet. Why Denise got killed doesn’t explain the letters and my involvement. Virginia was also involved.”

  “The chicken and the egg.”

  “Pardon me?”

  “I’m thinking the letters were a direct response to you sticking your nose into Ralph’s plans.”

  “But the letters said I had to stay away from you.”

  “Makes sense, since I’m the sheriff, and you were finding clues left, right, and center.”

  She flushed with pleasure. “I don’t think that’s all there is to it, but you have to admit we did a good job.”

  He shook his head. “I admit you found out some interesting things, like this business with the typewriter, but you should have come to me, not your friends.”

  “Ethan, I deferred once before to a man, and lost my independence. I’m never doing that again,” she said defensively.

  His eyes widened. “You’re lumping me in with your ex?”

  She knocked a stone with the tip of her shoe. “Maybe I am, because of our history. I realize that’s not fair and I should have shown you the letters. I’m stubborn, there’s no denying it, but I was trying to protect you. Just like you’ve been trying to protect me through all of this. For me the threats against you and Gran were too real and too awful to think about.”