by Carol Durand
“And my grandmother’s painting is what was taken from here,” she reminded him.
“But what about the dog toys, and your clothes?”
“Carlton has Chauncey, so that would explain the dog toys. The clothes…who knows, maybe he’s just creepy,” she shuddered.
A light dawned in Chas’s eyes. “Or maybe he’s holding Donna Chesman captive,” he proposed. “I need to make some phone calls. Pick up what you need and head back to my house, I’ll catch up with you when I know what’s going on,” he instructed. As she turned to go upstairs, he caught her by the hand, bringing her in close. “Hey,” he said softly.
“What?” was her breathless reply.
“You’re pretty terrific, you know that?” he smiled tenderly, brushing the back of his hand along her jaw and kissing her.
“Must be the company I keep,” she grinned and danced away, heading up the stairs. “Go solve a murder!” she called out on her way up.
Chapter 16
“What have we got?” Chas asked the lab tech that handed him the reports.
“It all checks out, Detective,” the young woman replied. “The prints on the glass that you provided after the perp drank from it at the Gladstone house, match the ones at Mrs. Dowler’s home, Miss Gladstone’s home, and on the windows at the homes on the north side that reported a Peeping Tom. The scrapings from the Gladstone house are definitely red crayon, and an officer picked up Mr. Dobbs’ suit from the dry cleaner this morning before it was cleaned, and the substance on the jacket was determined to be the same color of red crayon,” she said, reading from the report.
Chas nodded. “And the autopsy?”
“Cause of death was determined to be poison. Apparently the killer sprinkled it onto the cake that the victim consumed.”
The detective digested the information, tying up any loose threads. “Anything found at Donna Chesman’s house that would indicate her whereabouts?” he asked.
“No, but officers did find a box of crayons with the red one missing.”
“Okay, thanks,” Beckett dialed a number on his phone and turned away, giving the tech her cue to leave. “Hello, this is Chas Beckett, I’m going to need a warrant.”
When Carlton Dobbs was arrested without incident in the mayor’s dining room, Chas and a team of officers went to his opulent historical home on the north side, and used the murderer’s keys to open the front door. Upon entering, the detective was shocked to see Donna Chesman reclined on a sofa that seemed to be the only piece of furniture in a house stacked with paintings and sculptures, watching TV like a kid on summer vacation.
“Miss Chesman, are you here of your own free will?” Beckett asked, astonished that he had not found the teen bound and gagged in the basement.
“I’m in trouble, aren’t I?” the girl asked, eyes wide.
“So it would seem,” Chas answered grimly. “Come with me.”
After booking the young lady who had the misfortune to hook up with a charming gentleman who promised her a world of travel and riches if she kept her mouth shut, Detective Beckett went home to tell Missy that her deductions at the scene of the crime had been instrumental in solving the case. When he walked into the living room however, he found her so peacefully asleep, tousled blonde curls hiding her face, and dogs curled up on the floor below her, he couldn’t bring himself to disturb the peaceful scene.
Chapter 17
“Well, with the groom in jail, it looks like I won’t have to plan Priscilla’s wedding after all,” Missy observed, more than relieved. They had met for lunch at the Perfect Pig, Chas filling her in on what had happened with Carlton and Donna, and although she was disgusted beyond belief, she could see how a naïve young girl would easily fall victim to the art thief’s considerable charm. “So, basically, he made his living by charming women in order to get to their art pieces, which he then stole and resold,” she summed up.
“Exactly. Apparently he’d gone so far as to have an affair with Mrs. Dowler, the Home Ec teacher. Her husband said that he’d suspected that something was amiss, but could never quite figure out what. Dobbs admitted that he had planned to blackmail the poor woman into giving up her extensive art collection, but when she threatened to go to the police, he killed her. He had been at the bake-off that night, saw the argument between Donna and her teacher, and seized the opportunity to set someone else up for the crime. Donna didn’t know that Carlton had poisoned the cake and killed Mrs. Dowler, but when police scrutiny turned her direction, he gallantly came in and told her he’d hide her until the investigation was called off, then take her away to an exotic location where she’d never be bothered again. Poor girl was so frightened at having been framed for murder that she believed him, and now may be facing charges because she knew about his thievery and didn’t report it.”
“He ruined her life,” Missy said sadly. “And I don’t even want to know how Priscilla Chadwick reacted to all of this.”
“I would imagine sedatives were needed,” Chas said wryly. “I knew this guy was a bad character from the moment that I met him, that’s why I took the tea glass that he had used when he faked an ankle injury, and ran it for prints. Turns out he’s wanted internationally for art theft.”
“You took the glass? Wow, I didn’t realize you found him that suspicious…I just thought you were jealous,” she smiled shyly.
“Oh, I was, make no mistake. Which just makes seeing justice done all the more satisfying,” he grinned.
“Chas…I have to tell you something,” she frowned sadly. “I haven’t been entirely honest with you…” She told him about the doggie “date” in the park, and that it had meant nothing to her, but that she just thought he should know about it because she never wanted to have secrets of any kind come between them. He said that he understood, and thanked her for her honesty, reaching for her hand and bringing it to his lips.
“I trust you, Missy,” he said huskily. “I know that Carlton Dobbs seems to have quite a way with women, and it bothered me to see him flirting with you, but there was never a moment when I doubted you,” he gazed into her eyes as though he saw her soul and was more than fond of what he saw.
Missy felt that she had reached her crossroads. It was finally time to tell this amazing man how she felt about him, and let the chips fall where they may. She took a deep breath, and feeling like she was standing on a high dive, she made the decision to jump. “Chas, there’s something that I want to tell you. I’ve had a habit of shying away from relationships for a long time, partly because I was too busy trying to keep the business that I inherited up and running, but also partly because I was afraid. I don’t know why, because my parents had this amazing, warm and wonderful relationship, but, I don’t know, I guess maybe I thought that those kinds of dreams only came true for a few people and I probably wasn’t one of them. So, Chas, I guess what I want to say, and what I’ve been wanting to say for quite some time now…” she took his hand and leaned forward, her kitten grey eyes holding his captive. “…is that I…”
“Well, well, well, look who we have here!” Mayor Felton Chadwick’s voice boomed as he spotted them and strode to their table. Missy and Chas looked at each other, stunned at the unexpected interruption in what was about to be a very intimate moment, then burst into laughter at the mayor’s typically bad timing.
“Hello Felton,” Missy grinned, as the boisterous official kissed her on both cheeks and shook Chas’s hand.
“Well, my dear, it looks like we won’t be working together on a wedding for a while, but I want you to know that you will be generously compensated for the time you spent,” he opened his arms in an overly-magnanimous gesture. “You are quite the treasure, young lady, and when my Prissy captures a new fiancé, I’ll be looking for you.” He turned to Chas. “And as for you, sir, fine work as usual, damn fine work,” he clapped Beckett on the shoulder. “Pardon my French, pretty lady,” he winked at Missy.
“Thank you, Mayor Chadwick,” Chas replied, amused.
&nbs
p; “It was grand seeing y’all, but I’m afraid I’ve got some business to conduct, so if you’ll excuse me,” he bowed and headed toward a booth in the corner.
The mood shattered, and the moment lost, Missy and Chas signaled for their check and left, both hoping that their delicate conversation would resume at some point, sooner rather than later.
Chapter 18
“Here, you have to try this, it’s a new flavor that I created and I want your opinion,” Echo said, placing a dish of frozen green goo in front of Missy.
Poking at it suspiciously with a spoon, Missy asked, “ummm…what is it exactly?”
“It’s green tea and pistachio, made with coconut milk, see what you think,” her friend explained, leaning forward in anticipation of her reaction.
“Okay,” Missy agreed skeptically. “Here goes.” She spooned a small bite of the glop into her mouth.
“Well, what do you think?” Echo prompted excitedly.
“Oh my gosh, I’m totally shocked, but this stuff is absolutely delicious! Wow,” she said, taking a bigger bite.
“Yay!” the ice cream shop owner clapped her hands together. “I’m so glad! I mean, I thought it was fantastic, but sometimes I’m too big of a fan of my own work, you know?”
“Nope, this is awesome,” Missy said through a mouthful of the frozen treat.
“Good! Oh, and I have some good news too – I hired a new person to replace Donna.”
“Really? That’s good. Sad, but good,” she nodded, still enjoying her treat.
“Yeah, I’m going to miss that girl, but I found a guy that I think will do a really good job. He’s close to our age and he’s an artist, so I think he’ll do really well with presentation,” she gushed.
“An artist?” Missy asked, surprised.
“Yeah, his name is Antonio, he just moved here from New York. He sells his work online, so he can live wherever he wants to, and he said the serenity here inspires him,” she said dreamily.
“By the look on your face, I’m guessing he’s cute,” Missy teased.
“Positively dreamy,” Echo nodded happily.
“Careful,” her friend cautioned. “It’s not usually a good idea to get too involved with an employee.”
“Well, if things work out really well, I can always fire him,” she winked.
“There’s that,” Missy agreed, shaking her head and laughing. She pushed her bowl back, finished with the creamy goodness.
“So how are things with Mr. Wonderful?” Echo asked, taking the bowl to the sink.
“Oh, Echo, I never imagined that I could care for someone so much,” Missy admitted, smiling a faraway smile.
“Oh girlfriend, you are head over heels aren’t you?” she beamed at the clearly lovestruck woman.
“Never thought I’d say it, but yes, I absolutely am,” Missy blushed shyly.
“That’s adorable,” Echo grinned. “Have you told him yet?”
Missy shook her head. “Nope, it seems like every time the time is right, we end up getting interrupted by Mayor Chadwick,” she giggled.
“Odd,” her friend commented. “Well, has he told you?”
“No, not yet.”
“Hmm…well, that’s kind of scary isn’t it? You being the first one to put yourself out on that limb, come what may,” she observed, eerily accurate.
“Yeah, it really is scary – I’ve been wrestling with it for quite some time, but you know, I just decided that I have to do it. If I don’t, it’s kind of like I’m keeping a really important secret from him, and I don’t want to do that. Besides, if what I have to say is going to freak him out and drive him away, I guess it’ll be better to know that now rather than further down the line.”
Echo nodded thoughtfully. “You’re right, and you’re brave, and I totally envy you,” she confessed with a fond smile. “It seems you’ve found your Mr. Right. I’d be willing to settle for a Mr. Right Now,” she joked.
“Well, maybe your Antonio will be willing to serve in that capacity,” she teased, winking.
“Maybe so,” her friend giggled. “Too bad Mr. Wonderful doesn’t have any hot eligible friends who are looking for a carefree hippie chick.”
Missy laughed and the two friends spent the rest of the afternoon talking about everything and nothing. She later reflected that it was strange how things sometimes work out. Echo, who was definitely looking for the right man to be her soulmate, couldn’t seem to find one, and Missy and Chas, who both had an aversion to the idea of a relationship, had somehow found each other and overcome their fears and reservations.
Carlton Dobbs, who had been charming enough to partially tame even the difficult Miss Prissy, turned out to be a criminal, and Donna, the innocent-seeming teenager, had been complicit in activities that had hurt, and even killed people in the small town that had loved and supported her.
Missy shook her head – just thinking about it all made her thankful that, generally, she had a normal life with everyday concerns, and was getting along just fine. Better than fine, actually – she had two thriving businesses, two sweet dogs, a free-spirited and fun best friend, and a man that she loved (and eventually she’d tell him so). Yes, life was good, and she couldn’t wait to see what happens next.
A letter from the Author
To each and every one of my Amazing readers: I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Let me what you think by leaving a review!
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Stay Curious,
Carol Durand