Framed to Death (A Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery Book 4)

by Christina Freeburn

  “You’re lucky none of them came,” Karen said.

  Brandon backed up the wheelchair then moved forward again. After a few times, the chair rolled over the root.

  “You told them not to, didn’t you? I can’t believe you did that.”

  “I didn’t speak to any of the players or cheerleaders. I interviewed Coach Rutherford this morning, and told him I thought it would be best if his players refrained from the bonfire tradition until after the murders were solved. Some of our rivals would love to use the fires against us and get our team banned from playoff games. Coach Rutherford agreed. And what the coach says goes. You know that, Brandon.”

  With the firelight, I saw wetness on his cheeks. “I do. They were my friends when I was winning; now they have no use for me. And they did this to me.” Brandon punched the armrests of his chair.

  “What do you mean?”

  Karen sat on her heels and wrapped her hands around her nephew’s fists.

  “The cigarette I took from Whitney. It wasn’t tobacco.”

  “From Whitney?” I blurted. “The pictures showed you getting it from Andrew Taylor.”

  “Whitney told me she’d hold them in her thermal bag since we were playing with water guns. They’d stay dry in there. She must’ve given them to Andrew to bring to me.”

  “I’ll take care of this.” Karen shot to her feet.

  “I’ll handle it, Aunt Karen. I want them to know I can take care of myself.”

  “Did your mom know about Whitney?” I asked.

  Brandon shook his head. “I didn’t tell her. I didn’t believe I was high. It wasn’t until school started that I found out about the picture.”

  “How? Who?” Karen’s voice rumbled like thunder.

  “Kirstin showed it to me,” Hannah said. “I told Brandon about it. I promised him we’d take care of it. Whitney wouldn’t get away with ruining his life.”

  “Why didn’t you tell Coach Rutherford?” I asked. “Principal Hanover?”

  “Because Coach Rutherford is an upstanding member of the community,” Hannah said. “My mom isn’t. You really think someone would believe me over Whitney? Not going to happen.”

  “I believe you. My grandmothers would. Steve would. Detective Roget would. And a lot of other people.”

  “Keep living in your fantasy world,” Hannah said. “We’ll handle this on our own. Once we get the solid proof, we’ll show everyone.”

  “No, you won’t,” Ted’s voice boomed in. “I’ll take this matter over from here.”

  We all turned. Ted stood with a group of men. Jasper, Wayne, and Wyatt were in the middle of the pack, with Ted and Steve at the ends. Each of the men had arms crossed, scowls on their faces, and blocked the only clear exit from the clearing.

  “What are you guys doing here?” I focused on Wyatt, who seemed the least annoyed.

  Charlotte sidled over to me. “We forgot to keep track of time.”

  Mrs. Barlow had kept her word. She rustled herself up a cavalry to come out and save us. Now that it was apparent we didn’t need saving, our rescuers were highly ticked off.

  Karen, Brandon, and Hannah drew closer to us. There was safety in numbers.

  “I think you know why we’re here,” Ted said.

  Poor Mrs. Barlow. She’d love to have been here to see all these guys lined up side by side. Of course, she’d have liked it better if they were all in uniforms, though an assistant prosecuting attorney didn’t really have a uniform, unless you counted a suit.

  “Someone sent out a premature distress call,” I said. “As you can see, we’re fine. We just came to check out the bonfire.”

  “I’m sure you only came here to tell these kids why this was a bad idea.” Ted tipped his chin, indicating the fire. “Wayne and Wyatt, I’d like you guys to put that out. Hose it down good and make sure there’s no way anyone can say this fire started another one.”

  “I hope this isn’t one of Felicity’s new plans to frame herself,” Steve said.

  “Frame herself?” Karen left the safety of our circle and approached Steve.

  “Don’t play stupid, Karen.” Even though Steve addressed Karen, his eyes were on me. “You know that the other common factor is that Allan sold all of the insurance policies to the businesses that burned down. The police would find out.”

  “Shut up, Davis,” Ted snapped.

  “Why can’t he tell the truth?” Brandon rolled toward Ted. “You guys were going after my dad. I told you he was home with me, but you all think I’m a liar. My dad volunteered as a firefighter but quit after my accident. So what? That doesn’t make him an arsonist or a murderer. He quit because being responsible for people’s lives made him anxious, and Mom needed him at home to help with me.”

  “And once Karen proves Felicity’s innocence, it’ll be harder for the police to charge Allan. It’ll look like they’re targeting the Sullivan family,” Steve said. “So she rounded up her three most probable suspects right here. At a fire.”

  Karen drew in a sharp breath. She looked crestfallen at what Steve accused her of. Part of me believed it was a possibility, but the other part knew Karen well enough to know she’d have publicly tarred and feathered Allan if it was true.

  “Davis, don’t make me tell you to shut the hell up again.”

  “Your theory is baseless,” Karen said.

  “I wouldn’t be so sure of that.” Steve smiled at her.

  Karen’s eyes widened.

  Steve talked to Felicity about Vulcan Catering. Had Dawn spoken to Steve or the police recently about it? Was that why Ted shrugged off my concerns?

  Ted’s radio crackled.

  “Emergency at Barlow’s.” The dispatcher sounded furious. “Not an admiration call. Someone actually attacked her.”

  TWENTY-THREE

  I had reached our block after the police cordoned off the street, and now was stuck on the wrong side of the tape. Ted was allowed past the barricade along with Wayne, Wyatt, and Steve. Charlotte, Hannah, Brandon, and I were instructed to remain behind the tape.

  “Why can’t I go home?” I pointed across the street. “You know where I live.”

  Officer Mitchell ignored me. The lights on the ambulance swirled and pulled out of the driveway.

  My grandmothers were huddled together on their porch, watching the ambulance transport Mrs. Barlow to the hospital. I wanted to comfort and be comforted by my grandmothers. Who would hurt Mrs. Barlow?

  “My grandmothers need me,” I pleaded.

  “Davis went home. He’ll take care of them,” Mitchell said.

  Ted walked over to the tape, lifted up an edge, then nodded at me and Charlotte. “A word with you two.”

  “I disagree, Detective.” Mitchell blocked our entrance. “We shouldn’t give them permission to interfere in this investigation.”

  “I’m questioning Miss Hunter and Ms. Hanson, not inviting them to play a round of Clue.”

  I scooted under the crime scene tape. “I wasn’t here.”

  “You were sometime today,” Ted said.

  “You think they saw Mrs. Barlow’s attacker?” Mitchell grabbed my arm, yanking me fully to my feet. “Or they directed the assailant to her?”

  Ted placed a warning hand on Mitchell’s shoulder. “Watch the roughness.”

  “I don’t want the accomplice to get away,” he said.

  “Accomplice?” I looked at Charlotte. She scanned the area like she was preparing a plan to bolt. I hooked my arm through hers. No way was I being left to face this alone.

  “How else would the attacker know when Mrs. Barlow walked her dog at night, and where she kept all the notes she takes on what’s going on in the community?” Mitchell asked.

  Ted stayed uncharacteristically silent. He usually had no t
rouble adding in a word or two when it came to my shortcomings.

  “I don’t know when Mrs. Barlow takes her dog out at night. She’s the one who tracks everyone’s comings and goings,” I said.

  Charlotte kicked me in the shin. I guess she didn’t approve of my commentary.

  “And you probably didn’t like that one bit,” Mitchell said. “Is that why you went over to her house tonight? To tell her to stay out of your business?”

  I fixed my gaze on Ted. The expression on his face either meant, “You’re getting what you deserve” or “Where is Mitchell pulling these theories from?”

  “Mrs. Barlow was having a nail wrap party. She invited me this afternoon, and I asked Charlotte to come along.”

  I searched for Steve. Even though we weren’t together anymore, and he’d moved—I drew in a deep breath. Steve moved. Why had he gone into the townhouse? Did he have another set of keys?

  “A weird choice, considering Charlotte owns a nail salon,” Mitchell said.

  Ted still remained silent, gaze wandering off in the direction of my grandmothers. Was he worried Cheryl would come over and give Mitchell a browbeating?

  “I wanted to check out what my business is competing against,” Charlotte said.

  Good. I didn’t want to do all the talking.

  “In searching Mrs. Barlow’s home, we didn’t see anything party or nail related. Am I right, Detective?”

  “That you are,” Ted said.

  “That’s because the consultant, Lake Breckenridge, never showed up,” I said. “She was being questioned at the police station.”

  Ted strode forward, breaching my personal space. “And how do you know that?”

  “Mrs. Barlow told us.”

  At the end of the road, two small eyes glowed from the police cruisers’ headlights.

  “Where’s Snickerdoodle?” I strained my eyes to get a better look at the critter jogging down the road. “You said Mrs. Barlow was walking her dog.”

  “The dog wasn’t there,” Ted said.

  I crept forward. “I think I see him.”

  The men turned. In the dark, all we saw were the glowing white eyes moving closer.

  “Come here, baby,” I sing-songed, tiptoeing forward. “That’s a good doggie.”

  Yapping, the dog bolted behind what was once Steve’s house. Or maybe still was. I ran after Snickerdoodle.

  Why would Steve lie about moving? I saw the boxes he’d packed.

  “Faith, stop,” Ted said.

  “We can’t let Snickerdoodle get hurt.”

  Mrs. Barlow loved her dog. He was her companion. Her best friend. Her heart. Now was when she’d need him most. There was no way I’d stand back and let her come back to a Snickerdoodle-free home.

  A round furry object veered around the fence that separated my grandmothers’ and my yard from Steve’s. Snickerdoodle circled around, heading straight for me. I opened my arms…and landed flat on my face as Ted tackled me from behind. Grass tickled my nose and almost became my dinner.

  “I almost had him.” I pushed myself up on my elbows and tried wiggling out from under Ted.

  Ted snagged my waist. “Go home. I’ll finish asking what I need there.”

  “What about Charlotte? No questions for her?” I finally escaped from Ted’s grasp.

  “Officer Mitchell is taking her to the station.” Once again, his arm was around me, bringing me close to his body.

  I was having trouble breathing and the world suddenly turned hot. “Aren’t you afraid of being accused of favoritism? Why did you stay behind to question me and send Charlotte off with Mitchell? My interview is being conducted in my cozy home and she’s being dragged to the station.”

  “I can’t argue that this isn’t cozy,” Ted’s words whispered across my cheek, “but I disagree with your assessment that Charlotte was dragged anywhere.”

  “Unhand me,” I said.

  “I’m not letting you run away from me.”

  “What’s going on out here?” Steve strode over, Snickerdoodle cradled in his arms.

  “We were chasing after Mrs. Barlow’s dog.” I smiled. “And you found the little rascal. Thanks.”

  “It’s easier to locate a fugitive when you’re not rolling around in the grass.” Steve stared at Ted’s hands clasped around my waist.

  I slipped away from Ted. “You gave me the keys to what had been your place. How did you get in?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Officer Mitchell said you went home. You don’t live there anymore. You gave me your keys.”

  “He was mistaken.” Steve placed the dog in my arms, murmuring into my ear as he drifted a kiss across my cheek, then left.

  Fear filled me at his parting statement. “For everyone’s sake, let this go.”

  I couldn’t. Mrs. Barlow had been hurt because of this case. Because of me. I brought her into this mess and shouldn’t just sit safe and sound in my house while her attacker roamed free. I knew the police were looking for the person who assaulted her, but I was also responsible. I had to do something to quiet some of the guilt roaring through my head and heart.

  The most important thing I needed to do was check on Mrs. Barlow. She was probably scared, and her daughter was a fifteen-hour drive away. There was no way Mrs. Barlow should spend the night alone in the hospital. After putting Snickerdoodle in my bedroom, I snatched up my keys and ran out to my car.

  As I sped down the road, I remembered a car had left the woods near Piece A Pie. What if that had been the arsonist? The person probably saw us and took off before they could be identified. But why would they go after Mrs. Barlow? The person had to know she had information they’d want kept quiet. That meant the arsonist had to be someone local and knew Mrs. Barlow kept an ear on everything going on in Eden.

  The parking lot was surprisingly full considering how late it was. I recognized a few of the cars. I should’ve known my grandmothers and Gussie would show up at the hospital. I was also sure the dark-colored sedan was Ted’s unmarked squad car. I doubted he’d think I was only here to find out about Mrs. Barlow, and I wasn’t in the mood to deal with him. Instead of going into the emergency room, I went inside the main area and over to the nurse manning the receptionist station.

  “I want to check on a friend of mine. She was brought in recently.”

  She smiled at me. “I’m sorry. I can’t give that information out to you.”

  I was sure her gentle smile was to soften her answer. “I’m a neighbor.”

  “I’m sorry. Family only.” The nurse turned her attention to a stack of papers on her desk.

  Drat. I should’ve guessed I wouldn’t receive any information. But I bet Gussie would’ve found a way to get it. I was going to have to gather up my courage and sass and just go into the emergency room. I couldn’t let Detective Ted Roget scare me away. Besides, with my grandmothers and Gussie there he wouldn’t jump all over me too much. Then again he might not have to, as it was likely my grandmothers knew what I’d been up to early in the evening.

  If a comeuppance was the only way I’d learn about Mrs. Barlow’s condition, it was worth it. I headed for the emergency room, stopping in my tracks when I heard sobs coming from inside the women’s restroom.

  I stepped inside. Lake straightened, wiping her face with paper towels.

  Lake had Mrs. Barlow working on her scrapbook for an insurance adjuster who was arriving in town. Charlie. She was supposed to have been at Mrs. Barlow’s house, but had cancelled because the police took her in for questioning. Had the attacker mistaken Mrs. Barlow for Lake? Or had Lake lied about the reason for not coming?

  “Are you all right?” I rested a hand on her shoulder, deciding to take a more subtle approach to get some answers.

  “I’m fine.” La
ke shrugged off my hand and reached for the door handle.

  I blocked the door. “Something has you upset.”

  She huffed out a breath. “Of course I’m upset. A friend of mine was hurt tonight. Who wouldn’t be upset? Besides you.” She punctuated the last statement by fixing a haughty look on me.

  “I’ve moved past the upset stage into anger. Whoever hurt Mrs. Barlow will not get away with it.”

  “They better not.”

  “I’m glad you agree because I need your help.” Did I really want to involve someone else? Too many people had already been hurt. I had to. I was certain Lake had some of the answers. And if she hadn’t told the police, now was the time.

  Her eyes widened. “I can’t help you.”

  “You can help Mrs. Barlow. You have to tell the police the truth.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “You hired someone to set fire to your shop.”

  She paled and grew unsteady on her feet. She drew back, placing a hand on the sink. “How can you accuse me of such a thing?”

  “The pictures you gave Mrs. Barlow to scrap were taken the day before the fire.”

  “Just a coincidence,” she squeaked out.

  “I don’t think so. And I don’t think the investigator believed it either. That’s why Charlie Powell came to Eden. He was working on your and Dawn Carr’s claim. There was a business card for Vulcan Catering mixed in with your pictures. Vulcan isn’t a new food business in town.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “It was a coincidence. I had nothing to do with that man’s murder.”

  “I don’t think you did it. But I do think you have information that will help the police find the person who is responsible.”

  She shook her head.

  “I can’t. If I know the person responsible it means I committed a crime. I’ll go to jail.”

  “Tell Detective Roget everything. He’ll understand. He’ll help you.”

  “If I did hire someone to burn down my store, do you really think it would matter that I was losing money because people are buying their flowers at the box store and my health insurance premium takes up most of my income? If I’m going to have enough money to retire I needed to unload it. No one is interested. Jim’s having the same trouble. No one wants to buy a business located at our end of town.”