Mistletoe & Murder

by Laina Turner

  “Think about it. With the customer name, address, and credit card information, there’s not much you can’t buy online. They would need social security information to open accounts in other people’s names, but there is a lot of financial damage they can do with a small bit of information.”

  “That makes sense. Kind of scary how much information we all have out there and how easy it can be for a criminal to get to it.”

  “It is scary,” Cooper agreed.

  We pulled into Andrews’ a few minutes later and let ourselves into the barn where we found him the last time. He was still working on the same car he had been earlier. I had to admire his work ethic since it was a holiday and his best friend had just been killed.

  He looked up when he heard us walk in. “What are you guys doing back here?”

  “We came to ask you a few more questions.” I said.

  Andrew set the tools he had in his hands down apparently resigned to talk to us. “I told you everything I know.”

  “You didn’t mention the credit card fraud, and I’m sure Tommy told you about it.” I said to him

  He looked shocked we knew. “How did…”

  “It wasn’t hard to find out, and you can rest assured the police also have this information and will be here soon asking the same questions,” I said to him. “How did Tommy get involved?”

  Andrew paused for a few seconds before he continued, “Tommy’s brother got in trouble with Scott Green.” He must have noticed my puzzled look. “Tommy has an older brother who is currently in jail awaiting trial on larceny charges.”

  That made more sense and went a long ways in explaining how Tommy got involved with Scott Green in the first place. “If Tommy’s brother is in jail, I don’t see why Tommy is involved?”

  “You don’t know these guys. It didn’t matter that his brother was in jail. Scott still expected him to fulfill his commitments and started leaning on Tommy to make good.”

  “So why –”

  “So nice to see everyone having such a nice conversation here.”

  I heard a voice behind me and turned around to see the guy we had seen run off from Brian’s shop with another man I assumed was Scott Green.

  “Good of you to join us,” Cooper said in response, “but we were just leaving.”

  “I don’t think so,” the person I assumed was Scott said as he pulled out a gun. “I can’t let that happen. You know too much. I am not a big believer in loose ends.”

  “You really think you can kill us all, and it won’t trace back to you?” Cooper asked.

  I slid my hand in my purse and dialed Brian’s number. I could only hope I hit the right numbers as I had an iPhone, and with touch keys it was almost impossible to tell without looking. I hoped I dialed the right number and hoped Brian would be able to hear what was going on, and I hoped he would send the police. I know that was a lot of hoping, but I had to try. All I had was the ability to hope this didn’t get out of hand.

  “By the time the police get here and figure it out, we will be long gone,” the man with the gun said.

  “You’re stupid if you think they won’t hunt you down and find you,” I said.

  “Like you have any idea what I’m capable of,” he said threateningly taking a step toward me.

  Cooper grabbed then pushed me behind him. “Don’t even think about it,” he said in a low voice.

  “What are you going to do about it?” the man sneered.

  “C’mon Scott,” Andrew whined. “Just leave.”

  “Shut up,” Scott said turning his gun on Andrew. “Shut. Up.” Scott looked at all of us. “Who wants to go first?”

  “Don’t do it man, you’re making a mistake,” Cooper said.

  “Who are you to tell me what mistakes I’m making?”

  “Just calm down everyone,” Andrew said. “Scott just let us leave. None of us will tell.”

  “Sorry Andrew, but I don’t believe that for a minute. Maybe you wouldn’t, but these two would. No loose ends.” Scott’s finger slowly moved toward the trigger.

  “Stop right there! Don’t make a move!” We heard a voice yell and a big crash as the cops burst in the doors. “Put your hands up! Now!”

  I wasn’t one to question, so I put my hands up along with everyone else and was glad to see my gambit had paid off. The police quickly took Scott and his hired hand away then took down our statements. My phone rang, and I saw it was my mom for the fifth time since the police got here. I assumed one of her friends had a police scanner or something. I hit ignore and figured I would face the music when I got home.

  “Smart thinking, Presley, calling me so I could hear what was going on and get the cops here,” Brian said.

  “I was just hoping I dialed the right number and you could hear me. Did the sheriff tell you anything more?”

  “You mean after he got done yelling at me for interfering in a police investigation?”

  “Sorry.” I had received the same butt chewing as did Cooper, but I figured all was well that ended well.

  “I’m just glad Tommy’s murderer was caught. Sheriff Blackford said they had been gathering information about Scott Green and his operations; they just hadn’t got enough yet to arrest him. Scott’s hired hand starting singing the minute the cops got here and confessed that Scott was the one who pulled the trigger on Tommy because he thought Tommy was double crossing him.”

  “Do you think he was?” I asked.

  “From what Andrew said, I think he more just didn’t want to do the illegal activities in the first place. He wanted out altogether. We’ll never know exactly.”

  “I just hope they keep Scott Green in jail for a long time.”

  “Me too,” said Brian.

  I felt my phone vibrate; it was my mom again. I sighed. “We better head back home before my mom sends out a search party.”

  “Do you think she’ll let you out tonight?” Brian asked jokingly.

  “What do you think? Why?”

  “Let’s meet up at Pat’s bar for a drink. Call Katy and bring Jesse, and I’ll call a few people and we can celebrate the holidays and the end of this miserable day.”

  “That’s a great idea, Brian. Count us in!”

  The End

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for reading Mistletoe & Murder, I hope you enjoyed it.

  Please check out the following Presley Thurman mysteries, Stilettos & Scoundrels, Necklaces & Nooses, and Handbags & Hooligans.

  Stilettos & Scoundrels

  Gently touching the handle of the front door was all it took to make it swing wide open. It was late, after midnight, and everyone in the house except Tom was asleep. As usual, Tom was in his study working late. Walking carefully and quietly through the foyer, the adrenaline began to kick in. The intruder confidently walked into Tom’s study. Tom was concentrating so hard on the papers in front of him that he was unaware of anything else. Raising his hand, the intruder hit a stack of books sitting on a side table, sending them crashing to the floor. Tom spun around with a look of shock on his face as he recognized the person swinging a sharp object toward him. Tom raised his hands to protect himself but he wasn’t quick enough. The spikey end of the stiletto heel punctured his neck instantly, sending a spray of blood over the papers on his desk. He tried to cry out, but all that sounded was a gurgling noise as his lungs filled with blood.

  The intruder set the shoe down next to Tom and backed out of the room softly, closing the door to the study and hoping no one would come looking for Tom until morning.

  Necklaces & Nooses

  Solange liked to turn and look at her boutique before walking out the door. It was a ritual of sorts to walk to the front of the boutique and pivot to take in all that was hers and to breathe in the smell of success from all her hard work. She’d be damned if she was going to let that asshole take it from her. He didn’t do a thing except complain the entire time about how stupid she was and the sheer fact she would take money out of her trust fund and throw it
away on something as frivolous as a clothing store proved how stupid she was. He had sorely underestimated her then and certainly was underestimating her now. She turned back around to walk out the door and go home for the night and slammed right into a man.

  “Who the hell are you?” She exclaimed. Wondering who this guy was sneaking up on her.

  “That’s not important. What is important is that you give me what belongs to me.”

  “What are you taking about? I don’t even know who you are. You better just leave buddy before I call the cops.”

  “I told you I’m not leaving until I get my merchandise. Now I know you have it so turn it over.”

  “Have what?” Solange was very perplexed. She had no idea what he was talking about.

  “My ivory. I know you got it in your last shipment. Now hand it over or you’ll be sorry.”

  “For the last time I have no idea what you are talking about. This has gone far enough, I’m calling the cops.” Solange reached into her purse and grabbed her cell. She pulled it out and started to dial 911 and the intruder knocked it out of her hand. “Now wait just a minute.”

  “No, I’m done waiting.” The intruder stepped closer to Solange and grabbed her around the throat. Oh my God, she thought, and everything went black.

  Handbags & Hooligans

  “Where is it bitch,” he snarled. Taking Ashley’s purse and dumping the contents on the ground she watched as her wallet, lipsticks, compact, and other toiletries fell to the ground. She hoped someone would notice she was gone and come look for her before he realized he wasn’t going to find what he was looking for.

  “I told you I don’t have it,” Ashley said.

  “You’re lying,” he walked closer causing her to back up to the building.

  “Sweetie knows I just stepped out for a smoke. He will be coming to look for me if I’m not back in a few minutes.”

  “You’re lying sweetness. I know you don’t smoke. I noticed that night you didn’t smoke or drink. Care to tell me why.”

  Damn she never in a million years would have thought anyone at that party would notice. Shit! Who else had? She was running out of options. She had no doubt he would kill her if he thought she was of no use to him. “Don’t come any closer. I’m warning you.”

  “Ha! Like I have anything to fear from you.” He took another step closer.

  Ashley reached behind her back hoping he wouldn’t notice but he was too busy trying not to stare at her cleavage to pay attention to her arms. Guys. She put her fingers around the butt of the gun she had stuffed in the waistband of her shorts. She drew her arm out and said in her best Dirty Harry voice, “Go ahead asshole, make my day!”

  He started to laugh again but then realized she was holding a gun. He put his arm up to try and knock it out of his face but her arm barely budged. She was stronger than she looked. His eyes widened in surprised.

  “Maybe you should rethink the being scared part, asshole.”

  He recovered quickly and made another step toward her.

  “Don’t move one step closer. This is your last warning.”

  “Or what?” He walked toward her.

  “Or this,” she pulled back the hammer and pulled the trigger. Clean shot right between the eyes. She was a good shot. She didn’t want this to happen but he had left he no choice. She quickly looked around surely someone had heard that. She grabbed her purse but left the contents as it was all replaceable. The backdoor opened and a hulking guy stood in the doorway looking at her and the dead guy bleeding out on the asphalt.

  “What the hell, Ashley.”

  “He left me no option. Besides the world will be better off without him. You need to fix this. I have to get out of here.”

  “Do you have the goods?”

  “Yes.”

  “Ok. You know where to go. I’ll call you when it’s safe.”

  Check out my website at www.lainaturner.com or download my iPhone app, Laina Turner, to be updated of upcoming books and events.

  Table of Contents

  Mistletoe

  Midpoint